Maryland News & Current Events | Public News Service

The greatest number of cases eligible for the Juvenile Restoration Act have come from Baltimore. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Advocates: Juvenile Restoration Act Results Suggest Further Reforms

Maryland's Juvenile Restoration Act has been in effect for more than a year now and its impact has people talking about additional reforms. The act …

Nearly 1,000 Small Business Development Centers operate nationwide. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Small Business Saturday Highlights Local Economies

Holiday shoppers this week have no shortage of options with Small Business Saturday being observed on Nov. 26. Sandwiched between Black Friday and …

Current funding for the State Wildlife Grants Program is $65 million per year. (Adobe Stock)

Wild Turkey Restoration in MD a Blueprint for Future Conservation Efforts

As Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, many may not realize a century ago, wild turkeys were on the brink of extinction. Conservation groups are …

As part of a settlement, Experian will be required to improve its vetting and oversight of third parties that access consumer information. (Anthony Brown/Adobe Stock)

Maryland Reaches Settlements with Experian over Data Breaches

The state of Maryland has entered into multiple settlements with Experian over data breaches. The Maryland Attorney General's Office along with …

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 …

Maryland to Build Automated Weather Station Network

The state of Maryland is building an automated network of weather stations to help with forecasting and emergency alerts. The state and the …

Maryland's voting system produces a voter-verifiable paper record. (Lisa F. Young/Adobe Stock)

Advocates Call Machine Counting of Ballots Faster, More Accurate

With the likelihood of a long wait for election results nationwide, Maryland's decision to pre-process mail-in ballots may pay dividends in the …

A new report showed fully funding the pollution-reduction efforts needed to restore the bay would add $655 million annually to the regional economy. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Maryland Could See Economic Benefit from Farm Conservation Practices

A new study out this week reports Maryland could realize economic benefits from agricultural conservation efforts in the Chesapeake Bay region…

Research suggests observing bullying also can lead to adverse mental-health outcomes. (Waseem Ali Khan/Adobe Stock)

Bullying Prevention Month Brings Awareness to Victims, Perpetrators

October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month and experts are reminding Marylanders to be aware of the patterns within bullying. The …

The eviction rate in Baltimore is almost 2.5 times the national average. (Yurii Kibalnik/Adobe Stock)

Baltimore Pilot Program to Provide Tenants Legal Representation

Most tenants facing eviction do not have legal representation, but a pilot program in Baltimore seeks to change that. The cost of eviction to the …

A 2017 Learning Policy Institute survey found teachers' dissatisfaction with standardized testing pressures was the most frequently listed reason for leaving the profession. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland School Districts Navigate Teacher Shortage

Maryland is part of the national trend of school districts struggling to meet student needs with a teacher shortage made worse by COVID. More than 5…

Maryland was the last state in the union to still forbid any kind of mail-in ballot counting before election day. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland to Begin Pre-Processing of Mail-In Ballots

Maryland's back-and-forth over the pre-processing of mail-in ballots is over, as the state's highest court has weighed in. Earlier this year the …

The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports one in five adults says the pandemic has had a

MD Focuses on Mental Health for Depression Screening Day

With many people still struggling in the wake of the pandemic, this week's National Depression Screening Day is a reminder to Marylanders to take …

Data from a national survey of adults found that excessive drinking increased 21% during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Sober October Highlights Health Benefits and Raising Money for Charity

Marylanders who want a new health challenge can participate in Sober October, which -- in addition to the sobriety pledge -- offers the chance to …

Falls among adults age 65 and older caused more than 34,000 deaths in 2019, making it the leading cause of injury-related death for the age group, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)

Across MD, Community Workshops Help Older Residents Prevent Falls

One in four Americans age 65 and older take an unexpected tumble each year, and during Falls Prevention Awareness Week, experts are encouraging them …

This year, more than 70% of attempts to restrict library resources targeted multiple titles. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland Libraries Call Attention to Censorship During Banned Books Week

Controversial books are nothing new, but the incidence of book challenges and bans has increased substantially in recent years. This week marks the …

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 …

Organizers behind a new hate-crime alert system in Maryland say it will send text messages and emails to Black leaders around the state. (Adobe Stock)

MD Civil Rights Group: Hate-Crime Alert System Provides Hope

As Maryland's "Emmett Till Alerts" system goes into effect, civil-rights leaders are expressing optimism about getting a handle on hate-crime …

As estimated 143,000 young people in Maryland say they struggle to make it through the day. (Adobe Stock)

