Supporting our Maryland multilingual learners’ work to graduate with a college degree is a pressing social and racial justice issue. The Credit for All Language Learning (CALL) Act seeks to level the playing field for multilingual learners who currently do not receive credit for their English Language Learning coursework (which is not considered credit bearing, but is eligible for Pell grants). This is definitely an equity issue, as we provide credit to most college students toward their degree for taking basic foreign language courses while multilingual learners who speak one, two, or more languages are not given credit for English courses that are equally, and many times more, rigorous.

 

Maryland’s House of Delegates advanced legislation revising consequences for children charged with crimes, as near-identical bills intending to curb youth crime and improve public safety are moving through legislative chambers this week. Democratic leaders said they must change a law they passed two years ago to hold some of the youngest offenders accountable and connect them with treatment services.

A state mapping project shows areas in Maryland that could be susceptible to sea level rise in the future. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources worked with George Mason University and The Nature Conservancy on the project, which shows viewers the areas that could become wetlands. By sharing which places could become affected by rising sea levels, DNR conservation resilience planner Sara Coleman hopes people will be able to adjust before it gets too late.

 

Ocean City’s commercial harbor may be on the brink of a significant transformation as offshore wind company U.S. Wind sets its sights on establishing a presence in the resort town. The Federal Government has been informed of U.S. Wind’s intentions to construct a new pier in the West Ocean City Harbor, stirring both anticipation and concerns among locals. The proposed project includes the development of a new pier, forming part of an operations and maintenance facility.

Maryland’s top lawyer announced Wednesday afternoon that the state had reached settlements with Walgreens, Walmart and two opioid manufacturers that are expected to add $238 million to its efforts to fight the opioid crisis over the course of 15 years. The settlements follow multi-year investigations of the roles of the opioid manufacturers and chain pharmacies in fueling Maryland’s opioid crisis, the Office of Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown said in a news release.

Macy’s announced this week it will close 150 stores in the next three years as part of its efforts to accelerate luxury growth, improve the customer experience and expand its other brands, including Bloomingdale’s and Bluemercury. In a press statement, Macy’s said that at this time they are not sharing the list of stores slated to close. It is unclear whether the county’s two Macy’s locations–in Westfield Wheaton mall and Westfield Montgomery mall in Bethesda–will be impacted.

 

Facing a glut of aging shopping centers and a shrinking supply of developable land, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. proposed a bill last month that would have eased roadblocks to redevelopment. Criticism was swift, prompting Olszewski to withdraw it in lieu of a council-backed alternative. But unlike previous attempts to spur housing production, the county will receive a boost from the state amid a looming federal deadline to produce 1,000 affordable units, a lofty goal Olszewski believes can be partly met via redevelopment.

Baltimore’s government-subsidized public housing sites are failing federal inspections at a higher rate than the national average, a Banner analysis of inspection records found. The most recent round of Real Estate Assessment Center Inspections, which the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development uses to assess the quality and safety of housing, revealed a number of health and safety violations inside of Baltimore’s conventional public housing stock, including cockroaches, fire safety hazards and mold and mildew.

As part of his goal to eradicate child poverty in Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore’s latest tactic is to funnel millions of dollars into low-income communities. But he may have a problem: a budget deficit. Moore’s ENOUGH Act — it stands for “Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments and Households” — got generally glowing reviews from a committee of lawmakers who heard the governor’s pitch on Wednesday.

 

Baltimore County’s school board approved a $2.58 billion operational budget Tuesday for fiscal year 2025 with investments in teacher compensation and early education. The proposal also eliminates vacant positions and changes class sizes. The school board signed off on Superintendent Myriam Rogers’ budget in a 9-3 vote. Board members Rod McMillion, Julie Henn and Maggie Litz Domanowski voted against it over concerns about larger classes and teacher transfers. The Baltimore County Council will now review the plan before voting in May.