Around Maryland

The delivery of Maryland’s long-awaited Purple Line has been pushed back again, while cost overruns have ballooned the light-rail project’s price tag to more than $9.4 billion. The Maryland Transit Administration said Friday it has requested the state Board of Public Works approve a contract extension with Purple Line Transit Partners, the consortium of contractors overseeing construction.

According to a new study, Maryland is a hotbed of Alzheimer’s disease. Research released at an international Alzheimer’s conference today studied the prevalence of the disease county by county nationwide and found that Maryland has the highest per capita rate of Alzheimer’s in the country. It also found that two jurisdictions in the state rank in the top five nationwide.

The State’s Attorney’s Office for Frederick County Monday announced a change in the office’s case management procedures with the deployment of NICE Justice, a program from the Israeli-based software company NICE that manages digital evidence intake for case building and trial preparation. The Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office represents the State of Maryland in all criminal prosecutions that result from crimes charged by local law enforcement agencies occurring in Frederick County.

School board members continue to discuss the possibility of adding more night meetings to the annual calendar.School board member Katie Addis again asked her fellow Worcester County Board of Education members last week to consider scheduling three more evening meetings. Other board members said it was something to be explored.“

The recent debate over the proposed townhouse moratorium has prompted a broader discussion about where and how Prince George’s County should grow. How can the county better achieve the goals of Plan Prince George’s 2035 General Plan? How can land use policies help meet the housing needs of families? How can land use decisions build a more sustainable and economically prosperous future?

Movement teams from across Baltimore converged Saturday in Brooklyn in an effort to help residents after the July 2 mass shooting that killed two people and injured 28 others. Volunteers brought pallets of everything, from diapers and baby formula to boxes of beans and bread. “July the second was an eye-opener for all of us, for everyone. The community needs help,” said Ebony Harvin, a pastor.

Young women, some sporting blue hair extensions, friendship bracelets and patterned nails, scream “Get back” at imaginary predators in a basement room at Anne Arundel Community College. The women, ages 14 to 22, are learning self-defense. It’s one of a variety of classes these participants have taken during the week-long HERricane summer camp, the first-ever camp of its kind hosted by Anne Arundel County’s emergency management office and the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management.

Baltimore City Public Schools will roll out a new technology tool to help parents keep track of student progress. A new family friendly app has been in the works for some time, and district officials said it’s part of their attempt to become more transparent. The app will allow city parents to keep track of what’s taking place at their child’s school. Andre Riley, a district spokesman, told 11 News that the app is designed to keep more families connected year-round.