Maryland

BALTIMORE — Baltimore City police are investigating a pair of Sunday shootings that left two people dead.

The first shooting happened at about 7:49 p.m. in the 5600 block of Loch Raven Boulevard. Police said a 16-year-old boy and a woman were shot. The boy was shot in the chest and died at a local hospital. The woman also died from her injuries. Neither person’s name has been released.

The second shooting occurred at about 10:22 p.m. in the 4000 block of Chesmont Avenue. Investigators said they found Lougene Williams, 20, in the middle of the street. He was taken to John Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, where he died shortly after 11 p.m. (Read the full post about ‘3 Killed In Pair Of Baltimore Shootings’…)

DENTON — Deputy state fire marshals said Monday that a New Year’s Eve six-alarm fire that destroyed three structures was accidental.

Watch: Sky Team 11 Video

The Dec. 31 fire at 111 South 5th Ave started in a two-story, two-bay garage owned by Robert Moran.

Investigators said an over-loaded extension cord inside a garage ignited.

Firefighters were hampered by high winds, which helped spread the flames to two other nearby structures. The fire destroyed these buildings and damaged an old elementary school.

It took more than 90 firefighters two hours to bring the fire under control. (Read the full post about ‘6-Alarm Denton Fire Ruled Accident’…)

WALKERSVILLE, Md. — Authorities said one man was killed and three other people were injured in a house fire in Walkersville.

The fire was reported at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday at a two-story home on Maple Avenue.

Walkersville Deputy Fire Chief Chad Barrick said two people were flown to a hospital in Baltimore and one person was sent to Frederick Memorial Hospital.

BALTIMORE — Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon will soon have to make tough decisions that will impact public safety and city services, and some plans have fire and police union officials upset.

David Collins Reports

As WBAL TV 11 News first reported in November, the mayor sent target letters to all department heads requesting their cost-cutting ideas to offset a $65 million budget shortfall.

The city finance department is reviewing all the options, 11 News I-Team reporter David Collins said. Despite pledges of transparency, the suggestions are being kept under raps until final decisions are made, but 11 News managed to uncover some of the proposals.

City police and fire officials submitted options to Dixon to reduce their budgets by as much as 6 percent. (Read the full post about ‘Possible Budget Cuts Could Affect Public Safety’…)

BALTIMORE — The Maryland Transportation Authority is proposing toll rate changes to keep up with increasing costs as traffic and revenue drop.

The changes proposed Monday are expected to generate about $60 million more a year for the agency that operates the state’s seven toll facilities.

While standard and commuter toll rates would stay the same, the proposed changes include toll increases for large trucks and other multi-axle vehicles. Also, E-ZPass customers would have to start paying a $1.50 monthly service charge. (Read the full post about ‘State Proposes Toll Hikes On Multi-Axle Vehicles’…)

BALTIMORE — Baltimore County police are investigating a deadly accident in Rosedale.

Sky Team 11 was over the scene about at about 5 p.m. Monday in the 1200 block of Neighbors Avenue near the intersection of Old Philadelphia Road.

Investigators said a pickup truck hit a pedestrian, then hit a front porch. The pedestrian was killed.

Police have not released any further information.

The investigation is ongoing.

WASHINGTON — A conservation group filed a federal lawsuit Monday to force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to enforce the law and clean up the polluted Chesapeake Bay, citing 25 years of failure to restore the nation’s largest estuary.

John Sherman Reports

The lawsuit asserts that the EPA’s failure to meet its obligations “has led to the continued degradation of water quality in the Chesapeake Bay,” harming natural resources and the residents who depend on them.

“The suit is all about one thing, and that is getting the federal EPA to enforce the Clean Water Act,” said Chesapeake Bay Foundation President Will Baker.

Poor water quality caused by pollution has harmed the blue crab population, destroyed underwater grasses and hurt bay fish. (Read the full post about ‘Group Sues EPA Over Chesapeake Bay Cleanup’…)

TOWSON, Md. — A grand jury has indicted Baltimore County 4th District Councilman Kenneth Oliver on charges that he improperly used campaign funds.

Jayne Miller Reports

Oliver, 63, of Randallstown, was indicted on two counts of felony theft and numerous election law violations involving failure to account for campaign committee funds and expenditures, state prosecutor Robert Rohrbaugh announced Monday.

The indictment states that Oliver wrote two different checks for $2,000 to his wife and to himself from the campaign’s account. (Read the full post about ‘County Councilman Indicted In Theft Probe’…)

NEW YORK — Netflix is coming up with another way to get movies to people without having to send DVDs through the mail.

Netflix is partnering with LG Electronics, which will start selling high-definition TV sets that stream Netflix videos directly from the Internet.

No additional device will be needed.

The deal marks the first time Netflix will have its streaming service embedded in a television. The head of Netflix said it’s the natural evolution of the service.

Tim Alessi, the director of product development for LG Electronics USA, said the broadband TVs will sell for roughly $200 to $300 more than a regular HDTV set.

Netflix now offers about 12,000 movies and TV shows for instant streaming over the Internet. (Read the full post about ‘New LG High-Def TVs To Stream Netflix’…)

LOS ANGELES — Friends, family and Trekkies have gathered to bid a final farewell to “Star Trek” actress Majel Barrett Roddenberry.

More than 250 people came to a Los Angeles cemetery Sunday for the funeral of “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry’s widow.

Known to many as “The First Lady of Star Trek,” Barrett Roddenberry died of Leukemia Dec. 18 at her Bel-Air home. She was 76.

Among the mourners were veteran actors Nichelle “Lt. Uhura” Nichols, George “Mr. Sulu” Takei and Walter “Mr. (Read the full post about ‘‘Star Trek’ Stars Mourn Barrett Roddenberry’…)