Baltimore police charged a teenager as a person of interest in connection with Sunday’s mass shooting. Homicide detectives and SWAT members arrested a 17-year-old boy without incident at 7 a.m. Friday at a house where officers executed a search warrant. Police said detectives believe the 17-year-old boy was involved in the mass shooting, but he is not being charged as the shooter.

Workers at a northwest Baltimore nursing home have voted to join one of the largest health care unions in the country, becoming the latest health care workers in the Baltimore-Washington corridor to seek union representation in recent months. Employees at Autumn Lake Healthcare’s Arlington West facility voted 34-1 in favor of joining 1199 Service Employees International Union (SEIU) United Healthcare Workers East in late May.

The word “promise” has many definitions. One indicates commitment, a “promise” to follow a course of action. Another anticipates excellence, something that shows great “promise.” When our city, county, community, state and federal partners gathered to announce the relaunch of the Baltimore Red Line, we celebrated both meanings of that word. The Red Line is a promise to connect East Baltimore to West Baltimore — and beyond — through affordable public transit, and it’s a promise to unleash the full potential of the residents of the city and the county.

“The Tempest” begins with a storm. That’s all Shakespeare provides, just a few stage directions: “Enter Mariners wet.” And some yelling. For Sally Boyett and her team at the Classic Theatre of Maryland, that is enough. “We’ve got an elaborate soundscape that has dialogue and sound effects in it,” she said. “We’ve got lightning effects, a lot of emotion and flash, color and moving lights. We’ve got atmospherics, which is haze and ground fog.”

The Maryland House of Delegates is back to full membership following the swearing in of the chamber’s two newest members. Dels. Ryan Spiegel (D-Montgomery) and Malcolm P. Ruff (D-Baltimore City) were sworn in Thursday in separate ceremonies by House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County). Both are assigned to the House Appropriations Committee. Jones, in opening remarks, said hopefully that Ruff’s ceremony is “the last delegate that I have to do prior to session” in 2024.

While U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-2nd) ponders his political future, another Democrat prepares. Ruppersberger has yet to formally announce his plans to seek a 12th term. Meanwhile, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. (D) has hired noted Baltimore fundraiser Sophia Silbergeld and is raising money. Just in case. “He would never challenge him or do anything to make the congressman uncomfortable,” Silbergeld said of Olszewski’s fundraising activities and relationship with Ruppersberger.

Marylanders spent more than $10 million on marijuana over the holiday weekend as recreational sales for adult customers launched across the state. According to the Maryland Cannabis Administration, combined recreational and medical cannabis purchases totaled $10.4 million Friday through Sunday, more than doubling sales from the same dates a year ago when it was only sold for medical purposes.

 

Soccer returned to M&T Bank Stadium for the first time in seven years last year but there won’t be a repeat performance this summer. English Premier League teams and London rivals Chelsea F.C. and Fulham F.C. had originally wanted to play a friendly game at M&T Bank Stadium this year but the game will instead take place at FedEx Field in Prince George’s County due to scheduling conflicts with Orioles games.

Hundreds of Baltimore County residents have been without high-speed internet access, but that will soon change. “It’s like you’re living in a third-world country, being in Baltimore County and not having internet,” said resident Mary Petrucci. She lives in one of those homes that do not currently have high-speed broadband internet service. “I would go to the public library when I could, once or maybe twice a week, and have to check emails and do all of my computer work at the library,” Petrucci said.

 

 

Local nonprofit On Our Own of Frederick County was awarded a $76,000 state grant to help expand its services for those struggling with opioid addiction. On Our Own is a peer-led recovery center that provides resources — from one-on-one peer sessions, life coaching, support groups and educational programs — for people battling substance abuse and mental health problems, or people in recovery trying to maintain their clean lifestyle.