Week in Review – October 22, 2010

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New power plant planned

Energy Answers International will begin construction in December of a $1 billion, waste-fueled power plant in Baltimore and begin selling electricity in late 2013, the company announced Monday. EAI hopes to provide power to the city, state and utilities, and to businesses in an industrial park planned beside the 140-megawatt plant on East Patapsco Avenue.

Harris’ killers sentenced

The two young men convicted of murdering former Baltimore City Council member Kenneth N. Harris Sr. during an armed robbery two years ago, Charles McGaney, 22, and Jerome Williams, 17, received life sentences Tuesday. Their accomplice, Gary Collins, 22, was sentenced to 65 years in prison.

New foreclosure rule OK’d

The Court of Appeals approved an emergency rule Tuesday designed to identify and weed out irregularities in the mortgage foreclosure process. The rule, which took effect immediately, allows circuit courts to appoint independent lawyers to review foreclosure documents for problems. Lenders have 30 days to show why a foreclosure should not be dismissed.

From Congress to USAO

Leo J. Wise, the staff director and chief counsel of the Office of Congressional Ethics, announced that he will leave that position to prosecute white-collar crime as an assistant U.S. attorney in Baltimore.

Reuse of landmark OK’d

Baltimore’s long-closed Chesapeake Restaurant was sold Wednesday to a local development group. The sale, approved by the Board of Estimates, was for $500,000 in cash and a multi-year revenue sharing deal with the city. The plan is to leave the façade intact while converting the ground floor into a market and café, office space and artist work space.

Hot slots parlor profit

Maryland’s first slots parlor has gotten off to a fast start. According to figures released by the State Lottery Agency on Wednesday, Hollywood Casino Perryville generated more than $2 million in its first four days despite a last-minute decision to open early.

$4M for Arundel roads

Transportation and road upgrades near Fort George G. Meade will soon be made with $4 million in state funding as thousands of new jobs move into Anne Arundel County for military base and cyber command expansions.

Titles get tougher to insure

Fidelity National Financial Inc. and affiliates Chicago Title and Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Co. have temporarily stopped underwriting title insurance for Maryland foreclosure purchases in which affidavits were signed by someone other than the attorney whose name appears on it.

A new try at legalizing pot

State Sen. David Brinkley, a Republican from Carroll and Frederick counties, says that if re-elected he will introduce a bill that would legalize the use of marijuana from medical purposes. A version of such a bill was passed by the state Senate but not the House of Delegates in the last session.