Around Maryland

Kate Mercer and Sara Gordon grew up a block apart in their eclectic Cabin John neighborhood. They celebrated birthdays together, had sleepovers at each other’s homes, and ice-skated together on the C&O Canal when it froze over. Their moms were in the same book club and sewing circle. Now, Mercer, 34, and Gordon, 35, are moving back to the houses that their moms still live in and own. But this time, the longtime friends are bringing their husbands and kids with them.

Chilly water didn’t discourage many on a recent Sunday evening at the Druid Hill Park swimming pool. Kids launched off the diving board, taking swan dives into the deep end. A group raced one another back and forth along the grass nearby. As temperatures cooled near closing time, families climbed into minivans while straggling teenagers searched for what to do next.

The explosion that rocked a building at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant in March occurred because dust caught fire in a dryer used for sewage sludge, according to a report from the Baltimore City Fire Department. After the dryer turned on that morning, a spark ignited the dust, according to the report from the city’s captain of fire investigation. Then, thermal oil used in the dryer was ignited as well.

This year is the fifth-driest on record for Maryland since 1895, with about 4.7 million residents living in areas of drought, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System. However weather forecasts are promising, with 50% or higher anticipated showers for Baltimore from Wednesday to Monday.From January to May, Maryland had approximately 6 less inches of rain than usual.

While violent crime is up 3% in Prince George’s County, Maryland, property crime has skyrocketed compared to last year, up 53%. Crimes involving burglaries are seeing the biggest increases. Over 3,000 vehicle break-ins have been reported in Prince George’s County, up almost 20% from last year. Nearly 3,800 cars have been stolen, up 179%.

President Joe Biden proclaimed June as National Homeownership Month to recognize that owning a home is one of the greatest stepping stones to raising a family, building equity and securing generational wealth. “I call upon the people of this Nation to safeguard the American Dream by ensuring that everyone has access to an affordable home in a community of their choice,” the president said in a statement.

When Lamar Brooks was growing up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, he yearned to see Black people who looked like him. Brooks, who is gay, hopes this year’s Baltimore Pride offers everything he sought as a young person. “Growing up, it was difficult as a gay Black man to navigate through my intersections because I didn’t have the visual representation of what it was like growing up from where I’m from,” Brooks said.