Baltimore County officials approved about $97,000 in loans to five shopping malls for the installation of security cameras. The loans, provided at 3 percent interest by the county's Department of Economic Development, are aimed at defraying costs from a County Council law that mandates use of the cameras. The loans went to Cherryvale Plaza and Cherry Valley Shopping Centers, both in Reisterstown; Marriottsville Shopping Center in Randallstown; and Patapsco Village Shopping Center in Landsdowne.

Synchronicity Boutique, a Pikesville female apparel shop, is getting out of adult women's clothing in order to focus on fashions for girls. The Hooks Lane clothier is adding little girls' sizes, European couture girls outfits and specially made junior suits, according to a news release. Merchandise will be discounted from 20 to 90 percent through Aug. 15 as part of the transition, the company said.

Southwest at Dulles

Southwest Airlines, the dominant carrier at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, announced details of its new service from Washington Dulles International Airport, starting Oct. 5. The Dallas-based airline will occupy two gates at Dulles, where it will operate seven nonstop flights daily to Chicago Midway, one to Las Vegas and two each to Orlando and Tampa, Fla. There will also be direct or connecting service to 35 other cities.

After being closed for nearly five months, Calvert Cliffs State Park, in Calvert County, is reopening today, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources said. The park was closed in order to make way for $800,000 worth of renovations in the day use area.

Sprinkler law passed

New residential duplexes in Fruitland will need sprinkler systems after Wicomico County Council members approved a revised ordinance that originally would have required all future residential development to have a sprinkler system. Local and state fire officials encouraged the council to mandate the requirement in all new homes but that idea only had partial council support. State law requires all townhomes and multifamily structures to have sprinkler systems. Salisbury is expected to act on a similar ordinance later this year.