News

BALTIMORE (AP) — Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler is considering whether to appeal a tax decision by the state's highest court.

If the court decision stands, Gansler says it could cost local governments between $40 million and $50 million annually.

Maryland's Court of Appeals ruled in January that the state must offer credits to taxpayers whose out-of-state income is subject to local piggyback taxes, but granted a stay. The court rejected Gansler's request to reconsider last week and he has 90 days to decide whether to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

BALTIMORE (AP) — A federal audit is focusing on how public schools in Maryland spent federal stimulus money.

The U.S. Department of Education audited the way the state spent stimulus money. It found Baltimore City Schools spent $4,352 on a pair of dinner cruises. It also found $1,575 was spent for catering at school events and $1,336 for theater tickets.

Prince George's County Schools also were criticized for similar spending.

The audit was released in January. Maryland Republicans called for an investigation on Wednesday.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Former Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold has paid a $75,000 fine for misconduct.

The Capital of Annapolis reports (http://bit.ly/10mLrYD ) that court records show Leopold paid the fine late last month. He resigned in February and served 30 days in jail and two weeks of home detention for two counts of criminal misconduct. Leopold forced members of his security detail to perform campaign work and another county employee to empty his urinary catheter bag.

DENTON, Md. (AP) — Maryland State Police say a trooper is in critical condition after he was dragged by a car while off duty in Caroline County.

Police say the trooper apparently confronted three juveniles in a car in Denton on Wednesday evening when they appeared to be involved in some kind of vandalism. The trooper approached group on foot and while he was speaking to them, police say the driver of the car accelerated and the trooper was somehow dragged. After a time, police say the trooper was dislodged and fell to the roadway and the driver fled.

DOVER, Del. (AP) — A convicted killer is asking the state Board of Pardons to commute his life sentence for first-degree murder.

Robert W. Hassett III was convicted of stabbing his stepmother to death with a steak knife in 2000.

According to court records, the stabbing followed an argument between Hassett and his father over loud music and partying in the apartment where he lived next to his father's mobile home in Seaford.

Hassett claimed that a friend of his killed his stepmother, but the jury rejected the notion.