Public News Service

According to NOAA data, since 1980, the U.S. has sustained 376 weather and climate disasters with a cumulative cost of $2.6 trillion. (Adobe Stock / AI)

Van Hollen introduces federal 'climate superfund' legislation

New federal legislation would make polluters pay for the costs of climate change mitigation. On Thursday, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., introduced …

Baltimore Tree Trust ha plantado casi 17.000 �rboles en toda la ciudad desde 2008. (Andrew Kazmierski / Adobe Stock)

Comunidad trabaja para combatir la isla de calor de Baltimore

Dado que la ciudad de Baltimore experimentó un calor récord este verano, los esfuerzos locales para combatir el efecto de isla de calor …

Six states received more than $1 billion each in tax revenue from undocumented immigrants. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Undocumented immigrants paying nearly $100 billion in taxes annually

A new report found undocumented immigrants are paying substantial taxes in Maryland and nationwide. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy …

In Maryland, more than 48% of tipped workers make less than $17 an hour. (wavebreak3/Adobe Stock)

New report measures benefits of MD’s 2024 minimum wage increase

Many Maryland workers are benefiting from the minimum wage increase that went into effect at the beginning of this year. But a new report from Oxfam …

The Port of Baltimore Federal Channel was fully reopened when restored to its original operational dimensions of 700 feet wide by 50 feet deep on June 10. (Adobe Stock)

Senate committee hears testimony on Key Bridge response

Last week, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee heard testimony on the state and federal response to the collapse of the Key Bridge…

Nationally, it's estimated 38 million family caregivers provide unpaid labor worth approximately $600 billion per year. (Adobe Stock)

Assembly considers grants to assist MD family caregivers

Advocates are calling on Maryland lawmakers to fund a grant program to help family caregivers. A 2021 study indicated about 760,000 family …

Last year, Income Driven Repayment programs resulted in student loan cancellation for more than 800,000 borrowers nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Program could bring student debt cancellation for some MD borrowers

Marylanders with student debt may have an opportunity to have some or all of it forgiven but time is running out. The average student loan debt of …

Ellicott City flooding in 2016 and 2018 were both described as one-in-1,000-year flood events. (Cheryl Crumm/Adobe Stock)

Bill would require fossil fuel companies to help pay for climate impacts

Advocates are asking Maryland lawmakers to establish a superfund to help hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the costs of climate change…

AARP reports 62% of Maryland voters in 2022 were 50 or older. (Sergey Novikov/Adobe Stock)

Lobby Day brings advocates to Annapolis to focus on Maryland seniors

Advocates will head to Annapolis today as AARP Maryland conducts its annual lobby day. The group's staff and volunteers will meet in person with …

Insurers would be prohibited from charging for access to the online real-time benefits system. (Adobe Stock)

MD Assembly considers reforms to health-insurance coverage

Committees in both chambers of the General Assembly are hearing testimony on a measure to change how health insurance companies in Maryland make treat…

The last federal government shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019 lasted 35 days. (Adobe Stock)

Rally calls on Congress to fund government, raise federal employee wages

Federal employees rallied in Washington D.C. this week calling on Congress to raise their wages and avoid a government shutdown. With more than 120,…

New one- and two-family homes and townhouses would be required to have at least one EV-capable parking space. (Herr Loeffler/Adobe Stock)

'Better Buildings Act' would mandate electrification in new construction

With Maryland's commitment to be carbon neutral by 2045 on the horizon, the General Assembly is taking up the issue of building codes. During this …

More than 600,000 Marylanders participate in SNAP in an average month. (Adobe Stock)

One-year extension of farm bill buoys food insecure in MD

The November continuing resolution included a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill, marking a temporary reprieve for Marylanders relying on …

The Environmental Working Group published a peer-reviewed study in 2020 estimating more than 200 million Americans could have PFAS contamination in their drinking water. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Proposed EPA Cuts Would Slow PFAS Cleanup

Environmental advocates said proposed budget cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency will slow cleanup of toxic "forever chemicals," per- and poly…

More than 7 million Americans are receiving Supplemental Security Income. (Adobe Stock)

Social Security Administration Raising Awareness of SSI in Maryland

The Social Security Administration wants to make sure Marylanders know about the Supplemental Security Income program. Supplemental Security Income …

The new Kids Count Data Book indicates 54% of 3- and 4-year-olds in Maryland were not enrolled in preschool programs between 2017 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Maryland Ranks 21st for Child Well-being

The new Kids Count Data Book found the child care system still struggling in the wake of the pandemic. The Annie E. Casey Foundation report showed …

Estimates indicate Maryland will lose $69 million of federal funds per month. (Piman Khrutmuang/Adobe Stock)

MD SNAP Benefit Reductions Will Total Nearly $700 Million in 2023

With the end of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotments, hunger advocates are sounding the alarm over food insecurity …

