Around Maryland

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) personnel traveled over 4,000 miles to search for missing persons and recover dead bodies in Maui, Hawaii after raging wildfires killed over 100 people. More than 70 MCFRS members returned to BWI airport around 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. After a debrief, they were released to go home around 4:30 a.m., said MCFRS Assistant Fire Chief David Pazos.

School bus headaches continued Tuesday in Howard County as 54 routes were canceled and parents of students at 34 elementary, middle and high schools were told they would have to find another way to get their kids to school for the rest of the week. On Monday, at least 27 Howard County schools experienced major busing delays. And six of those schools reported that at least one bus never showed up to take students to class.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says it has uncovered at least $40 million in federal Covid relief fraud in Maryland with some using pandemic funds for luxury goods, expensive vacations, cars and even illegal guns and drugs. Data released on Tuesday details what Maryland federal investigations have so far found while scrutinizing how Covid bailout funds were obtained and spent since late 2020. The money was offered to help businesses stay afloat and ward off lost revenue during mandated shutdowns and quarantines.

Are you a Kia or Hyundai owner? You could be entitled to compensation. But not from a pending federal lawsuit against the South Korean automakers, at least not yet. Baltimore City residents can pick up a free steering wheel lock on Tuesday at Greater Paradise Christian Center as part of an ongoing response to the rise in thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott posted about the giveaway on social media Friday, saying that the city is taking an “all of the above approach to reduce the risk of auto theft in our communities.”

On the first day of school in Howard County, thousands of kids at their bus stops waited eagerly. And waited. And waited some more. So many school buses showed up late, or didn’t show up at all, that Howard County schools Superintendent Michael Martirano apologized to families in a Monday morning email. “We are working to mitigate these challenges and will provide another update to families regarding information related to today’s dismissal shortly,” the email said.

Auditors keep a close eye on school district contracting in Maryland — and if you’re wondering why, just look at what happened in May in Montgomery County. After auditors raised suspicions, the district’s former assistant director of transportation pleaded guilty to stealing over $320,000 from the county’s school system over a span of at least five years by misusing district purchasing cards and mismanaging a contract for the purchase of school buses.

Free gun safety locks are now available at all 15 open public library branches in Anne Arundel County. The pilot program began in April when gun safety locks were made available to county residents at three public libraries. By June, the program grew to six libraries due to its popularity. County residents who are 18 years old and up can receive up to two gun safety locks per household, per day. No proof of residency is required. Listings for operating hours and directions can be found at library branches.