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Howard County Taskforce Recommends Creation of Office of Immigrant Affairs to Boost Economic Integration and Consumer Protection

Howard County Taskforce Recommends Creation of Office of Immigrant Affairs to Boost Economic Integration and Consumer Protection

The Immigrant Affairs Taskforce in Howard County, Maryland, has formally recommended the establishment of an Office of Immigrant Affairs. This proposed office would serve as a crucial link for immigrant entrepreneurs and businesses, connecting them with the Howard County Economic Development Authority and existing economic development resources. A key function of the office would be to develop outreach programs aimed at increasing awareness among the immigrant community regarding resources offered by the Office of Consumer Protection and the Howard County Financial Empowerment Center. This initiative seeks to mitigate the vulnerability of immigrants to financial scams, often exacerbated by language barriers. Additionally, the taskforce emphasized the importance of language access, recommending that the new office inform and assist the county with legal requirements related to language accessibility and establish a comprehensive Language Access Plan.

Worcester County Renews $108,400 Lobbyist Contract to Advance Legislative Priorities

Worcester County Renews $108,400 Lobbyist Contract to Advance Legislative Priorities

Worcester County officials have unanimously approved the renewal of a $108,400 contract with R&R Solutions LLC, a lobbying firm. This renewal secures the firm's services for another 12 months, maintaining the same annual cost as its initial year. The decision was made during a consent agenda without discussion, following a motion by Commissioner Caryn Abbott, seconded by Commissioner Chip Bertino. R&R Solutions LLC is tasked with advancing the county's legislative priorities, which include the widening of Route 90, opposition to offshore wind development, and the preservation of local control over county affairs. The firm, launched in 2024 by Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio and Ryan Snow, provides comprehensive lobbying, consulting, and grant writing services. Haddaway-Riccio is a former Maryland natural resources secretary and Eastern Shore delegate, while Snow served as Governor Larry Hogan’s director of intergovernmental affairs. The county had previously engaged State and Local Advisors for lobbying services a...

Maryland Department of Commerce Recognized with 2026 Startup Ecosystem Star Award for Innovation and Business Growth

Maryland Department of Commerce Recognized with 2026 Startup Ecosystem Star Award for Innovation and Business Growth

Maryland Department of Commerce Recognized with 2026 Startup Ecosystem Star Award for Innovation and Business Growth

Worcester County Public Schools Graduates Receive Over $42,000 Each in State Scholarships to Address Teacher Vacancies

Worcester County Public Schools Graduates Receive Over $42,000 Each in State Scholarships to Address Teacher Vacancies

Nineteen graduates of Worcester County Public Schools (WCPS) currently studying education at Salisbury University (SU) have each been awarded $42,905 in scholarships. These awards are part of a statewide initiative in Maryland to reduce teacher vacancies, made possible by $829,234 in state funding allocated to Worcester County through Maryland’s Grow Your Own Educators Grant Program. Governor Wes Moore announced the funding this summer, with a second round totaling $14.7 million distributed among 13 school districts. The program aims to alleviate financial barriers, such as college tuition, for students pursuing education degrees, with the expectation that they will return to teach in their graduating district. The scholarships cover tuition and fees for all four years of their bachelor's education, with housing being the only remaining expense. Recipients, who are first or second-year SU students, will also work as substitute teachers in the Worcester school system when their schedules permit.

Who is Chris Van Hollen, the senator challenging Chuck Schumer to be majority leader?

Who is Chris Van Hollen, the senator challenging Chuck Schumer to be majority leader?

Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen has emerged as a challenger to New York Sen. Chuck Schumer as the Democratic Party picks a Senate majority leader

Maryland Data Center Expansion Raises Concerns Over Electricity Demand Amid County Moratorium

Maryland Data Center Expansion Raises Concerns Over Electricity Demand Amid County Moratorium

Oppidan is seeking to nearly double the size of its Sandy Farms Data Center in Severn, Maryland, by adding over 88,000 square feet and a yard of 13 generators. This expansion plan comes as Anne Arundel County prepares to implement a moratorium on most new data center applications starting November 26, though expansions of existing facilities on adjacent land are exempt. The County Council passed Bill 63-26, effectively banning new applications until January 31, 2028, or until permanent rules are established. While the facility is air-cooled and uses minimal water, relying on public water and sewer, the expansion has raised pointed questions from neighbors regarding its electricity demands. There is concern about whether nearby electricity bills will rise or if new grid infrastructure will be required, especially given that regional data center demand has already contributed to keeping a Maryland coal plant operational until 2031. A county work group has ten months to recommend standards for data center sit...

