Latest Maryland and Delaware news, sports, business and entertainment

C&O CANAL-LAUNCH BOATS

C&O Canal offers boat rides at Williamsport, Md.

WASHINGTON (AP) The National Park Service is offering boat rides on the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal at Williamsport.

Starting Saturday, and continuing every weekend through the summer, the agency will provide launch boat tours along a re-watered section of the old shipping canal.

The rides are offered four times daily for up to 12 passengers on a first-come, first-served basis.

The boat rides are free in this introductory year.

The park service says it will add a second launch boat program in mid-June in Washington's Georgetown neighborhood.

The canal runs for nearly 185 miles from Georgetown to Cumberland along the Potomac River. The adjacent towpath is a popular hiking-and-biking trail.

The park service said last year that it aims to make Williamsport a star attraction of the park.

VOLUNTEER MOUNTED PATROLS

Volunteer mounted patrols to debut in Howard Co.

SAVAGE, Md. (AP) Howard County police are getting some equine assistance this Memorial Day weekend.

The department has established a new volunteer mounted patrol unit. Twelve people will conduct patrols while riding their own horses. The unit starts work this weekend in the Savage area.

The mounted volunteers won't have any police powers, but police say they will report any suspicious activity and deter crime.

Police are also planning targeted traffic and seatbelt enforcement over the weekend on major roadways in the county.

GUARD UNIT HOMECOMING

Members of Delaware Guard unit welcomed home

DOVER, Del. (AP) Members of a Delaware National Guard unit that served in Afghanistan are being reunited with their loved ones.

Gov. Jack Markell will be among those on hand Monday for formal homecoming ceremony at the state fairgrounds in Harrington for the 164 soldiers from the 1049th Transportation Co.

The Seaford-based unit was deployed to Afghanistan in May 2011 and returned to the U.S. last week.

Markell also will mark Memorial Day by attending the centennial dedication in Dover of a monument memorializing Delaware's role in the American Revolution.

WILD ACRES

Md. encourages backyard wildlife habitat

ANNAPOLIS, MD. (AP) Maryland natural resources officials says state residents can help battle the loss of wildlife habitat by providing food, water and shelter for birds, reptiles and other species in their backyard.

The Department of Natural Resources says habitat loss is the top global threat to wildlife and plants. DNR officials say helping combat the loss of habitat can be as simple as placing nest boxes around your house or planting flowers and shrubs to attract wildlife. Organizers say backyard wildlife habitat not only provides food and shelter for wildlife, but can beautify the landscape while helping control soil erosion and keeping sediment from running off into waterways.

NAVAL ACADEMY-GRADUATION

About 1,000 to graduate from Naval Academy

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is scheduled to address graduating students at the U.S. Naval Academy.

About 1,000 students will become commissioned officers in Annapolis on Tuesday.

Many of the students will be commissioned as Navy ensigns, and others will be commissioned as 2nd lieutenants in the Marine Corps.

Commissioning will take place at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium.

Panetta was sworn in as defense secretary in July. He also served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency from February 2009 to June 2011.

HURRICANES-CHESAPEAKE

El Nino could hamper hurricanes, help Chesapeake

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) Forecasters says this hurricane season could be less active than last and that has environmentalists and researchers hopeful the Chesapeake will avoid a repeat of heavy rains that dumped pollution into the bay last year.

Last year's storms included Irene and Lee, which caused widespread flooding along the Susquehanna River, a major source of freshwater in the bay. Runoff from the pair is being blamed for algae blooms this spring that have led to fish kills.

Forecasters say the El Nino warming of the Pacific could develop this year and affect Atlantic winds, suppressing hurricane development.

Bay researchers say fewer storms mean less pollution, but they warn one big storm can seriously affect the bay. That's why controlling storm runoff from roofs, roads and other paved surfaces is important.

ORIOLES MOVES

Orioles designate OF Hall for assignment

BALTIMORE (AP) The Baltimore Orioles have designated veteran outfielder Bill Hall for assignment and recalled pitcher Stu Pomeranz from Triple-A Norfolk.

The Orioles also recalled catcher Ronny Paulino from Norfolk on Friday and optioned Luis Exposito to the same minor league club.

Hall was batting .286 with one homer since joining the team on May 12. He had seven at-bats in six games.

Manager Buck Showalter expressed hope that Hall would pass through waivers and accept an assignment to Norfolk.

Showalter said the Orioles wanted to add Pomeranz to "keep the integrity of the bullpen." The right-hander made two scoreless appearances with Baltimore earlier this season.

Paulino hit .300 (9 for 30) with three RBIs in nine games for the Orioles earlier this season. Exposito was batting .059 in eight games with Baltimore.