Explore

Maryland Utilities Seek Approval to Return $160 Million in Tax Refunds to Customers

Maryland Utilities Seek Approval to Return $160 Million in Tax Refunds to Customers

Maryland Utilities Seek Approval to Return $160 Million in Tax Refunds to Customers

BGE Serves 2 Million Maryland Customers, Offers Direct Autopay Assistance

BGE Serves 2 Million Maryland Customers, Offers Direct Autopay Assistance

BGE, a utility company operating in Maryland, provides electric service to approximately 1.3 million customers and gas service to about 700,000 customers. The company has implemented a direct assistance line, 1-888-688-0762, to facilitate autopay and bill payments. This service allows customers to speak with a live agent to confirm their balance, process payments, and receive immediate confirmation via text. This independent assistance line aims to streamline the payment process, bypassing the need for website logins or app usage for single bill payments. Bank drafts are typically free, while card payments may incur a small fee, which agents are instructed to disclose. The service ensures same-day posting of payments, mitigating risks of service interruption due to timing.

1,822-Pound 'Action Jackson' Pumpkin Arrives at Valley View Farms for Annual Maryland Tradition

1,822-Pound 'Action Jackson' Pumpkin Arrives at Valley View Farms for Annual Maryland Tradition

1,822-Pound 'Action Jackson' Pumpkin Arrives at Valley View Farms for Annual Maryland Tradition

Arizona Republic

Duct-taped AZ passenger says he doesn't remember on-flight outburst

Duct-taped AZ passenger says he doesn't remember on-flight outburst

A Tucson man told a Maryland commissioner he didn't remember the events that led to him being duct-taped to his seat, a flight diversion, his arrest and criminal charges.

Maryland Public Schools Implement Phone-Free Policies to Enhance Student Engagement and Mental Health

Maryland Public Schools Implement Phone-Free Policies to Enhance Student Engagement and Mental Health

Maryland public school systems are moving towards mandatory phone-free policies, with full implementation required by the 2027-28 school year. This shift mandates that students keep cell phones powered off and put away during school hours. While districts have flexibility in specific implementation details, such as storage methods, consequences, and age-based rules, the overarching goal is to reduce distractions and improve student well-being. Some districts, like Baltimore City and Howard County, have already begun implementing these restrictions. The initiative stems from widespread reports from educators about smartphones significantly distracting students with notifications, text messages, social media, videos, and gaming, which directly compete with instruction and engagement. The policy includes required exceptions for documented disabilities, health needs, and emergency contact, ensuring critical communication needs are still met.

Maryland Governor's AI Framework Lacks Dedicated Healthcare Pillar, Raising Concerns for Patient Care

Maryland Governor's AI Framework Lacks Dedicated Healthcare Pillar, Raising Concerns for Patient Care

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has introduced a new framework for artificial intelligence (AI) governance, emphasizing the need to protect citizens, support workers, and ensure child safety. The framework addresses issues such as AI-generated intimate images, impersonation, and algorithmic decision-making in insurance, including legislation to ensure qualified physicians, not algorithms, make final insurance coverage decisions. However, critics argue that the framework conspicuously omits a dedicated pillar for healthcare AI. Healthcare is identified as a critical system needing protection from AI risks, but this acknowledgment does not translate into a comprehensive governance structure for AI's use within the medical field. The rapid integration of AI into doctor's offices, hospitals, insurance systems, and homes, as well as its role in how patients seek health information and how medical decisions are supported, necessitates a specific and robust regulatory approach.

Maryland Governor Establishes Task Force and Plans to End Data Center Tax Break

Maryland Governor Establishes Task Force and Plans to End Data Center Tax Break

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has issued an executive order on September 23, establishing a state task force aimed at scrutinizing new data center proposals. This task force will compel data center developers to cease closed-door dealings and work to minimize the adverse impacts of their projects on local communities, ecosystems, and energy infrastructure. Concurrently, Governor Moore has announced plans to roll back state tax incentives for data centers, a move that has been met with mixed reactions, particularly from environmental groups who desired a complete pause on new data center development. The proliferation of energy-intensive data centers across the region has prompted local leaders, including the Baltimore City Council, to seek solutions and safeguards. Earlier this year, the Baltimore City Council approved a temporary one-year moratorium on the construction of computing complexes within the city and initiated a study to assess their potential impact.