Annual Report Issues Calls for Action on Youth Mental-Health Crisis

An annual snapshot of child well-being is highlighting the urgent need to address youth mental-health in Maryland and other states. The 2022 Kids …

Americans received roughly 50 billion automated phone calls in 2021, and about 42% were placed by scammers, according to the National Consumer Law Center. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland Joins New Nationwide Battle Against Robocalls

Maryland is joining a nationwide effort to crack down on illegal robocalls. Along with attorneys general from every other state, Maryland's Brian …

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 6 youths reported making a suicide plan between 2018 and 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Mental-Health Treatment Disparities Persist for Young People of Color

The pandemic has had a significant impact on young kids' mental health and due to long-standing treatment disparities, the mental and emotional …

More than 1,000 young people were incarcerated in a Maryland youth detention center in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report Reveals Claims of Youth Crime Wave Unfounded

New research has found reports of skyrocketing youth crime are not only unfounded, but are fueling calls for stricter punishments. Data from the …

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 …

The average victim of elder financial abuse loses upwards of $120,000. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland Protect Week: How to Spot and Stop Elder Financial Abuse

Through Friday, Maryland is hosting Protect Week, to help protect against elder financial abuse. That's when someone illegally uses an older …

Morgan State Launches College for Returning Adult Learners

Colleges and universities have had to rethink higher education in the pandemic, and make the learning experience more flexible. A new program at …

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…

In 2020, 21.5 million people visited Maryland state parks for activities like fishing, boating and swimming, a 45% increase from 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Waterway Safety Tips as MD Boating Season Gets Underway

This Memorial Day Weekend, Maryland Department of Natural Resources responded to three fatal incidents; two drownings and a jet-ski collision…

The number of Maryland residents who identify as white has decreased to less than half the state's population, according to 2020 Census data. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland Dems Push for Early Primary Election Date in 2024

The Maryland Democratic Party is asking for the state to be considered for an early primary for the 2024 presidential election. The party submitted a …

History and Culture, H. Furlong Baldwin Library, Preserve the Baltimore Uprising)">

Maryland Art Exhibit Connects Past, Present in Fight for Civil Rights

A new museum exhibition in Baltimore opening to the public today aims to tell the story of Maryland's fight for civil rights, both in the past and …

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 …

The StrongerMemory program material is free to the public and can be downloaded at https://goodwinhouse.org/stronger-memory. (Adobe Stock)

MD Launches Brain Health Program for Older Adults

Maryland has launched a brain-health program in senior centers aimed at helping older adults experiencing memory loss. Called StrongerMemory…

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…

A litter trap has been installed in the Lockridge Drive Tributary. In 2021, Anacostia Riverkeeper and volunteers collected 12,440 pounds of trash from the shoreline and neighboring tributaries. (Courtesy Chesapeake Bay Trust)

Montgomery County Installs 'Litter Trap' to Keep Trash Out of Waterways

Montgomery County has installed its first-ever "litter trap," which will capture trash and debris and prevent it from flowing downstream into the Anac…

If the constitutional amendment to legalize adult-use cannabis passes, those age 21 and older in Maryland will be allowed to cultivate up to two plants for personal use. (andrea/Adobe Stock)

Marijuana Legalization in MD Up to Voters This November

Groups are raising awareness about a ballot initiative in Maryland to legalize adult-use recreational cannabis. The state House and Senate voted …

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 …

Research shows that unaddressed childhood grief and trauma can lead to decreased academic performance, mental-health issues and early mortality. (Adobe Stock)

'No Child Grieves Alone': MD Conference Highlights Bereavement Support

The last two years have been devastating for children during the pandemic, dealing with isolation along with losing loved ones. A conference held in …

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…

The lawsuit, filed by the ACLU of Maryland, was brought by seven voters in Baltimore County, along with the Baltimore County Branch of the NAACP, the League of Women Voters of Baltimore County and Common Cause Maryland. (Adobe Stock)

Baltimore Co. Ordered to Resubmit Redistricting Plan In Compliance With VRA

A federal judge has ordered the Baltimore County Council to scrap its redistricting plan after a lawsuit brought by Black residents and civil-rights g…

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 …

All Maryland Health Connection plans cover preventive services without charging a co-payment or requiring coinsurance. (Adobe Stock)

MD Extended Open Enrollment Aims to Reach More Uninsured

People in Maryland have one more week to sign up for health insurance coverage through the state-run insurance marketplace, and advocates are hoping …

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…

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