Marylanders helped re-elect President Barack Obama and voted for same-sex civil marriage, for the state’s Dream Act, and for expanded gambling — among other candidates and referendums — but those were the headlines Tuesday night.

In the video posted above, Gov. Martin O’Malley congratulates the LBGT community and Marylanders for Marriage Equality at their election night watch party at the Baltimore Soundstage late last night. Maryland became the first state to support same-sex marriage by referendum, ending a 0-32 streak for similar measures.

Like President Obama, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin also won a second term. Democratic House members Elijah E. Cummings, C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger and John Sarbanes, and Republican Rep. Andy Harris, won re-election campaigns as well.

Longtime Republican congressman Roscoe G. Bartlett, who represented the western part of Maryland, lost to newcomer John Delaney, a Potomac businessman.

Two of the most anticipated races, actually voter referendums — Question 6, for same-sex marriage, and Question 7, to expand gambling in the state — were also two of the closest...

There’s a little thing called a presidential election Tuesday, but let’s not forget we have a football game to play Sunday, folks. Division game, at that. And let’s face it, after the recent debacle against the Houston Texans — in combination with season-injuries to Ray Lewis and Ladarious Webb — the Ravens’ 5-2 record doesn’t look so shiny at the moment. It may only be the lowly Cleveland Browns (2-6), but a win would feel good right about now.

At last glance, the oddsmakers have Baltimore favored by 3.5.

Most of the talk on the Ravens’ side this week centers around Ray Rice, who many feel isn’t getting enough carries, and Baltimore's suddenly vulnerable, 30^th-ranked, run defense, which must stop the Browns' Trent Richardson, who had a career-high 122 yards yards last week. According to conventional wisdom, the team that establishes their running game first will have the upper...

While the general consesus about Sandy seems to be, "It could have been a lot worse," plenty of homes, businesses, and organizations have been hit hard. One of those is Baltimore Humane Society in Reisterstown. They've been without power since Monday afternoon and the back-up generator is out. Pet food deliveries have been canceled for the week, and even the phone is out. 

Staffers and volunteers are digging into their own pockets to keep conditions sanitary and safe for the animals, but they could sure use some help. According to an email sent today from the no-kill shelter's director of public relations, Wendy Goldband, the Humane Society could use any or all of the following:

1. Donations of Science Diet Dog and Cat Food—any variety, wet or dry

2. Donations of non-clumping kitty litter

3. Monetary contributions to help aid our restoration efforts.  They can be made on our website. Or checks can be mailed to our...

A once-in-a-generation hurricane bears down, forcing schools, Baltimore City offices, polling places and businesses to shutter, probably for two days. What to do? Sit at home and wait for the electric to go out?

How about a drink?

As most of Fells Point battened down Monday afternoon, the brave folks at Pearl's bar at 1900 Aliceanna St., boarded and sandbagged up, but remained open. (See red spray paint in the above photo on the plywood covering a window on the far right.) At least a few confident — or was it nervous? — souls even found their way inside to escape the storm.

More power to 'em. Well, you know what we mean.

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