The Daily Record News Briefs: October 15, 2008

Daily Record, The (Baltimore), Oct 15, 2008

Cel-Sci occupies new plant

Cel-Sci Corp., of Vienna, Va., and Baltimore, a biotechnology company that is developing new immune system-based treatments for cancer and infectious diseases, announced that it has taken delivery of its new, 73,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Elkridge. The $22 million facility will be used to manufacture Multikine, the company's lead cancer product, for Cel-Sci's pivotal Phase III clinical trial for first-line therapy of previously untreated head and neck cancer patients, and subsequently for sale following approval of the drug.

Farmer's market struggles

The National Harbor said the first year of its farmer's market hasn't been as successful as hoped. The American Market opened in May at the $4 billion mixed-use harbor development in Prince George's County, but has had difficulty attracting Maryland farmers. Some farmers say they have felt discouraged from participating in the market because there are many rules, as well as a lengthy application and a weekly participation fee. In addition, the first condo residents did not arrive in July as expected, limiting customers. The seasonal market ends this weekend.

Calif. claims against Grace dismissed

W.R. Grace & Co., of Columbia, a specialty chemical maker nearing the end of a seven-year-old bankruptcy, was spared from having to pay $130 million to repair damage to 16 California government buildings allegedly contaminated with asbestos. U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Judith Fitzgerald dismissed those claims and 93 others filed by governmental agencies in California. The agencies, including both state university systems, claimed that Grace's asbestos-containing products were partly responsible for damaging dozens of government properties. Fitzgerald ruled that the state agencies waited too long to file their claims.

Del. man pleads guilty to cocaine sales

A Dover, Del., man accused of selling cocaine in Baltimore and on Maryland's Eastern Shore has pleaded guilty in federal court. The U.S. Attorney's office in Maryland says 30-year-old Deshaun Dennis pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 110 pounds of cocaine and more than 3.3 pounds of crack cocaine. He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obtain unlawful identification documents. According to the guilty plea, Dennis and 38-year-old Anthony Ballard of Baltimore sold the drugs between 2004 and 2008. Authorities say Dennis organized cocaine deals for customers and collected money for cocaine purchases. Ballard pleaded guilty last week to possession with intent to distribute more than 110 pounds of cocaine.

ACLU registers voters in Shore jails

Volunteers from the American Civil Liberties Union visited two jails on the Lower Shore on Monday to help prisoners awaiting trial register to vote or apply for absentee ballots. The volunteers visited the Worcester County Jail and the Somerset County Detention Center. The deadline for Maryland voter registrations was Tuesday. Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler encouraged county sheriffs and jail wardens in a letter last month to support voter drives by the ACLU and the NAACP. According to Gansler, more than 8,000 people are in Maryland county jails awaiting trial -- and many of them are eligible to vote.