WBAL.com

With a big voter turnout expected on Tuesday, BGE says it has been working with election officials across the state to deal with power outages that could occur at polling places.

“Maintaining service reliability during the Presidential election is one of our top priorities,” says Andrew Dodge, BGE Vice President of Electric System Operations and Planning.

[...]

He says BGE will try to give priority to polling places if there is a power outage.

Dodge says BGE has had a process in place for several years now to deal with potential power outages on election day. BGE says its corporate public affairs reps have reached out to the county and city election board officials in each municipality and re-affirmed communication channels.

[...]

Maryland’s elections administrator said this week she projects about 85 percent of registered voters to show up on Election Day at the polls.

Linda Lamone said she is basing her prediction on registration figures she’s seen so far and previous elections. Turnout could be as high as 90 percent in some jurisdictions like Baltimore City and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, she said.

If turnout reaches 85 percent, it would be the highest for a Maryland presidential election at least since 1982. Since then, the highest for a presidential race was 81 percent in 1992.

WJZ

A search across the city for three young men police say kidnapped a student at an ATM and forced him to empty his bank account. Kelly McPherson has more on the key clue released by police.

A walk home at 9 a.m. for a medical student turned into a morning of threats and theft. Two young men pointing handguns approached him near his home. They forced him to the ground.

“They asked him where his car was and he told them a few blocks from where they were. They forced him up and they forced him into the car. At that time, a third suspect came into the car,” said Troy Harris.

They drove to Broadway to take out cash from the student’s account. A picture was captured on the bank camera. One of the three suspects is visible, clearly wearing a distinct sweatshirt.

The group left the Fells Point bank and the suspects took the victim to several other locations to try to use his ATM card again but they only got away with the money from the first location.

Baltimore Sun

wo brothers have been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of their father, who was found shot to death in an alley in Edmondson Village in May, prosecutors said yesterday. Sean Wesley Morris, 19, and Michael Alvin Morris Jr., 22, of the 800 block of Wildwood Parkway were arrested and charged last month with first-degree murder in the death of Michael Alvin Morris Sr., 46, who was found May 16 lying in the 4200 block of Colborne Road after being shot in the head. Homicide Detective Arthur Brummer wrote in charging documents that “independent eyewitnesses” identified the men as being responsible for the shooting. Seven .45-caliber shell casings were recovered from the scene, according to records. It was not clear yesterday what might have sparked the killing. Sean and Michael Morris are two of five children listed in a paternity case brought against Michael Morris Sr. in 1998, and court records indicate that he shared the address with them on Wildwood Parkway. The brothers were being held without bail at the Baltimore City Detention Center, and an arraignment is scheduled Nov. 24.

Daily Record

An immigrant rights group is suing Anne Arundel County officials seeking information about the role of county employees in an immigration raid in June.

Silver Spring-based CASA de Maryland filed the suit Wednesday alleging that the Office of the County Executive and the county police department failed to respond to a Maryland Public Information Act request made six weeks ago for documents related to raids at Annapolis Painting Services and 15 homes that resulted in 45 arrests.

County attorney Jonathan A. Hodgson says coordinating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials on the response took time, but a response was mailed Wednesday.

CASA spokesman Justin Cox says the response does not make the lawsuit moot and CASA will review the materials to make sure the county is in full compliance.

WBAL.com

Maryland’s Michael Steele is said to be considering another run for the job of Republican National Committee chairman in 2009.

Real Clear Politics and The Atlantic report that the GOPAC chairman and former Lieutenant Governor is one of several prominent party figures interested in the RNC chair.

The Atlantic’s Marc Ambinder reported earlier this week that Steele has told associates that he will take a lower-key approach to a run than he did after the elections of 2004. That time out, Steele was bypassed in favor of fellow Marylander Ken Mehlman, who grew up in Baltimore County.

Two sources tell Real Clear Politics that current RNC chairman Mike Duncan has talked about seeking a second term when committee members meet in January.

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Multiple sources tell RCP that supporters have reached out to former Massachusetts Governor and presidential candidate Mitt Romney to consider running for RNC chair.

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Other potential candidates for RNC chair mentioned by RCP and/or The Atlantic include Katon Dawson, chairman of the South Carolina GOP; former Tennessee party chair Chip Saltsman; Michigan party head Saul Anuzis and Texas Republican Party chair Tina Benkiser, who is said to have started making phone calls to gauge support.