There’s a lot of debate about how much signal to take from the 818,000 downward revisions to U.S. payrolls — the largest since 2009. Is it signaling recession? A few facts worth considering: By the time the 2009 revisions came out (824,000 jobs were overstated), the National Bureau of Economic Research had already declared a recession six months earlier.

A dutiful surrogate for the Democratic presidential ticket, Gov. Wes Moore told the American people why he believes Kamala Harris should be the next president of the United States and used her role in a fresh Maryland tragedy to explain why. Moore’s key prime-time slot signals his notoriety and growing popularity within the party. The moment not only amplified his support of Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz but shined a national spotlight on him as a Democratic up-and-comer.

A city panel is once again preparing to review the master plan for Baltimore’s most high-profile redevelopment: Harborplace. The ambitious redevelopment proposal — consisting of five new buildings fronting the Inner Harbor — has cleared each legal and political hurdle since MCB Real Estate announced its plans last fall.

On his first night in town, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore walked into a bar filled with young and influential social media content creators, hoping to talk about poverty. He pulled up a stool next to a Barbie doll in a hot pink pantsuit. A phone camera focused on him, Moore leaned toward Lil Gretch, the raven-haired doll Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer uses as a social media avatar, and said: “I gotta talk to you about the child tax credit. I’m with you. Let’s end child poverty together.” He tapped her plastic hand in a micro high-five.

Former President Bill Clinton returned to the Democratic National Convention stage to denounce Donald Trump as selfish and praise Kamala Harris as focused on the needs of Americans, giving another of his emblematic, off-the-cuff addresses. Clinton said November’s election would be “‘We The People’ versus ’Me, Myself and I,’” firing up Wednesday’s third night of the DNC before vice presidential nominee Tim Walz got the chance to introduce himself to a national audience.

Patrick Grace is busy converting two downtown Baltimore office buildings he bought into apartments, but Grace said these office-to-apartment conversion projects will likely be his last for a while. The owner of Trademark Investment said he’s had enough of high interest rates on loans and building owners who can’t accept the prices he offers for their aging buildings.

Elkridge-based Backpack Healthcare Wednesday announced it has secured a $1.1 million grant funded by the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) to provide support to students, families and caregivers within Howard County Public Schools (HCPSS). Funding was made available by the Maryland General Assembly under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future (Ch. 36 of 2021).

President Joe Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday as the United States presses Israel and Hamas to agree to a “bridging proposal” that could lead to a cease-fire in the war in Gaza. Hamas and Israel have signaled that challenges remain amid significant differences over the presence of Israeli troops in two strategic corridors in Gaza and other issues, dimming Biden’s hopes that a deal can soon be reached.

A new bus maintenance apprenticeship program will expand training and career opportunities for skilled mechanics in Maryland. The Maryland Transit Administration is collaborating with the Community College of Baltimore County to launch the three-year, full-time program. Interested individuals have until Aug. 30 to apply. Ten applicants will be selected to participate. Those selected candidates will be notified by Sept. 16. The program will begin in mid-October.

 

Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is asking neighbors and visitors to keep an eye out for marine mammals and sea turtles while enjoying coastal and tidal waterways through the rest of the summer. DNR asks anyone who spots dolphins, whales, seals, manatees, or sea turtles to report the sighting via the Maryland Natural Resources Police Hotline.