Around Maryland

Nearly two decades ago, Baltimore officials made an ambitious promise to the residents of Poppleton, a predominantly Black neighborhood west of downtown. The city would spend millions of dollars buying property, moving residents and razing structures to clear 14 acres of land that would be given exclusively to one developer. In return, that developer would create a new, diverse, vibrant mini-city with room for them to return.

The Montgomery County school board is considering requiring a financial literacy course to graduate, joining a growing number of school systems intent on providing students with skills to make better money decisions later in life. The school system currently offers the lessons in elective courses including personal finance and financial mathematics.

A reimagining of the long-awaited Red Line transportation system could connect Howard County to eastern Baltimore County. The proposed expansion is part of a 25-year regional transportation plan released by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. The plan also includes a multibillion transit corridor connecting Towson to Baltimore City.

The Maryland State Department of Education has returned more than $800,000 in federal grant money earmarked for salaries and professional development amid complaints of a toxic work culture and staffing exodus. Assistant State Superintendent Justin Dayhoff said about $844,000 was returned to the U.S. Department of Education.

Truleo, a provider of automated body camera review and analysis technology for law enforcement, Thursday announced the Elkton Police Department has signed on to utilize the company’s body camera data analysis platform. Truleo processes body camera videos for departments across the country to help automate supervision, facilitate coaching, and promote police professionalism.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky surprised graduates at Johns Hopkins University’s commencement on Thursday, speaking to them in a live stream about his country’s fight to restore freedom and the students’ own futures. “I will not be too long,” said Zelensky, telling the crowd that time is of the essence, more valuable than even oil, uranium and lithium.

The Howard County Council added a competitive bidding process to access state funds for a new lakefront library in Columbia, a project for which the Howard Hughes Corp. had been selected. County officials revealed plans for the new library in March and said they expected it to become the community’s crown jewel. At 100,000 square feet, the library will cost around $144 million and will include other amenities such as an auditorium, a literacy classroom and a digital lab, officials said.

Children and teens gathering in Baltimore during nighttime hours this summer could be ordered to vacate or be transported to what officials are calling a Youth Connection Center, according to a memo from the Baltimore Police commissioner. The police document outlines how officers who encounter a crowd of 10 or more school-aged residents should instruct them to disperse in three successive announcements, before members of the group could be relocated by a Youth Connection Center employee.