*Lakewood, NJ: Route 88 is closed at Clover Street will be closed for a “few hours” the Lakewood PD says. A hit & run accident took place at 6:30AM (Wednesday), and the traffic light has been knocked down.

*Norwegian Cruise Lines said a woman was apparently trying to climb between balconies on a cruise ship when she fell overboard near the Atlantic City coast – on Sunday evening.

*Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver wants new laws to protect tenants in and around New York City from landlords seeking to evict them and raise rents (full story on YWN).

*A Spring Valley police officer is facing serious misconduct charges: 38-year-old David Lebron was re-indicted Tuesday on felony charges that include allowing drug deals and covering up illegal activities by writing up fake reports reports.

*The state treasurer said that New Jersey collected $533 million more than anticipated in tax revenue last year, allowing NJ Gov. Jon S. Corzine to soften some of his proposed budget cuts.

*Four NYC school system employees have been arrested on charges that they took at least $1 million in bribes from bus companies that held city contacts.

*The agency (MTA) that owns 26 acres of rail yards on Manhattan’s Far West Side is beginning talks with other developers after last week’s failure of a $1 billion deal with Tishman Speyer Properties.

*An Atlantic City (NJ) city councilman is losing his driver’s license for seven months after pleading guilty to drunk driving. Timothy Mancuso entered his plea just before his trial was to begin. He must also pay fines.

*Today will be picture-perfect: sunny and calm, with a high near near 76, according to the National Weather Service. Clouds are expected to roll in tonight, and the low will be near 56, forecasters said.

*Police are urging the public to be on the lookout for a bank robber who they say has been putting on disguises to carry out his heists. The man carried out a total of 10 successful bank robberies and one failed attempt throughout Nassau County, Suffolk County and New York City, according to Nassau County police. Police said the man was disguised as a rabbi in one robbery. (WNBC)

*BALTIMORE, MD. — Baltimore firefighters are battling a 3-alarm fire at a three-story apartment building in Southwest Baltimore. The fire happened around 6:30 a.m. on the 4900-block of Challedon Road. Baltimore fire officials say one person was burned in the fire.

*ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD. — A crash has shutdown parts of I-97 near the I-895 split. Police say a tractor trailer crashed in that area around seven o’clock this morning. The North and Southbound ramps have been closed due to the crash.

*CATONSVILLE, MD. — The father-to-be murdered in Catonsville Mother’s Day weekend before his wife gave birth was aided in his last moments by U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings. 
“It was very, very sad,” said Cummings, who arrived Carroll Fuel gas station in the 5200 block of Baltimore National Pike Saturday moments after Carlos Santay-Carrillo, 19, was stabbed. “I held his head up, just so it wouldn’t be on the pavement. It didn’t seem real.”

Baltimore County police say Santay-Carrillo was rushing to buy gas at 6 p.m. to take his pregnant wife to the hospital when a robber attacked him.

*ALLEGANY COUNTY, MD. — Some Allegany County residents are hoping to ban the Confederate flag from school grounds. A citizens group asked the school board Tuesday to adopt a policy banning the wearing or display of symbols that promote racial hatred.
Cheapest Gas in Area (Regular Gas Station – Not Club Stations): $3.59 at the Texaco in Essex – Eastern Blvd & Stemmers Run Rd

*ANNAPOLIS, MD. — State Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, who has been a dominant fixture in Maryland politics for four decades, strongly indicated yesterday that he plans to run for re-election in two years.

WASHINGTON, DC. — If you’re not feeling any respect on the roads, it’s not just your imagination. A new AutoVantage Road Rage Survey ranks the D.C. area No. 5 when it comes to rude drivers. Miami was the least courteous, followed by Boston, New York and Baltimore. You can get the most courteous driving experience in Pittsburgh, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Minneapolis and Cleveland.

*ROCKVILLE, MD. — Four people, including two high school students, have been arrested as part of a marijuana distribution investigation in Montgomery County.

*FREDERICK, MD. — The head of the Frederick Branch of the NAACP called on the FBI to conduct a civil rights investigation into the death in November of a man after he was shocked with a Taser by police.Guy Djoken also asked for release of the autopsy report on Jarrel Gray, who was shocked twice and died three hours later.

*WASHINGTON — Bottled water is being used at Children’s National Medical Center after bacteria was found in the water there, according to a hospital representative. The presence of bacteria was discovered by infectious disease inspectors during routine testing of the water, according to the hospital. The hospital did not say when the discovery was made.

*The Baltimore Police Department and Department of Transportation have released a list of traffic pattern changes that will be placed into effect on Thursday, May 15, 2008 starting at 10:00 PM. These temporary traffic patterns will last until 8 PM on Saturday, May 17, 2008.

Rogers Avenue: one-way westbound from Winner Avenue to Park Heights Avenue
Winner Avenue: one-way northbound from Hayward Avenue to Northern Parkway
Manhattan Avenue: one-way eastbound from Winner Avenue to Pimlico Road
Whitney Avenue: one-way westbound from Pimlico Road to Key Avenue
Sulgrave Avenue: one-way westbound from Stuart Avenue to Highgate Avenue
Rockwood Avenue: one-way eastbound from Key Avenue to Berkeley Avenue
Simmonds Avenue: one-way southbound from Rockwood Avenue to Manhattan Avenue
Woodcrest Avenue: one-way northbound from Northern Parkway to Rockwood Avenue.
Merville Avenue: one-way southbound from Glen Avenue to Northern Parkway.
Berkeley Avenue: one-way northbound from Whitney Avenue to Glen Avenue.
Stuart Avenue: one way northbound from Northern Parkway to Sulgrave Avenue.
Rusk Avenue: one-way southbound from Whitney Avenue to Northern Parkway.

(YW-MD03 / YWN Desk)