The following stories have been hand-selected by the Assignment Desk at News4:
MARYLAND SAME-SEX MARRIAGES
Should Maryland recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere? WTOP has learned Maryland's Attorney General has issued a long-awaited opinion -- and the answer is "yes." After almost a year of research, Attorney General Doug Gansler said he believes "a marriage that is valid in the place of celebration is valid in Maryland." (wtop.com)
MARYLAND SNOW DAYS
Spring break is in significantly less peril for public schools in Maryland after the State Board of Education decided Tuesday to allow schools to request waivers for the minimum number of days they must be in session this year. A snowy winter has forced many school districts to come up with creative ways to make up for lost time, including lengthening class days and, in Frederick County, shaving two days off spring break. The state board's decision, which allows school systems to dip up to five days below the 180-day minimum school year, makes it likely that most other districts won't follow suit. (Washington Post)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
A Roberto Clemente Middle School teacher shouted at a 13-year-old girl and had her escorted by police officers to the principal's office after she refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance for personal reasons, the girl's mother and an American Civil Liberties Union attorney said Tuesday. Montgomery County Public Schools spokesman Dana Tofig said the teacher violated state law and school system policy by ordering the student to stand. "That's a violation of our regulations, and we're in the process of rectifying the situation," Tofig said. (Gazette)
PEDESTRIAN DRAGGED FOR SEVERAL MILES
A Manassas Park man suffered fatal injuries late Monday after being struck by two cars on Va. 28 near the Fairfax County line. Carroll Henry Humphries, 39, was attempting to cross the road about 7:30 p.m. when he was hit by a Toyota Corolla traveling north on Va. 28, police said. While Humphries was lying in the road, a Nissan Quest driven by a 40-year-old Woodbridge woman struck him and dragged him to Confederate Ridge Lane off Compton Road in Fairfax, said police. “When the woman arrived at her destination she noticed a man underneath her car and called police,” said Prince William police spokeswoman Erika Hernandez. (Insidenova.com)
SCHOOL BUS CAMS
Six of Frederick County's eight state lawmakers are signing on to a proposal allowing school systems statewide to use school bus cameras. The cameras are intended to catch drivers who pass stopped school buses loading and unloading students. The delegation decided this month not to seek the cameras just in Frederick County, as had been requested by the county's public schools. (Frederick News Post)
