The COVID-19 pandemic brought the challenges of public health and the transmission of infectious diseases to the forefront of Maryland policy over the last few years. Now, local health officials say that rising temperatures and other symptoms of climate change may usher in the “next pandemic.” At the Maryland Association of Counties winter conference, being held in Cambridge, local health officers urged county officials to proactively prepare for future major outbreaks by mitigating the effects of climate change.

Peake ReLeaf Executive Vice President Tracey Lancaster Miller and Founder and CEO of Standard Wellness Maryland Christina Betancourt Johnson joined Good Day DC to explore the question, are edibles actually good for sleep?

The Board of Education of Anne Arundel County elected Robert Silkworth for a one-year term as its president and Corine Frank as vice president for the upcoming year. Silkworth, of Olde Mill, has served as the eight-member board’s vice president for the past two years and represents District 2. He and Frank, of Pasadena and representing District 3, both were elected to four-year terms on the board in November 2020.

 

For decades, Maryland hospitals have sued patients with unpaid bills, amassing hundreds of millions of dollars in judgments since 2000. But this year, something curious happened. The judgments virtually stopped, according to an analysis of court data by The Baltimore Banner. Why is not entirely clear. Bad publicity could be a factor — hospitals have scaled back legal action in the past when under scrutiny for suing some of their poorest patients. There’s also a new state law requiring hospitals to offer payment plans patients can afford before they sue.

A day after a public announcement to cut more than $3 billion in transportation projects, county officials are pushing for answers and a way to avert the gutting of local road and transit priorities. Leaders from the state’s 24 major political subdivisions arrived in Cambridge for the annual Maryland Association of Counties winter conference with more questions than answers and a growing sense of frustration.

The Maryland Association of Counties began its winter conference Wednesday assessing policies on climate change, transportation and parks and recreation. The organization also known as “MACo” needed two parts to discuss juvenile justice reform at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Hotel in Cambridge. A one-hour discussion focused on how new laws, specifically Juvenile Justice Reform and Child Interrogation Protection Act bills passed last year, are working so far.

City Council members rejected a last-minute resolution Thursday calling for a long-term ceasefire in Israel and Gaza, just days after a separate last-minute measure asking the body to condemn the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas similarly came up short. The ceasefire measure — introduced by the four council members who abstained from Monday’s vote to condemn Hamas — comes as division over the conflict in Israel and Palestine has roiled City Hall in recent days.

Maryland state Dels. Mark Chang and Mike Rogers, both Anne Arundel Democrats, are a part of the growing pool of lawmakers hoping to succeed Democrat John Sarbanes once he leaves his seat representing the 3rd Congressional District. The delegates joined the race after state Sen. Sarah Elfreth launched her candidacy early last month. Elfreth, a Democrat, represents the Annapolis area.

A former member of the Frederick County Council appeared at a meeting on Tuesday to weigh in on a water and sewer reclassification request related to Calumet, a 923-unit planned development in New Market. Tony Chmelik, a Republican, represented council District 2 from 2014 until 2018, when he was unseated by Councilman Steve McKay, also a Republican.

Crisis intervention teams would pair Montgomery County law enforcement officers with medical professionals to respond to mental health crises in hopes of limiting negative interactions between police and civilians in crisis if a new bill introduced in the Montgomery County Council on Tuesday is approved. “This legislation would improve our county’s response to individuals in crisis using a model that is effective at de-escalating violent situations, diverting individuals from the criminal justice system and increasing access to needed follow up services,” said councilmember Dawn Luedtke (D-Dist. 7), who is sponsoring the legislation.