For the second time in a week, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore visited a state legislative committee to make the case for one of his administration’s priorities. Moore testified before the Maryland House Appropriations Committee about his bill SERVE or Serving Every Region Through Vocational Exploration Act. Under the program, “The service year option established by this bill would provide young people of every background, and in every jurisdiction all throughout the state, the opportunity to serve our state while also gaining real-world perspectives, skills and experiences,” Moore said. “The program will also be a financial bridge for students to find their footing as they’re entering the world of work and advanced education.”

If Dante had needed a 10th circle of hell, he might have chosen a faculty meeting. A half-dozen universities were already operating in Italy by the time his Inferno began circulating in the 14th century. Readers who have spent time in these gatherings — at any level — will likely know what I mean. Yet, even faculty gatherings produce, on rare occasions, more than just bitter battles over small stakes. I attended one of these gems last week at the Fowler School of Law at Chapman University. Professor Mario Mainero gave a riveting presentation on artificial intelligence and legal education. AI has been much in the headlines recently after the debut of ChatGPT, a relatively young iteration of software with untold room to improve. And yet: ChatGPT can pass law school-level exam questions.

Vincent Schiraldi, the former head of New York City’s corrections department and former director of juvenile corrections in the District, was confirmed Tuesday by the Maryland Senate to run the state’s Department of Juvenile Services. The Senate voted 33-13, along party lines, with Republican senators using the vote to convey their criticism of the state’s juvenile justice reforms, Schiraldi’s work in the field, and his robust support for restorative justice practices and rehabilitation programs for youths. Schiraldi, a national leader on criminal justice and juvenile justice reform, became the most controversial appointee of Gov. Wes Moore (D) and the only nominee without a unanimous Senate vote.

The neighbors are at it again. Maryland and Virginia continue to pitch the pros of their respective jurisdictions while they try to win the competition to become the next home of the FBI. A week after the General Services Administration contacted delegations from Virginia and Maryland to say that its decision on where to locate the FBI would come after additional “consultations” with representatives from both jurisdictions, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore weighed in. During a visit to North Bethesda on Friday, Moore told reporters he was intent on “making sure that the FBI ends up in the state of Maryland.” Moore called landing the FBI headquarters one of his highest priorities and urged the GSA and the FBI to stick to the criteria previously laid out in the selection process, including a focus on equity.

The City of Baltimore is diverting $11.7 million in federal coronavirus pandemic relief funding to library infrastructure as part of Mayor Brandon Scott’s broader push to expand free internet access across the city. The money, part of a $35 million chunk of American Rescue Plan Act funds set aside in November 2021 for investment in broadband and digital equity, will pay for renovations, staff, HVAC systems and part of construction costs of a new library branch in Park Heights. At a news conference at the Brooklyn branch Tuesday, Enoch Pratt Free Library CEO Heidi Daniel laid out plans to replace rows of desktop computers with more private booths and rooms.

Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. filed a request Friday with state regulators to increase the rate it charges customers for delivery of both gas and electricity over the next three years by an average of 5% a year. The requested rate increase, if approved by the Maryland Public Service Commission, would boost the average customers’ monthly bill by about $31.07 after three years to support spending by the Baltimore-based utility. The rates would take effect Jan. 1. For the utility, which serves 1.3 million electric customers and 700,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland, the filing is the first step in a monthslong public review process requiring commission approval. The commission can approve, reject or, as it often does, scale back BGE’s planned increase.

Young people are emerging as advocates in the crisis of youth homelessness in Maryland. In Prince George’s, Baltimore, Frederick and Howard Counties, those efforts are focused at Youth Action Boards, which work to end young peoples’ homelessness. “This gives [us] the opportunity to come to have a seat at the table with stakeholders and providers so they can hear what is really needed in the community,” said DaeJanae Day, 26 co-chair of the Prince George’s County Youth Action Board, her full-time job with the Department of Social Services, who was among four formerly homeless youth interviewed for this story. Thousands of young people in the state experience homelessness.

A joint venture that includes Beltsville-based IVEA Restaurant Group has closed on its $44 million acquisition of the Shops at Congressional Village with plans to bring a host of new tenants to the Rockville Pike retail center. IVEA teamed up with Windfall Group USA, Caspian Group and Pacifica Square USA to cast the winning bid for the Shops after its prior owner, an affiliate of Ronald Cohen Management Co., defaulted on a 2019 loan backed by the property. The sale was recorded with the Montgomery County Circuit Court on Feb. 8. The center was a little more than 60% leased at the time of the auction to a mix of tenants including 84 Lumber, MyEyeDr and a Verizon store, but its new owners say they’ve inked a half-dozen leases combining for around 30,000 square feet in the 99,463-square-foot center at 1701 Rockville Pike.

For a few thousand dollars, avid concertgoers or corporate buyers can have the right to purchase concert tickets in reserved club seats at the newly renovated CFG Bank Arena. Los Angeles-based developer Oak View Group plans to officially reopen the arena this spring with Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band performing on April 7. For those looking to attend multiple concerts in the arena throughout the year, Oak View Group will be offering an annual concert membership program. The membership, which costs between $2,000 and $7,000 per seat, will give members priority access to three new clubs along with a right to purchase — for an additional cost — lower-level tickets within a 48-hour window, said Ryan Coyle, Oak View Group’s senior vice president of premium sales. Members can lease a seat each year, which includes access to the club with private bathrooms, concessions and VIP parking in the garage attached to the arena.

Gov. Wes Moore (D) is rejecting a Republican Party nominee for the Maryland State Board of Elections, calling him “not an appropriate selection for this important position of public trust.” William Newton, a frequent candidate for the General Assembly and Congress, was nominated by the Republican State Central Committee to fill a vacancy on the elections board. Moore, in a letter to state Republican Party officials, said Newton “does not meet our internal vetting standards.” “I am of the opinion that Mr. Newton is not an appropriate selection for this important position of public trust,” Moore wrote in a Feb. 16 letter to Nicole Beus Harris, chair of the Maryland Republican Party.