Jim Jordan shows Democrats how they've outgrown Chuck Schumer | Opinion

Jim Jordan shows Democrats how they've outgrown Chuck Schumer | Opinion

House Republicans chucked leadership that performed poorly and elected Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan as minority leader. Democrats should do the same.

Maryland 8th Grade Reading List Features 573 Titles, Blending State and National Standards

Maryland 8th Grade Reading List Features 573 Titles, Blending State and National Standards

Maryland's 8th-grade reading list, compiled by ReadingList.school, includes 573 books, with 49 specifically cited by Maryland College & Career Ready Standards. The remaining 524 titles are grade-appropriate selections from national sources like the Common Core State Standards (ELA) and various literary awards, including the Andre Norton Award for Middle Grade & Young Adult Fiction, the Golden Kite Award, and the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award. The list aims to support middle-grade readers in analyzing themes, characters, and author's craft in full-length novels, plays, and memoirs. Lexile measures for the books on the list range from 410L to 1300L, with the majority falling within or below the typical 925L to 1185L range for 8th grade, indicating a focus on accessibility and thematic relevance. Notable Maryland-cited books include 'The Crossover,' 'Schooled,' and 'The Giver.'

Maryland Consumer Advocates Raise Concerns Over BGE's Proposed FlexPay Program and Rate Hikes

Maryland Consumer Advocates Raise Concerns Over BGE's Proposed FlexPay Program and Rate Hikes

Maryland consumer advocates are expressing significant concerns regarding Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE)'s proposed FlexPay program and a broader $156 million rate increase request. The FlexPay program, a voluntary prepaid electricity option, is currently under review by the Public Service Commission (PSC). Advocates, including Carnegie Mellon University Professor Destenie Nock, argue that FlexPay could lead to a surge in disconnections, citing a 10% disconnection rate among participants in BGE's 2019-2020 prepaid pilot, compared to 1% for traditional customers. Under FlexPay, customers would forfeit certain disconnection protections, with power potentially shut off the day their account balance hits zero, requiring a minimum $15 replenishment for reconnection. This contrasts with the traditional 14-day notice and 55-day delay for those seeking energy assistance. Additionally, BGE's rate increase request would raise the average electricity bill by $8 per month, and Baltimore residents could face an addit...

Maryland U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski Joins Bipartisan Effort to Honor Veterans with Operation Green Light Resolution

Maryland U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski Joins Bipartisan Effort to Honor Veterans with Operation Green Light Resolution

Maryland U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski, a Democrat representing District 2, is part of a bipartisan team on Capitol Hill introducing a resolution to honor Operation Green Light. This national campaign aims to raise awareness about the resources available to veterans to assist them in their transition into civilian life. The initiative coincides with Veterans Day observances across the country, including events in Maryland. Governor Wes Moore, a U.S. Army veteran, commemorated Veterans Day at the Crownsville State Veterans Cemetery, which serves as the final resting place for over 28,000 Maryland veterans and their families. Additionally, residents at Presbyterian Senior Living Glen Meadows in Glen Arm honored veterans by distributing 11 'Quilts of Valor,' a nationwide initiative that has provided 460,000 quilts to American veterans over 23 years.

University of Maryland Extension Secures $580,000 Federal Grant to Expand Mental Health Training Across Maryland

University of Maryland Extension Secures $580,000 Federal Grant to Expand Mental Health Training Across Maryland

The University of Maryland Extension (UME) has been awarded a $580,000 federal grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This funding is designated to broaden mental health awareness, literacy, and crisis response training throughout Maryland over the next three years. The initiative, spearheaded by UME Mental Health Specialist Alexander Chan, will build upon existing Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid programs. The primary objective is to equip community members with essential skills to identify the signs and symptoms of mental illness, safely de-escalate crisis situations, pinpoint community resources, and connect individuals with appropriate services. This expansion comes at a critical time, as the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates that nearly one in four U.S. adults experienced a mental health issue in the past year, and approximately one in five adolescents aged 12 to 17 reported moderate or severe symptoms of generalized anxie...