It has been more than two months since Maryland’s 6th congressional district seat — by far the most competitive in the state — came open. But while half a dozen candidates have already come forward in the Democratic and Republican primaries, there’s a sense among political professionals that the field isn’t anywhere near complete — and that some of the biggest names have yet to step forward.

State Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) and the delegates from his legislative district are weighing in on the ranging controversy over Baltimore Gas & Electric Co.’s installation of natural gas regulators outside homes throughout the city. With a Public Service Commission hearing on complaints about the initiative scheduled for next month, the lawmakers wrote Monday to Fred Hoover, the new PSC chair, urging the commission to objectively consider residents’ concerns and not just rely on information provided by BGE.

In the United States, health concerns that land someone in the hospital or require multiple visit to the doctor can be a taxing experience on emotional, logistical and financial fronts. But for about 17% of Marylanders facing medical debt, these struggles get compounded, leading to additional stressors that can further impact health outcomes, particularly for Black families and patients, according to economic policy organizations.

 

It all started with a nonalcoholic beer. Darryl Collins cracked open a can from Athletic Brewing Co. about a year ago and liked what he tasted. Athletic, the Connecticut-based manufacturer of beers with less than 0.5% alcohol by volume, is a rising star in the rapidly expanding field of nonalcoholic drinks, ranking second on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing food and beverage companies of 2022.

Richie Moriarty, cast member of the CBS show Ghosts, should be in Montreal this month beginning the filming of the third season of the show. Instead, production has been delayed as the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to reach a resolution with writers and actors on strike the past two months. Moriarty, 43, a Thomas S. Wootton High School graduate, is part of that strike, which he says comes at a critical time for those in the acting profession.

 

Maryland’s top echelon of lobbyists earned slightly less during a six-month period that includes the most recent legislative session compared to a year ago and their share of every dollar spent on lobbying fell to its second-lowest point in four years. Growth in the total number of registered lobbyists — more than 660 — is nearly back to pre-pandemic levels, according to a review of data from the Maryland State Ethics Commission.

Students in Frederick County who are uninsured or have insurance that does not cover the cost of immunizations can access free vaccines at the county health department’s clinics next month, the department announced Monday. The department will hold free back-to-school vaccination clinics on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from Aug. 1 to Sept. 11.

 

With millions of travelers landing each year, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) serves as a major economic driver for the greater Baltimore region. Recent figures show the airport generates nearly $10 billion in economic activity annually and supports more than 100,000 jobs. Key to maintaining and expanding this growth is JetBlue’s planned acquisition of Spirit Airlines, a deal that would make JetBlue the second largest carrier at BWI.

Our elected officials talk a good game about the need to strengthen our transportation system by expanding transit to better serve the region. But words are empty without action. As representatives of groups working to make our transportation system more equitable, increase public transit options and respond to the climate crisis, we are deeply concerned that our regional leaders may soon greenlight a plan that will not do nearly enough to help us meet those goals.

The most obvious strategy for addressing the escalating violence and crime in our city and nation is to eliminate the easy access to guns. But this action, although supported to some extent by a majority in the U.S., seems politically unattainable, despite the almost daily carnage experienced by victims, families and communities. This carnage features plenty of bullets, but no magic bullet exists to mitigate the pervasiveness of violence and gun culture that subverts every fiber of our humanity. We are faced with only tough choices.