Quantum Loophole submitted a new environmental management plan on Nov. 29 for its planned data center campus and is awaiting the Maryland Department of the Environment’s approval, which will allow the company to continue working on the project site. The plan outlines guidelines related to sewer pump construction on the former Alcoa Eastalco aluminum smelting plant property. Quantum Loophole also included specific procedures it will follow to protect people’s health related to potential environmental concerns related to the land.

A bill that would require most new residential buildings in Anne Arundel to include affordable units failed to pass the Anne Arundel County Council on Monday night. The bill, which was voted down by the three Republicans and Council member Allison Pickard, a Glen Burnie Democrat, would have mandated developers to allocate 15% of units in each large-scale building project to be affordable for renters earning around $62,000 or less and buyers earning about $83,000 or less.

Baltimore saw massive economic growth last year. Why? Because of the pandemic. While much of the world dealt with economic stress, Baltimore’s economy benefited from the stress on the global supply chain, experts told The Banner. The city’s gross domestic product grew by 5.9% in 2022, outpacing nearly every other part of Maryland — and most large economies in the nation, according to data released last week by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

 

Baltimore voters will be asked once again to weigh in on local control of the Baltimore Police Department. The Baltimore City Council approved a proposed charter amendment Monday that would create a structure for the city’s police department within the city charter in hopes of finalizing the transition from state to local control. The amendment, which still requires the approval of Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, would appear on ballots in November. Scott, a Democrat, has said he supports the measure.

 

Baltimore County has made it easier to find food distribution sites for residents struggling with food insecurity. The county on Tuesday launched its Food Pantry Locator, a new online tool that displays community partner food distribution sites across Baltimore County. The locator tool includes detailed information about community food access locations. Residents may enter an address or press “Use my location,” adjust the distance slider to view food pantries near them, and select a pantry’s entry in the list to view more information, including contact information, hours of operation, and special instructions.

The state that often leads the pack in areas like median household income and quality of schools is nearly failing when it comes to transportation, a local advocacy organization says. The Central Maryland Transportation Alliance just released its latest report card for the state, giving it a D+ overall, with failing grades in affordability and connectivity to jobs via transit. The policy analyst and advocacy organization dished out five C’s — the state’s highest grade this year — across 12 different areas.

Baltimore’s mayor is trying a new strategy to fight gun violence: suing the federal agency that traces the sources of “crime guns” but won’t share the data with local policymakers. Mayor Brandon Scott on Tuesday announced a new lawsuit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which in September denied a public records request from the city of Baltimore for gun crime data.

Even as a small, skinny child, Dakarai Baldwin was brave. A funny and bright student, Dakarai talked easily to girls and adults. He carried himself with confidence and never shied away from a challenge, loved ones say. Marquise Williams, his best friend, said Dakarai, nicknamed “Bonk,” rarely expressed vulnerability. Until the 17-year-old believed he was going to die. He died in a triple shooting in May 2022, one of 20 minors aged 17 and under who were killed in Baltimore last year.

 

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) shook up the senior leadership team of her U.S. Senate campaign Tuesday, parting company with a highly touted national Democratic strategist and bringing in high-level operatives with ample experience in Maryland politics. The developments come as recent public and private polls on the May 14 Democratic Senate primary have shown Alsobrooks slightly trailing her principal competitor, free-spending U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-6th).

 

Maryland is on a path to gain control of almost 300 acres on the Chesapeake Bay just outside Annapolis, a potentially huge victory for increasing public access to the bay. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation announced Tuesday that it would turn over Holly Beach Farm to the state Department of Natural Resources roughly 20 years after the state helped pay for the purchase of the one-time horse farm from its private owner.