As the Baltimore City Council misses its final opportunity to override a mayoral veto on the city’s proposed redistricting plan, Council President Nick Mosby introduced a charter amendment Monday to limit the mayor’s ability to run out the clock on measures approved by the council. Marvin James, Mayor Brandon Scott’s chief of staff, said Monday evening that the mayor had vetoed the map.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. should lead the effort to gain approval of the zoning necessary for the proposed Lutherville Station transit-oriented development (TOD). It is time for him to demonstrate that his professed commitments to fostering environmentally sustainable and inclusive communities, and to a regional approach to economic and transportation issues, are more than hollow political rhetoric.

Maryland’s highest ranking housing official said Monday that the state’s shortfall of residential building supply had reached a “crisis” pitch, hinting at several steps state government would take next year when legislators reconvene in Annapolis for the next General Assembly session. But Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jacob R. Day told those attending the Maryland Affordable Housing Coalition’s annual meeting that adopting one possible solution — capping annual rent increases by property owners and managers — was doubtful.

Frederick County biotechnology startup Phycin has received $400,000 from the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund to help develop and commercialize the use of algae proteins in medical care and the food market. The Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund, managed by the Maryland Technology Development Corp., distributed $4 million among 12 scientists from Maryland companies and research institutions to further their research.

 

The writer is a health literacy and health communication expert, director of the University of Maryland Horowitz Center for Health Literacy and a professor in the University of Maryland School of Public Health’s Department of Behavioral and Community Health. Maryland residents have a lot to cheer about with the state’s focus on plain language public information.

Angela Crenshaw has been appointed director of the Maryland Park Service, becoming the first Black woman to lead the organization. The veteran ranger has headed the state park service in an acting capacity since April. Josh Kurtz, Maryland’s secretary of natural resources, praised Crenshaw and Rachel Temby, the newly appointed deputy director, as “exceptional leaders who are ready to guide the Maryland Park Service forward and ensure equitable, sustainable, and safe access to our incredible state parks.”

A Baltimore Asian fusion eatery with three locations topped Yelp’s list of places to eat in Greater Baltimore this year.Ekiben, known for its steamed bun sandwiches and rice bowls, took first place on Yelp’s top 25 places to eat in Greater Baltimore. Released on Monday by the business review website and application, the list includes spots from Baltimore City to the surrounding Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Howard and Harford Counties and ranks restaurants through various factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews from the summer of 2022 to the summer of 2023.

Developers behind an ambitious $500 million-plus plan to overhaul the iconic Harborplace complex know they’ve got a lot of convincing to do. On Monday evening, P. David Bramble and other members of his MCB Real Estate development team took their best crack at winning over about 200 Baltimore neighbors who could eventually be among those to decide the fate of a charter amendment necessary for the project to move forward.

Frederick County Board of Education member Jason Johnson has launched a campaign to represent Maryland’s 6th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first independent candidate in the race. Maryland’s 6th District includes all of Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties and northern Montgomery County.

 

UPMC Western Maryland has been awarded an ‘A’ rating for hospital safety from the Leapfrog Group, a nationally recognized watchdog organization. UPMC Western Maryland is among 18 UPMC hospitals that received the ‘A’ rating, the highest achievable safety mark from Leapfrog. An independent organization, Leapfrog’s mission is to improve health care quality and safety for consumers and purchasers.