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

Thursday, January 20, 2022

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 …

Some lawmakers say Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's use of a smartphone app that auto-deletes messages erodes government transparency. (PxHere)

MD Bill Would Curb Hogan’s Use of Auto-Delete Messaging Apps

As states continue to grapple with widespread use of messaging apps by government employees, one of the first proposed measures in Maryland's 2022 …

Harmful "forever chemicals" from firefighting foam can leach into shallow groundwater and then potentially flow into nearby rivers and streams. (PxHere)

MD Groups Press for Action on “Forever Chemicals”

With the Maryland General Assembly set to start next week, environmental groups are urging lawmakers to regulate toxic chemicals, after a new report …

People of color in Maryland's 43rd legislative district are worried their votes won't have impact if the latest proposed redistricting map is approved. (Adobe stock)

MD Redistricting Panel Pushed to Rethink Communities of Color

Maryland's Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission released its revised district maps last week, and voting-rights groups are concerned the …

As part of the overhaul of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, military service members can get credit toward the program without an application. (Adobe Stock)

As Repayments Loom, Some Gain Student-Loan Forgiveness

Almost 27 million borrowers with federal student loans are set to start repayments in February, but some have succeeded in erasing their debt …

Researchers are only recently recognizing the difficulties of being pregnant and giving birth while a person is incarcerated, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Adobe Stock)

Pregnant in Prison: MD Legislation Proposes Alternatives

Maryland could become the second state in the nation to provide specific support for the health and well-being of incarcerated people who are pregnant…

More than 60% of women in state prisons have a child younger than 18, according to a report by the Sentencing Project. (Adobe stock)

MD Bill Would Boost Support for Incarcerated Parents

BALTIMORE -- With Maryland's General Assembly session set to start next month, a new proposed bill aims to help nonviolent offenders continue in …

No matter where you live in Maryland, the Maryland Health Connection website offers a choice of plans from multiple insurance companies. (Adobe stock)

New MD Law, Biden Plan Cut Health-Insurance Costs

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland's health insurance open enrollment period runs through Jan. 15, and whether you are younger or older, extra financial …

Fewer than one-in-five workers in the United States has access to paid family leave. (Adobe Stock)

MD Paid Leave Supporters: It's Time for the Time to Care Act

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Advocacy groups say a paid leave proposal in Maryland would provide peace of mind for workers, especially those with disabilities …

Offenders 60 years or older at the time of release are significantly less likely to return to prison for violent offenses - only a fourth returned, with a public order offense as their most serious charge, according to a U.S. Sentencing Commission report. (Adobe stock)<br /><br /> — Offenders 60 years or older at the time of release are significantly less likely to return to prison for violent offenses - only a fourth returned, with a public order offense as their most serious charge, according to a U.S. Sentencing Commission report. (Adobe stock)

Maryland Ends Governor’s Ability to Halt Parole

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland lawmakers voted this week to repeal the governor's ability to reject parole decisions for people serving life sentences…

More than 48,000 foster children live in institutional placements in the U.S., representing 10% of the foster-care population. (Adobe stock)

Report: Stop Using Group Homes for Foster Kids

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Almost 4,000 children in Maryland are in foster care, and a new study calls for ending the use of group homes and institutions …

Civil rights groups are pushing Baltimore County to create a second majority Black council district to better represent its diverse population. (Flickr)

MD Civil Rights Groups Threaten Legal Action Over Redistricting Map

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Maryland civil rights groups are proposing a lawsuit against Baltimore County if it adopts its current redistricting plan, claiming …

On a new national report card, Maryland receives a failing grade for not doing enough to help child victims of sex trafficking. Florida, Texas and Mississippi were the top three, respectively, although no state was given an 'A' or 'B' grade. (Adobe Stock)

MD Gets Failing Grade for Supporting Child Sex Victims

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A new report ranks Maryland as one of the worst states in providing support for young victims of sex trafficking. While Maryland …

If you find your rates for a third-party utility provider is skyrocketing, AARP Maryland recommends canceling it and turning to regulated utility suppliers. (Adobe stock)<br /> — If you find your rates for a third-party utility provider is skyrocketing, AARP Maryland recommends canceling it and turning to regulated utility suppliers. (Adobe stock)

