Friday, March 29, 2024 | Baltimore, MD
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Around Maryland

red and white train on train station
Hope for the Red Line is high — so is skepticism

To Zac Blanchard, an assistant football coach at Digital Harbor High School in Federal Hill, the proposed Red Line could be “the difference between kids showing up to first period or not.” To Bakari Height — a Gay Street resident who relies on mass transit, and a transit organizer — development of the east-west line is the difference between him staying in Baltimore or moving out of the city. “If this doesn’t work, I can’t stay here,” Height said.

refuel, petrol stations, gas pump
Gas prices hit their highest level this year as heat hampers refineries

The rising cost of oil and refineries dialing back production during the summer heat have driven gas prices to their highest levels in nine months. The average price for a gallon of regular-grade gas in the United States reached $3.80 on Wednesday, 26 cents more compared with a month ago, according to data from AAA. It is the highest level since November, though still lower than the peak average of $5 in June 2022.

Ride On ranks as a bigger bus agency than any between DC and Atlanta

Among the many bus agencies in the Washington region, obviously WMATA’s Metrobus is the biggest by any measure. But the second biggest, Montgomery County Ride On, is such a large agency on its own that it ranks alongside many a big-city operation from elsewhere in the country. If you rank US bus agencies by 2019 ridership, New York’s MTA, Los Angeles County’s MTA, and Chicago’s CTA came in 1-2-3. WMATA was 9th. Baltimore’s MTA 11th.

Towson University names George Mason University provost Mark R. Ginsberg as new president

Mark R. Ginsberg, provost and executive vice president of George Mason University, will serve as Towson University’s 15th president, the University System of Maryland announced Wednesday morning. He will start work Oct. 30. “As a Maryland resident of more than 40 years, I’ve witnessed TU’s remarkable rise in becoming not only one of the most respected institutions in our state, but one of the best in the nation,” Ginsberg said in a statement.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
At ‘Night Out’ events, acting Baltimore Police Commissioner gets to set tone with residents, neighborhood leaders

Acting Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley crisscrossed several community policing block parties Tuesday evening, a chance for the nominee to appear publicly as he prepares for a series of town hall meetings and a confirmation hearing later this month. At the annual National Night Out events around the city, part of a national community-oriented policing campaign, Worley shook hands with community leaders and heard their safety concerns, such as a desire for better lighting near Joseph Lee Park in Bayview.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Shoes, backpacks, wedding dresses: Here’s what you can get tax-free in Maryland this month

If you are looking to save some cash on back-to-school clothes shopping, you’re in luck in Maryland. “Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week” returns on Aug. 13 and runs through Aug. 19. During that week, shoppers won’t have to pay the 6% sales tax on most clothing and pairs of shoes $100 or less. A full list of items that are included in the sales tax exemption are available through the Comptroller’s website.

Read More: WTOP
Baltimore County acquires Pikesville Armory from state of Maryland

Baltimore County has purchased the site of an historic armory in Pikesville. The Pikesville Armory sale was unanimously approved Wednesday by the Board of Public Works. The county purchased the site for $1. The armory was decommissioned in 2016, and the nonprofit, Pikesville Armory Foundation, has planned to redevelop it as a community recreation and arts hub.

 

white table with black chairs
Breaking down the Blueprint: Board approves updates to statewide reform plan, offers feedback to local school systems

The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Accountability and Implementation Board has approved updates to the statewide comprehensive education reform plan, on schedule with a law that calls for the massive plan to be revised each year by Aug. 1. Some changes the board made Tuesday were discussed July 20, such as requiring local health and social service agencies to share with local school systems the names and contact information of families with children who could be eligible to enroll in free prekindergarten.

Night highway
Maryland highways are still more dangerous than before the pandemic

If you’re reading this at a red light, stop and put your phone down. More Marylanders died on the roads in 2022 than in 2019 despite people driving less, and distracted driving was one major cause, a new study found. TRIP, a national transportation research nonprofit, reported that Maryland experienced 557 traffic fatalities in 2022 — one per 100 million miles traveled.

911 call centers struggle with staffing shortages, mental health, burnout

In medical emergencies, house fires, or other dangerous situations, most Americans understand to call 911 for immediate help from a call specialist. The dispatcher will talk someone through a tough situation and may coordinate first responders to head toward the emergency. But according to a new report and a former 911 specialist, employees who take those stressful calls may experience significant mental health challenges that lead to depression, anxiety, and burnout.

 

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