Late last month, thousands of retired state workers received a letter from Maryland’s Department of Budget and Management alerting them that major changes are coming to their prescription drug plans. “Based on State of Maryland law passed in 2019, your current prescription drug coverage will end December 31, 2024….We realize this is a big change, and you probably have many questions and concerns,” read the letters, dated Jan. 15, 2024 and signed by Christina Kuminski, director of the Employee Benefits Division for the department.

It may not look like much, but the empty Baltimore County shopping center surrounded by a sea of empty gray concrete is one of Maryland’s most divisive, and consequential, pieces of land. Purchased by a Baltimore-based developer in 2020, Lutherville Station stands a few yards away from a light rail stop that connects Baltimore County to the city and Anne Arundel County. It has been eyed for new development that would add retail stores, commercial tenants and housing — lots of it — to the grounds.

 

A Baltimore City Council committee is set to hear arguments Tuesday for and against a controversial proposal to revitalize the Inner Harbor by replacing the twin Harborplace retail pavilions with a multi-building, mixed-use development of housing, shops, offices and a park. Baltimore-based MCB Real Estate, which purchased the aging, nearly vacant waterfront marketplace out of receivership in April 2022, unveiled proposed designs at the end of October.

With the primary field set for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, Republican voters have a choice between two candidates with past primary election success and four relative newcomers to politics. Neil Parrott, a state delegate from 2011 to 2023, filed Friday — deadline day — for the Republican primary after months of mulling it over. Parrott previously won the Republican primary for the seat in 2020 with 65% of the vote and again in 2022 with 63%.

 

Maryland leaders are launching investigations into school systems statewide amid confusion over state funding. Millions of dollars are being sent from the state government to nearly two dozen schools under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. A new report by the Maryland Office of the Inspector General found a serious lack of oversight for how the funds are being used, leaving millions unspent or even sent back to the state.

 

Rockville-based health system Kaiser Permanente announced Monday a call for grant proposals for up to four $50,000 grants to be awarded to community organizations and nonprofits in the Maryland, Washington and northern Virginia areas. The grants will be used to improve community health and promote health equity in the region.

A lifelong Baltimore resident is ready to continue the growth of one of the city’s largest accounting firms. Dominic DuBois recently took over as Baltimore office head for RSM US LLP, the third-largest accounting firm in Greater Baltimore with 216 local employees as of early February. DuBois succeeds Marty Brunk, who led the Baltimore office for Chicago-based RSM for 18 years. DuBois wants to build off the momentum that Brunk built and plans to focus on adding new and young talent even as the accounting industry is facing a shortage of new grads entering the field.

Greater Baltimore Committee President & CEO Mark Anthony Thomas joins Center Maryland’s The Lobby Podcast this week. Mark joins the podcast to discuss his path to the Baltimore region, priorities for 2024, Baltimore’s designation as a federal tech hub & more. Mark is a economic development professional who knows how to turnaround big cities. Over the past two decades he has lead economic development strategies and public-private partnerships for some of the largest metro areas in the country including Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, & New York City.

Montgomery County councilmember questioned MCPS leaders and school board officials at an oversight hearing Thursday, focusing on details of investigative reports and systemic issues in the district’s investigative processes. Some responses and interactions brought clarity to the situation, while some members of the public expressed dissatisfaction and council members voiced their frustrations.

The price on the gas pumps isn’t what’s driving people to stop at convenience stores today. Royal Farms has its fried chicken; Wawa has its hoagies; 7-Eleven has everything from hot dogs to taquitos. All those chains have established brands built around food rather than fuel. The importance of food to today’s convenience stores symbolizes an industry-wide shift away from a gas-first model and toward a more holistic, one-stop-shop design.