Maryland News & Current Events | Public News Service

Maryland has more than 750,000 renter households, representing 33% of all households in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Report: MD 'housing wage' 9th highest in U.S.

With rising housing costs an ongoing issue, a new report shows how fast rents have increased in Maryland and nationwide. The National Low Income …

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…

The Poor People's Campaign said if poor and low-income people voted at the same rate as those in higher income brackets, they would have the power to sway elections in every state. (AI/Adobe Stock)

Poor People's Campaign rallies in D.C. ahead of election

With chants of "We are the swing vote," poor and low-wage workers gathered in Washington, D.C., recently to rally and strategize ahead of the …

A 2022 survey found that half of all adults in the United States said someone in their family had experienced a severe mental health crisis. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Report: MD needs to increase support for 988 mental health crisis system

A new report looking at the rollout of the 988 suicide and crisis hotline finds a wide variance between states, with Maryland among those taking …

Maryland schools served more than 34 million breakfasts during the 2022-2023 school year. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD schools serving thousands fewer meals post-COVID

The latest Maryland School Breakfast Report finds tens of thousands fewer kids are being served post COVID. The end of pandemic era waivers two …

On most farms, pregnant sows are confined to a small

Report: Restaurants allow abuse, disease risk at MD animal farms

Many food producers have made progress since 2008 toward ending the use of gestation crates for pregnant pigs, according to a new report from animal-…

The number of Maryland seniors reporting insufficient sleep increased to 29%, according to the American's Health Rankings Senior Report from the United Health Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD senior health ranks 10th in nation; challenges remain

A new report found Maryland's older residents face worsening physical and behavioral health and looks at the possible reasons. The America's Health …

The initial phase of the Maryland Tutoring Corps Grant Program will reach 80,000 students in the state. (Adobe Stock/AntonioDiaz)

Report: Maryland ranks 22nd nationally in overall child well-being

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has published its annual Kids Count Data Book and the report showed the toll the pandemic took on educational progress…

The FBI last year received more than 200 complaints of the

Elder financial abuse highlighted during AARP PROTECT Week

Saturday is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and AARP Maryland is observing its annual PROTECT Week to highlight elder financial abuse. FBI data from …

People in prison in Maryland will be able to take higher education courses offered in Fall, Spring and Summer sessions. (Adobe Stock/AI)

MD expands prison educational access to all 12 state universities

In a new arrangement, people in prison in Maryland will have access to programs at all the state's public universities. The Maryland Department of …

Advocates want the Biden Administration to require ships to use low-sulfur fuels or zero-emission technology in U.S. waters. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates call on Biden administration to decarbonize maritime shipping

With the Port of Baltimore nearing a return to full commercial operations, advocates are renewing their call for an executive order to address …

Nationally, the number of state legislators from the working class has declined since the prior session where 129 or 1.8% were working class. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Only 1% of MD lawmakers are from working class

A new study found the number of state legislators from working-class backgrounds are scarce in Maryland and nationwide. Researchers from Duke …

Nationally, more than 9 million adults with asthma live in counties receiving a failing grade for at least one air pollutant, according to the American Lung Association. (Adobe Stock)

MD air quality highlighted during Asthma Awareness Month

May is Asthma Awareness Month and a report on air quality shows mixed results for Marylanders. The American Lung Association recently released its 25…

Some states disenrolled so many children that they had fewer enrolled than prior to the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Millions disenrolled from CHIP nationwide

As pandemic-era protections were lifted a new report showed the number of children on Medicaid has varied widely between states, with Maryland doing …

The United States has 25,000 conventional supermarkets and about 15,000 additional grocery retail stores of different kinds, employing more than 2.5 million people. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Report: Grocery revenues exceeded cost increases; profits remain elevated

A new report from the Federal Trade Commission casts doubt on the idea that rising grocery prices in Maryland and nationwide have been due to retailer…

A report by the Bipartisan Policy Center found an aging election workforce may be a factor in the increasing turnover rate. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Increasing turnover among election officials a long-term trend

A new report shows the increase in turnover among election officials in Maryland and nationwide is not as dramatic as many have feared. The …

A new Maryland law would limit tech companies' ability to collect location data. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Assembly strengthens data privacy for Marylanders

Advocates are cheering the General Assembly for legislation protecting Marylanders' data privacy and are calling on Gov. Wes Moore to sign the bill…

More than 700 students from colleges and high schools across the nation will participate in the balloon launches during today's solar eclipse. (Adobe Stock/AI)<br />

Maryland students to study eclipse’s effect on atmosphere

As solar eclipse spectators are gathering in the path of totality, teams of students from Maryland and around the nation are preparing to launch …

Salvage cranes from up and down the eastern seaboard have relocated to Baltimore. (Adobe Stock)

Patapsco River conditions slow progress on Key Bridge salvage

With temporary channels open to shallow draft vessels only a week after the collapse of the Key Bridge, officials see a much slower path to …

The Environmental Working Group said multiple studies indicate pesticide levels in the body drop when people adopt an all-organic diet. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Report: 75% of conventionally grown produce has pesticide residue

