| O'Malley's energy reform plans fall short
Despite touting energy as a top priority during his campaign, Gov. Martin O'Malley's efforts to reduce the state's energy costs have fallen short and Marylanders will continue to pay more, critics say. With reregulation out of fiscal reach, new energy generation plants years away from construction, and energy conservation efforts ineffective at curbing the state's consumption, energy officials and state leaders struggle to craft solutions to Maryland's energy crisis. "The sentiment is how can it be done," said Matt Crenson, a professor of political science at Johns Hopkins University. "[O'Malley] promoted energy efforts, and now it's a liability for him." But with Maryland's residential electric rates ranked among the most expensive in the region and forecasts of brownouts for the state predicted as early as 2011, O'Malley will push energy conservation forward during the ongoing General Assembly session.
Masters getting life back in gear
Within minutes, he breezed through a written exam but was frustrated that he missed three questions. "One was, 'What do you do when an animal crosses in front of your vehicle?' " he said. "I answered, 'Stop.' The correct answer was to use caution. But shouldn't you stop for an animal?" On this day, Masters passed two big tests on his way to recapturing his life. He overcame the murder charges dangling over him for a decade when the Larimer County DA moved to dismiss .
Six powers propose new sanctions on Iran
The six global powers offered Iran a package of economic incentives and political rewards in June 2006 if it agreed to freeze uranium enrichment before talks on its nuclear program. But Iran has refused despite two previous sets of U.N. sanctions. The new proposal would freeze the assets of additional individuals and entities involved in Irans nuclear activities that were not identified. It calls on all countries to exercise vigilance in entering into new financial commitments with Iraq, including the granting of export credits, guarantees or insurance. It also calls for vigilance over financial dealings with Iranian-based banks, in particular with Bank Melli and Bank Saderat, and their branches and subsidiaries abroad. Iran insists its enrichment activities are intended only to produce fuel for nuclear reactors, but the U.S., the European Union and others suspect its real aim is to produce atomic bombs.
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