Week in review: 1/20/12

Completion of the first wave of arrivals up the road at the Aberdeen Proving Ground is getting credit for renewed construction at and near the $1 billion mixed-use Baltimore [email protected] community near White Marsh in Eastern Baltimore County.

O’Malley seeks tax hike

Gov. Martin O’Malley on Wednesday called for higher taxes on Maryland’s top earners, new Internet-based revenues, and for counties to shoulder a share of teacher pension costs to support a “difficult” $39.5 billion budget. The fiscal 2013 proposal is 3 percent larger than this year’s spending plan and would raise taxes on 20 percent of Marylanders.

Authority over tolls

Still bristling over recent toll increases, a group of state lawmakers are calling for the General Assembly to reclaim the power to set tolls on Maryland tunnels, bridges and roads.

Burger joints’ legal beef

Grab-N-Go-Burgers, in an Aberdeen strip mall, will change its red-white-and-yellow logo under a tentative settlement with In-N-Out Burger, the West Coast restaurant chain that was suing it for trademark infringement in federal court in Baltimore.

EDF accepts Exelon deal

Electricite de France, the largest shareholder of Constellation Energy Group and until now the biggest critic of the company’s planned $7.9 billion acquisition by Exelon Corp., said Tuesday it was on board with the deal.

Dew Tour thirsts for O.C.

The Summer Dew Tour wants to hold a competition in Ocean City on Aug. 16-19, a month later than last year’s event. The competition includes bicycle stunt riding, skateboarding and surfing. City officials prefer the late-summer date and predicted City Council approval.

Teacher can sue under ADA

The Prince George’s County Board of Education does not have immunity from suits under the Americans with Disabilities Act seeking $100,000 and less, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has held in the case of an elementary teacher who has a significant hearing impairment.

Jury awards $1M for lost sight

A Baltimore County Circuit Court jury awarded $1 million in damages to a woman who lost nearly all of her vision while under an ophthalmologist’s care.

Fired security guards file suit

Two former security guards are seeking $100,000 and their jobs back from the National Institutes of Health contractor they say fired them because they spoke English with an accent.

Excessive-force suit settled

Prince George’s County paid $55,000 to a Hyattsville man who claimed he was beaten by three county police officers, according to documents obtained under the Maryland Public Information Act.

Restaurant Week prices drop

Baltimore’s Restaurant Week, which starts Friday, became more affordable as prices for the semiannual fixed-price dining promotion dropped for the first time in years. Restaurant Weeks are also occurring this month in Baltimore and Howard counties, and in Bethesda-Chevy Chase.