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lawmakers convene on the state house this morning... to begin a special session called by the governor to decide whether to expand gambling in the state. state. it will cost taxpayers about 24-thousand dollars for each day the legislature is in session. lawmakers are set to decide whether to add table games and a sixth casino in maryland. the governor says it will create 25-hundred jobs... .and pump millions intt the economy. the maryland constitution allows the governor to call a special session if there are extraordinary occasions.but some of the voters we spoke to don't think gambling warrants a special session. (25:25) "it seems that there are more important issues...." (18:02) "they've been paid off by the mafia the gamblers, the casino owners how do you think donald trump made his billions....?" billions....?" it's still unclear how long this session will last... and whether measures to expand gambling will even pass.and

even if lawmakers pass the measure, it must still be approved by voters on the november ballot. a disturbing story out of prince george's county.. where a child molester is so subtle... he's followed by a girl to a public playground in broad day light. light. and as karen gray shows us... it was all caught on camera. camera. ((take pkg)) 3

the old steel mill at sparrow's point... has a new owner...but more than one thousand workers' jobs could

still be on the chopping block. the previous owner ... r-g steel ... filed for bankruptcy back in may.on tuesday, the plant was sold at auction for 72 million dollars... to a liquidation company that deals in scrap metal.union officials say they're still waiting for news about their contracts. meanwhile ... county leaders vow to help them fight for their jobs. bid."> at one point... the mill employed more than 35-thousand workers. save some money on your back to school shopping.beginning sunday, clothing and shoes priced at 100 dollars or less will be exempt from the six percent sales tax. it's all apart of maryland's tax free week.comptroller peter franchot made the announcement at mondawmin mall yesterday. "the main point is to get

people out to these stores, these stores employ hundreds of thousands of marylanders, our friends our neighbors, so lets shop local, lets save some tax money from the 12th to the 18th." 18th."a list of exempt and taxable items is available on our website at foxbaltimore dot com slash newslinks. a disturbing sight in las vegas prompts dozens of calls from drivers on their commute. mannequins dressed in business suits... were hung from nooses on two las vegas billboards weddesday.. as part of an apparent publicity stunt. nevada highway patrol officials called the signs vandalism and said the owners of the billboards had not sold the ad space to anyone. both mannequins have since been removed. legendary astronaut... neil armstorng is recovering from heart bypass surgery this mornn. mornning.according to his wife... the 82-year old is doing great.amstrong became famous back in 19-69 when he and fellow apollo 11 astrounaut buzz alddrin landed

on the moon.it was armstrong who took the first step and declared... one small step for man... one giant leap for mankind.he now lives in western ohio. the biggest renovation ever at the national aquarium is almost underway. when it's complete, visitors will be able to stand in a bubble that makes them feel like they are inside a tank with the actual animals. only thing better? getting in with them now. joel d. smith is lucky enough to be doing that this morning, and he joins us live now to ttlk about why this exhibit is in need of a 12 million dollar upgrade. good morning joel d. 3

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the bill does more than just add a casino... casino...we'll tell you the other things it does that could save the state money... and give more money to casino operators.next in our cover story. ((bump out)) there are projects. and there are game-changers.

those ideas that start with us rolling up our sleeves... ...and end with a new favorite room in the house. and when we can save even more on those kinds of projects... ...with advice to make them even better... ...that's a game-changer in itself. more saving. more doing. that's the power of the home depot. get this decorative vanity and mirror set at a special buy of just $199. you know what's exciting? graduation. when i look up into my students faces, i see pride. you know, i have done something worthwhile. when i earned my doctorate through university of phoenix, that pride, that was on my face. i am jocelyn taylor. i'm committed to making a difference in people's lives, and i am a phoenix. visit phoenix.edu to find the program that's right for you. enroll now. 3