If enacted, the pilot program would begin on July 1. (Adobe Stock)

MD Legislature Considers Four-Day Workweek Pilot Program

A bill in the Maryland Legislature would create a pilot program to study the impact of a four-day workweek. The pilot program would create a tax …

Maryland's Broadband Expansion Incentive Act has 74 cosponsors, including a dozen House Republicans. (Adobe Stock)

MD Legislature Considers Broadband Expansion

The Maryland Legislature is looking at ways to expand broadband access in the state and advocates are weighing in. Gov. Wes Moore's broadband …

A new report states home repairs and electrification offer enormous local job growth opportunities. (Charles Taylor/Adobe Stock)

Study: MD Needs to Repair Thousands of Homes to Meet Climate Goals

A new report found Maryland will need to repair hundreds of thousands of homes occupied by low and middle-income people in order to meet its climate g…

60 days notice when the decision is made to terminate or allow the current public health emergency to expire. (Adobe Stock)">

Food Insecurity Looms Amid Inflation, End of COVID Era Supports

The issue of charity around meals is a common theme during the holidays, though this year the prospect of a sudden drop-off in federal benefits has …

The Appalachian Regional Commission POWER Initiative is estimated to have created or retained more than 39,000 jobs since 2015.(Adobe Stock)

Garrett County, MD Wins Grant for Broadband Expansion

The Appalachian Regional Commission has announced its 2022 POWER grant awards, and Garrett County Maryland is on the list. The POWER program focuses …

Green roofs can help address stormwater runoff concerns such as flooding. In recent years, hurricanes, tropical storms and increased heavy rainfall have hit Marylanders with extensive<br />flooding problems. (Adobe Stock)

MD Communities Win 'Green Streets, Green Jobs, Green Towns' Grant

Communities in Maryland have been awarded portions of a $1 million grant to support infrastructure projects such as improving local waterway health an…

The expanded Child Tax Credit, a form of guaranteed income for families with children, reached an estimated 1.2 million children in Maryland, according to White House estimates.(Adobe Stock)

Income Programs' Differences Show Equity is Key

By Katie Fleischer for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Emily Scott for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

A lack of neighborhood trees can contribute to

Improving Urban Tree-Canopy Equity a Community Collaboration

By Patrick Dunn for Planet Detroit.Broadcast version by Emily Scott for Maryland News Connection with support from the Solutions Journalism Network S…

Multiracial bachelor's and associate degree students were the most likely of all racial and ethnic groups to report it was very difficult to remain enrolled in school in the fall of 2021, the report found. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Emotional Stress a Pandemic Challenge for College Students

Current and prospective college students in Maryland and beyond are struggling with pandemic-related disruptions which can jeopardize their studies…

Maryland lawmakers recently passed the Climate Solutions Now Act. It commits the state to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions 60% by 2031, expand clean energy use, and invest in underserved communities. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Baltimore Lags Behind Cities in Solar-Power Installations

The amount of solar power installed in just nine U.S. cities exceeds the amount installed in the entire country 10 years ago, a new report finds…

According to the 2020 Yale Climate Opinion Maps, 72% of adult Marylanders think global warming is happening and 69% are worried about it. (Adobe Stock)

'Climate Solutions Now Act' Heads to Gov. Hogan's Desk

The Maryland General Assembly has passed legislation that, if signed into law, would strengthen the state's commitment to reducing greenhouse-gas …

The Sentencing Project report found, despite the number of young people arrested declining over the last 10 years, the number of referred youths who were detained increased slightly. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Youth Incarceration Rates Severely Undercounted

Although youth incarceration rates in the U.S. are on the decline, a report from The Sentencing Project reveals the number of young people being …

Maryland currently does not have a minimum age of prosecution for charging minors with crimes. (Adobe Stock)

MD Bill Would Limit Police Interrogation of Youths without Adult Present

In Maryland, police are not required to call guardians or an attorney before interrogating a young person accused of a crime. A bill making its way …

According to the Maryland Department of Correctional Services and Public Safety, the annual cost of incarceration is $46,000 per year, with medical and mental-health service costs even higher for incarcerated people age 50 and older. (Adobe Stock)

Compassionate-Release Bill Would Streamline Medical, Geriatric Parole Process

A bill making its way through the Maryland General Assembly would permit the compassionate release of certain incarcerated older adults in the state…

In a new survey of HBCU students, 55% reported their housing situation was not secure at some point in the last year. (Adobe Stock)

Report: HBCU Students Face Obstacles to Meeting Basic Needs

The pandemic's lingering effects are being felt by some college students struggling to make it to graduation. A new report focuses on the barriers …

Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, unpaid leave is inaccessible for 56% of working residents. (Adobe Stock)

Paid Family Leave Coalition to Host Annapolis Rally for Time To Care Act

With the Maryland legislative session in full gear, advocacy groups are planning to host a rally in Annapolis Monday to push lawmakers to pass paid …

