Annapolis Mayor proposes nearly 8 percent less spending in new budget

WNAV-When Annapolis Mayor Josh Cohen addressed a packed house in council chambers for his State of the City address Monday evening he says his first day in office he was faced with a crisis. In addition to his State of the City address, the mayor presented his 2011 budget. The budget consolidates several departments, includes more layoffs but does not raise tax rates. Mayor Cohen says this is a difficult time for the city. The mayors new budget cuts spending by nearly 8 percent.

County school year shortened by 5 days

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Students in Anne Arundel County will not go to school for 180 days this year, thanks to last month's record-breaking snowstorms. State Schools Superintendent Nancy Grasmick has granted the county's request for a five-day calendar waiver. That means the school year will end on June 15 as long as there are no more emergency closings. Anne Arundel schools built four snow days into the calendar, but used 10 this winter. Grasmick says she granted the waiver because the system added one day to the end of the school year and because it plans to "concentrate instructional time to make up for lost school days." The state school board gave Grasmick the authority to grant waivers on a case-by-case basis.

A man is robbed at a gas station

WNAV-A man is robbed while sitting in his car. It happened Monday night around 9:15 at the High’s Citgo in the 4700 block of Muddy Creek Road in West River. Officers say a person approached the car with a gun and demanded money. The 43 year old victim handed over his cash and the suspect fled on foot. Police searched the area with K-9 units but were unable to find the suspect. If you have any information about this crime, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7lockup.

Changes are set for Child Support guidelines

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Guidelines used to set child support payments would be changed for the first time in 21 years under legislation approved by the Maryland Senate. The Senate voted 43-2 on Tuesday to pass the measure. Supporters say the change is needed to update the guidelines to adjust for an increase in the cost of living since the guidelines were last changed more than two decades ago. They also say it will direct more money to raising children. But opponents argue that lawmakers haven't spent enough time studying the ramifications of legislation that will affect more than one million people in the state. Sen. Robert Zirkin, D-Baltimore County, says it's unclear how many people could face big increases. The bill now heads to the House of Delegates, where similar legislation is pending.

MDA storm recovery list for Agriculture producers

WNAV - The Maryland Department of Agriculture along with state and federal agency partners have developed a list of resources the agriculture community may need in order to clean up, recover and rebuild from the recent storms. The goal is to help producers get back in full operation and or recover losses as quickly as possible. The list of resources includes information about indemnity programs, emergency grants and loans, instructions for emergency burning permits, information on disposal of poultry and livestock mortality and information about rebuilding and rebuilding in more energy efficient ways as well as cash incentives for energy projects. The list is available at www.mda.state.md.us under Hot Topics

Naval Academy reports record applications

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - The U.S. Naval Academy is reporting a record number of applications, both overall and in the number of minorities who have applied. Bruce Latta, the dean of admissions, told the academy's Board of Visitors on Monday that the school received 17,416 applications for the class of 2014. He says that is 2,100 more than last year. A typical class at the academy has about 1,230 students. Minority applications went up to 5,382, nearly 1,000 more than last year. That's almost a 23 percent increase. The Naval Academy has made a big push over the last three years to reach out to minorities and parts of the country that have been underrepresented at the school.