Baltimore and much of Maryland are under a heat advisory for Thursday and an excessive heat watch for Friday. The high temperature in Baltimore is expected to approach 99 degrees Thursday, with a heat index of around 107 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. A Heat Advisory has been issued for Thursday. Maximum heat indices in the advisory area are expected to be 105-109 degrees. Outside of the advisory, it will still be hot.

Last month, Mayor Brandon M. Scott raised some eyebrows with an abrupt changing of the guard in city police commissioners, bidding farewell to Michael Harrison while announcing that then-Deputy Commissioner Richard Worley would be the mayor’s pick for this critical leadership role. Given sensitivities in a city where constitutional policing remains an aspiration, if not always a reality, it’s surely no surprise that some people were disappointed not to have had the mayor’s ear on choosing a new commissioner and were calling for a national search to be conducted.

The Frederick County Board of Education has approved significant changes to its policy on public comments at board meetings — but the board could go further. Under the new policy, board meetings will begin with an hour allotted for public comment, rather than the current 30 minutes. Each person will be allowed to speak for three minutes, for a maximum of 20 speakers. Someone speaking on behalf of an organization will no longer be given extra time.

High school students across the nation are increasingly questioning the value of college. In a Gallup poll, just 36% of Americans have a “great deal” or quite a “lot of confidence” in higher education. The perceived value of a college degree is at an all-time low. Individuals see their peers weighed down by student loan debt exceeding an average of $30,000.

Even though the Orioles have one of the best records in baseball, they are far from first in attendance. Close to 1.1 million fans have attended a baseball game at Orioles Park at Camden Yards this year, which ranks 23rd out of the 30 Major League Baseball teams this season, according to Baseball Reference, an MLB statistics website.

The Maryland State Board of Education unanimously voted to reelect President Clarence C. Crawford at its Tuesday meeting, at which the board was also required to vote on whether to reappoint Maryland State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury. After one of two closed sessions during the meeting, the 14-person board announced Crawford’s reelection and that board member Dr. Joshua Michael had been elected as vice president, replacing Dr. Susan Getty.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) vowed to fight attempts to end the racial equity and inclusion policies used by private corporations. “Let me be clear: diversity is not a threat — it’s an asset,” Brown said in response to a threat of legal action by 13 Republican attorneys general. “Diversity initiatives address longstanding disparities that continue to persist in our society, while also enriching business, sparking innovation, and fostering greater understanding among individuals from various backgrounds and experiences. Embracing and supporting diversity is a moral imperative and smart business.”

At least 15 miles of trails will be constructed or revitalized in communities spanning Prince George’s County, Montgomery County and D.C. with help from a $25 million federal grant that local leaders highlighted on Monday. The investment — part of a competitive Department of Transportation program that targets projects with national or regional impact — will advance more than $70 million in efforts to enhance recreational and economic opportunities, local leaders said, improving trail access for nearly 300,000 residents.

Baltimore County will begin using a controversial gunshot detection system in portions of two precincts starting Wednesday, part of a two-year pilot program paid for with federal pandemic relief money. ShotSpotter has been contentious in many communities, scrutinized for years by constitutional rights activists and jettisoned by jurisdictions over its efficacy.

Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins is asking a federal judge to amend the conditions of his release to let him have two of his department-issued handguns as he “continues to work daily,” according to a court filing on Monday. Jenkins also said in an emailed statement to The Frederick News-Post on Tuesday that he is expecting “to make a decision as to when to rescind [his] ‘leave of absence’ status,” which has been in effect since mid-April. He did not provide a timetable for his decision.