The Pri nce Ge orge’s Pos t A C OMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR PRINCE GEORGE ’S COUNTY Since 1932 Vol. 76, No. 29 July 17 — July 23, 2008 Prince George’s County, Maryland Newspaper of Record Phone: 301-627-0900 25 cents Governor O’Malley Executive’s Announces 1,000th Nominees DNA Database Hit Public Safety Announcements Mark Ongoing Efforts for a Safer Maryland Confirmed for follow up. Due to the By PRESS OFFICER Office of the Governor ongoing investigation, fur - by Council ther information cannot be Art in Public Places, Board of Jessup, MD (July 8, released on the specifics of 2008) – Governor Martin the case. Ethics and Citizen Complaint O’Malley announced today “The backlog of offender PHOTO Copyright © The Gazette/Star – Used with Permission Oversight Panels Approved that a more efficient DNA DNA samples and the Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD) Celebrates with Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD ) database has resulted in the resulting inefficiency of the By PRESS OFFICER 1,000th positive compari - DNA database has been a County Executive’s Office son. The announcement concern for all was made at an event during Marylanders,” Governor UPPER MARLBORO, MD - Prince which the Governor O’Malley said. “By elimi - Rep. Edwards Receives George's County Executive Jack Johnson's unveiled the new State nating the backlog of over nominees for the Art in Public Places Panel, Police armored vehicle, 24,000 DNA samples, and Board of Ethics and Citizen Complaint reminding citizens that the ensuring that all qualifying Oversight Panel (CCOP) were confirmed Administration’s mandate to offender samples are in the Committee Assignment today by the County Council. make Maryland safer is database, we are confident Yvonne Johnson and Ann Beverly Taylor moving forward. that the database is operat - were confirmed to the Art in Public Places Governor O’Malley was ing at peak efficiency and Panel and Patricia Mote, Grace Simmons has become an invaluable Recommendations joined by Colonel Terrence By PRESS OFFICER forward to immediately getting to work on and Steven Newsome were reappointed to resource in our efforts to B. Sheridan outside the Rep. Donna Edwards’ Office these committees in order to help my dis - the Panel. reduce violent crime and State Police Waterloo trict and our country move in a new direc - "This panel will be well-served by this protect the citizens of Barracks as he revealed that Washington D.C. –Congresswoman tion." dedicated and talented group of individu - Maryland.” late last week, scientists at Donna Edwards (D-MD) was recommend - "As a member of both the als," Johnson said. In January 2008, the Maryland State Police ed to serve on the Transportation and Transportation and Infrastructure and The Art in Public Places Panel ensures Governor O’Malley Forensic Sciences Infrastructure Committee and the Science Science and Technology Committees, that the mandate that every appropriation for announced the elimination Laboratory had made the and Technology Committee. House Congresswoman Donna Edwards will help a county construction project include appro - of the backlog of untested 1,000th “hit” by comparing Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that the lay the foundation for a strong future for priations for the cost of artwork is followed. and uncollected DNA sam - crime scene DNA to known House Democratic Steering and Policy our nation," Speaker Pelosi said. "Her The Panel is also responsible for approval of ples from convicted felons offender samples in the Committee, led by Co-Chair Rosa keen intellect and powerful voice as a tire - the artwork to be created and displayed. that had grown to more than State’s DNA database. The DeLauro of Connecticut, voted to recom - less advocate for her constituents and all Johnson, a resident of Waldorf, is an 24,000 by the end of 2006. 1000th hit involves the pos - mend Rep. Edwards for the two committee Americans will make Congresswoman Architectural Supervisor for the M-NCPPC. The backlog elimination itive comparison of DNA appointments. Edwards a leader in the New Direction Examples of her work include renova - was the result of additional from evidence in an "These are two tremendous committee Congress' efforts to expand on an tions to Alexandria City Hall, the Duke funding for new positions unsolved Maryland homi - assignments," said Edwards. "I would like Innovation Agenda that invests in University Bio Science Building and the cide. This information has to thank my colleagues for the opportunity American ingenuity and repairs a crum - been forwarded to the inves - to serve on these committees. bling infrastructure that will get our econ - tigating police department See DATABASE, Page A 7 We face serious challenges and I look omy moving and create jobs." See CONFIRMED, Page A 7 Mikulski Calls for A Summer Learning Day O’Malley Celebrates "I will continue to fight to make sure no child is left out or left behind" Enactment of Health By PRESS OFFICER more affluent peers can be Sen. Barbara Mikulski’s