New Tool Helps Monitor MD Third-Party Utility Bills

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - About 60 million American households get their energy from third-party suppliers, and a new online toolkit helps these consumers …

Maryland is one of 12 states where more than half the prison population is African American, according to a new report. (Adobe stock)

Report: MD Has U.S.'s Largest Rate of Black Prison Population

BALTIMORE -- Maryland has the highest incarceration rate for African Americans in the nation, according to a recent report. Ashley Nellis, senior …

World leaders at COP26 in Scotland, including President Joe Biden, secured pacts to reduce methane emissions worldwide. (Number 10/Flickr)<br /> — World leaders at COP26 in Scotland, including President Joe Biden, secured pacts to reduce methane emissions worldwide. (Number 10/Flickr)

MD Leaders at World Climate Summit Push for Action at Home

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland lawmakers are traveling to the annual international climate conference in Glasgow, and they're pushing the U.S. to take …

In a new poll, just 10% of Marylanders said they disapproved of Gov. Larry Hogan's handling of COVID-19. (Marylandgovpics/Flickr)<br /> — In a new poll, just 10% of Marylanders said they disapproved of Gov. Larry Hogan's handling of COVID-19. (Marylandgovpics/Flickr)

Poll: Marylanders Welcome Boosters, Still Concerned About Getting COVID

BALTIMORE, Md. -- As the drive for Marylanders to get COVID-19 booster shots continues, a new poll found a huge swath of residents said they are …

Lakeland High School Class of 1930. Maryland's Lakeland was a once-thriving Black community that was destroyed by urban renewal in 1975. (Lakeland Community Heritage Project)<br /> — Lakeland High School Class of 1930. Maryland's Lakeland was a once-thriving Black community that was destroyed by urban renewal in 1975. (Lakeland Community Heritage Project)

New MD Redistricting Map Complicates Town’s Quest for Restorative Justice

COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- A last-minute change to a Maryland county's redistricting map is throwing a wrench into a restorative justice process, which …

Incarcerated women who participated in the Prisoners Too art project hug in front of the installation at a South Carolina prison. (South Carolina Department of Corrections)<br /> — Incarcerated women who participated in the Prisoners Too art project hug in front of the installation at a South Carolina prison. (South Carolina Department of Corrections)

Project to Bring Healing from Sexual Assault Behind Bars

BALTIMORE - This month marks the four-year anniversary of the #MeToo movement, and an art project aims to help incarcerated survivors heal by telling …

Curtis "Gunny" Jones, left, and Sanjay Srivastava have won top honors from AARP Maryland for their exceptional community service this past year. (AARP Maryland)

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…

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's Montgomery County Public Schools has changed School Resource Officers into 'Community Engagement Officers' this year. They're now located offsite, with no direct communications with school officials. (Wikimedia Commons)<br /> — Maryland's Montgomery County Public Schools has changed School Resource Officers into 'Community Engagement Officers' this year. They're now located offsite, with no direct communications with school officials. (Wikimedia Commons)

Report Shows Benefits of Funding Alternatives to Police in Schools

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Maryland's largest school district removed police officers from the hallways this fall, for the first time in 19 years, and a new …

Many people with developmental disabilities couldn't receive meaningful day services during the pandemic. (Adobe stock)<br /> — Many people with developmental disabilities couldn't receive meaningful day services during the pandemic. (Adobe stock)

COVID Prompts Rethinking Group Work for Marylanders with Disabilities

BALTIMORE -- Spurred on by COVID challenges, a grant from the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council to two human services providers is …

Over the past 30 years, nutrient and sediment pollution has been reduced by half in Chesapeake Bay, but more needs to be done to meet federal cleanup goals for the watershed. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Over the past 30 years, nutrient and sediment pollution has been reduced by half in Chesapeake Bay, but more needs to be done to meet federal cleanup goals for the watershed. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Bureaus Urge USDA to Back New Chesapeake Cleanup Plan

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Farm bureaus and agricultural leaders of Chesapeake Bay watershed states are pushing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fund a …

