It’s right there near the top of the Declaration of Independence. “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” are the unalienable rights bestowed on us by our creator. As we approach Independence Day, let’s not think too hard on whether Thomas Jefferson should have written “inalienable” instead of “unalienable.” Instead, what the heck did America’s most famously flawed founder mean by the pursuit of happiness?
A number of people have asked me some version of: “Why would you leave a lovely family and a perfectly comfortable home to traverse the East Coast by foot for half a year, climbing every mountain along the way?” To answer that question, I need to share a piece of personal lore that might at first seem unrelated, but I promise I’m going somewhere with it.
Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport launched new automated screening lanes at security checkpoints. The 3D imagery technology is intended to improve security effectiveness and efficiency, as well as expedite travelers’ time spent during the security-screening process, Transportation Security Administration officials said Monday.
TEDCO, Maryland’s economic engine for technology companies, Monday announced the organization’s board of directors elected new executive officers and welcomed four new members for its fiscal year 2025 board. The newly appointed chair of the board is College of Southern Maryland’s Ellen Flowers-Fields, succeeding Omar Muhammad, director and EN-TRE-PRE-NEUR for the Entrepreneurial Development and Assistance Center at Morgan State University.
Developers hoping to build in Baltimore County will have to pay higher impact fees and surrender the money earlier in the building process, according to new legislation passed Monday by the County Council. The council voted 6-0 to pass a law overhauling an earlier one that required developers to pay surcharges, known as impact fees, to offset the added burden placed upon nearby schools, sewers and roads. Councilman Julian Jones, a Woodstock Democrat, was absent and did not vote.
“I dissent!” President Joe Biden was offering a dramatic, direct response to an epochal Supreme Court ruling that could hand presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump a pass to unchecked power if he wins a second term. But Biden’s defiance also conveyed a poignant image of a president refusing to be pushed off the greatest political stage after a disastrous debate performance revealed the ravages of age.
Maryland utilities are averaging more than $700 million a year in gas infrastructure spending, worsening the energy burden on low-income communities and hampering the state’s efforts to hit its ambitious clean energy and emissions reduction targets. That’s according to the Office of People’s Counsel, the state agency representing Maryland utility customers in federal and state rate cases. The warnings were included in the OPC’s most recent report, unveiled last week.
Whether you’re looking for the best spot to watch fireworks paint the night sky or you’re scouting some daytime events for the little ones with early bedtimes, we’ve got you covered this Fourth of July.
No doubt the fireworks display over Baltimore’s Inner Harbor will draw your attention to the sky this Fourth of July — but don’t forget to also keep an eye on what’s happening at street level. Baltimore’s holiday festivities this week are expected to draw large crowds downtown for a variety of events throughout the day and into the evening. Visitors are strongly encouraged to use public transportation, including mass transit, the Charm City Circulator and rideshare options.
M&T Bank plans to back a Baltimore-area hub for online crowdfunding lender Kiva to start making business loans to entrepreneurs. The Buffalo, New York-based bank announced a donation of $100,000 on Monday to Baltimore Community Lending, which will work with Kiva to offer loans in underserved communities.