A new academic building on the University of Maryland campus will be named in honor of the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. The college’s School of Public Policy will go by “Thurgood Marshall Hall” following a naming ceremony to be held later this month. The name pays homage to the civil rights advocate and litigator who successfully argued that segregation was unconstitutional in the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka. “This recognition serves as a testament to his legacy as an unapologetic trailblazer for justice and equality,” the Marshall family said in a statement shared by the university. “The inspiring work the school does every day to create the next generation of students embodies what was at his core —ensuring a more just and equitable world for all.”

On March 30, 2020, amid a national emergency and rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in Maryland, then-Gov. Larry Hogan issued an executive order mandating most workers stay home to mitigate the virus’s spread. As other states were issuing similar shutdown orders, and businesses and workers were forced to adapt to a new normal, suddenly the nation was forced to collectively re-examine the nature of work. Now, with the pandemic economic emergency mostly in the rear-view mirror following an economic recovery that has seen unemployment sink to the lowest levels in 50 years and labor force participation rates boosted to near pre-pandemic levels, businesses face a new set of challenges: attracting and retaining workers in a red-hot labor market. A new bill introduced in the Maryland House of Delegates aims to give private businesses a new tool to attract and retain workers: a new vision for the work week.

Rockville’s Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: SUPN), which develops treatments for central nervous system diseases, has secured a nine-figure loan as the company pushes multiple product candidates through clinical trials and comes up against some regulatory hurdles. The credit line with UBS Bank USA gives the clinical-stage biotech access to up to $150 million that “can be drawn at any time,” it said in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company said it plans to use the financing for general corporate purposes. “We are pleased to further enhance the strength and flexibility of our balance sheet with this line of credit,” Supernus President and CEO Jack Khattar said in a statement.

Chris Mfume, son of Congressman Kweisi Mfume, is 32 years old and has already made his mark in development. He’s a developer with an eye on inclusion while preserving Baltimore’s neighborhoods. A few weeks ago, he opened a new, 149-unit, $33 million apartment house built on the footprint of the old Epstein’s Highlandtown department store warehouse. It’s called Hohm Highlandtown and faces Bank and Grundy streets. He worked with partners Doug Schmidt and Richard Manekin, who also mentored him in what it takes to get something built dovetailed around the edges of historic shopping and eating streets.

By the time Erik Heinonen, a humanitarian worker for Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services, returned to his home in Irpin, Ukraine, last month, the coffee shops and grocery stores were open again. It was safe to walk the dog and take his daughter to the playground. Heinonen’s house was still standing. But his neighbor’s house, across the alley, was gone. The apartment building across the street had been hit with missiles. “We were lucky,” Heinonen said over the phone the other day, as the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine approached. “A shell had landed in our front yard. It broke windows and punctured a fence and left divots in the wall of the house. We were fortunate.”

A new audio-visual exhibit at the Baltimore Museum of Industry is shining a light on the work of Baltimore City schools’ food service workers. The “Food for Thought” exhibit is a collaborative effort between The Office of Food & Nutrition Services for Baltimore City Public Schools and The Baltimore Museum of Industry, who teamed up with WYPR producer Aaron Henkin and award-winning photographer J.M. Giordano. At an opening reception last week, folks munch on free samples of actual cafeteria food like chicken teriyaki, mini PB&J sandwiches and cookies – all welcome departures from the Cold War frozen patties of yesteryear that many remember from their childhood lunches.

State Sen. Justin Ready of Carroll County has co-sponsored a bill that would establish fundamental parents’ rights, including the right to direct a child’s education. Senate Bill 566 states that a parent has “the fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education, care, and welfare of the parent’s child,” and prohibits the state from infringing on that right unless the state “can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence certain factors.” The Senate bill has been cross-filed with House Bill 666, sponsored by Frederick County Republican Del. April Miller. The House bill has a hearing Wednesday with the Judiciary Committee; the Senate bill will be presented March 15.

No one really complained about the 88-page bill. In fact, most of the witnesses testifying Friday afternoon had nothing but high praise for the sponsors and their efforts. Well thought-out. A national model. Inclusive. Equitable. The scores of people who packed the House Economic Matters Committee room just had a couple more thoughts about the legislation to regulate legalized cannabis, from farm to rolling paper: Favorable with amendments. Some worried about clean-air violations in areas where tobacco smoking is already prohibited. Some predicted it would cripple the hemp industry. Some warned of children in search of candy gobbling up look-alike CBD gummies. Some simply wanted a piece of the action from the money brought in by the state taxing the sales.