CosmosID, a microbiome analytics company with a genomic sequencing facility in Germantown, Thursday announced a collaboration with Resilient Biotics to explore the microbiome strains that colonize the respiratory tract tissues, a step toward advancing respiratory health research and therapeutic development. CosmosID will offer a range of next-generation sequencing services and advanced bioinformatic support.

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed early Tuesday after being hit by a cargo ship, with large parts of the bridge falling into the Patapsco River. At least eight people fell into the water, members of a construction crew working on the bridge at the time, officials said. (Photo Credit: Michael A. McCoy for The Washington Post)

The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is shocking on several levels and for many reasons. I’ll start with just three: Because we’ve never seen such a thing around here before and never imagined it; because millions of people have traveled over the bridge and could easily see themselves out there, even after 1 a.m.; and because the bridge was a point of pride stretching across the Patapsco River and Baltimore’s civic psyche.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday seemed unlikely to limit access to mifepristone, a key medication that is used in more than 60 percent of U.S. abortions and has emerged as the next front in the battle over how and whether women can terminate their pregnancies.

Baltimore public relations veteran Sandy Hillman has merged her firm with the politically savvy KO Public Affairs Communications Inc. in a move that will add consumer marketing to KO’s growing portfolio. Sandy Hillman Communications made the move this month after a decade of partnering with KO on several accounts including Under Armour Inc., the U.S. Census Bureau, the Maryland State Board of Elections and the Maryland Health Exchange.

Photo Credit: Baltimore Business Journal

A board tasked with reining in prescription drug costs is starting to narrow a list of medications that might be eligible for “cost review,” in hopes of finding ways to bring down expenses for Marylanders on the state’s health plan. The Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) is considering eight name brand prescription drugs that treat a variety of diseases, including diabetes, HIV, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), to see if those drugs pose an affordability challenge to consumers.

The city of Frederick has announced a training program for women who have gaps in their employment history and a grant program to provide capital to women- and minority-owned businesses. The city will provide 10 to 15 spots for so-called “Returnship” positions: 12- to 16-week paid programs in the city government designed specifically for women who have long gaps in their employment, city spokesman Allen Etzler said Monday.

How do we measure the Baltimore region’s economic momentum? Do we know if the growth is advancing our strategic industries? Are we creating opportunities that are equitable or accessible to our workforce? These are the types of questions we can and should be equipped to answer. It will start with a better understanding of our progress and what’s in our investment pipeline fueling our next iteration of opportunities.

Two staffing companies plan to lay off more than 100 workers at a Cecil County warehouse leased by a California clothing company. Jobandtalent Hirings LLC and Adecco USA will lay off 125 and 45 workers, respectively, at the North East warehouse on May 10, according to a filing with the Maryland Department of Labor’s Workforce Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) log. The warehouse located at 200 Gateway Drive houses a distribution center for Bella + Canvas and Alo Yoga, two brands owned by a California clothing company.

The governor declared a state of emergency after Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed overnight as a result of a ship strike, according to the Maryland Transportation Authority. The collapse was reported around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. The 1.6-mile bridge carried the Baltimore Beltway\Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River. Video posted online shows the entire structure breaking apart in several locations and collapsing. The Associated Press reported the ship caught fire, and thick, black smoke billowed from it.