An examination of the “Triumph of the City” and “The Survival of the City”— two of Ed Glaesar’s books published in 2011 and 2021, respectively—and how the urban landscape has changed. Here, Jay and Ed opine on what defines today’s sought-after urban environments and what issues/trends we should consider as we plan today for tomorrow.

In the new administration’s first year, Gov. Wes Moore (D) and the state’s top lawmakers supported legislation to bolster health care coverage, access and protections in Maryland. Moore signed several bills back in May that aim to do just that. Some of those bills, including measures to protect and expand access to abortion services, took effect in June. But several health-care focused bills went into effect over the weekend, with a start date of Oct.1.

The Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use approval for Gaithersburg, Maryland-based Novavax’s updated COVID-19 booster shot, nearly three weeks after approving mRNA vaccine updates from Pfizer and Moderna. The Novavax vaccine still must get approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before being made publicly available. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines received CDC approval last month and have been publicly available for several weeks.

 

A third Anne Arundel County Council bill aimed at addressing potentially fraudulent care practices and fire safety issues at facilities for people in addiction recovery was withdrawn at Monday night’s meeting. Council member Nathan Volke, a Pasadena Republican, withdrew the bill after a lengthy discussion during which it became apparent the four Democrats comprising the council majority would oppose it.

Poll results for the Goucher-Baltimore Banner poll. (Original photos by Baltimore Banner staff; Photo illustration by Yifan Luo for The Baltimore Banner)
With Baltimore voters set to decide the leadership of their City Council next year, Councilman Zeke Cohen holds a healthy 13 point lead over incumbent Council President Nick Mosby, according to a new survey of Democratic Baltimore voters from Goucher College Poll in partnership with The Baltimore Banner.

Maryland business development expert Melanie Miller returns to The Lobby to discuss MACO2023, Maryland economic development, Maryland Politics & more. Melanie is the daughter of former Senate President Mike Miller, and Founder of Miller Partnership Consultants, LLC.

Bolstering resources for mental health and special education were among the priorities mentioned by Frederick County Board of Education members last week during their first discussion of the fiscal 2025 budget.n The discussion, which came during a work session Sept. 27, marked the kickoff to the upcoming budget season.

While acknowledging that a few issues will need to be worked out, resort officials and business owners this week are celebrating the success of the Oceans Calling Festival. Roughly 50,000 attendees descended on downtown Ocean City last Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the first-ever Oceans Calling Festival. Highlighted by more than 30 performances across three stages off the Boardwalk, officials say the successful event demonstrated Ocean City’s capability to host large-scale festivals in the years to come.

 

The criminal justice system is like a riddle: When is 30 years not 30 years? When the clock is set to Maryland time. Jason Billingsley, the man charged in the killing of Baltimore tech entrepreneur Pava LaPere, was free despite a 2015 conviction for a brutal rape. Billingsley served about nine years of his three-decade-long sentence for that conviction.

Let’s start with the indisputable facts. Frederick County has a tsunami of new housing and new residents coming, and many will bring children with them. The Frederick County school system is not prepared to absorb all of those children. The good news is that local leaders from the county, the school system and the city of Frederick recognize the problem and are working on it. But we have little time to waste.