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Cleveland pays $325K to settle lawsuit
CLEVELAND — Cleveland has paid $325,000 to settle a 17-year-old union lawsuit over hiring practices that a judge said left the city open to allegations of corruption, favoritism and political back-scratching. The money, paid earlier this month, will cover legal costs incurred by the Civil Service Employees Association, which contended in its 1994 suit against […]
Merck to pay $950M to settle Vioxx investigation
NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Justice said Tuesday that drug maker Merck will pay $950 million to resolve investigations into its marketing of the painkiller Vioxx. The agency said Merck will pay $321.6 million in criminal fines and $628.4 million as a civil settlement agreement. It will also plead guilty to a misdemeanor […]
Airline fine may send flight cancellations soaring
WASHINGTON — The government’s $900,000 fine Monday against an American Airlines affiliate for holding hundreds of passengers on board a small jet for hours on an airport tarmac may serve as a deterrent to future such incidents. But industry analysts warned that may come with the price of more canceled flights. Even before the fine […]
New law to crack down on illegal highway signs
SALISBURY — A new state law that goes into effect in January will impose a $25 fine for every illegal commercial sign placed along state highways. The State Highway Administration says it spends almost a half-million dollars a year removing the signs, because they can impede visibility and get in the way of mowing and […]
Md. partners with Labor Dept. on enforcement of wage violations
WASHINGTON — The Labor Department is signing agreements to share information with nearly a dozen states and the Internal Revenue Service as it gets more aggressive in its program to crack down on businesses that cheat workers out of their hard-earned wages. The information will help Labor officials target businesses that improperly label workers as […]
First speed camera to begin operating in P.G. County
FORT WASHINGTON — Prince George’s County plans to begin operating its first speed camera within a half-mile of two schools in Fort Washington. The schools, Issac J. Gourdine Middle School and Tayac Elementary School, are on Allentown Road. Police say the camera will begin operating Monday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and will cover […]
PSC fines energy seller $100K for deceptive practices
The Maryland Public Service Commission has levied a $100,000 fine against a third-party energy supplier that uses multilevel marketing. The commission handed down the fine against North American Power and Gas Inc., of Norwalk, Conn., on Thursday. The fine stems from hearings held in January over accusations the company engaged in fraudulent activity and employed […]
Montgomery County police step up anti-littering efforts
ROCKVILLE — Police in Montgomery County are stepping up efforts to crack down on littering. The department says it’ll be participating in an anti-littering campaign run by the Alice Ferguson Foundation and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. It runs through May 7. Police say they’ll be extra vigilant during the campaign in cracking down […]
Labor Dept. fines Md. school system millions
WASHINGTON — The public school system in Maryland’s Prince George’s County has been ordered to pay a total of $4 million to more than 1,000 foreign teachers working there after an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor. The teachers, the vast majority of them from the Philippines, were hired under a visa program for […]
Study finds red light cameras cut fatal crashes
WASHINGTON — Red light cameras are helping drivers remember that red means stop and are saving lives, according to a new study out Tuesday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The study concludes that the cameras have reduced the rate of fatal crashes by 24 percent in 14 large cities that introduced red light […]
Worcester County liquor board faulted
An investigation into allegations of price discrimination for sweetheart deals on wine and liquor made to some bars in and around Ocean City could lead to the abolishment of the agency in charge of spirit and wine sales in Worcester County. Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot’s office’s investigation of the Worcester County Liquor Control Board has […]