Office explained by unequal access to Care Expansion summer learning opportunities. Maryland Law Provides Coverage to WASHINGTON, D.C. - The resolution was co-spon - New Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D- sored by Senators Benjamin L. More than 100,000 Adults and Children Cardin (D-Md.), Russ Feingold Md.) introduced a resolution to By PRESS OFFICER designate July 10, 2008, as (D-Wis.), Edward M. Kennedy Office of the Governor "Summer Learning Day." (D-Mass.), Richard G. Lugar (R- The resolution, intended to pro - Ind.), Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and BALTIMORE, MD (July 2008) – Governor Martin mote greater opportunities for Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va). O’Malley joined Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch to summer learning activities nation - "As a United States Senator, it celebrate landmark legislation to expand medical coverage to wide, comes amidst recent is my job to speak up for those more than 100,000 uninsured Marylanders and encourage eli - research showing that two-thirds who might not otherwise have a gible families to enroll in the expanded program. FILE PHOTO of the achievement gap between The Governor was also joined by Department of Health Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) introduced a resolu - low-income children and their and Mental Hygiene Secretary John Colmers, Department of tion to designate July 10, 2008, as "Summer Learning Day." See LEARNING, Page A 3 Human Resources Secretary Brenda Donald, state and local lawmakers, and members of the HealthCare for All Coalition and the AARP. “Over the last year, the State of Maryland took a major step forward in expanding healthcare coverage to our work - INSIDE Governor Swears-In Members of ing families, our small businesses, our seniors, and our chil - dren,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “I want to thank Neighbors Columns: The State Board Of Education Speaker Busch, Chairman Hammen, Senator Middleton, and Morningside, By PRESS OFFICER share this commitment to the all the members of the General Assembly, as well as Vinny Office of the Governor future of Maryland’s children.” DeMarco with the Healthcare for All Coalition and the AARP Brandywine, Clinton Sworn-in to the Maryland for helping us pass this legislation.” And Suitland ANNAPOLIS, MD (July State Board of Education today “Healthcare is not a privilege - it is a right. The Working Neighbors Page A2 2008) – Governor Martin were: Families and Small Business Coverage Act provides health - O’Malley officially swore-in James H. DeGraffenreidt, Jr. care coverage to some of our neediest residents as well as members of the Maryland State (Baltimore City resident) – Mr. reduces the burden on the insured, who pay to cover the costs Summer Science Camp Board of Education, a twelve- DeGraffenreidt is Chairman and of the uninsured,” said Speaker Michael E. Busch. “I com - Kicks Off At Bowie member body that serves as the CEO of WGL Holdings, Inc., the mend Governor O’Malley, Chairman Pete Hammen and the State, Former NASA policy making panel for parent company of Washington entire General Assembly for making tremendous strides in Maryland’s public schools, public Gas Light Company, for which he providing quality healthcare for all Marylanders.” Astronaut and Exxon libraries, and vocational rehabili - also serves as Chairman and “For too many Marylanders, a life without health care Mobil Engineers Speak tation services. CEO. Washington Gas serves means a life of suffering and isolation,” said AARP Maryland to Students “I am proud to appoint these over 980,000 customers in the Senior State Director Joseph DeMattos, Jr. “With this legisla - four public servants to the State Washington metropolitan area tion, Maryland has taken the first steps towards relief for our Community , Page A3 Board of Education, and am con - and surrounding region. neighbors who have struggled without care.” fident in their ability to act on Ivan C. A. Walks, M.D. Prior to the legislation, Maryland had almost 800,000 res - Noted Black behalf of the students and parents (Montgomery County resident) – idents who were uninsured, and was ranked 44th in providing of Maryland’s public schools,” Dr. Walks is CEO of Ivan Walks healthcare for parents through Medicaid. As a result of the Entrepreneur, Joshua said Governor O’Malley. “With and Associates, LLC, a consult - legislation, Maryland has moved up to the 21st position, I. Smith, Begins the historic investments our State ing firm specializing in the areas becoming one of the nation’s least restrictive states in provid - has made in public education of health and public safety. As a FILE PHOTO ing health care to adults and children most in need. Business Talk Show Former member of the House of over the last several months, we former Chief Health Officer for During the event, Governor O’Malley presented Alanna Delegates, Obie Patterson is on CBS can be confident that the mem - appointed to the Maryland bers of the Board of Education Business, Page A5 Parole Commission.