Week in Review: Burglaries and Busses

It's been another busy week in Azalea City. Here's the news in cas eyou missed it.

, burglaries were up 33 percent in 2010 from 2009 even though .

"I wasn't happy with the amount of burglaries last year," Takoma Park Police Chief Ronald Ricucci said.

Burglaries are the priority this year, Ricucci said. Last year the department worked to reduce robberies, which were down 11 percent in 2010 from 2009.

Ricucci said most burglaries happen during the day so he is having his day patrol officers and plain clothes officers target residential areas in the city. He is also having officers keep an eye on the border of Takoma Park and Washington, D.C. since many of the burglars have come into Takoma Park from the District.

, riding the bus to school can be daunting for kids. We all have memories of how intimidating it can be to find a seat among of a sea of other children. But for educators in Montgomery County, the bus ride to school can be a way to get the day started right.

It's not only about getting the kids to school safe, it's also about getting the student ready to face the day, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said at a "We Love the Bus" event at Takoma Park Elementary School Tuesday.

The event was hosted by the American School Bus Council, an organization founded in 2006 to lobby for the school transportation industry.

, by a 25-22 vote, the full Senate gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill allowing same-sex marriage in Maryland.

In a roughly two-hour debate, proponents successfully fought back five amendments, including one that would have allowed wedding service providers, including photographers, caterers and hotels, to refuse to serve gay couples.