ANNAPOLIS- Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer said the city intends to test a floating island in a local lagoon that, if successful, could help clean water in the Chesapeake Bay.

Moyer also announced an eco-friendly renovation of a city parking lot and the creation of a private/public partnership to offer property owners tax-exempt, low-interest rate loans to install energy efficient equipment.

WASHINGTON - Eleven more H1N1-related deaths have been reported in Maryland, bringing the state's total to 30, according to the Maryland Public Health Services, but there is evidence the illness is in decline here.

"It looks like a big jump," but the majority of the deaths occurred earlier, "a month ago," and were under investigation, said Deputy Secretary Frances Phillips.

BALTIMORE - A new long-term partnership between the Port of Baltimore and the largest terminal operator in the country, Ports America, will bring 5,700 jobs and $15.7 million in annual revenue for Maryland, Gov. Martin O'Malley announced Friday.

The long-term lease of Seagirt Marine Terminal leaves ownership of the facility in the hands of the state and the day-to-day management of the terminal to Ports America Chesapeake.

WASHINGTON - Maryland's unemployment rate rose in October to its highest point since the recession began, but there's hope for jobs in a report showing seasonal retail positions may surpass 2008's poor numbers.

The state's unemployment rate inched up one-10th of a point to 7.3 percent, according to figures released Friday by the Department of Labor. This comes even though StateStat, Maryland's data tracking web site, reported more than 4,200 new jobs as a direct result of stimulus money.