Regional News From WBAL-TV

Officials: Smoking Materials Caused Annapolis Fire. Annapolis fire officials said a four-alarm building fire in the downtown historic district over the weekend was accidental.The fire broke out at about 1:30 p.m. Saturday between several buildings on Maryland Avenue.Fire officials said Monday that the fire was caused by discarded smoking materials. The damage was estimated at about $250,000.

Frostburg Shooter Claims Self Defense. A Frostburg State University student accused of shooting two other students, killing one, is now claiming it was in self defense.Tyrone B. Hall, 21, of Glen Burnie, said Brandon Carroll, 20, of Waldorf, and Ellis Hartridge, 21, of Washington D.C., came to his off-campus home around 4 a.m. Sunday.Hall said he was dancing at an off-campus party Saturday night when his former girlfriend pushed him in the face and pushed his partner, police said in court documents. A scuffle started, and Hall and his friends were asked to leave the party.

Coast Guard Rescues 3 On Disabled Boat In Bay. The Coast Guard has rescued three people from a disabled boat in the Chesapeake Bay.The Coast Guard received a call from Prince George’s County Fire/EMS on Sunday morning reporting that the Popa Clemons, a 21-foot pleasure craft, was disabled and drifting in the shipping channel with three people aboard.The crew of a 41-foot utility boat from the Coast Guard’s station in Annapolis rescued 40-year-old Hurley Clemens of Upper Marlboro, his son and another relative and towed the boat to a marina in North Beach. There were no reports of injuries.

Baltimore Considers Higher Public Drinking Fines. Baltimore’s City Council president wants misbehaving late-night revelers to pay a steep price for public drunkenness.President Jack Young has proposed increasing fines for public drinking, spitting, urinating and other quality-of-life offenses.Young said the measure is targeted at neighborhoods like Federal Hill and Fells Point where boozy crowds spill out of bars at 2 a.m. (Editor’s note: Perhaps Annapolis should watch this very carefully)