In accordance with the traditional terms of such mayoral wagers, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake announced Friday that she has agreed to send a platter of broiled crab cakes from J. W. Faidley Seafood in Lexington Market to Denver's mayor — should the Ravens lose in the Mile-High City Saturday afternoon.

Additionally, the mayor has agreed to order that the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon be bathed in blue and orange light. (The blue and orange light thing really seems like the Denver mayor wants to stick it to Baltimore.)

On the other hand, Mayor Michael Hancock of Denver agreed to send a box of dry-aged “cowboy cut” rib eye steaks from Lombardi Brothers Meats to Baltimore should the Ravens prevail.

And, Hancock also agreed to perform Ray Lewis' famous pre-game dance if the Ravens pull off the upset. That, of course, we want to see.

Both mayors joined in a...

The state’s public school system remains the top school system in the country for a fifth straight year, according to a report released by Education Week Thursday.

A leading education publication, Education Week graded Maryland public schools a B+ overall, the only state to receive such a high mark. Massachusetts, New York and Virginia followed Maryland in the ranking, each receiving B marks.

Maryland earned its best marks, A’s, in the areas of early-childhood education and preparing students for the workforce. The state’s school system received A- marks in the areas of college readiness and school accountability.

The state received its lowest mark, C-, for equity in K-12 achievement. A summary of the Education Week report can be found here. Maryland’s report card...

Amongst all the talk swirling around Ray Lewis’ retirement announcement Wednesday, isn’t the most urgent question how does his return this weekend impact the game on the field? He’s the team’s leader, but he’s also 37 and hasn’t played in more than two months.

We can talk about his future as an NFL commentator later, right? (Lewis is reportedly ready to join ESPN’s klatch of former players, post-Ravens.)

At ESPN.com, NFL Nation blogger Paul Kuharsky wrote that he thinks the attention around Lewis’ announcement this week will “sap a little bit of energy from the Ravens during the week and actually be a bit of an advantage to the upset-minded Colts.”

Colts head coach Chuck Pagano, also, of course, the Ravens’ former defensive coordinator, believes...

Seven Baltimore couples rang in the New Year — the first day same-sex couples could wed in Maryland — with marriages at City Hall just after midnight.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake presided over several of the ceremonies.

The photo above of James Scales (left) and Wiiliam Tasker (right) and the one posted below from City Hall were taken by Shoot for Equality. More photos from the historic occasion can be found on Shoot for Equality's Facebook page and brief bios of the Baltimore couples can be found at Freedom to Marry.

Happy New Year and congrats to all the newlyweds.