Around Maryland

Conservation efforts for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed have been bolstered by a $10 million grant. According to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the 49 individual grants will generate $12 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of more than $22 million. “The Chesapeake Bay is a natural treasure for Maryland, the country and the world,” said Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. “It’s also a fact the health of the economy and our overall public health depends on a healthy bay. The awards cover different areas and differ in size and scope, but all of them are essential to protecting our bay.”

The Baltimore County Department of Public Works and Transportation is asking residents for their input on the future of public transit in the county. The county has provided three ways for the public to offer feedback to the Baltimore County’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, which includes a new online survey, an online mapping tool and written comments to improve transportation in the county. All three methods will be open for responses until Nov. 14, according to a news release.

U.S. health advisers said Thursday that some Americans who received Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine should get a half-dose booster to bolster protection against the virus. The panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously to recommend a booster shot for seniors, adults with other health problems, jobs or living situations that put them at increased risk for COVID-19.

Residents in the Belmont South Community in Nottingham are furious because they went without water for days. The water went out early Tuesday morning. There was no water for the entire day Tuesday and Wednesday. But on Thursday, more than 48 hours later, contractors arrived in the community. “It’s just been a nightmare,” resident Mia Bogy said. “Today’s the first time it looks like they are actually working on it. Hopefully today we will have water.”

Two weeks after launching a voluntary coronavirus testing program for school staff, Frederick County Public Schools has ended the effort due to a lack of participation. The district had partnered with testing vendor Capital Diagnostics, according to FCPS Superintendent Terry Alban, and the school system and vendor planned to begin by having testing available at a small handful of sites around the county. Eventually, they were going to expand to be “at almost every” school, Alban said.

Maureen Aversa stepped to the lectern with a piece of paper in hand during the Carroll County Board of Education’s public comment session Wednesday night. But she wasn’t reading for herself. She was speaking the words of Lucinda Diehl, a student at Winters Mill High School. Diehl, through Aversa, said as a Chinese American girl she has faced both sexism and racism in Carroll County schools. By ignoring students’ struggles and not spending enough class time on the contributions people of color, the school system contributes to this problem, said Aversa reading from Diehl’s statement.

One of the zebras that escaped from a Maryland farm in late August was found dead on Sept. 16 in an illegal snare trap, officials said Thursday. Lauren Moses, a spokesperson for the state’s Natural Resources Police, said snare traps, which are illegal in Maryland, are typically used to hunt smaller animals, and it is not clear who set it. The zebra was found on private property.

This month, Annapolis is kicking off a six-month pilot program to encourage residents to compost. In partnership with Annapolis Compost, Annapolis Green, and other organizations, the city will offer two separate services between October and March: a curbside compost collection program in the Hunt Meadow neighborhood, and a compost drop-off site at Truxtun Park.

Somerset County Schools announced that they would adopt the same COVID-19 safety protocols as the Bayside Conference for middle school and high student-athletes. The winter sports that are required to abide by these protocols include basketball, indoor track, cheerleading and strength and conditioning.