Public News Service

A 2018 study estimated 33% of Baltimore City is a food desert. (Adobe Stock)

Baltimore food deserts highlighted during Hunger Action Month

September is Hunger Action Month and advocates in Baltimore City are calling attention to expanding food deserts. Over the summer the Giant Foods …

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 …

The Empowering the Age group in Gaithersburg funded a program to provide older adults with individualized technology supported by high school students, teaching the adults skills to help them communicate online with family members and medical providers. (Adobe Stock)

Community Challenge grants help nonprofits benefit MD seniors

A relatively small amount of money can go a long way toward helping seniors in Maryland and across the country live better lives. AARP's Community …

The Open Access portal concept was originally developed by the Aspen Institute's Food and Society Program. (Adobe Stock)

Open Access Baltimore Brings Free Support to Food Entrepreneurs

A new web resource supporting food entrepreneurship in Baltimore is open for business. Morgan State University has partnered with the City of …

Tishman Speyer has been annually donating the milled lumber from the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree to Habitat for Humanity since 2007.(Habitat for Humanity Susquehanna)

Rockefeller Tree Lumber to be Used in MD Habitat for Humanity Homes

One of the more famous Christmas trees in the world will be coming home to Maryland as milled lumber. In 2021 a family in Cecil County was …

AARP Maryland volunteers celebrated after the initial construction of a park and garden space at Baltimore's James McHenry Elementary School was completed in 2018. (Todd Nash)

Volunteers Bring Baltimore Park Back to Life

A Baltimore elementary school is getting a helping hand this week from folks who haven't been elementary students in quite a while. The community …

Urban heat islands are areas that can be up to 20 degrees hotter than nearby neighborhoods due to factors like buildings, pavement, and lack of tree cover that can amplify high temperatures. (Adobe Stock)

MD's Montgomery County Conducts Urban Heat-Mapping Project

Maryland's most populous county is embarking on an urban heat-mapping project to better understand neighborhood heat inequities, which can affect …

MD Seniors Honored for Aiding Vets, Nourishing Hungry

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Two Maryland men have received AARP Maryland's highest honors for folks age 50 and older for giving back to their communities…

Food insecurity in Maryland increased 88% during the pandemic, according to the Maryland Food Bank. (Adobe stock)

Health Group Launches New Faith-Based Grants for MD Community Projects

ANNAPOLIS. Md. - More and more people are turning to faith-based groups for help during the pandemic. In Maryland and other East Coast states…

The Capital Area Food Bank in Maryland is receiving a $400,000 grant this month. (Capital Area Food Bank)

$1M in Grants Help MD Groups Address COVID-19 Impact

BALTIMORE -- Spurred by concern for supporting underserved communities battling the impact of COVID-19, UnitedHealthcare awarded $1 million to …

Maryland's Senior Call Check program launched statewide in January, helping home-bound older residents age in place by checking on them daily by phone. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland Launches First-in-Nation Wellness Calls for Seniors

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland is the first state in the country with a program that offers daily wellness checks by phone for older residents. Since …

New cooking classes in Baltimore help participants prepare healthy meals to reduce risk of diabetes. (Adobe stock)

In National Diabetes Month, Underserved Area Gets Healthy-Cooking Program

BALTIMORE — November is National Diabetes Month, and a new pilot program in East Baltimore is teaching an underserved community heart-healthy …

People's Power Assembly members, shown here in a Baltimore rally in 2016, are part of a coalition organizing protests against President Donald Trump and the GOP in Baltimore this week. (Elvert Barnes Photography/Flckr)

Trump’s Visit to “Rodent Infested” Baltimore to Be Met with Protests

BALTIMORE – Just six weeks after President Donald Trump attacked Baltimore on Twitter as a "rat- and rodent-infested mess," a group of activists…

The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Silver Spring, Md., was defaced with racist graffiti in 2016, one of many hate-crime incidents that led the state to offer grants to help houses of worship increase security. (Episcopal Church of Our Saviour)

Maryland Grants Help Boost Security for Religious Groups

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — With the incidence of hate crimes rising in Maryland and around the country, a state grant program is now accepting …

Despite living in one of the wealthiest states in the country, more than 650,000 Marylanders struggle with hunger. (Pixabay)

Maryland Food Bank Aims to Decrease Food Insecurity

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – People around the country are stepping up to to help fight hunger, including for the nearly 665,000 struggling with food …

Chesapeake Conservation Corps members collect water samples as part of their work with organizations and communities in the Chesapeake Bay region. (cbtrust.org)

