Cal Ripken Jr. marries Judge Laura Kiessling

Anne Arundel County Circuit Judge Laura Kiessling and Cal Ripken Jr., the Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer, married over the weekend, according to a Ripken spokesman. The couple has been dating for more than a year, since Ripken, 58, moved to Annapolis. The spokesman confirmed that the couple is living in the area, but declined to provide details of their wedding. Kiessling, 54, changed her name this week to reflect her marriage status, identifying herself on the Circuit Court website as the Hon. Laura S. Ripken, administrative judge for the 5th Judicial Circuit. She could not be reached for comment at her offices in Annapolis on Friday, although the Circuit Court building directory has been updated to reflect her name change. A spokesman for the former shortstop confirmed last summer that the couple had been dating for a few months after they attended an Orioles game in July. Cal Ripken and his former wife, Kelly Ripken, divorced in April 2016 after nearly 30 years of marriage.

— Ron Fritz and Rick Hutzell

Appeals court denies activist a place on ballot

Progressive activist Jerry Segal's request to appear on Maryland's U.S. Senate ballot has been denied by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. "We knew that it was a big lift for them to change the ballot at this point, but it was something that was doable," Segal said Friday. Segal had hoped to appear on the ballot representing the “Bread and Roses” party, which he said emphasizes promoting peace internationally and creating an equitable society at home. Segal, 74, of Montgomery County, was on the Democratic primary ballot on June 26 after spending more than $1 million on the race. Sen. Ben Cardin won the nomination and is seeking his third team on Nov. 6. He is opposed by Republican Tony Campbell and independent Neal Simon, whose campaign said it submitted more than 17,000 signatures to earn a ballot spot. Segal filed a court challenge seeking to appear with the Bread and Roses party, a self-identified socialist group.

— Jeff Barker

Reisterstown man gets 25 years for child porn

A 56-year-old Reisterstown man was sentenced in federal court on Friday to 25 years in prison on charges that he traveled to the Philippines to have sex with children and produced child pornography. U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander also ordered Martin Hall to pay $125,000 in restitution to victims. “Martin Hall traveled to the Philippines to abuse minors, filmed the abuse, and brought those images back to the U.S.,” U.S. Attorney Robert K. Hur said in a statement. “This sentence, which includes restitution to the victims, sends a strong message that we will bring these criminals to justice to try to save even more children from becoming victims, and to help child victims recover.” Hur also said officials were able to prosecute Hall without requiring the victims to testify because they had photo and video evidence. According to a plea agreement, Hall began traveling to the Philippines in 2006 to engage in sexual conduct with a 16-year-old girl, and went on to produce images of other girls as young as 12.

— Jean Marbella

Baltimore, Howard counties expand mental health services

Baltimore and Howard counties are proposing to expand their mental health services provided by police. Baltimore County Executive Don Mohler announced plans Friday to expand the county’s mobile crisis teams to round-the-clock availability. The teams, which are staffed by a police officer and mental health professional from the Affiliated Sante Group, currently operate only from 9:30 a.m. until 1 a.m. Meanwhile, the Howard County Police Department announced it is expanding its mental health unit from two employees to four. Howard County’s mental health unit, which will now have three police officers and one mental health professional, provides tracking and follow-up support for subjects with mental health concerns who have been in contact with police. The unit is separate from the mobile crisis teams which respond to incidents as they happen. The two police officer positions for the mental health unit are being reorganized from vacant positions elsewhere in the department. There’s no additional cost, said Howard police spokeswoman Sherry Llewellyn. In Baltimore County, Mohler’s proposal to expand crisis teams follows a key recommendation of an independent review of how police and first responders handle mental health calls earlier this year.

— Pamela Wood