Around Maryland

Summer is upon us. Warmer months in the mid-Atlantic often conjure thoughts of flowers, trips to the beach or lake, and backyard cookouts. However, these increased temperatures also mean the emergence of annoying pests, like the mosquito. Most of us associate mosquitos with mean red, itchy welts and having to bring insect repellents along on outdoor adventures.

Baltimore’s Penn Station will soon be able to bring more high-speed trains in and out of the city. The last time the station underwent this type of major renovation was in 1984. The platform project is part of Penn Station’s multi-phase plan to revitalize the historic train station. The two high-level platforms, two and five, will allow Amtrak to offer more Acela service.

Some students at Bowie State University in Maryland may soon be eligible for more money and scholarships — thanks to a $50 million fundraising effort. It’s part of the BSU Bold: The Campaign for Excellence, according to the university’s website. “It’s thrilling to get to this point,” university president Aminta Breaux told WTOP.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland filed an administrative complaint Tuesday, asking the federal government to investigate whether the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office 287(g) program should continue. The complaint was submitted to the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, an ACLU press release said.

In the world of education, July isn’t just a month of squeezing in beach weeks or backyard barbecues. It’s a time of transition for school districts, when new superintendents begin the work of settling in to demanding jobs, and in Maryland, those jobs will require them to work through the implementation of a long-term school reform plan called the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

The Worcester County Board of Education voted unanimously this week to extend negotiations with the teachers association. The school board on Tuesday agreed to extend negotiations with the Worcester County Teachers Association (WCTA) and the Worcester County Education Support Personnel Association. Though the groups had initially agreed to certain salary increases for staff, administration said the school system could not afford those increases with the maintenance of effort (MOE) level of funding Worcester County provided this year.

Anne Arundel Superintendent Mark Bedell is recommending that the Board of Education adopt a redistricting plan that will “put students first” and leave no school in the northern part of the county over its state-rated capacity. Bedell’s recommended redistricting plan was announced Wednesday afternoon — the same day the school board voted down a controversial proposal to ban flags that do not “promote national, state, and local government pride.”

The Montgomery County District Court announced July 6 that they rejected a challenge to Bill 21-22, a county law signed in November that prohibits carrying firearms within 100 yards of places of public assembly, including a park, church, school and public buildings, according to a press release. “It was a good day for public safety in Montgomery County,” said County Executive Marc Elrich in the release.