Former Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Ritter wanted to be as low-key as possible upon his return to civilian life.

Instead, he'll be given a hero's welcome as the grand marshal of tomorrow's Annapolis Independence Day Parade.

The former Green Beret, who served in three combat tours during Operation Iraqi Freedom, was honorably discharged from his service at the end of May. By the end of June, he was picked to represent th...

Published on 07/03/08

St. Mary's Elementary School was locked down this week when a man allegedly posing as a police officer tried to get into the building after following an employee through downtown Annapolis.

The woman told police she was driving near Main and Conduit streets at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday when a man approached her car. The man said he was an undercover police officer and tried to open her doors, but they were all locked, police said.

Published on 07/03/08

State officials urging safety for holiday weekend

This weekend, thousands of area boaters will take to the water as they jockey for some of the best views of the region's fireworks or enjoy a leisurely cruise following that backyard barbecue.

The Fourth of July typically sees the heaviest nautical traffic of the year, but patrol officers said they are ready to handle the high numbers.

"It really has the heaviest volume not only here in Anne Arundel County, but throughout...

Published on 07/03/08

Billed for more than $200,000 in services she didn't provide

A Severna Park woman pleaded guilty yesterday to health care fraud, admitting she billed the government and insurance companies for more than $200,000 in services she never rendered.

Virginia Vought Acree, a state-licensed clinical specialist in child and adolescent psychiatric and mental health, now faces the possibility of 10 years in prison and $250,000 in fines. She will be sentenced Oct. 7.

"Too many greedy medical provi...

Published on 07/03/08

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) - Employers cut payrolls by 62,000 in June, the sixth straight month of nationwide job losses, underscoring the economy's fragile state. The unemployment rate held steady at 5.5 percent.

The latest snapshot of business conditions, released by the Labor Department today, showed continued caution on the part of employers who are chafing under high energy prices and are uncertain about how long the economy will be...

Published on 07/03/08

Body found in bay after separate rescue nearby

KENT ISLAND - Maryland Natural Resources Police said they have recovered a body in the Chesapeake Bay, north of Kent Island.

Sgt. Kenneth Turner said the body was first spotted shortly before 9:30 a.m. today by a passing boater, between Love Point and Rock Hall. Emergency responders were diverted to the scene during a separate rescue of two boaters whose boat sank clo...

Published on 07/03/08

Hedge fund swindler surrenders

NEW YORK - The beginning of the end for a financier on the run came when he reached out to his sister-in-law. She then called her mother, who in turn called a man she had grown to trust at the U.S. Marshals Service.

Samuel Israel III, on the lam for three weeks after faking his own suicide to avoid reporting to prison, told his family early yesterday that he was considering surrender...

Published on 07/03/08