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Choice Hotels International of Silver Spring has announced the launch of Choice Hotels Music — an "innovative new music" initiative designed to give artists the opportunity to deliver their music to millions of consumers and retain ownership of their works while, at the same time, drive donations from Choice Hotels to leading nonprofits, a company statement said.

As part of Choice Hotels Music, the company will produce original music and offer consumers the chance to download these songs for a limited time for free at ChoiceHotels.com. With each download, a cash donation will be made to a featured cause or charity.

First up for download is the Hurricane Katrina-inspired song, "My Brother's Keeper" by Holly Montgomery, with benefits going to national nonprofit Rebuilding Together and its efforts to help rebuild the Gulf Coast and New Orleans.

Business activity rebounds in August

Business activity rebounded in August in Maryland, according to the latest survey by the Federal Reserve in Richmond after unexpectedly falling last month, with the general business activity index rising to 8 from minus?5 last month.

Survey respondents reported an increase in sales, customer traffic and employment compared with July. However, respondents also indicated a decline in prices and inventory levels. Expectations for activity six months from now rose after declining significantly in July.

Despite the increase in business activity at their companies, respondents' assessment of the state and national economy remained pessimistic in August, as the business activity indices for the state and nation remained in negative territory.

Montgomery College gets $200K Nasdaq grant

Montgomery College has secured a $200,000, two-year grant from the Nasdaq OMX Educational Foundation to support an existing endowed scholarship fund for students participating in the Gordon and Marilyn Macklin Business Institute Honors Program.

The foundation started an endowed scholarship fund with the Montgomery College Foundation in 2008. Dedicated to the memory of Gordon Macklin, the former president of the National Association of Securities Dealers, and founder of the Nasdaq exchange, the fund helps Montgomery College institute students with tuition and other expenses.

Potomac lawyer pleads guilty in tax return case

Gerald Katz of Potomac, a lawyer with Katz & Stone in Rockville and Vienna, Va., pleaded guilty Thursday in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County to two counts of willful failure to file Maryland income tax returns for 2004 and 2005. All told, Katz owes the state $222,108, according to the Comptroller's Office.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 19. Katz also faces possible sanctions from the Maryland Bar Association, including the loss of his license.

Sodexo, rights group join to help worker conditions

Sodexo of Gaithersburg, which provides food and hospitality services, and the Coalition of Immokalee (Fla.) Workers, which works for human rights in the U.S. agricultural industry, have agreed to join forces to help improve farm worker wages and working conditions in the tomato fields of Florida. The agreement takes effect when the fall harvest begins in Florida.

The agreement puts in place a strict Florida tomato supplier code of conduct — developed and implemented with input from farm workers — that supplements Sodexo's existing supplier code of conduct, according to Sodexo information. Sodexo also will pay a 1.5-cent premium for every pound of Florida tomatoes purchased, with the premium going directly to improving wages for tomato harvesters who are part of Sodexo's supply chain.

Through the agreement, Sodexo, along with other coalition partner companies, will steer its tomato purchases toward those growers that try to meet the specific code of conduct, and away from those growers that continue to be associated with abusive labor practices.

Two indicted in alleged mortgage fraud scheme

A mortgage originator and a homebuilding executive, plus the modular home company he owned, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Baltimore in connection with an alleged mortgage fraud scheme.

John S. Morrison IV, 55, of Columbia was indicted on two counts of mail fraud and Clifford M. Seibert, 57, of Berlin and Seibert's company, Modular Homes Wholesaler of Berlin, were indicted on two counts of wire fraud, according to U.S. District Court records.

The indictments also seek forfeiture of $431,317 from Morrison and $363,808 from Seibert.

The charges involve the sale of a building lot in Glen Rock Borough, Pa., just north of Baltimore County, a false appraisal and loan application for a modular home, and payment for work not done, according to prosecutors.

Morrison and Seibert each face up to 40 years in prison. Seibert pleaded not guilty Monday in U.S. District Court and was released on personal recognizance. Morrison was released on conditions, according to court records.

"We are mystified by the case," said Seibert's attorney, Joseph L. Evans of the Office of the Federal Public Defender in Baltimore.

"As we understand the case, as explained by prosecutors, it involves receiving draws prematurely, and then doing the work the draws were for," Evans said. "The amount in question appears to be under $10,000. We are baffled as to why the U.S. government is pursuing this case."

Morrison's attorney, David F. Mister of Timonium, did not return a phone message seeking comment.