The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
MARYLAND BUDGET
Gov. Martin O'Malley plans to rely on a billion dollars in one-time accounting maneuvers to help balance next year's $13 billion state operating budget, avoiding deep cuts to services in an election year. The strategy drew immediate concern from critics, particularly Republicans, who say the Democratic governor is deferring tough decisions. (Baltimore Sun)
FLASHER ON THE W&OD TRAIL
Arlington Police are reporting a string of indecent exposure incidents along the Washington and Old Dominion bike trail during the week of Jan. 11-15. According to police, a white male subject has exposed himself to women at various sections along the W&OD trail. Detectives are currently looking for more information from the public regarding these incidents. (Falls Church News Press)
PRINCE WILLIAM AMBULANCE FEES
Ambulance calls could soon cost between $400 and $700, as Prince William supervisors Tuesday OK'd the next step toward implementing a fee-for-service system for emergency medical transport. Under the proposal, basic life support service would cost $400 and advanced life support $500 or $700, according to background documents to the board that were presented by Fire and Rescue Department personnel. The intent of the plan, said Chairman Corey Stewart, R-At-large, is to bring the county's billing practices in line with every other jurisdiction in the region that passes along ambulance charges to insurance companies. (Insidenova.com)
GEESE SHOT
Richard Sigler Sr.'s wife and 7-year-old granddaughter were walking Tuesday morning on their farm road in Keymar when they saw a gaggle of dead birds down a bank. Sigler said 31 geese had been shot dead and dumped on his 31-acre farm, which is also a wildlife preserve for pheasant and quail. "That upsets me. There's just no reason for that," he said. (Frederick News Post)
