AP-via Politico- ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland has become the first state south of the Mason-Dixon line to abolish the death penalty. Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley signed the measure at a crowded ceremony on Thursday. Attending was one-time Maryland death row inmate Kirk Bloodsworth. He is the first person in the U.S. freed because of DNA evidence after being convicted in a death penalty case. Maryland is the 18th state to abolish the death penalty. The bill will not apply to the five men the state has on death row, but the governor can commute their sentences to life without parole. … [Read more...]