There was no public ceremony Monday evening at the spot on the Patapsco River that was formerly occupied by the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Instead, the clearing of Baltimore’s main shipping channel — all 700 feet wide and 50-feet deep of it — a mere 11 weeks after the disastrous collision of the container ship Dali with the Key Bridge was hailed Wednesday by Gov. Wes Moore and U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg from the comfort of firmer ground at the Port of Baltimore.

Gov. Wes Moore declared Thursday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to continue to allow access to a contested drug approved to provide medication abortions “a win” for reproductive justice. “Let me be clear: reproductive freedom is non-negotiable,” Moore, a Democrat, said in a statement. In early 2023, the Supreme Court began to grapple over the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s long-standing approval of the medicine mifepristone (meh FE’ pri-stone) — one of two pills prescribed in medication abortions.

 

Thousands of drivers are being caught speeding in the Maryland work zones closest to the D.C. region — and fines for violators have just doubled under a new law that went into effect earlier this month. WTOP obtained the data on Maryland speeding tickets through a Freedom of Information Act request.

 

Sonja Santelises, the CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, and the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners agreed on a third contract Wednesday after weeks of stalled negotiations. Santelises, 56, will continue to serve under a one-year contract with a $349,989 annual salary. The announcement comes a little more than two weeks before her contract expires June 30 and after months of public concern over the board’s delayed decision.

 

Grab some popcorn and gather around your laptop late Thursday morning for a truly unique D.C.-style show. Former House Majority Leader and Maryland Democrat Steny Hoyer tells WUSA9 he’s prepared for “theater” during Thursday’s House Appropriations Committee markup of the FY ’25 Financial Services and General Government budget bill.

Recently, I was in a hearing when a judge lamented over the confusing nature of State provided forms. “It is a problem that we are used to” the judge professed. Those bidding for government contracts experience this problem and must be aware. The Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals recently sent a warning to bidders for State contracts to be careful in filling out and submitting bid bond forms, though the form is provided by the State.

Newspapers — including The Frederick News-Post — and television broadcasts were filled this month with celebrations of the heroism of the men who stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day eight decades ago. The celebrations are tinged with sadness, though, as we acknowledge that the number of D-Day veterans is dwindling down to a precious few.

It was the summer of 1989, and my freshman orientation tour of the University of Maryland, College Park had led us to the campus chapel, rising high above Route 1 on a hill. Our guide pointed across the road to a horseshoe of identical stately brick buildings set around an expansive green lawn. “To your left,” she said, in a bored monotone that let us know she’d done this bit a lot, “is Fraternity Row, which you may recognize from the football scene in ‘St. Elmo’s Fire,’ featuring Rob Lowe.”

 

Meritus Health and Brook Lane Health Services have decided there’s strength in numbers, especially in addressing one of Washington County’s top health concerns. So beginning July 1, Brook Lane, which has been in operation for 75 years, will formally become part of Meritus Health. They’ve already partnered in projects to provide both physical and mental health services, and announced in February that they were exploring ways to formalize that partnership. Since then, boards for both organizations approved the affiliation.

 

 

The minimum hourly wage for large companies in Montgomery County will increase to $17.15 on July 1, putting it among the highest in the country. A large company is defined by the county as any with 51 or more employees. Midsize employers will have to increase their minimum hourly wage to $15.50, while small employers will remain tied to Maryland’s $15 minimum hourly wage.