Baltimore Checkbook

​3 things to know about tax reform in 2017

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1. Expect tax reform to be a high priority With Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and the White House, the likelihood that tax reform will be a high priority in 2017 is virtually assured. Both President-elect Donald Trump and the House Republicans have issued fairly detailed blueprints of how they would like to reform the nation’s tax laws. Although there are differences, their proposals are more alike than they are different. Even though the Senate Republicans have not put out…

Sagamore Spirit to release 111 proof cask strength...

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Although Sagamore Spirit’s new distillery is not yet up and running the company will release its second product, Sagamore Spirit Cask Strength Rye Whiskey, before the end of the year. The distillery, owned by Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, released its first product, Sagamore Spirit Straight Rye Whiskey, in May and is looking to open its Port Covington distillery property in early 2017. The Cask Strength Rye Whiskey will be available this month where the Straight Rye Whiskey is already sold in Maryland,…

Housing Commissioner Graziano exits with $116,524...

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It will cost Baltimore taxpayers $116,524 to pay Paul Graziano for unused vacation and personal leave time as he exits as housing commissioner next month. Mayor Catherine Pugh on Tuesday revealed the total amount — which will be more with Graziano’s city pension after a 16-year tenure tacked on — after she accepted the resignation of the embattled housing chief. Graziano is also head of the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, a federal agency run by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban…

CineBistro's 'dinner and a movie' theater to debut...

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Movie theaters across the country have a wide customer base from young children with their parents for animated movies to teenagers with friends and adults on a date. Baltimore’s newest theater, CineBistro, however, is looking to cater to a specific group of guests. With a chef-inspired menu and full bar, CineBistro is open to only guests 21 and older and offers full food and drink service from your seat, which is leather-bound and reclines. CineBistro is slated to open in the first quarter as…

Holiday slump sets in at the office. Or maybe it's...

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On my walk to work this morning, it was clear the city is quieter. The usually bustling streets are sparse with people. Even the traffic seems a little lighter. And as I strolled around downtown during lunch hour, a time which usually brings hoards of people streaming out of their offices in search of food and a break from their desks, I took notice of how slow everything felt. ‘Tis the season of the holiday slump. It’s tough to be productive when you’re worried about travel plans and holiday decorating…

Two Baltimore-area business owners plead guilty in...

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Two Baltimore-area retail store operators have pleaded guilty to charges related to their roles in receiving more than $7 million in separate food stamp fraud schemes. Mohammad Shafiq and Muhammad Sarmad each face a maximum of five years in prison for conspiring to trade Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for cash instead of food. Shafiq allegedly obtained more than $3.7 million in payments for food sales that never occurred between October 2010 and July 2016. Sarmad allegedly…

Tennessee pharmacy to buy 865 Rite Aid stores for...

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Nearly 900 Rite Aid stores are being unloaded in a sale meant to allow the Illinois-based Walgreens to inch closer to acquiring the Camp Hill, Pennsylvania-based pharmacy chain. The two companies announced on Tuesday morning 865 Rite Aid stores will be sold to Tennessee-based Fred’s Pharmacy for $950 million. The companies did not disclose which Rite Aid locations would be part of the sale. Both Rite Aid and Walgreens operate almost 100 locations in Greater Baltimore. The sale is in response to…

Southwest Airlines mechanics file lawsuit alleging...

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In a sign that negotiations between Southwest Airlines mechanics and management are not going well, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association filed suit against Southwest Airlines late Friday in U.S. District Court in Arizona. The lawsuit alleges that Southwest has committed multiple violations of the Railway Labor Act during contract negotiations, which have now dragged on for more than four years. AMFA accused Southwest of negotiating in bad faith, misrepresenting negotiations to AMFA members,…

Maryland IT firm to add 100 jobs, expand HQ

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Bethesda-based InfoZen LLC will continue growing in the region, with plans to expand its corporate headquarters and create 100 new positions by the end of 2017, the company announced Tuesday. The more than 20-year-old firm, which provides advanced IT services for the federal government, is renovating its offices at 6700 Rockledge Drive, near Marriott International Inc.’s current headquarters and Lockheed Martin Corp. The project will add 25,000 square feet to its space and upgrade computer equipment,…

Greg's Bagels in Belvedere Square reopening under...

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Greg’s Bagels, a popular gathering spot that weathered Belvedere Square’s heyday and down times, has sold. The 30-year-old shop located in the rejuvenated Belvedere Square will reopen in January under new ownership. It was recently sold by Greg Novik, the jovial owner for three decades, to Tommy Hearn. Novik closed the shop in mid-August after receiving a diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer. “The Greg’s Bagels crew is currently cleaning and painting in hopes of reopening in early January,"…