I'm a child of the eastside of Baltimore County and have lived here most of my life — first in Middle River then in Perry Hall, where I graduated from high school. I now live in Towson.
I'm a county history junkie and have a fondness for all the places that make my "hometown" special. You'll frequently find me hiking around Oregon Ridge with my dog or grabbing a slice at Pizza Johns in Middle River.
Over the years I've worked for a number of area publications including The Times in Perry Hall, The Avenue and The Journal Northeast as well as writing for Reuters news service.
For much of the last decade I was a reporter for Patuxent Publishing Co.'s community papers in Baltimore County as it's senior politics and government reporter.
I've won numerous state, regional and national awards for coverage of stories such as the Joseph Palczynski spree killings and hostage standoff in 2000, coverage of Hurricane Katrina, as well as state and local government coverage.
I've also been honored for my investigative work which includes stories involving the Community College of Baltimore County, the hiring of a health officer who was not licensed to practice medicine in Maryland and an investigation that led to the indictment of a sitting county councilman for theft from his campaign finance account.
While at Patuxent, my political blog was honored as the best in the Maryland-Delaware-DC region. I continue to blog about politics for Patch.
I appear each Thursday morning in the 7 o'clock hour where I talk about local politics on WBAL 1090 AM. I've appeared regularly on a number of that station's programs and have made guest appearances on Midday with Dan Rodricks on WYPR 88.1 FM.
I also co-hosted the "All Politics is Local" radio show on WCBM 680 AM.
You can find me on Facebook and on Twitter.
Gov. Martin O'Malley includes $300,000 in a supplemental budget to continue the program. The men's soccer program would not receive additional money.
The resolution would have lowered fees for developers who seek waivers to open space requirements in county development law.
The bill that increases the gasoline tax by as much as 20 cents by 2016 now heads to Gov. Martin O'Malley for his signature.
A preliminary vote could be scheduled as early as Friday.
A preliminary vote in the full Maryland Senate could be scheduled as early as Friday.
The civil liberties organization says a bill designed to restrict protests near schools in Baltimore County violates the First Amendment.
County officials say the video conferencing technology will allow national chain license holders to attend hearings without the travel expenses.
The final debate on the bill turns contentious amidst accusations that House Speaker Michael Busch cut short the debate and opportunity to vote.
The final debate on the bill turns contentious amidst accusations that House Speaker Michael Busch cut short the debate and opportunity to vote.
The final debate on the bill turns contentious amidst accusations that House Speaker Michael Busch cut short the debate and opportunity to vote.
The final debate on the bill turns contentious amidst accusations that House Speaker Michael Busch cut short the debate and opportunity to vote.
The final debate on the bill turns contentious amidst accusations that House Speaker Michael Busch cut short the debate and opportunity to vote.
The proposed fee increase would generate an additional $17 million annually once fully implemented.
The proposed fee increase would generate an additional $17 million annually once fully implemented.
Democrats were poised to push through a preliminary vote on an overhauled $1.1 billion bill before other delegates could read an adjusted document detailing the costs.
Comptroller Peter Franchot and Gov. Martin O'Malley want President Maravene Loeschke to "come down here" to explain how the men's baseball and soccer teams were eliminated.
One protester calls for the public to trade in their councilmembers for "better models" while a middle school student says the council will be labeled "meanies" for taking programs away from the community.
Community leaders say they welcome county regulations that will improve the commercials areas that are the gateways to both neighborhoods.
A bill sponsored by Councilman David Marks corrects the unintended consequence of a zoning change made last fall.
Councilwoman Vicki Almond says the change will "protect residential areas from over-development."