Maryland Youth Corps Helps Build State's Green Economy

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A Maryland program to help young adults prepare for "green careers" like environmental protection or green construction is …

Chesapeake Bay Trust encourages the public to purchase Chesapeake Bay plates to help restore the bay and other natural resources in the region. (BelindaMariepix/Flickr)

Bay Trust: More Things You Can Do to Save the Bay

ANNAPOLIS, Md. --The ongoing multi-million dollar effort to clean up Chesapeake Bay finally is starting to pay off. State scientists found fewer …

Young volunteers are selected to work with nonprofits around Maryland for a year. (cbtrust.org)

Young Corps Members Work to Preserve Bay

BALTIMORE -- The latest class of the Chesapeake Conservation Corps is ready to go to work cleaning up and preserving Maryland's natural treasures…

Baltimore reacted immediately to violence in Charlottesville by removing Confederate statues. (md.gov)

Outpouring of Support for Charlottesville from Maryland and Beyond

BALTIMORE – People in Maryland and around the country have held or are or planning nearly a thousand Stand With Charlottesville events…

A researcher says healthy communities have a big focus on their residents who are senior citizens. (Herb Carter)

Researcher: Seniors Key to Healthy Communities

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- It's often said that children are our future, but a researcher who has studied hundreds of rural communities argues that seniors …

Grant money gets communities involved in keeping water flowing into Chesapeake Bay clean. (cbtrust.org)

Communities Strive to Keep Bay Clean

BALTIMORE – More financial support for on the ground environmental restoration programs is on the way to Maryland counties that surround Chesape…

Maryland has 5,600 retirees who donate their time to help others in the Senior Corps. (Virginia Carter)

Senior Volunteers Play Vital Roles in Maryland

ANNAPPOLIS, Md. – About 240,000 volunteers over age 55, including some in Maryland, are being honored this month by the Corporation for …

Downed trees found in old-growth forests put valuable nutrients back into the soil. (Virginia Carter)

Maryland-Based Group Tries to Preserve the Nation's Forests

EASTON, Md. – An effort is underway to designate an old-growth forest in every county in the United States that has forestland. Maryland's …

Small water systems in Maryland have the most violations, according to a new report. (USDA)

Report: MD 12th Worst for Drinking-Water Violations

BALTIMORE – Water systems in Maryland have the nation's 12th worst record for violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act, according to a new …

PTAs raise millions of dollars for schools around the nation, but a new report says most of the money benefits children in more affluent neighborhoods. (Victoria Jordan)

Report: Millions of "Masked" Dollars Go to Affluent Schools

BALTIMORE – A new report looks at how much money is being raised by Parent Teacher Associations across the country, and reveals that schools in …

An event that highlights the work being done to improve Chesapeake Bay water quality is in its 19th year. (stateparks.com)

This Year's Treasure the Chesapeake Moves to Baltimore

BALTIMORE – This year's Treasure the Chesapeake Bay Celebration has a couple of new twists. An individual who's worked to restore and …

$Thousands rallied in Annapolis last week as Maryland lawmakers began debating a fracking ban. (Citizen Shale)$

Marylanders Pushing for Fracking Ban

BALTIMORE – One of this year's most contentious debates in Maryland centers around whether to ban hydraulic fracking. A moratorium on …

Assets for America's largest foundations are on the rise, but a new report says those working on social justice issues are not sharing in that wealth. (V.Carter)

Big Foundations Make Money, but Charitable Giving is Down

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Foundations receiving tax-deductible contributions are booming, but a new report says little of the new money pouring in makes …

Street design plays a big role in pedestrian safety, according to a new report. (fhwa.gov)

Maryland 15th Highest for Pedestrian Deaths

BALTIMORE – On average, 13 people in the U.S. are killed every day from being hit by a vehicle, and older adults and people of color are most …

Fewer people donated blood during the holidays and because of bad weather, which has led to a national blood and platelet shortage. (redcross.org)

Marylanders Asked to Roll Up their Sleeves, Donate Blood

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The American Red Cross has issued an emergency call for help. The organization needs blood and platelet donors after 37,000 fewer …

Maryland college students dress as superheroes to entertain sick children. (lym.org)

Millennials Bring Joy to Sick Children

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A company that started as a class project for two college students has expanded into a community service effort for more than 1…

A new report says foster parents need to have a bigger voice in the system. (Getty Images)

Report: Foster Parents Play Key Role in Reuniting Families

BALTIMORE — Foster parents in Maryland should play a larger role in the foster care system, a new report says. According to the report by the …

Advocates say special emphasis should be placed on teaching children to be environmental stewards. (cbtrust.org)

Teachers, Students, Volunteers to be Honored in Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - If you know someone who works hard to protect Chesapeake Bay, you can nominate them for an award for their efforts. The Chesapeake …

Judy Crane (Left) is being honored by AARP Maryland for helping other stroke survivors. She was nominated by her longtime friend and neighbor, Nancy Seiss.

