Caught with a couple of joints he didn't get the chance to light up, Eric Staton was ordered to appear before a Baltimore judge. Two weeks later, in a basement courtroom on North Avenue, prosecutors said they would drop the possession charge if Staton agreed to pick up trash for five hours.

Perennial bill from Forehand inspired by her father

The Maryland Senate last week passed a bill that would prohibit drivers and passengers in vehicles from smoking when a child younger than 8 is present.