Around Maryland

The Maryland attorney general’s Securities Division has filed a cease-and-desist order against a group of cryptocurrency companies for allegedly violating state law. The companies, collectively known as “Abra,” offered and sold unregistered securities, made untrue statements and omitted material facts, and engaged in dishonest or unethical practices, according to the order filed in late July. Notably, the order alleges that Abra failed to disclose and misrepresent its own solvency, or ability to pay its debts.

New guidelines surrounding artificial intelligence in the classroom have been put forward by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. UNESCO released its "Guidance on Generative AI in Education and Research" on Thursday, unveiling a call to its 193 member states to consider an age limit of 13 for using AI in school. This is currently the age limit to use ChatGPT, an AI app, and is the limit set by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's 1998 Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of the United States of America. This law prohibits companies and online platforms from providing services to children.

After a brawl near the Bethesda Metro stop following a recent high school football game, Montgomery County Public Schools said backpacks will be banned from games and students will be required to present their school IDs for admission. The decisions — announced late Wednesday — came after a spate of violent altercations Friday after a game between rivals Bethesda-Chevy Chase and Walter Johnson high schools.

The University of Maryland, Baltimore is building a dental surgery center in downtown Baltimore to alleviate the long wait times for patients who need medical care. The University System of Maryland Board of Regents finance committee on Wednesday approved UMB’s plan for a $29.5 million renovation to the School of Dentistry building at 650 W. Baltimore St., to build an ambulatory surgery center and replace aging equipment throughout the 105,000-square-foot building.

Comcast and the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) Thursday announced the launch of a Digital Navigator program that will utilize trained students to get more Baltimore-area residents and CCBC students connected to the internet at home, while also teaching digital literacy skills and how to use devices.

7News has learned in Maryland, more than 600,000 residents are hungry and many of them live in Montgomery County. At the Cider Mill Apartments in Gaithersburg residents lined up during what's known as meat week. Each month families gather to receive a grocery bag full of more than $100 in food. When asked what kind of difference the program is making, Rosibel Romero told 7News, "It's making a huge difference, especially for all of us."

Some new arrivals to Baltimore say later on that the city grew on them. But Stevie Walker-Webb felt an intrinsic connection as soon as he stepped off a train at Penn Station a few years ago. “Walking from Station North to Mount Vernon, I just fell in love with the vibe and the pace of the city,” the Waco, Texas, native said last week. “I didn’t want to leave.”

Frederick County Public Schools on Wednesday presented three alternative plans for a redistricting that will affect students in Frederick city, including one that would move far fewer students than originally proposed. In May, district Superintendent Cheryl Dyson recommended one plan for the redistricting, which comes in response to an upcoming addition at Crestwood Middle School. The addition means there will be room for about 300 new students there starting next school year.