Public Safety: Purses stolen, windows broken for attention, heater for cats ignites boat & home

Fourteen purses valued at $35,050 were stolen from the Louis Vuitton store at the Towson Town Center.

A man was found shot and stabbed in a wooded area of Glen Burnie early Sunday. 

A Frederick woman was killed in an accident on Interstate 270 southbound.

A Cub Hill man was arrested and charged in a series of break-ins at businesses in Parkville and Fullerton and reportedly told officers that he had committed the crimes "for attention."

A Joppatowne family was trying to keep stray neighborhood cats warm, instead the heater ignited a boat and their home, causing significant damage.

Health & Education: Schools close early for snow; new name picked for Elkridge school

A new elementary school in Elkridge will be called "Ducketts Lane Elementary," and some residents think it could be a little more creatively named.

See what Marylanders had to say when Patch posed the question: Would schools be safer with armed officers?

Business: Free breakfast at Chick Fil A; Gino's opens in Harford

Regal Cinemas, Harris Teeter and Burlington Coat Factory have all been confirmed as tenants at Laurel Towne Centre.

Chick Fil A locations around the region were offering free breakfast on certain days in January and again in February.

Gino's opened its first location in Harford County in more than 30 years. Once a fixture in Aberdeen, the re-branded burger and chicken chain welcomed guests to its new Aberdeen locale last week.

Entertainment: Young sportscaster talks Ravens

On the sports talk show where Cullen Little is a regular guest, the Guilford resident said he's not sure Joe Flacco can make it back to another Super Bowl. That's not the story. Little is 12.

Government & Politics: Leopold found not guilty on one charge; General Assembly talks guns, dogs, gas tax

Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold was found not guilty on one charge of misconduct. Circuit Judge Dennis Sweeny said having officers drive Leopold around to remove his opponent's campaign signs did not amount to misconduct in office.

Also in Annapolis, the Maryland General Assembly is in full swing.

Senate President Mike Miller's plan would raise $300 million through a sales tax on gasoline and would allow local governments to impose a 5 cent tax.

Among the topics, bills in the House of Delegates and Senate would create a new standard where all dog owners are presumed liable for dog attacks, regardless of the breed of the animal. They would also ease pressure on pit bull owners and landlords of tenants with pit bulls.

Marylanders seem to favor life sentences over the death penalty. A new poll by Annapolis-Based Gonzales Research shows support for banning assault weapons while only 25 percent of those polled want to see Gov. Martin O'Malley run for President.

Montgomery County officials want to ban fracking in Maryland. While at least one lawmaker said the practice could significantly boost the state's economy, two Montgomery County legislators think the environmental risk is too great.

Del. Bill Frick (D-Dist. 16) is considering a run for the Maryland Attorney General seat, he told Patch. Frick's fellow District 16 representative, Sen. Brian Frosh, is also exploring a run.

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