Maryland Energy Customers May See Savings from $250 Million Sales Tax Refund to Utilities

Maryland Energy Customers May See Savings from $250 Million Sales Tax Refund to Utilities

Maryland’s energy companies are set to receive a $250 million sales tax refund following a Supreme Court of Maryland ruling in their favor. The state comptroller, Brooke Lierman, has urged these utilities to pass the 'windfall' directly to their customers. The case was initiated by Potomac Edison, which argued that sales taxes on energy utilities' purchases of transmission and distribution equipment should be exempt under a production exemption. The Supreme Court of Maryland agreed with this argument in July. As a result, the state will make a one-time payment of $280 million, including interest, to Potomac Edison and other Maryland electric utilities. Rob Leming, Vice President of Regulatory Policy and Strategy for Pepco, confirmed that the three Exelon utilities in Maryland—BGE, Pepco, and Delmarva Power—are aligned with the comptroller's view and intend to pass these savings to their customers. Specifically, BGE customers could see $110 million in savings, Pepco customers $30 million, and Delmarva Power...

BGE Grid Upgrade Costs Surge to $520 Million, Raising Concerns for Baltimore Customers

BGE Grid Upgrade Costs Surge to $520 Million, Raising Concerns for Baltimore Customers

A major grid upgrade project by BGE in Baltimore, initially estimated at approximately $105 million, has seen its costs escalate dramatically to an estimated $520 million by September 2026, according to the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel. BGE had previously reported an increase to $407.25 million. The utility paused design and engineering work on the Baltimore Peninsula project in March due to changes in the surrounding development plans, specifically after Kevin Plank’s development company stepped back from future development at the site, though Under Armour remains headquartered there. BGE attributes the higher costs to several factors, including increased labor and material costs, site constraints, engineering and design changes, routing challenges, and a compressed construction schedule. The Office of People’s Counsel has expressed concern that BGE customers could ultimately bear substantial costs if the anticipated commercial growth in the area does not materialize as expected.

Diesel Fuel Leak Discovered at Baltimore County Detention Center

Diesel Fuel Leak Discovered at Baltimore County Detention Center

A diesel fuel leak was identified on Saturday at the Baltimore County Detention Center in Towson, Maryland. The leak originated from a backup generator at the facility. Crews responded promptly to the incident and have successfully stopped the flow of diesel. Dakarai Turner, press secretary in the Office of the Baltimore County Executive, confirmed the details of the leak. Baltimore County is actively collaborating with several agencies, including Baltimore City, the Maryland Department of the Environment, and the United States Coast Guard, to manage the cleanup efforts. These agencies are also assessing nearby waterways, such as the area near Loch Raven Reservoir, for any potential impact. Residents in the vicinity of local streams might detect a diesel odor due to the incident. However, county officials believe that the drinking water supply remains unaffected.

Federal Tax Credit Program Offers Significant Scholarship Funding for K-12 Education

Federal Tax Credit Program Offers Significant Scholarship Funding for K-12 Education

Beginning in 2027, a new federal tax credit program will allow individuals to claim a tax credit of up to $1,700 for contributions made to qualifying scholarship-granting organizations. These organizations will then use the funds to provide scholarships for eligible K-12 students, including those attending Jewish day schools. Unlike a charitable deduction, which reduces taxable income, this credit directly reduces a donor's tax bill dollar-for-dollar. While the credit is nonrefundable and cannot be combined with a charitable deduction for the same contribution, any unused amount can generally be carried forward. The program is projected to generate substantial scholarship funds, with one estimate suggesting $18.8 billion if 10% of eligible donors participate. However, states must choose to participate and submit lists of qualified scholarship organizations for their residents to benefit. As of a September 14 update from the IRS, states with significant Jewish communities and day schools, such as New York, ...

Maryland Governor Moore Orders Flags Lowered Following Death of Denton Police Chief George Bacorn

Maryland Governor Moore Orders Flags Lowered Following Death of Denton Police Chief George Bacorn

Maryland Governor Wes Moore has ordered all Maryland flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Denton Police Chief George William Bacorn Jr., who died in a vehicle collision. Chief Bacorn, 62, was killed on Friday morning when a delivery truck crossed the center line on Route 331 in Talbot County and struck his vehicle head-on. He had served as the chief of police for Denton for 36 years and was also acting as the head of the MML Chiefs and Sheriffs Association this year. Governor Moore remembered Chief Bacorn as someone who embodied a life of service, stating that Denton, Caroline County, and all of Maryland are better places because of his courage and public service. The Caroline County Commissioners also released a statement expressing their sadness and offering condolences to his family and the Denton Police Department.