Around Maryland

Quantum Loophole Inc., the developer of the first master-planned data center community, Monday announced it broke ground on its 600-acre Nature Reserve at the more than 2,100-acre campus, Quantum Frederick. The nature reserve will act as a carbon-sink onsite, enabling operation of the first carbon negative industrial-development of its kind.

The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to take up a Biden administration appeal over the regulation of difficult-to-trace ghost guns that had been struck down by lower courts. Ghost guns, firearms without serial numbers that are usually privately made, have become more common on American city streets, and especially so in Baltimore.

As final drafts are being prepared for Washington County’s Fiscal Year 2025 budgets, the proposed capital budget has reduced a bit. Originally proposed at $73.8 million, the newest draft totals $65.8 million. Chief Financial Officer Kelcee Mace told the Board of County Commissioners the change was made in response to their requests and the requests of the departments and agencies affected.

The city of Frederick’s long-range plan for maintaining the city’s infrastructure includes several projects that could affect the future of parking downtown. A committee is expected to provide recommendations in the coming weeks that would affect the future of one project — the demolition of the city’s Church Street parking garage, which would be rebuilt with more spaces.

Just hours after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed last month, President Joe Biden vowed that the federal government would “move heaven and earth” to build a new bridge fast — and would foot the bill. But many have wondered why taxpayers are on the hook when the Dali, a privately owned shipping vessel nearly twice the size of Baltimore’s tallest building, took the bridge out.

It’s been years in the making, but soon, the Prince George’s County Police Department will begin building its own Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), which will be similar to the one that recently opened in D.C. Police in Prince George’s County, Maryland, already have a relationship with the District’s RTCC and help coordinate responses when criminal suspects trek back and forth across the D.C.-Maryland border.

Spending your Earth Day Monday in Maryland means spending less on public transportation and more time saving the planet. In Montgomery County, Ride On buses, which includes Ride On, Ride On extRa, Ride On flex and Flash, will be free to use on Monday, April 22, in celebration of Earth Day, according to a statement from the Montgomery County Department of Transportation.

The Garrett County Health Department is searching for a new leader. Health Officer and Director Bob Stephens, 66, of Mountain Lake Park, plans to retire July 1. “Most of my peers are retiring and I want to pass the reins to someone who has more energy and additional ideas of how to improve the health and wellness of the community,” he said.