Around Maryland

Baltimore’s supply of a chemical needed to treat the city’s drinking water became dangerously low earlier this year as a result of a dispute between the city and a vendor, putting the city’s drinking water at risk of being undrinkable, according to a report released Tuesday by the city’s inspector general. According to the report, an unnamed vendor threatened to halt deliveries of the unspecified water treatment chemical to the city in June due to a disagreement about a proposed price increase. At the time, Baltimore owed more than $77,000 to the company in unpaid invoices, according to the report.

Over the years, it’s felt like the Inner Harbor has lost some of its magic, according to Leanna Wetmore of the Waterfront Partnership. With a new event series, the organization aims to re-engage the harbor around the holidays and show it’s a fun place even in the cold. “We always say the harbor is where Baltimore greets the world,” said Wetmore, the group’s director of events and programs. “And we want the world to see who Baltimore really is.” The series, called “Winter on the Waterfront,” launches this week. It includes existing traditions such as the Inner Harbor Ice Rink, which will return this year to the Inner Harbor Amphitheater. The rink will be open from Nov. 11 until Jan. 16.

Residents, local leaders and politicians crowded the church pews and walls of Asbury United Methodist Church in Annapolis Tuesday to recognize the city’s history as a slave port. The standing-room-only event, held on the 158th anniversary of emancipation in Maryland, was a celebration of Annapolis being designated as a “Site of Memory,” one of five locations in Maryland and 42 across the United States where enslaved Africans first arrived in the Americas. Residents, local leaders and politicians crowded the church pews and walls of Asbury United Methodist Church in Annapolis Tuesday to recognize the city’s history as a slave port. The standing-room-only event, held on the 158th anniversary of emancipation in Maryland, was a celebration of Annapolis being designated as a “Site of Memory,” one of five locations in Maryland and 42 across the United States where enslaved Africans first arrived in the Americas.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has tested positive for the coronavirus, he said in a tweet on Monday. “Just wanted to let Marylanders know that after testing positive for COVID-19, I am working from home,” Hogan said. “Fortunately, I’m up to date on my boosters and my symptoms are minimal.” This is the second time Hogan has been diagnosed with COVID-19. In December 2021, Hogan tested positive, but said his case, at that time, was mild.

More than two years after the pandemic shut down in-person schools and school board meetings, the Baltimore City school board will begin meeting at its North Avenue headquarters on Nov. 9, but only five seats will be available for members of the general public. “We are grateful to the staff for thoughtful planning to create more opportunities for the public to participate in our meetings. We are looking forward to this transition”, said board chair Johnette Richardson in a statement.

The city of Annapolis has asked a federal judge to consider placing its troubled public housing authority in receivership. If U.S. District Court Judge Catherine C. Blake agrees, the rare step would pass control of the five communities managed by the authority to either the federal government or court-appointed administrators.

An assistant for Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby — who was arrested in Baltimore County in June — pleaded guilty Monday to having a loaded handgun in her vehicle. Jade Kala Johnson, 24, was sentenced to probation before judgment, meaning her conviction can be expunged if she completes the one year of unsupervised probation imposed by the county judge.