A digest of Baltimore news from local sources.
From the Baltimore Sun: Baltimore County police fatally shoot woman in Randallstown barricade
"Baltimore County police said they shot and killed a woman Monday after she pointed a gun at officers and threatened to kill them during an hours-long standoff at an apartment in Randallstown.
"Police identified the woman as 23-year-old Korryn Gaines. A 5-year-old boy in the home was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound but is expected to survive, police said.
"It is not yet clear whether police or Gaines shot the child, according to police.
"Gaines' uncle, Jermaine Barnett, said the child was Gaines' son. Police said they had not confirmed the relationship between Gaines and the child.
"Authorities said they did not yet know whether any of the officers involved in the shooting were wearing body cameras. The Police Department began phasing in its body camera program last month, but only some officers have received the devices.
"Police Chief Jim Johnson said that about 9:20 a.m., several warrant squad members and a uniformed officer went to the home in the first block of Sulky Court to serve arrest warrants on Gaines and a man who lived in the home.
"The man in the apartment allegedly ran from the home with a 1-year-old child but was caught by officers, police said. The man's name has not been released.
"Gaines was wanted for failing to appear in cases related to a March incident in which she was charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and numerous traffic violations, Johnson said.
"Police 'repeatedly knocked on the apartment door' and heard a man's and a woman's voice, as well as a crying child, the police chief said. No one answered the door after police identified themselves.
"An officer got a key from the landlord and opened the door to the apartment. Officers could see that Gaines had a long gun, and she pointed it at one of three officers, Johnson said. She was seated on the floor and had the 5-year-old in her arms.
"Tactical personnel were called to the home and began an hours-long negotiation with Gaines, the police chief said.
"'During that dialogue and conversation, she repeatedly pointed a long gun at the police officers,' he said.
"About 3 p.m., Gaines pointed the long gun at officers and told them if they didn't leave, 'she was going to kill them,' Johnson said.
"An officer then fired once at Gaines, and she shot back several rounds, Johnson said. Police fired again, killing her. It was unclear where in the apartment the child was during the gunfire.
"The names of the officers were not released, per an agreement with the county police union. The names are expected to be released later this week.
"Gaines' uncle Jerome Barnett, 44, said his niece 'was feisty, but she was smart and she was respectful.'
"'My niece is a good person; I never knew her to be a rowdy person,' he said."
From the Baltimore Sun: After second deluge in five years, flood-weary Ellicott City weighs how to adapt and prepare
"For the second time in five years, a deluge so large that meteorologists expect it only once in hundreds of years hit Ellicott City on Saturday, leaving residents and Howard County officials to ask: Can anything be done to fortify the historic valley town against extreme flooding in the future?
"The old mill city has rebuilt and adapted after damaging floods regularly since the 1800s — most recently, when the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee drenched the region in 2011.
"County Executive Allan Kittleman, expecting more storms ahead, gathered experts and $2.5 million last year to brainstorm how to shield homes and businesses from floodwaters.
"Some have suggested building parking garages engineered to catch stormwater that would otherwise wash down Main Street, or allowing floodwaters to pass more easily through the basements beneath historic storefronts, instead of filling them up. Kittleman's group endorsed adding more stormwater ponds and underground pipes.
"But even if the lessons of the floods in 2011 had been applied, it was unclear Monday that it would have made a difference when 61/2 inches of rain within two hours sent water roaring through town, sweeping away cars, destroying businesses and killing two people.
"'Nothing that could have been done over the last four or five years would have stopped this from happening,' said Howard County Councilman Jon Weinstein, a Democrat who represents Ellicott City. 'This would have overwhelmed the most modern of systems.'
"Now, as county officials and community leaders survey the massive sinkholes, ruptured water and gas mains, and gutted buildings, they must decide how and what they will repair and replace and whether they should prepare for a flood as bad as Saturday's — or one that is worse.
"'We're going to have to look at, is there some way we can adapt to what look like changing rain patterns?' said James Caldwell, the county's director of community sustainability. 'Six inches of rain in two hours is an unnatural event that none of us are used to and have never had to deal with.'"
From the Baltimore Sun: Urban League to kick off annual innovation in Baltimore
"The National Urban League's annual conference begins in Baltimore Wednesday with a tribute to shooting victims and a keynote address about race and economic equity at New Shiloh Baptist Church, the site of Freddie Gray's funeral.
"Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump have been invited to address the convention Thursday morning. The candidates from each party have typically attended the national event, though it is not clear they will this year.
"Clinton attended last year in Florida, along with four other presidential candidates. Trump did not attend.
"Marc H. Morial, league president, will deliver the opening address at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The conference runs through Saturday with most events scheduled to be held at the Baltimore Convention Center.
"Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake also is expected to deliver remarks.
"A career fair, networking event and health screenings are among activities scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at the convention center.
"Also Thursday, Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to President Barack Obama, is expected to speak at a luncheon. Acting U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. is scheduled to speak at a 4 p.m. plenary session.
"A panel, 'Save Our Cities: Criminal Justice Reform and Ending Mass Incarceration,' set for 8 a.m. Friday is to feature NAACP president Cornell Williams Brooks, the Rev. Al Sharpton and William H. 'Billy' Murphy, the Gray family attorney. Gray, 25, died in April 2015 after suffering a severe spinal cord injury in police custody. His death sparked rioting and looting in Baltimore in the hours after his funeral.
"Gov. Larry Hogan is scheduled to attend a luncheon Friday. Sen. Ben Cardin and others are to join a 2:30 p.m. session on 'My Vote, My Impact: Reclaiming Our Rights.'
"Saturday features a back to school expo, at which thousands of children will receive backpacks and free haircuts."