Maryland has been working on laws and other efforts to help people in “the most dire circumstances,” Maryland’s secretary of housing and community development said Monday. Secretary Jake Day talked about a variety of housing issues during a presentation at C. Burr Artz Public Library in Frederick on Monday.

The District of Columbia has issued a bill to U.S. Senate candidate Angela Alsobrooks — it totals $47,580 — to account for her receiving property tax credits she was not qualified for. The bill, which is due by Oct. 31, is for a combination of back taxes and interest, according to a copy obtained by The Baltimore Sun following a public records request to the Washington, D.C., Office of Tax and Revenue.

The gang interviews Maryland Democratic Party Chair Ken Ulman about the role of of a party chair, priorities for the upcoming election cycle, and more.

Six months ago when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed and shut down the Port of Baltimore, leaders at nearby Tradepoint Atlantic stepped up with some desperately needed help. Cargo ships carrying new vehicles to Baltimore for processing were rerouted to the 3,300-acre former steel mill at Sparrows Point, doubling Tradepoint’s 24/7 operations. Pieces of the destroyed bridge were recovered and dragged from the Patapsco River to a canal at the site.

The state is moving closer to awarding a lucrative 20-year contract to run the concessions operations at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport — a year and a half after Gov. Wes Moore (D) pulled the plug on the initial procurement process, which was laden with controversy. Maryland Matters has learned that an evaluation committee at the Maryland Department of Transportation has recommended granting the contract to URW/Harbor Bankshare, a partnership between the international development company Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield SE and Harbor Bank of Maryland.

 

The Savannah Bananas, a team with a fun approach to baseball that includes singing, dancing and gimmicks, are coming to Camden Yards next year. The Bananas will play at Camden Yards as part of their 2025 world tour on Aug. 1 and 2, they announced. The team was founded in 2016 as a collegiate baseball team in the Coastal Plain League, and Orioles starter Cade Povich pitched for them in the 2020 season.

In one TV ad, a serious-sounding woman talks about how Angela Alsobrooks “dodged” thousands of dollars’ worth of property tax payments. In another ad, another serious-sounding woman declares: “We can’t trust Larry Hogan on abortion.” These television ads and others — as well radio, web and social media video ads — are impossible to miss in Maryland’s hotly-contested U.S. Senate race between Democrat Alsobrooks and Republican Hogan.

As an architect, much of my career has revolved around creating buildings that Maryland’s families and residents can find joy and comfort in. I’ve learned that well-designed buildings — from schools and commercial spaces to our homes — can impact one’s health, safety, and quality of life. That’s why I’m encouraged by new Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) included in Maryland’s Climate Solutions Now Act.

When Hamas a year ago led the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust, there seemed to be immediate shock and sympathy in the U.S. The numbers were stunning: more than 1,100 people killed, including dozens of children and hundreds of civilians; thousands wounded; more than 200 hostages, including American citizens; dozens of reports of rape and sexual assault. Families, dreams and communities ripped apart.

Chronic absenteeism often reflects deeper issues, such as adverse childhood events (ACEs), unmet health needs and socioeconomic disparities. Children grappling with ACEs are more likely to experience mental health challenges, which can lead to school avoidance. Chronic health conditions like asthma, eczema and diabetes can also directly cause frequent absences.