maryland lawmakers returnto annapolis today... to convene their ásecondá specialsession this year.but this one...could bethe most contentious...as lawmakers considera controversial bill toexpand gambling. in our cover story... john rydell examines the high-stakes battle aslawmakers begin a "special session gamble. gamble"...18 ((nats))by 20-16...maryland gamblers...could be rolling the dice....at up to six casinos. ((nats))the bill submitted by governor o'malley...calls for "live" table games...like black-jack and poker.and...it calls for another casino in prince george's county. many supporters...would like to see it built....at the national harbor...on the potomac river. (governor) "it allows us to

create jobs and it will allow us to realize almost immediately $100 million in revenue for our public schools."((commercial))but long before lawmakers have even begun their debate...advocates on both saturating the airwaves. now...speical inttrest grouops...and lawmakers are scrutinizing the legnthy bill. it would require most casino owners...tt purchase their own gaming machines.they're currently purchased or leased...by the state of maryland.a gaming workgroup...predictssthe transition...could save the state...up to 80-million dollars a year. the state...currently receives 67-percent of revenue from each casino.but that amount would be reduced... to 56- percent...with more money going back to casino operators. but that's not enough for the developer of maryland llve...at arundel mills. david cordish...is still trying to block a casino at the national harbor.he fears it will undermine the health of the industry...and saas the state should wait...until after all other

casinos are up and running. (cordish) "so therefore, you can see what their revenues are, you can see what effect, right now, it's all guesswork." the new casino at arundel milll...is being blamed for a 32-percent drop in betting... at hollywood casino in cecil county. so much so...that operators there...plan to remove 500 of their slot machinee...and return them to the state. (brochin) "i ean can you imagine returning 500 slot machines? i mean that's going to come into play for me as a public policy question." in response to those concerns...the bill aads other provisions to financially protect owners of existing casinos.and if the bill passes as is...all maryland casinoss could stay open 24-hours a day...7-days a week.but state comptroller peter franchot...believes the special session...is a big mistake. (franchot) "there iss no crisis, this is not about jobs, this is not about revenues, this is simply about doing special favors for a special interest, the gambling company."but supporters say

the addition of table games....ill keep maryland ccsinos competitive...with those in other states. and supporters say a casino at the national harbor...would create five thousand construction jobs....and more than three thousand permanent jobs. (baker) "a destination resort, that's what we're talking about, the national harbor where people are going to come in spend money but also shop and eaa, those things are revenues for prince george's county and the state."if a majority of p.g. county voters say "no" to gambling...a casino at the national harbor ... would not be built. but if a majority of marylandd voters approve...the ballot question...table gameswould still be allowed...at all other casinos. but that all depends...on passage by the general assembly. john rydell, fox 45 news at ten. the rioles try to make it 5 st. straight...find out how steve johnson did... in his starting debut on the mound. next in sports. ♪

[ telephone rings ] how's the camping trip? well, the kids had fun, but i think i slept on a rock. ♪ the best part of wakin' up what are you doing? having coffee. ohh. ♪ is folgers in your cup

better schools. that's what a world-class resort casino at national harbor would mean for maryland. but it won't happen if the special interests get their way. with thousands of local jobs and millions for maryland's schools on the line. we need to fight back. call your lawmakers and tell them to put national harbor on the ballot this november. because it's not up to the special interests, it's up to you.

bruce cunningham has fox 45 morning sports. sports.

we're always showing our purple pride around here, as we prepare for the first preseason game tonight.this is imari and nevaeh.... they says... win ... lose or tie... ravens fans til we tie! and this is thomas.and he's showing his love for the purple and black with this ensemble.he's a diehard ravens

fan! show us your purple pride. you can upload photos and videos to us through purple -at -fox baltimore -dot- com. and you can see those pictures on our "see it shoot it send it" page at foxbaltimore dot com. or you can go to our facebooo page.. facebook dot com slash foxbaltimore... click on "inssde fox45" on the left side of the screen. coming up in our 6 o'clock hour... a louisiana charter school is under fire today.the outrageous thing they can require their female students to do.and what school officials won't allow them to do... if they áareá pregnant.