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Around Maryland

A native Maryland hop hints at new possibilities for local brewers

Maryland is widely recognized for its blue crabs and Old Bay seasoning, but if research into a local plant yields promising results, the state could become known for its spin on another classic: beer. The University of Maryland Extension, with help from farm brewers in the state, is testing whether a native Maryland hop plant discovered on a Frederick County farm can be grown at commercial scale. If successful, the project could be a game changer for Maryland craft brewers and other breweries up and down the East Coast, industry experts say. “We want this whole thing to grow,” said Bryan Butler, who is spearheading the research as director for the University of Maryland Extension in Carroll County. “My dream is that there will be a beer that people refer to, one day, as ‘the’ Maryland beer.”

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Baltimore community leaders, joined by mayor, push for creation of a public body to fight vacancy crisis

A large crowd of clergy leaders, advocates and elected officials gathered in West Baltimore Thursday morning with a resounding message: Baltimore’s vacant housing crisis is too big for the city to handle on its own. The group, convened by the community organization BUILD, called on local and state officials to make an unprecedented commitment to address housing vacancy by agreeing to create a special purpose entity by 2024 dedicated to this work. They’re seeking $2.5 billion in public funding to tackle the problem — from a combination of sources that could include funding from state, federal, city levels and more.

Sykesville church’s Black history speaker series includes personal hero presentations and talk by Pat Dorsey

In the once-segregated learning space known as the Historic Sykesville Colored Schoolhouse, a group of nine students have been preparing this week to educate others about significant figures in Black history. The students, members of the Homework Club at the Historic Sykesville Colored Schoolhouse will share what they’ve learned Sunday at 11 a.m., during a special Black History Month event at the White Rock Independent Methodist Episcopal Church, 6300 White Rock Road in Sykesville.

Maryland lawmakers introduce bills expanding student school board member voting rights

Kent County’s current school board student member, Brayden Wallace, does not have voting privileges. Elected by his peers, he represents about 1,200 students countywide including nearly 700 at the high school level. But Wallace isn’t able to vote on legislation affecting Kent County Public Schools. A bill in the Maryland General Assembly would change that. HB 402, sponsored by state Del. Jay Jacobs, R – Kent, would make the student position an official member of the school board, according to Joanne Smith, Jacobs’ chief of staff.

Read More: The Star
Moore administration halts Hogan attempt to scale back state’s vehicle emissions testing

As former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) was heading out the door a few weeks ago, his administration attempted to push through changes to the state’s vehicle emissions inspection (VEIP) program — over the objections of environmentalists and a legislative panel that examines proposed state regulations. But now the new regulation — and an accompanying procurement process designed to execute the Hogan administration’s plan to scale back emissions inspections — has been put on hold.

Downtown Baltimore on the Harbor
Baltimore lawmakers push public safety proposals

Maryland lawmakers from East Baltimore are promoting a series of proposals that they say would address causes of crime, help solve crimes and reduce recidivism. Del. Caylin Young and Del. Jackie Addison, both first-year lawmakers from East Baltimore, unveiled a package of bills on Wednesday that they hope to pass this General Assembly session. “There’s a sense of urgency that we need to be mindful of,” Young said after reeling off a list of shootings and killings in his community.

Harris, OC Call For Moratorium On Offshore Wind

Two more whale strandings reported in recent weeks, including one in New Jersey and one near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, had federal lawmakers again calling for a moratorium on offshore wind energy development projects. Over the span of a couple of weeks last month, deceased whales of various sizes and species stranded on the beaches across the mid-Atlantic, largely in New Jersey and New York, but also on Assateague. There, a nearly 34-foot humpback washed up on the beach in the over-sand vehicle (OSV) area.

Virginia, Maryland leaders make public pitches to land new FBI headquarters, an economic development win of a generation

The selection process for a new suburban FBI headquarters campus appears to be in its final stretch, and Virginia and Maryland lawmakers are making their final pitches for the massive project. As required by the federal 2023 omnibus spending bill, the General Services Administration will hold “separate and detailed consultations” with representatives from both states in late February and early March as it determines the best location for a new consolidated FBI headquarters, a multibillion-dollar development that could house as many as 7,500 employees. This could be the final set of reviews before the feds make a decision on what promises to be a titanic economic development win.

Harford County Circuit Court rules against Jacob Bennett in dispute over County Council eligibility

A Harford County Circuit Court judge ruled Wednesday morning that County Council member Jacob Bennett may not serve on the council while employed as a Harford County Public Schools teacher. Judge Richard Bernhardt delivered the ruling following a Tuesday hearing in which he stated a quick decision was needed on the matter. Before delivering the ruling, Bernhardt said no matter the outcome, “No doubt, there’ll be future review.”

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Four infant deaths have Baltimore County health officials ‘sounding an alarm’

Four infants have died in Baltimore County in the past two months due to unsafe sleeping conditions, according to the county health officer, who called on health care providers to step up safe-sleep education efforts for new parents and other caregivers. “Over the last two months, we have seen four preliminary findings of sleep-related deaths in infants. While one such death is cause for sounding an alarm, four is what we normally see over the course of an entire year,” said Dr. Gregory Wm. Branch, the health officer, in a statement.

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