Around Maryland

When the people whom Henry Wong loved left him behind — sometimes willingly, sometimes not — the 19th century Austrian composer Franz Schubert came through for him. So did the Italian soprano Renata Scotto. As a child growing up in Hong Kong, Wong was raised by his grandmother while his parents lived in Japan. Overheard snatches of opera music evoked memories of his mother, who sang Chinese opera on area stages.

Tonya J. Webb wanted to make an impact on the way cancer was being addressed — particularly how it affected people of color. The associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, who specializes in microbiology and immunology, gravitated to the field after several members of her family battled the disease. Now, she combats cancer while helping to inspire future cancer fighters.

The federal court for the District of Maryland is warning citizens not to fall for false jury service claims from scam callers. Officials said these callers are impersonating court administrators, U.S. Marshals and state and federal law enforcement officers who claim victims will be hauled off to jail if they don’t pay a fine for missing jury duty. “The callers insisted that their victims arrange to meet them with cash or prepaid credit cards,” the court said in a news release.

For two years, Mohammed Choudhury has been hard at work as Maryland’s schools superintendent, revamping what he says was “not a functional” department and implementing a historic $3.8 billion program to transform the state’s public education system into a national model of educational excellence and equity. The leaders of the board that hired him say he’s doing a great job — but as they debate extending his contract this summer, they are also defending him against accusations that his fiery management style has jeopardized the state’s agenda for its 900,000 students.

Anthony McCarthy, a regular around Baltimore City Hall and veteran of numerous political campaigns, sat in a circle of reverends in Ellicott City Wednesday evening. They prayed over him as his eyes welled with tears. “Right now, as we say farewell to our brother for the moment … God, we trust you. We believe you,” said the Rev. Jamie Washington. “We trust you and we believe you to cover and to keep him on this journey.”

The Maryland State Police has made it to the final round of the prestigious Best Looking State Police Cruiser competition, and they need your help to take home the title. This nationwide competition hosted by the American Association of State Troopers selects the best-looking patrol vehicles for an annual calendar. Maryland’s State Police are counting on support from the public to help them win the crown and bring recognition to their top-notch cruiser.

Although Barbie has never tackled the profession of Atomic Bomb Inventor, moviegoers who might appreciate the crossover can celebrate the shared July 21 release date of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” around the D.C. area with food and drinks, special screenings and of course, parties. Here are some restaurants, bars and clubs around the region that can help to make sure your Barbenheimer release weekend is equal parts fiery and glittering.

As hundreds of protesters rallied outside school board headquarters for the third time this summer to protest the school district’s no-opt-out policy on reading LGBTQ+ inclusive storybooks, organizers made it clear some groups were more welcome than others. An upcoming decision by a federal judge will determine whether the opt-out will be reinstated until the legal dispute is resolved.

A year ago, a new three-digit phone line launched nationwide, making it easier for people facing a mental health crisis and other issues to find resources and support. Since then, national data show that more people are reaching out to what’s called the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Yet call counselors and call center managers in Maryland want more people to be aware of the line and how it can help.