Marylanders shopping for fresh produce may want to consider a new report that finds chemical residues in much of the crop. In its 2024 "Shoppers …

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 …

A draft rule would require Maryland employers to provide at least 32 ounces of water per hour to each employee exposed to heat stress conditions, every workday. (Adobe Stock)

MD Labor Dept. finalizing new heat stress standard for workers

With hotter summers bringing hotter working conditions, the Maryland Department of Labor is implementing a heat stress standard to protect workers …

The bill would offer minors covered by Medicaid access to individual, group and family therapy. (Adobe Stock)

Bill would provide behavioral health services to MD minors without diagnosis

The General Assembly is considering a bill to expand access to behavioral health services to Marylanders younger than 18. This afternoon, the Senate …

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 …

A National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy report illustrated how some wealth was built through discriminatory practices including racially restrictive deed covenants. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Philanthropy must do more to repair past harms

A new report argued many charitable foundations need to examine the origin of their wealth and repair harms done. The National Committee for …

Construction on a six-home development in Fairmount Heights began Oct. 13. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Affordable housing meets cutting-edge energy tech in MD's Fairmount Heights

By Kayla Benjamin for The Washington Informer.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Ne…

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…

Data from 2021 estimated only 3.5% of organic waste generated in Baltimore was diverted for composting. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates see composting as alternative to incineration of Baltimore’s food waste

The founder of the Baltimore Compost Collective wants Baltimore to ditch trash incineration, fight climate change and grow healthier food. Marvin …

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 …

Howard County had the highest credential attainment, at more than 72% of working-age adults. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: MD near top in number of adults with post-high school credentials

A new report assessing post-high school educational attainment shows Maryland doing better than most states, but says work remains to be done…

Ground-source heat pumps can operate in temperatures as low as -22 degrees Fahrenheit. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD grid can manage transition to electric heating

A recent study shows Maryland's electric grid is well positioned to manage the transition to electrification as outlined in the state's climate goals…

Congress is proposing gradually increasing the federal Child Tax Credit to $2,000 per child in 2025. (AI/Adobe Stock)

Report: MD children doing well overall, racial gaps persist

A new report looking at child well-being finds Maryland doing better than most, but racial disparities persist in the state. The Baltimore-based …

Active radon mitigation involves a pipe installed under the foundation leading outside the home with a fan to draw radon away from the structure. (Francesco Scatena/Adobe Stock)

Marylanders encouraged to test for radon this winter

January is National Radon Action Month, and officials are asking Marylanders to test their homes for the radioactive gas. After smoking, radon is the …

The most overpaid CEO on the As You Sow list makes 5,400 times more than their average employee. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Firms that overpay CEOs are underperforming S&P 500 average

A recent report looking at executive compensation found companies with the most overpaid CEOs had lower returns to shareholders than the S&P average…

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 report found the number of Americans with diabetes was nearly 32 million, an 11% increase over last year. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland ranks 11th in nation in new health report

A new report by the United Health Foundation shows some good news in Maryland along with concerning trends in chronic conditions. The America's …

Washington, D.C., Public Service Commission data from last year showed 1,260 gas leaks in the District, 3% more than in 2017. (Adobe Stock)

DC Public Service Commission puts Project Pipes on hold

Advocates are applauding the Washington, D.C., Public Service Commission's decision to pause a Washington Gas infrastructure rebuild known as Project …

The number of children who were victims of labor trafficking in Maryland and served by state workers grew from 26 in 2019 to 72 in 2021, according to a new survey. (Adobe Stock)

Study calls for changes to address child labor trafficking in MD

A new study recommends state agencies change their methods to address child labor trafficking. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of …

Among the thousands of PFAS chemicals, many are used to make household or industrial products stain-resistant or nonstick. (Oona Tempest/KFF Health News)

'Forever chemicals’ found in freshwater fish; most states don't warn residents

By Hannah Norman for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Serv…

Global warming is impacted by atmospheric ammonia and nitrogen oxides, both from animal waste and fertilizers. (Adobe Stock)

NASA grant funds study on impact of farming techniques on greenhouse gases

NASA-funded research using satellites to study atmospheric nitrogen will examine how different farming approaches affect greenhouse gas emissions…

Nationally only 26% of cases are diagnosed at an early stage when survival rates are much higher. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: MD needs to do more for high-risk lung cancer population

The American Lung Association has released its annual State of Lung Cancer report - showing Maryland needs to do more for high-risk patients…

Students in Howard Community College's IT apprentice program are paid around $21 per hour to start. (Adobe Stock)

HCC apprentice program opens doors for students

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Se…

Federal Trade Commission data for 2023 show Marylanders have been scammed out of $120 million. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

Advocates urge Marylanders to watch out for fraud this holiday season

With the holidays on the horizon, advocates are reminding older Marylanders to watch out for scams during the upcoming season. Federal Trade …

Community members fought to protect a playground after learning about a zoning proposal for a gas station, which would have required its removal. From left: Jeff Cronin, Al Powell and Paul Rowe. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

Prince George’s County playground almost torn down to put up a gas station