Financial assistance is available for Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington's new at-home medication abortion services. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Financial assistance is available for Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington's new at-home medication abortion services. (Adobe Stock)

Eyeing Trend, MD Provider Offers Abortion Drugs by Mail

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- As the Biden administration challenges a Texas law restricting abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, Planned Parenthood for …

It is important for Maryland tenants behind on rent to go to court if they receive a summons, state housing advocates say. The court cannot protect you if you do not show up. (Adobe stock)<br /> — It is important for Maryland tenants behind on rent to go to court if they receive a summons, state housing advocates say. The court cannot protect you if you do not show up. (Adobe stock)

MD Housing Leaders Urge Lawmakers to Pass Aid as Eviction Crisis Looms

SILVER SPRING, Md. -- With more than 100,000 Marylanders behind on rent, housing advocates are urging members of the General Assembly and Gov…

Marylanders who choose to use free software and create legislative redistricting maps must follow legal requirements before submitting them. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Marylanders who choose to use free software and create legislative redistricting maps must follow legal requirements before submitting them. (Adobe Stock)

Voting-Rights Groups Urge Marylanders to Help with Redistricting Maps

BALTIMORE, Md. -- As two competing Maryland redistricting commissions offer multiple chances for public input, voter-advocacy groups say technology …

Census data from 2020 show Maryland's population moving to the center of the state, and fair-map advocates say district lines need to shift to represent the change. (maryland.gov)

MD Groups Hope Public Joins in New Redistricting Panel Meeting

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- One of Maryland's two competing redistricting commissions is holding an observation meeting for the first time tonight, and …

Between 2014 and 2019, fentanyl overdose deaths in Maryland ballooned from 340 to more than 1,900, according to the Maryland Department of Health. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Between 2014 and 2019, fentanyl overdose deaths in Maryland ballooned from 340 to more than 1,900, according to the Maryland Department of Health. (Adobe Stock)

As MD Opioid Deaths Explode in Pandemic, Town Halls Aim to Halt Crisis

BALTIMORE - The Maryland Stop Opioid Overdose Strategy, or Maryland S-O-S program, launches town hall meetings this week to address ways to combat …

During the pandemic, more than 20% of U.S. parents with children ages 5-12 reported their children experienced worsened mental or emotional health, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — During the pandemic, more than 20% of U.S. parents with children ages 5-12 reported their children experienced worsened mental or emotional health, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation report. (Adobe Stock)

Mental Health in Spotlight as MD K-12 Schools Reopen

BALTIMORE, Md. -- As Maryland children prepare to return to school in the next few weeks, experts say ensuring their mental health is stable is a top …

The majority of childbirth-related deaths in the U.S. occur during the postpartum period, between 43 days and one year after the end of pregnancy, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — The majority of childbirth-related deaths in the U.S. occur during the postpartum period, between 43 days and one year after the end of pregnancy, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)

"Maternal Health Crisis” Behind Push to Extend Medicaid Postpartum Coverage

BALTIMORE -- Maternal mortality rates are higher for women of color, and the issue is getting renewed attention from state and federal lawmakers…

About 25 species of mussels live in the freshwater rivers and streams that flow into Chesapeake Bay. (Flickr)

Report: Mussel Restoration Essential for Chesapeake Bay Cleanup

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Freshwater mussels are key to keeping the Chesapeake Bay watershed clean, and with more than half of all species now facing …

A recent report shows PFAS levels greater than the EPA health advisory level in water treatment plants for Westminster and Hampstead, Md. (Adobe stock)

U.S. Bill on Toxic "Forever Chemicals" Could Help Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A bill to tackle contamination from so-called "forever chemicals" known as Perfluorinated and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) is …

About 41% of youths in juvenile facilities are Black, according to a new report, despite being only 15% of the youth population in America. (Adobe stock)

Report: Racial Disparities in MD Youth Incarceration Persist

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Although incarceration disparities for Black and white youths fell over the past decade, a new report shows young people of color …

Jobless residents in Texas and Ohio are following Maryland's footsteps and filing lawsuits to reinstate federal unemployment benefits. (Adobe Stock)

