For two years, Mohammed Choudhury has been hard at work as Maryland’s schools superintendent, revamping what he says was “not a functional” department and implementing a historic $3.8 billion program to transform the state’s public education system into a national model of educational excellence and equity. The leaders of the board that hired him say he’s doing a great job — but as they debate extending his contract this summer, they are also defending him against accusations that his fiery management style has jeopardized the state’s agenda for its 900,000 students.

The Maryland State Police has made it to the final round of the prestigious Best Looking State Police Cruiser competition, and they need your help to take home the title. This nationwide competition hosted by the American Association of State Troopers selects the best-looking patrol vehicles for an annual calendar. Maryland’s State Police are counting on support from the public to help them win the crown and bring recognition to their top-notch cruiser.

 

 

The U.S. House overwhelmingly passed a bill Thursday that would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration for five years, including a big increase in subsidies for airlines providing flights to smaller markets. The chamber voted 351-67 to approve the bill, which would authorize $104 billion for the agency through 2028, increase authorized spending levels for rural aviation programs and add some protections for the flying public amid ongoing complaints over cancellations and delays.

Although Barbie has never tackled the profession of Atomic Bomb Inventor, moviegoers who might appreciate the crossover can celebrate the shared July 21 release date of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” around the D.C. area with food and drinks, special screenings and of course, parties. Here are some restaurants, bars and clubs around the region that can help to make sure your Barbenheimer release weekend is equal parts fiery and glittering.

As hundreds of protesters rallied outside school board headquarters for the third time this summer to protest the school district’s no-opt-out policy on reading LGBTQ+ inclusive storybooks, organizers made it clear some groups were more welcome than others. An upcoming decision by a federal judge will determine whether the opt-out will be reinstated until the legal dispute is resolved.

From ancient Taoist philosophers like Lao Tzu to contemporary celebrities like Robert Redford, there is no shortage of famous people who have publicly observed, with only minor variation, that within every problem resides an opportunity. The context may vary, but the core message is plainly true. Just look at the history books. A lot of important progress takes place when things look most discouraging.

A year ago, a new three-digit phone line launched nationwide, making it easier for people facing a mental health crisis and other issues to find resources and support. Since then, national data show that more people are reaching out to what’s called the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Yet call counselors and call center managers in Maryland want more people to be aware of the line and how it can help.

 

In real life, Bob Odenkirk, who played a morally-challenged attorney in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, is a campaign donor to President Joe Biden and an outspoken critic of former president Donald Trump. But his political contributions don’t stop there. In an era in which out-of-state money increasingly influences state races, the Los Angeles-based actor gave $1,500 to Montgomery County Councilman Will Jawando, a Democrat seeking the U.S. Senate opening created because Maryland Democrat Ben Cardin isn’t seeking reelection next year.

Kenny Noel is relatively new to his home off West North Avenue, but with some investment — and teamwork — he thinks his new neighborhood has a lot of promise. It wouldn’t hurt, for instance, to be able to walk to a grocery store. Unbeknownst to Noel, an effort is already taking place in West Baltimore. The West North Avenue Development Authority was created by legislators in 2021 and tasked with the responsibility of redeveloping and revitalizing areas along the road between North Hilton Street and Interstate 83.

Prosecutors in Tennessee are reviewing the FBI’s investigative file on bureaucrat turned fugitive Roy McGrath’s death near Knoxville, even as the internal review remains ongoing, officials said Thursday. A spokesman for the Knoxville field office of the FBI, Darrell DeBusk, said both the Knox County District Attorney General’s Office, as well as the local U.S. Attorney’s Office, are “reviewing the file.”