Saturday, February 11, 2012

Top 10 local stories of 2008

Published 12/28/08

The downturn in the economy, a fatal accident on the Bay Bridge, violence in Annapolis and immigration raids head the list of the year's top stories.

Paul W. Gillespie - The Capital/file Crews work to repair the eastbound span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge after an accident sent a tractor trailer over the side killing the driver.

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Capital editors' picks

No. 1: The economy
No. 2: Bay Bridge accident
No. 3: Violence in Annapolis
No. 4: Immigration raids
No. 5: Slots pass; Gilchrest ousted
No. 6: Annapolis Towne Centre opens
No. 7: Schools meet standards

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Report Abuse or Vote In order to allow the user community the ability to collectively rank the value of comments posted on the Capital Gazette websites we have implemented a thumbs-up/down system. All logged-in users may participate by voting up/down each comment. If others vote on your comment, your individual score will go up/down depending on the votes. Initially, everyone starts with a score of zero, and must earn credits to have significant voting weight. Individuals with higher scores will have more voting weight. 0 0

Illegals ARE problem. - 2008-12-29 09:13:55

I agree that illegal immigration is a HUGE problem in the state of Maryland. Because we are only one of four states that hands out driver's licenses to illegals, they are flocking to our state in record numbers. The MVA estimates 7,000 illegal aliens a month are coming into Maryland to obtain driver's licenses. It is also estimated that over 300,000 illegal aliens reside in Maryland. That means 300,000 "residents" not paying into our tax system. And to top it all off, OUR TAX DOLLARS are being used to fund CASA of Maryland, an organization that helps aid and abet illegals aliens in our state. I find it repulsive to know that some of my hard-working, tax paying friends are struggling in this difficult economy, yet illegal aliens have a support group in CASA of Maryland that assists them in finding jobs in our state. It is disturbing to know that our tax dollars are used to fund illegals, pay for their emergency health care and public school education, yet these same illegals do not pay into our tax system. It is time to end our taxpayer support of illegal aliens, end drivers licenses for illegals, and start using our tax dollars in a way that assists the legal, taxpaying citizens of Maryland.

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Brian A. - Annapolis, MD - Karma: Good

Illegal Immigration No. 4 - 2008-12-28 22:54:35

I can?t say the ILLEGAL ALIENS are completely to blame for the shape of our economy, but they are a BIG part of the problem. The ILLEGAL ALIENS send BILLIONS upon BILLIONS out of this Country every year, money we will NEVER see again. Does this help our economy?

How about the BILLIONS the American taxpayers fork out for the ANCHOR BABIES, the schooling of them, the medical care and the list goes on, and on, and on.

How about the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS paid to jail ILLEGAL ALIENS for the crimes, then the cost to deport them. Does this help our economy?

Then you have these so called activist groups that want AMNESTY for these ILLEGAL ALIENS. It would be absolute suicide for this Country if AMNESTY were granted to the 20 million or so ILLEGAL ALIENS. We have more and more people out of work everyday and they want to add another 20 million to this Country? I say, ?NO?!

If AMNESTY were ever granted to these 20 million ILLEGAL ALIENS, you can bet big money that 3 years from now, there would be ANOTHER 3-5 million ILLEGAL ALIENS demonstrating on our soil for AMNESTY. I don?t wish to lose my privilege on this site, so I will refrain from using the words that fit here.

An end MUST come to this illegal immigration. The perfect tool we have so far is E-Verify. It MUST be used on ALL businesses and Government Social Services. EVERY employee must be checked! If they are illegal, they are to be dismissed and deported!

I believe it is time for all 50 States to pass a State law, like Arizona, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina and a few others. It is time for these ILLEGAL ALIENS to go back to their home Country and get out of this Country. The problems they are causing will not go away until the ILLEGAL ALIENS are out of this Country. I think that is plain to see.

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Robert Cuncic - Smyrna,, DE - Karma: Neutral

Ms. Baldwin... - 2008-12-28 17:35:37

Congratulations, you got away with murder.

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Don W. - Davidsonville, MD - Karma: Terrible

9 great examples - 2008-12-28 13:27:17

Here is a perfect list of where ALOT of the tax $'s we are strong armed out of by MD are going. An ICE RINK for another $2 MILLION ?? COME ON!! I feel sympathy for all of you that are stuck in this suckhole state. Hey maybe you should elect ANOTHER Balt. Mayor to office...they have done SUCH great work with the city, why not give them the state? Two words describe MD and especially Baltimore: NOT BRIGHT !

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Dave Moehle - Timonium, MD - Karma: Neutral