Preakness: Maryland racing's moment of truth

From the Alibi Breakfast to the solid-silver Woodlawn Vase and the Black-eyed Susan blanket draped over the winning horse, the Preakness Stakes is steeped in history and tradition. Saturday's much-anticipated contest at Pimlico Race Course will be — as it has been for generations — Maryland's biggest annual sporting event.

The Talk: Jack Johnson, the liquor tax and waste-to-energy

In today's edition of The Talk: Are we doing enough to prevent more Jack Johnson-style corruption in Maryland? Could the alcohol tax increase actually be a good sign for consumers? Gov. Martin O'Malley explains his decision to sign the waste-to-energy bill -- but he's still wrong.

Why the alcohol tax is a good thing for drinkers

On Thursday, Gov. Martin O'Malley plans to sign into law a 3 percent sales tax on alcohol, Maryland's first increase in alcohol-specific taxes since 1972 (and the first on hard liquor since the Eisenhower administration). The alcohol industry has warned the state's drinkers of this impending increase with something of a doomsday air; liquor wholesalers and retailers spent the 90-day legislative session telling consumers that the "dime a drink" proposal being considered would really amount to much more, and the last-minute switch from an excise tax to a sales tax has done little to change their tune. One liquor store on the Baltimore City/County line used its marquee in recent weeks to advise customers to stock up before the new tax takes effect.

O'Malley makes the wrong call on waste-to-energy

Gov. Martin O'Malley issued an unusually detailed and thoughtful statement to explain his decision yesterday to sign legislation that will make waste-to-energy incineration a Tier 1 renewable resource in Maryland, on par with wind and solar power. The bill had turned into a battle ground between the companies that build and operate incinerators and virtually all major environmental groups in the state, which opposed the bill. It is clear that the governor considered the issue carefully and went beyond the talking points on both sides. For that, he deserves credit. The question is more complicated than either side acknowledged, and the decision of whether to sign or veto was a tough call. Still, he made the wrong choice.

The Talk: What's going on at Western High?

In today's edition of The Talk: A wrong-headed graduation policy at Western High School, the importance of hate crime laws, and Tom Schaller circling back on right wing extremist rhetoric

Why hate crimes matter

The attack on a transgender woman in a Rosedale McDonald's has led to widespread condemnation of her assailants and bewilderment at the inaction of bystanders — including a (now former) McDonald's employee who videotaped the whole incident. But the question of whether the attack should result in hate crime charges has proved more divisive.

The Talk: Unconstitutional prayer at the Naval Academy

In today's edition of The Talk: Closing campaign finance loopholes for the heavy hitters and little guys alike; giving Harriet Tubman the recognition she deserves on the Eastern Shore with the creation of a national park; the state attempts to set the record straight on the State Center redevelopment, and Dan Rodricks calls for a new anti-littering campaign.

Did Newt Gingrich just endorse Obamacare?

So wasn’t opposing health care reform — the dreaded Obamacare plan signed into law last year — supposed to be the rallying cry of all good Republicans seeking to oust President Obama?

The Tubman Park

Few historical figures are deserving of greater public recognition and tribute than Maryland's own Harriet Tubman. Although typically mentioned in history books as a conductor of the Underground Railroad, the many accomplishments over her long life — and her connection to her native state — are not widely known or adequately appreciated.

Loopholes for the little guy

Maryland law allows small political contributions to be bundled together and reported as "lump sums" in disclosure reports, and to hear defenders of the practice talk about it, the tactic is merely the campaign finance loophole for the little guy. The fat cats have their limited liability corporations, personal loans and political slates that allow them to funnel tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars into candidates' campaign accounts with no public disclosure whatsoever; the lump sum is just the same thing for the 50-50 raffle and bull roast crowd. What's the harm?

The Talk: Who's to blame for the tolls?

Alonso's new administrators

Baltimore City schools CEO Andrés Alonso says he's not concerned about the "optics" of hiring 16 new highly paid headquarters staff at a time when school budgets are shrinking and the system is shedding hundreds of "excess" teachers and other personnel through buyouts.

Blame the ICC, failed leadership for massive toll increase

When the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (now properly known as the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bridge) opened in 1952, motorists paid $2.80 for a round-trip. Had that Opening Day toll been tied to inflation, the same commute would cost $23.61 today.

The Talk: Juvenile jail, oil industry execs and mistreated Inner Harbor workers

In today's edition of The Talk: New numbers should lead to a smaller Baltimore juvenile jail, oil executives can't defend their tax breaks on Capitol Hill, an advocate says Inner Harbor tourism industry workers are mistreated and Ron Smith worries it's too late to set America back on the right path.

