When I was 10, my family moved to Ocean City north of the bridge. It was the only way into town at the time, and even after a slender, white ribbon of a bridge opened a few years later, the concrete slab at the eastern end of Route 50 remained the Ocean City bridge in almost everyone’s mind. That was still true even after it was named for the bombastic, white-belt-and-shoes mayor I covered in my first reporting job, Harry Kelley.

Two weeks ago, I participated in an unheralded but notable meeting: a get-together of County Executive Jessica Fitzwater’s transition team. Shortly after her election, the county executive chose me to serve on one of her transition task forces— government innovation. Though I was flattered, it wasn’t a singular honor because 145 others were similarly chosen to prepare a report to point some directions for her new administration.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s sweeping new rules regarding power plant emissions drew the usual reactions from those who profit from coal mining and coal-fired energy. They are already promising to block the regulations in court, claiming they’re unaffordable, unrealistic and even un-American — to the extent that the nation’s electric grid may find itself coming up short in kilowatt-hours.

One of Baltimore’s fastest-growing education technology companies raised an additional $3 million this month, with plans to expand into the health care industry. Concentric Educational Solutions, a company that fights truancy by providing tutoring and mentorship services, raised the money from two nonprofits, American Student Assistance and the ECMC Group.

Law enforcement and the Maryland Cannabis Administration are anticipating an increase in cannabis sales in the coming months. July 2024 marks one year since legalization across the state. The Maryland Cannabis Administration provided WBOC the following statement: “The market is expected to grow. The Department of Legislative Services fiscal analysis from the Cannabis Reform Act (SB516/HB556 of 2023), estimated that the adult-use market may double in Year 2 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025).

Maryland’s new state superintendent of schools, Carey Wright, positioned her tenure as one built on honesty and transparency in an introductory news conference Monday. Among her first actions is creating a task force to examine the Maryland Report Card, the state’s accountability system that measures schools’ performance.

Baltimore set a record high Monday as temperatures reached 92 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The sweltering heat broke the previous record of 91 degrees in the region, set in 1974. Washington, D.C., also reached a new high: Dulles International Airport reached 91 degrees, topping the 89-degree record set in 2017, the NWS said.

It might not be a stretch to say that the future will be powered out of Beltsville — and the future will come faster if you’re in the U.S. Army. A company called ION Storage Systems, which was invented in a lab at the University of Maryland, is now up and running at its production facility in Beltsville. The company makes what’s known as a solid state battery — with a key component made out of ceramic.

The Black Health Equity Coalition of Frederick has received $153,000 in grants to fund trainings and programs, including conducting Frederick County’s first comprehensive Black health survey this summer. Earlier this month, the coalition announced that it received money from multiple sources over the last year, including $128,000 from the CDC Foundation, according to a news release from the coalition.

A monthslong project to demolish four historic buildings in Old Ellicott City is nearly complete, a crucial part of the county’s plan to protect the city from dangerous flash floods while also preserving its history. The four buildings were long the first many visitors saw as they headed west into Ellicott City down Main Street. They previously housed The Phoenix Emporium, Bean Hollow, Great Panes and Discoveries. Their exteriors are almost fully removed.