Four Baltimore institutions that anchor the area where this year’s Artscape festival is expected to take place issued a joint statement to The Baltimore Sun on Tuesday raising the alarm about the “potentially crippling immediate and long-term impacts” that could result if officials allow poor planning to derail the event or significantly interfere with the organizations’ operations. “We feel obligated to express our growing concern for the evolving plan — or lack thereof,” reads the statement, which was issued by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, The Lyric Baltimore, the Maryland Institute College of Art and the University of Baltimore.

Mayor Brandon Scott made it official on Monday when he nominated Acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley to the position permanently in a motion before the Baltimore City Council. Worley, who entered the role in a temporary capacity after former Commissioner Michael Harrison surprised the city by announcing he would step down, appears to face a smooth path to confirmation.

Two bills aimed at tightening regulations on addiction treatment centers in Anne Arundel failed to pass the County Council on Monday night. The first bill, sponsored by council member Nathan Volke, a Republican from Pasadena, would have required certain treatment facilities to comply with fire safety standards. The bill also would have inserted definitions into the county code for group homes and recovery residences that would restrict providers who offer the entire continuum of drug treatment care from running recovery residences.

A federal judge on Tuesday postponed a decision on whether to separate the trials of Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins and local firearms business owner Robert Krop on charges of conspiring to acquire machine guns. U.S. District Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher said she wanted more information about how audio recordings of each defendant’s interview with federal agents could affect the other man’s defense if played during a joint trial.

 

The longtime chief financial officer of the Maryland Stadium Authority is set to retire after 30 years with the agency, 20 of those as CFO. David Raith will retire at the end of the month, according to a notice filed by the authority with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, and confirmed by the authority. A spokesperson for the stadium authority said Raith’s successor will be introduced at its next meeting on Aug. 1.

When Jim Stowe’s adult daughter was exiting his Rockville neighborhood in her convertible one day, she was stopped by someone asking what she was doing in the area. Even when she said she had been visiting her parents, she was asked where her parents live. In another instance, when Stowe’s son was visiting from college and took the family dogs for a walk, he was stopped by a community member who also asked what he was doing in the area.

 

City officials are considering an increase in hourly and monthly lease parking rates. Cumberland Administrator Jeff Silka on Tuesday provided the mayor and City Council recommendations on the issue. “The (Municipal Parking Administration) expenses exceed revenue,” he said and discussed use of the app ParkMobile. The technology is used in cities including Frostburg, Annapolis and Pittsburgh, Silka said and added the city would not incur upfront costs to implement the app.

Former Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner is considering joining the congressional race in Maryland’s 6th District. While at an event announcing the site of a planned county library in the city of Frederick on Monday, Gardner told The Frederick News-Post that she’s considering a run for the seat. “I’m contemplating it. That’s all I’ll say,” Gardner said with a smile.

 

 

The U.S. Women’s National Team is across the Pacific Ocean, looking to win their third consecutive FIFA World Cup. The tournament begins Thursday with a match between New Zealand and Norway. That’ll be at 3 a.m. East Coast time. The United States’ first game is against Vietnam at 9 p.m. East Coast time on Friday. Maybe, like me, you’re new to soccer fandom. Or maybe you’re a long-time fan of the world’s game, but have no idea how to watch matches that are being played in New Zealand and Australia.