Efforts to ease congestion along Maryland portions of the Capital Beltway took a hit this week when the U.S. Department of Transportation denied the state’s application for a grant. State transportation officials said last year they would seek a total of $3 billion in federal aid to help pay for replacement of the American Legion Bridge as well as the widening of Interstate 270 through the Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant.

A new partnership between Goodwill and the Love for Lochlin Foundation will bring technology and employment services to the foundation’s mobile clinic to bring free employment resources to more Frederick County residents. The Rotary Club of Carroll Creek awarded a grant of $950 to the two organizations. It will fund a laptop from Goodwill with job resources, such as virtual career services and trainings, for the foundation’s mobile vaccination clinic.

In an effort to close the digital divide and increase digital literacy in Washington County, Washington County Free Library (WCFL) is distributing no-cost Chromebooks for Washington County households, through a grant provided by Washington County government via the Maryland State Department of Housing and Community Development.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. said Tuesday that he would run for Congress, ending widespread speculation about his ambitions for higher office and launching what he says will be a campaign focused on continuing his county-level work and uplifting Baltimore County’s “incredible story.” U.S. Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, 78, said Friday that he would not seek a 12th term in November after serving as the representative for Maryland’s 2nd Congressional District since 2002.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and three other Democratic lawmakers are pushing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell to lower interest rates at the upcoming Fed meeting to make housing more affordable. “As the Fed weighs its next steps in the new year, we urge you to consider the effects of your interest rate decisions on the housing market,” the senators wrote in a letter to Powell on Sunday.

There are other differentiations. Elfreth, in her second term in the state Senate, is the most prolific legislator. As a lawmaker from a politically divided county, she considers herself a pragmatist who works across the aisle. That may provide a boost in Anne Arundel, but not as much in Howard, where the most dedicated Democrats can be expected to turn out. What may prove most challenging for these candidates is getting out across the district while meeting the demands of the 90-day legislative session in Annapolis.

Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski joined Center Maryland’s The Lobby at Maryland Association of Counties winter conference last month to discuss becoming President of MACo, transportation issues, & more.

Packing up and moving to a new state, enrolling your kids in a new school – sometimes in the middle of the school year — finding new pediatricians and dentists, applying for a new job with a résumé dotted with positions scattered in cities across the country. You’re doing it all while supporting a spouse in active-duty service.

A local food truck owner will take over a small bar situated among a prominent stretch of businesses frequented by fans on Baltimore Orioles game days. Roberto Arce, who owns Susanita’s food truck, hopes to reopen the shuttered Bullpen Sports Bar & Grill at 508 Washington Blvd. across from Camden Yards, in time for baseball season. A transfer of the space’s liquor license to Arce received approval during a Baltimore liquor board meeting Thursday.

A Baltimore company that turns mushrooms into a meatless version of bacon will appear on the popular ABC show “Shark Tank” Friday night to try and woo its panel of celebrity investors. Meat the Mushroom founder Marvin Montague Jr. hopes the nationwide platform and the possible investment from one of the “sharks” can help the business put its products into 1,000 grocery stores by the end of the year.