MD Unemployed Regain Benefits, Prove Aid Doesn’t Deter Job Seekers

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- As Maryland workers celebrate a court victory, which allows them to continue collecting federal unemployment benefits, …

Family caregivers are spending, on average, 26% of their income on caregiving activities, according to an AARP report. (Adobe stock)

Report: Family Caregivers Buckling Under Out-of-Pocket Expenses

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Caring for an older loved one can be emotionally draining, and a new report shows 78% of family caregivers also face significant …

United Way of Maryland helped more than 900 households in the state avoid evictions in January through its Strategic Targeted Eviction Prevention Program. (Adobe stock)

As Summer Evictions Loom, MD Group Boosts Prevention Program

BALTIMORE, Md. - With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's eviction moratorium now set to end July 31, and with Maryland's to expire …

The number of Maryland fourth graders who were not proficient in reading increased to 65% in 2019, according to a new report. (Adobe stock)

Report: MD Lawmakers Need to Keep Spotlight on Child Well-Being

BALTIMORE -- Advocates said Maryland lawmakers need to focus more than ever on helping children, as a new report shows the state dropped from 21st in …

After George Floyd's murder last year at the hands of police, residents in Talbot County, Md., renewed efforts to remove this Confederate monument from the county courthouse. (Matthew Straubmiller/Flickr)

On Juneteenth: Protest Aims to Remove MD’s Last Confederate Monument

EASTON, Md. -- President Joe Biden just signed a law creating a federal holiday for Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery in Texas…

A common scam that snares older Americans are email offers for free gift cards, which are a way to capture personal information that could jeopardize finances. (Adobe stock)

MD Spotlights Senior Financial Fraud on Elder Abuse Awareness Day

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Today is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and a coalition of groups in Maryland are marking the day with a week-long campaign to …

Some incarcerated students who earned Georgetown University bachelor's degrees in the D.C. Jail system went on to help others behind bars. (Adobe stock)

As Pandemic Eases, MD Prisons to Get Bachelor’s Program

SILVER SPRING, Md. - As the pandemic fades, Maryland prisons are expected to open back up this summer and when they do, Georgetown University is …

Maryland's Prince George's County, which has several highways and a majority Black population, scored a grade of "F" for high ozone days in the latest American Lung Association report on air pollution. (Adobe Stock)

Maryland AG: Strike Down Trump's Low Vehicle-Emissions Standards

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a public hearing this week to reconsider letting states decide their own vehicle-…

Rising severe weather patterns are causing more roadways in Maryland to flood, as in Ellicott City in 2016. (Wikimedia Commons)

Report: MD Road Flooding Costs Millions Each Year

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- With another extreme hurricane season about to start, a new study found roadway flooding in Maryland occurs not just on the coast …

More than 50 million adults in the United States provide unpaid care to an adult family member or friend, according to AARP. (Adobe stock)

During Military Caregiver Month, Tips to Help MD’s Veteran Families

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- May is Month of the Military Caregiver to honor more than five million veteran and military family caregivers across the nation…

The coronavirus death rate for African Americans is nearly twice the rate of their white counterparts in the United States, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe stock)

MD, U.S. Vaccine Initiatives to Help Youths, Communities of Color

BALTIMORE, Md. -- As President Joe Biden met on Tuesday with governors to announce new vaccination efforts, a federal agency unveiled funding to …

Chronic gambling is now classified as a mental health disorder instead of an impulse control disorder, according to the Maryland Center for Excellence and Problem Gambling.

Group Offers Problem Gambling Tips With Passage of MD Sports Betting

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- With Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan about to sign a new law that legalizes sports betting in the state, a support group for people with …

More than 60% of 2018 gun deaths in Maryland were homicides, according to the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence. (Adobe stock)

Group Pushes for "Smart" Gun-Safety Technology in MD

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Calling gun violence in America a public health crisis, a new coalition is challenging startups and manufacturing firms to create …

Anton Black, 19, died in 2018 after police officers forcibly sat on him while he was handcuffed. (Coalition for Justice for Anton Black)

Chauvin Verdict Raises Questions in Other MD Police Violence Cases

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Members of a justice coalition for a Maryland police case with striking similarities to George Floyd's say former police officer …

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