Beginning Oct. 1, people with concealed-carry permits will be banned from bringing their firearms into numerous public places. They include public and private elementary, middle or high schools, health care facilities, buildings owned or leased by the state or local government, public or private university buildings, active polling places, electrical plants or electrical storage facilities, gas plants, nuclear power facilities, stadiums, museums, racetracks, video lottery facilities, venues that serve alcohol or cannabis for on-site consumption, and private property unless the owner has given express permission to do so.

Serving the second-largest population of students with disabilities in the state, Baltimore County Public Schools cut special education teacher vacancies by nearly half this year. Last year, the district had 80 special education teacher vacancies, compared to 43 this year, according to BCPS. Allison Myers, executive director of the system’s Office of Special Education, said hiring incentives have helped bring down the vacancies.

Here we go again — or at least it’s sure looking that way. Congress and the Biden administration have until Saturday to reach an appropriations agreement to stave off a government shutdown. Late last week, the White House budget office told agencies to prepare for a stoppage. The Republican-controlled House, marred by infighting between factions within the GOP, can’t agree on a short-term bill to keep federal funding flowing.