Maryland is a leader in the regenerative farming push through its Million Acre Challenge, a goal to convert half of Maryland's agricultural land to healthy soil by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Fighting Chesapeake Bay Pollution through Regenerative Farming

Chesapeake Bay states have until 2025 to implement watershed pollution-reduction practices, and a new report shows "climate-smart" farming in …

PFAS chemicals also have been found in firefighters' protective equipment, known as turnout gear. (Adobe Stock)

MD Bill Would Ban Sale, Use of Products Containing PFAS Chemicals

Maryland lawmakers and firefighters are pushing legislation to lower the risks of exposure to PFAS, a class of toxic chemicals found in many products…

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan recently signed an executive order that allows nursing students to serve as licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants and certified medical technicians to assist with the health-care worker shortage. (Adobe Stock)

MD Bill Would Curb Price Hikes by Health-Care Staffing Agencies

A bill in the Maryland General Assembly would address price-gouging among health care staffing agencies increasing their rates amid a national worker…

Maryland also offers the Maryland AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which ensures underinsured and uninsured people living with HIV/AIDS in the state are able to pay for medication. (Adobe Stock)

MD Groups Host Health Insurance Events for Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

February 7 marks National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and Maryland health-care advocates see it as an opportunity to provide health-care options …

Melissa Ladd of Maryland Moms Demand Action says soon-to-be-introduced legislation would lead to a ban on

Maryland Moms Demand Action; Rally Calls for "Ghost-Gun" Ban

Around 125 gun-law reform advocates and gun-violence survivors rallied in Annapolis Tuesday, less than a week after gun deaths across Baltimore and a …

The People's Commission to Decriminalize Maryland's 2022 legislative priorities hone in on homelessness, poverty, youths, drug policy and bodily autonomy. (Adobe Stock)

MD People's Commission Lists Legislative Priorities for 2022

As Gov. Larry Hogan revealed his proposed Fiscal Year 2023 budget in Annapolis yesterday, the People's Commission to Decriminalize Maryland announced …

A new survey finds 90% of Latinos support creating new national parks and wildlife refuges across the nation to provide areas for outdoor recreation. (Adobe stock)

Report: Majority of Latinos Back Funding Chesapeake Bay Recovery

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- With more Latino voters expressing concern about climate change, a new report found a majority of Latinos in the Chesapeake Bay …

Maryland officials originally said no homes would be destroyed during construction of new toll lanes on Interstate 270, but revised plans indicate some will. (Wikimedia Commons)

Bill to Curb “Broken Promises” on MD Plan to Widen Beltway, I-270

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland lawmakers and environmental groups rallied Wednesday for new legislation they say would improve the process of the state's …

When Maryland increased the tobacco tax more than a decade ago, retail cigarette sales dropped 30% across the state. (Adobe Stock)

A Push for Maryland Tobacco Tax to Repair Health Inequities

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland's General Assembly is reconsidering a bill to tax tobacco, with backers touting public health benefits, and health equity …

About 42% of moms in Maryland prisons are single-parent breadwinners, many of whom would benefit from job-skills programs when they're released. (Wikimedia Commons)

MD Groups Urge Veto Override for Women’s Pre-release Program

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Maryland Justice Project and its partners are urging the General Assembly to override Gov. Larry Hogan's veto of a bill to …

A new report says families' access to the federal cash assistance program known as TANF has been limited by policies rooted in racism. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Cash Assistance Goes to Fewer Low-Income Families

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program is reaching fewer families in poverty than earlier federal assistance …

Washington, D.C.'s Metro transit system is proposing slashing half of its bus routes because of a $500 million budget deficit. (Wikimedia Commons)

D.C. Transit System Cuts Seen as Catastrophic for Climate, Workers

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- As low ridership during the pandemic continues to wipe out transit budgets across the country, environmental groups in the …

U.S. Census takers are beginning their door-to-door surveys of Baltimore residents, but will also be setting up mobile sites where people can get help filling out census questionnaires. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. Census-Takers Target Baltimore to Boost Response Rate

BALTIMORE -- There may be a knock on your door soon, as the U.S. Census Bureau is following up door-to-door with households in Maryland that have not …

Although 98% of Maryland has internet access, about 324,000 families are still lacking, according to a 2019 report. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed Tax on MD Internet Providers Could Close Broadband Gaps

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- With many people needing internet service more than ever during the pandemic, a Maryland economist is recommending an extra tax on …

Businesses in Ellicott City, Md., still are struggling to repair damages from floods in 2016. (Wikimedia Commons)

Experts: States Should Focus on Flood-Resiliency Projects Despite Pandemic

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Hurricane season officially starts today, and the East Coast -- including Maryland -- could be headed into a harsh storm season …

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MD: Budget Policy & Priorities