Given the state government’s fiscal circumstances, the $63.1 billion Maryland budget unveiled Wednesday by Gov. Wes Moore may be the least painful — or most politically palatable — anyone in the State House could have envisioned. It solves a projected $761 million deficit in the fiscal year that begins in July. It allows the governor to pay for popular programs, like the ongoing K-12 public education reforms, and even provides enough to fund a handful of new initiatives. And, significantly, it does not require raising taxes.

A record number of Marylanders signed up for coverage on the state’s health benefit exchange during this year’s open enrollment period, leadership at the exchange announced at a Thursday news conference. During open enrollment, which began Nov. 1 and ended on Monday, 213,895 people enrolled in coverage through Maryland Health Connection — the state’s health insurance marketplace. That’s 17% more than the 182,166 Marylanders who enrolled last year, said Michele Eberle, executive director of Maryland Health Benefit Exchange.

One Charles Center is a 22-story office tower in downtown Baltimore that belongs to the patriarch of the family that owns the Baltimore Orioles. It’s for sale and mostly vacant. So how could the tower use more water in a single year than any other property owner in the city — more than Johns Hopkins Hospital or Domino Sugar — and rack up a $12.3 million bill?

For a children’s museum, Port Discovery is getting kind of old. To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the staple destination for Baltimore youths is making some big changes. At a press conference Thursday that featured a student choir from Northwood Elementary School and a man on stilts, the museum announced a five-year, $17.5 million exhibition plan.

A 4-3 vote by the Worcester County Commissioners has jeopardized the future of a 42-unit affordable housing project operated by Diakonia. Diakonia’s current facility on Old Bridge Road can no longer meet the needs of the growing local population of homeless and livelihood-stressed individuals who need help getting back on their feet.

Gov. Wes Moore signed an executive order Thursday establishing an office that aims to invest in the lives of Maryland’s children in an effort to reduce the factors that lead to juvenile crime. “We must hold our children accountable if they break or violate the law,” Moore, a Democrat, said at a news conference Thursday afternoon in Annapolis. “But we also need to hold ourselves accountable for all of our children’s well-being.”

With the hometown Washington Commanders seeking a new coach, there’s lots of talk of which candidates came off whose “coaching tree.” One candidate came off the Bill Belichick coaching tree. Another came off the John Harbaugh coaching tree. And it got me thinking. That same coaching tree idea is true of the incredible teachers in our community. This past Tuesday, longtime MCPS teacher and former MCEA president Chris Lloyd passed away.

 

A Montgomery County, Maryland, organization has been working this week to ensure the homeless population is aware of the snow and frigid temperatures so they are able to find refuge off the streets during potentially dangerous winter weather. Bethesda Cares, a group founded in 1988 that aims to prevent and end homelessness in the county, has had staff members spread out across the county this week as the threat of snow and cold weather intensified.

 

On January 9, 2024, heath care leaders from around Maryland gathered at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital in West Baltimore to discuss issues affecting the health care industry in Maryland. The panel discussion was moderated by Baltimore City Council member Phylicia Porter. Thank you to ASA President Beau Higginbotham for welcoming everyone.

Wicomico County and Salisbury Airport officials are in talks about a new incentive-based program. The goal is to bring additional airlines, or get the one existing airline to provide more destination options. If the program gets off the ground, airlines could be in for some big savings. There would be a 100% waiver of terminal rent for any new space leased for service and a waiver of landing fees and apron parking fees.