The results of the Red Maryland Table Gaming poll are in.

74 people responded to our Survey Monkey poll. The results are of course, unscientific.

I would have put in all the cross tab/charts bells and whistles, but that requires a paid upgrade for Survey Monkey, and contrary to popular belief we’re NOT funded by the vast right wing conspiracy.

Any way on to the results (spreadsheet available here)

74% of respondents favored expanding gambling to include table gaming in Maryland. 26% opposed it.

92% want any expansion to table gaming coupled with a rollback of the sales tax to 5%.

45% of Marylanders wanted to see any revenues from expaded gambling go to general revenues. 23% want it socked away in the rainy day fund, 22% want it to fund education, about 10% want to see the funds used for transportation, and a whopping 1%want it used to expand state programs.

Mark Newgent is a contributing editor at Red Maryland

CONTACT:
B. Rose Huber
410-455-8117
brhuber@umbc.edu

Middle Schoolers to Compete in FIRST LEGO League State Championship

(BALTIMORE, MARYLAND) — Some say it “rivals American Gladiators and any other major competitive sports event.” But it’s not necessarily a battle of the body – but instead one of the mind. The FIRST LEGO League (FLL) State Championship is a game of smarts, where Maryland middle schoolers will learn the importance of transportation efficiency and team building by building motorized robots from LEGOs. The competition, “Smart Move,” stresses the importance of education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), helping students collaborate and develop necessary skills at an early age. Anne Spence, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, is the FLL affiliate partner for Maryland and spearheading the event, as her research focuses on the awareness and interest in engineering career opportunities for students in K-16.

Sixty four teams will compete on the UMBC campus on Saturday, January 30, to see who builds the best and most efficient robot. The championship will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., in UMBC’s Retriever Activities Center and is free and open to the public. For more information, visit http://www.umbc.edu/blogs/umbcnews/2010/01/middle_schoolers_to_compete_in.html.

Baltimore County Police

Next Meeting for Scrap Metal Working Group

Baltimore County, Md. (January 25, 2010) – On February 5, 2010, the Baltimore County Scrap Metal Working Group will hold a public meeting to discuss implementation of the County’s new scrap metal law. The law will go into effect on April 15 and will provide law enforcement with greater access to information about local sales of scrap metal. This will assist police in tracking down criminals who steal and then sell scrap metal in Baltimore County.

The Working Group meeting will be held at 1 p.m. in the Chief’s Conference Room of the Public Safety Building, 700 East Joppa Road, Towson.

The Working Group is made up of representatives of the Police Department, the Department of Permits and Development Management, scrap metal dealers, and community representatives.

Baltimore County

Single Stream Recycling Collection to Begin in Baltimore County February 1

Baltimore County, Md. (January 22, 2010) — On February 1, 2010, single stream recycling collection will begin for all Baltimore County single-family homes, town homes, and apartments/condominiums that currently have recycling collection. This new program will make recycling easier than ever for Baltimore County residents, as both paper, bottles and can will be collected each week.
Recycle More than Before

Single stream recycling collection means that paper and bottles & cans may be combined in the same container(s) and will be collected each week. Additionally, residents will be able to recycle more items than before, including:

* Narrow-neck plastic bottles and jugs with a number from 1 to 7 in a recycling symbol
* Wide-mouth plastic containers (such as butter and yogurt containers)
* Rigid plastics (such as buckets, drinking cups, and flower pots)
* Empty aerosol cans
* Aluminum foil and pie pans
* Milk and juice cartons/boxes

Use a Wider Variety of Containers

Residents will be able to use a wide variety of containers to place single stream recyclables out for collection, including:

* Recycling containers up to 34-gallon capacity
* Trash containers up to 34-gallon capacity for recycling use only, marked with a large “X” or “Recycle”
* Small cardboard boxes (boxes collected with contents)

Optional Container Stickers

Baltimore County has also made stickers available for residents that may be affixed to containers as another way to designate that the containers are being used exclusively for recycling. These stickers are not in any way required to participate in the single stream recycling program. Stickers for recycling containers are available free of charge at the following locations: Baltimore County senior centers, Baltimore County public libraries, and the County’s three trash and recycling drop-off centers in White Marsh, Cockeysville, and Halethorpe.
No Plastic Bags

Residents must not set out recyclables for collection in plastic bags of any type or color. Plastic bags will not be collected in order to prevent processing complications at the single stream sorting facility.

Residents who choose to bring their recyclables to one of the County’s three trash and recycling drop-off centers should also be aware that no plastic bags of any type or color should be placed in the recycling containers at these drop-off centers.
Mailed Schedules

Residents will receive an updated 4-year trash and recycling schedule, with program guide, in the mail shortly before the new single stream recycling program starts February 1, 2010. Residents are urged to read, retain, and post their new collection schedules and program guides.

Residents who do not have home mail delivery and use post office boxes will not receive a trash and recycling schedule prior to February 1. After February 1, these residents can go online to view, save, and/or print their collection schedules and program guide.

Residents who do not have home mail delivery and use post office boxes, and who would prefer to have a collection schedule/program guide mailed to them, should call the Bureau of Solid Waste Management at 410-887-2000 after February 1 to request a hard copy.
More Information

For more information about the transition to single stream recycling collection, residents may visit www.bcrecycles.com or call the Bureau of Solid Waste Management at 410-887-2000.

Hoyer release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 25, 2010

CONTACT:
Katie Grant
Stephanie Lundberg
(202) 225 – 3130
Hoyer Statement on Passing of Former Senator Charles ‘Mac’ Mathias
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on the passing of former Senator Charles “Mac” Mathias of Maryland:

“It was with real sadness that I learned today of the death of Senator Charles ‘Mac’ Mathias. Senator Mathias served our state and his nation well, in a long and distinguished career. He was a man of principle, moderation, judgment, and compassion. His support of protecting the environment and supporting the needs of working people were hallmarks of his career and life. His example of integrity and service is one we should all emulate. His constructive and positive approach to facing the issues confronting our country is too often missed today. He will be greatly missed and long remembered.”

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