Maryland Woman Honored for Helping Others

MILLERSVILLE, Md. — At 47 years old, Judy Crane of Millersville was working from home when she experienced excruciating chest pain. She was …

Students from schools across Maryland are playing a role in helping restore the oyster habitat in Chesapeake Bay. (CCA)

Saving the Bay: It Takes a Community

WESTMINSTER, Md. — What started as a small community event to draw people to downtown Westminster has turned into a city-wide effort to protect …

An online petition asks national leaders to keep the country's water clean and improve our water and sewer infrastructure. (maryland.gov)

Petition Asks Lawmakers for Safer Water, Infrastructure

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Imagine going an entire day without water. That's the idea behind a campaign with the goal of getting people to realize the …

As part of Latino Conservation Week, there's an effort to provide Latino families with local recreation opportunities. (Maryland.gov)

Maryland's Hispanic Community Supports Public Lands

BALTIMORE — It's Latino Conservation Week, and groups across the nation are focused on access to public lands for Latino families. All this …

Another ruling is expected today in connection to the death of Freddie Gray. (baltimorecitypolicedept.org)

Unrest in Baltimore and Across the Nation

BALTIMORE – Another tragic weekend – this time with police officers killed in Baton Rouge, La. Meanwhile, in Baltimore, unrest …

Long before Election Day, people can also make their voices heard by being campaign workers for the candidates of their choice. (DodgertonSkillhause/morguefile)

November Election: Making Votes Count

BALTIMORE – As the November election draws closer, advocates for working families across the nation are trying to get the word out about how …

Maryland's asthma rate is higher than the national average. (Virginia Carter)

Parents Beware: Asthma Apps Aren't All the Same

BALTIMORE, Md. - A team of doctors has developed the first mobile 'app' designed to help children and teens with asthma that is supported by a peer-…

Hip, knee and back pain can set in by overdoing it, or also by not getting enough exercise. (Kevin Patrick Allen)

Put Down the Phone and Get Moving

BALTIMORE, Md. - It may sound like a joke or an insult, but Dormant Butt Syndrome is a real issue and affects millions of Americans. It's a …

Nine of 10 Hispanic adults in Prince George's County don't have health insurance. (La Clinica del Pueblo)

Maryland Addressing Lack of Health Care for Hispanics

HYATTSVILLE, Md. - Maryland's Hispanic community has grown to about 10 percent of the total population, and many don't have health insurance…

Pollutants get into storm drains and wind up in local waterways, including Chesapeake Bay. (princegeorgescounty.md.gov)

County Honored for Work to Help Chesapeake Bay

BALTIMORE - The Environmental Protection Agency is praising Prince George's County for efforts to address stormwater runoff that ends up in Chesapeake…

A new study finds older Americans, especially men, and certain ethnic groups need to drink more water to stay healthy. (Veronica Carter)

Americans Need to Step Up Their Water Intake

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has followed up on a study that was done about a decade ago that looks at whether …

Children who grow up with a parent in prison deal with a variety of issues, including poverty and emotional trauma. (ca.gov)

Children Dealing with Impact of a Parent in Prison

BALTIMORE - There are 82,000 children in Maryland with either a mom or dad who are, or have been, in jail or prison. A new report by the Annie E…

New research could lead to sunscreen that offers better protection against skin cancer. (Veronica Carter)

Researchers: Sunscreen to Better Protect Against Cancer Could Be On Way

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Warmer weather means more time in the sun for Maryland residents, and new research underscores the importance of using sunscreen …

Activists are blogging and taking to the airwaves and social media to promote International Transgender Day of Visibility. (Meggan Sommerville)

Media Blitz for International Transgender Day of Visibility

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - There's a big push on social media this week for those in the transgender community to come forward. Thursday is International …

Monarchs only lay eggs on the milkweed plant, and it's disappearing in this country, which means so is the iconic butterfly. (Charles Lindsey/cskphoto.net)

Monarch Butterfly Can Be Saved

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Monarch butterfly can be found in fields and meadows where milkweed is common throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 20, 2024

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MD: Community Issues and Volunteering