Better health by 2015

Baltimore City Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot unveiled an ambitious initiative this week aimed at improving the overall health of Baltimore citizens by 2015. It sets practical goals for reducing the most serious health risks and acknowledges that achieving them will take the combined efforts of the city's hospitals, schools, social services agencies, foundations and private businesses. If it works, it will be a major achievement for Dr. Barbot, who arrived in Baltimore a year ago. But the plan is maddeningly short on details about how such a complex collaboration would actually work and who would direct the effort.

The Talk: Merit scholars, illegal immigrants and food trucks

Today's edition of The Talk includes the juxtaposition of stories about cuts to merit scholarships and the grant of in-state tuition to illegal immigrants, the need for more order for the city's food trucks, and a defense of Northeast Baltimore, despite a recent spike in crime.

Distinguished Scholars vs. illegal immigrants? Here's the real outrage

The juxtaposition on the front page of Wednesday’s Sun was striking to many readers: An article on the state’s decision to allow illegal immigrants to get in-state tuition at Maryland community colleges (and eventually four-year universities) ran next to another about Maryland students losing merit scholarships because of budget cuts. To many people, this looks like a case of the state taking money from the deserving and giving it to the undeserving.

Good news from Penn National

We on the editorial page have been strongly critical of Penn National since its entree into Maryland horse racing last year on the grounds that we believed they were interested solely in finding a way to bring slots to the tracks -- or block competition for their existing casinos nearby -- rather than actually making a go of horse racing. Fairness dictates, then, that we make note of the company's application this week for a license to resume harness racing at Rosecroft Raceway, which Penn National bought at auction in January for $11 million. The company plans to run 20 race days this year and 50 next year, assuming it gets a license, which seems likely.

The Talk: Lacrosse suspensions

In today's edition of The Talk: Talbot County boys suspended for carrying a pocket knife and a lighter; oyster poaching on the Chesapeake; and the less than stellar side of Nancy Grasmick's legacy.

A sour oyster stew

Maryland is heavily invested in restoring the Chesapeake Bay's oyster population, as well it should be. The tasty bivalves are not only prized by epicures and the watermen who harvest them but also by all those who care about the bay's health because, as filter feeders, oysters remove excess nutrients from the water.

Zero tolerance? Zero common sense

Talbot County residents are no doubt sleeping easier after the school system used a policy of zero tolerance for deadly weapons to crack down on two high school lacrosse players who were caught with a small penknife and a lighter used to repair their sticks. However, we feel it important to warn them that they still may not be safe. After all, we hear that the baseball and softball players bring dozens of long, aluminum clubs with them to games and practices. For that matter, children as young as kindergarten routinely carry sharp, wooden sticks, and there are even special machines in virtually every classroom to hone these "pencils" to murderous points.

The Talk: Reclaiming the Inner Harbor for Baltimoreans

In the wake of last week's ideas for adding some "wow factor" to the Inner Harbor, Federal Hill resident Jake Stern says the city should be considering ideas to make the space attractive to residents, not just tourists. A space like Chicago's Millennium Park would do the trick; zip lines, not so much, he says.

Can the U.S. trust Pakistan?

Osama bin Laden’s death in Pakistan last week at the hands of Navy SEALs was a moral and symbolic victory for the U.S., but it complicated the already tense relationship between the Obama administration and Islamabad. The feeling in Washington is that the Pakistanis either were complicit in hiding bin Laden or are simply incompetent. Pakistanis, meanwhile, are furious the Americans violated their country’s sovereignty by mounting a covert mission deep inside their territory without the government’s knowledge or consent. Voices on both sides are questioning whether the alliance can survive.

O'Malley should trash waste-to-energy bill

Virtually every major environmental group in the state is urging Gov. Martin O’Malley to veto a bill that would classify waste-to-energy incinerators as a “Tier 1” renewable resource, on par with wind and solar power, but the governor has yet to commit to either signing or rejecting it. On the surface, it sounds absurd that burning trash would be considered on the same level with truly nonpolluting energy sources, but the question becomes more complicated when considered in the broad context of waste disposal and energy policies. Dumping trash in landfills isn’t good for the environment either, proponents of the bill point out.

The Talk: Gansler and the fracking lawsuit

Today's edition of The Talk kicks off a new format for the Second Opinion blog. Aside from some techical advantages for us, the new style should help make the blog a bit more visually appealing. It also will affect the way we handle comments. You won't have to wait around for us to approve comments anymore, but you will have to register and log in to comment, just as you do to comment on stories on the main Sun site. (Sorry, Anonymous.) Fortunately, registration is quite easy, and even more so if you have an account with Facebook, Twitter or a variety of other common services.