Johns Hopkins executive Alicia Wilson takes national role at JPMorgan Chase

Alicia Wilson, one of the most well-known economic development executives in Baltimore, is moving on to a national role at one of the world’s largest financial institutions. Wilson, the vice president for economic development and community partnerships at Johns Hopkins University and the Johns Hopkins Health System, is leaving the university to become the managing director and head of North American regional philanthropy at JPMorgan Chase & Co. Wilson is hoping that she can create a nationwide impact when she joins the firm in January.

Opinion: Georgia is turning purple — and should be a 2024 early primary state

The reelection of Sen. Raphael G. Warnock (D-Ga.) in Tuesday’s runoff testifies to the discernment of Georgia voters and offers a refreshing reminder that character still counts. Republicans won every other Georgia statewide race last month, but about 200,000 citizens who voted for Gov. Brian Kemp (R) refused to support GOP Senate nominee Herschel Walker. Most Georgians, especially his fellow Black Americans, were embarrassed by the former football star’s ignorance and incoherence on the issues, disturbing allegations of hypocrisy on abortion and a history of domestic violence accusations.

Gov. Larry Hogan bans TikTok in state government

Maryland is banning the use of TikTok and certain China and Russia-based platforms in the state’s executive branch of government, Gov. Larry Hogan said Tuesday, citing an unacceptable cybersecurity risk to the state. The Republican governor announced an emergency cybersecurity directive to prohibit to prohibit the use of the platforms, saying they may be involved in cyber-espionage, surveillance of government entities and inappropriate collection of sensitive personal information. “There may be no greater threat to our personal safety and our national security than the cyber vulnerabilities that support our daily lives,” Hogan said. “As the cyber capital of America, Maryland has taken bold and decisive actions to prepare for and address cybersecurity threats. To further protect our systems, we are issuing this emergency directive against foreign actors and organizations that seek to weaken and divide us.”

In Prince George’s County, ‘people’s council’ gavels in

A day after taking office, members of the Prince George’s County Council gaveled in on Tuesday and got to work. Dubbing itself “the people’s council,” the body wants county residents to anticipate an era of openness about governing and decision-making and a newfound sense of urgency, Thomas E. Dernoga (D-District 1) told The Washington Post in an interview. Dernoga was named council chair, ending Democratic at-large council member Calvin S. Hawkins II’s time in the position. Freshman member Wala Blegay (D-District 6) is vice chair. Blegay presented an agenda for the council: fostering open government and increasing services for residents in need; boosting affordable housing and rental assistance; preserving green space through tree conservation and flood control; and focusing development growth on transit areas with an eye for creating more walkable communities.

Maryland statewide math scores drop dramatically since before the pandemic

Maryland’s public-school students posted notably low pass rates on statewide math tests administered last spring, and surprisingly good scores on English language arts, a hint at the complexity of recovery in the first full year of teaching after the pandemic. The tests, considered difficult, show that less than half of the students statewide in any grade are considered proficient in either English or math, though a larger percentage of students do well in English. In third grade, 45% of students passed the English test, up from 41% in 2019, the last time the full spring test was given before the pandemic was declared in March 2020. And a higher percentage of third-, fourth-, sixth- and 10th-graders across the state passed the English test than they did in 2019, suggesting that school systems more than made up for the learning loss in that subject.

Scott Plank’s War Horse Cities sells Belvedere Square to Bethesda firm

Developer Scott Plank sold the popular Belvedere Square market this week to a Bethesda firm. The North Baltimore landmark was acquired by The Premier Cos. in a deal that closed on Tuesday after talks began this past summer, said Steve Jennings, president of War Horse Cities, Plank’s development firm based in Locust Point. The sales price for the 101,318-square-foot complex was undisclosed. “We love the property. It’s a Baltimore institution,” said Jonathan Cutler, president of The Premier Cos., in an interview late Tuesday. “We haven’t ventured much into Baltimore. It’s a different market than D.C. but this felt like a really good first purchase opportunity.”

Chase opens West Baltimore branch, announces small business commitment through larger $20 million investment

JPMorgan Chase has opened one of its few community center-format branches at Mondawmin Mall in West Baltimore and announced Wednesday that the third installment in a $20 million commitment to the city will benefit small businesses. The bank’s community center branch, the first of its kind in Baltimore and one of 14 nationally, will offer mentorship for entrepreneurs, financial health workshops and Wi-Fi for remote learning and work. All programs and services are free and offered to customers and non-customers. JPMorgan Chase said the format is part of a $30 billion effort to help close the racial wealth gap.

Jensen: Help, I am being stalked by online retailers who know if I’ve been sleeping — among other things

Do you remember when Christmas shopping involved leaving your house? When you could walk around a downtown department store or perhaps the local mall and nobody kept tabs on you, noticed how often you visited certain outlets, what you looked at or what you didn’t look at? I do. It was glorious. Why, I could put a shopping list in my pocket and only I, the actual author of said shopping list, knew what was on it. Well, aside from Santa Claus or possibly the Lord Almighty. How cool was that? We called it privacy. What a quaint concept that was. It implied that while I might be well aware that I was in the market for a “Tickle Me Elmo” for one of the kids or a matching plaid scarf and mittens for the spouse or even fuzzy bedroom slippers for my mother-in-law, large anonymous corporations or their agents did not necessarily have to know.

New legislators get schooled on how to make friends, find success in Annapolis

Five weeks ago they were on the campaign trail. Five weeks from now, they will be sworn in as state legislators, completing a whirlwind transition. For many, it will be a first taste of public service. To help ease the newcomers’ transition from citizen to servant, senior members of the General Assembly — lawmakers from both chambers and both parties — are offering a two-day crash course on what it takes to be a success. Several speakers at Monday’s opening session in the House of Delegates chamber urged next year’s freshman class to treat one another with respect and to nurture bonds with colleagues of all stripes.

Report: Plane that hit power lines in Gaithersburg flew below minimum altitude

A small plane that crashed into a Maryland electricity transmission tower last month was flying below minimum altitudes while approaching an airport in foggy nighttime conditions, according to a preliminary report on the crash. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured and the Mooney M20J was substantially damaged when it hit a tower supporting high-tension lines on Nov. 27, knocking out power to tens of thousands of area customers. The plane was left dangling 100 feet (30 meters) above the ground, according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report released Monday.