Imagine a future in which our children can grow up in homes free from health-harming air pollution, people can go outdoors without fear that Baltimore’s smog will trigger an asthma attack and emergency room visits for respiratory illnesses are at an all-time low. A groundbreaking executive order from Gov. Wes Moore to establish healthy air standards for heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and water heaters brings such a future within reach, paying dividends for generations to come.

Over the weekend, The Washington Post reported that an acolyte of Donald Trump is making big plans for a “post-Constitutional” government through a series of historic changes that would give the president far more power over all aspects of government. In Russ Vought’s vision of “radical constitutionalism,” the president would have broader authority to deploy the military to quash civil unrest, make the Justice Department less independent and withhold congressional appropriations, the Post learned.

Gas prices are once again on the decline across the U.S., bringing some relief to drivers now paying a little less to fill up their tanks. The national average for gas prices on Monday stood around $3.44, according to AAA. That’s down about 9 cents from a week ago — marking the largest one-week drop recorded by the motor club so far in 2024. Monday’s average was also more than 19 cents less than it was a month ago and over 14 cents below the level seen this time last year.

State and federal leaders will gather Wednesday at the Port of Baltimore to celebrate the full reopening of the channel — marking a new chapter in the Francis Scott Key Bridge disaster and the end of what officials now estimate as a roughly $100 million salvage and response effort. The shipping channel reopened in its entirety on Monday night for the first time since the Key Bridge collapsed March 26, killing six men and leaving 50,000 tons of debris in the water. (Photo: Jerry Jackson/Baltimore Sun)

With the Port of Baltimore’s federal channel fully reopened, the city is ready to welcome ships Wednesday to June 18 for Maryland Fleet Week and Flyover Baltimore. The biannual event is returning for the fourth time to celebrate the Navy and other service members. Nearly 100,000 people attend the festival, generating millions of dollars for the city, Fleet Week Director Chris Rowsom said.

A Maryland chef took home a prestigious James Beard award, it was announced Monday at the Lyric Opera in Chicago. Harley Peet, executive chef at Bas Rouge in Easton, took home the award for “Best Chef” in the Mid-Atlantic, a region that spans Washington, D.C., Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Posters of the Eiffel Tower, pictures of the Great Wall of China and French and Chinese flags will be the likely reminders for students to check their English at the door and immerse themselves in another language and culture. That’s at least the goal of Bilingual Global Citizens Public Charter School, which will soon become Baltimore County’s first language immersion school and its second charter school.

Shopping carts are being abandoned all over the place in Salisbury. It’s caught the attention of city leaders and they’ve had enough. Officials are working up legislation to get those carts back home and off the streets. At the City Council meeting on June 10th, officials held a first reading for the ordinance. If passed, the legislation would make it illegal for anyone to temporarily or permanently remove a shopping cart from a store’s property.

 

Anne Arundel County on Tuesday announced a new register of wills, Jasmine M. Jackson, following the resignation of her predecessor for misconduct in office. Previously an auditor in the office for 14 years, Jackson replaces Erica Griswold, who resigned after pleading guilty to charges stemming from cashing a cashier’s check intended for her office, according to a news release from the state prosecutor’s office.

 

A senior living community in Ellicott City is launching a major expansion with over 100,000 square feet of new construction. The multi-part project will add three new buildings to Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant and renovate its health care facility. Lutheran Social Ministries of Maryland CEO Jeff Branch said the changes will make the community more appealing to younger seniors and help the facility keep pace with customers who are demanding more luxury amenities from senior living communities.