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Access to some college savings funds will be curtailed until at least Oct., official says
September 30, 2022 -

Families enrolled in a popular college savings plan will face additional delays in accessing their funds, the official in charge of Maryland’s “529” programs said on Thursday. Anthony Savia, the head of the Maryland Prepaid College Trust and the College Investment Plan, said his team has made “significant progress” in its efforts to fix an error in how interest for trust account holders is calculated. But he declined to commit to a “date certain” for resolving the issue completely. “We are committed to doing this right and fixing an ongoing problem,” he said. Savia, who took the reins of the program over the summer, spoke during a virtual “town hall” meeting at which he provided an update on efforts to set accounts straight.

Read More: Maryland Matters
Johns Hopkins’ second town hall on police force ends in protest. Again.
September 30, 2022 -

Following protests that disrupted last week’s first town hall presentation of Johns Hopkins’ draft memorandum of understanding with the Baltimore Police Department, the university shifted its second town hall Thursday evening to a livestream-only format. Nevertheless, that event ended in protest, too, and also was moved to an at-home-only platform. Attendees were told in advance that they could watch Thursday’s panel at home on video or in Turner Auditorium on Hopkins’ East Baltimore campus, which was originally set to host the second town hall completely in person. Regardless of the format change, which excluded live input from community members, protesters arrived with signs and whistles.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Some Baltimore City students still aren’t vaccinated against childhood diseases. It could become a costly problem for the district.
September 30, 2022 -

Every public school in the state on Friday morning will take an official count of how many students are sitting in their classrooms, a crucial annual census that will be used to determine how much money school systems and individual campuses will receive from the state and federal governments next year. Not counted will be children whose parents don’t have health insurance and can’t afford to have their kids immunized against standard childhood diseases, such as mumps and measles, quickly. The Baltimore City health department, which has held free clinics for vaccinations, has no available appointments for weeks.

Read More: The Baltimore Banner
Advisory committees created to help assess subject areas in Blueprint education plan
September 30, 2022 -

As work continues to implement a multi-billion-dollar education reform plan, some educators, public school administrators and students are meeting to offer suggestions on it. They are organized into four advisory committees to provide expertise for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Accountability and Implementation Board. Each committee met virtually Wednesday to address four particular subjects: early childhood education, high-quality and diverse teachers and leaders, college and career readiness and more resources for students to be successful.

Read More: Maryland Matters
U.S. Justice Department awards nearly $5.5 million to violence intervention groups in Baltimore
September 30, 2022 -

Three community-based organizations in Baltimore have been awarded nearly $5.5 million in federal grants for violence intervention efforts. The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs on Thursday announced grant awards totaling $100 million to help communities across the U.S. reduce gun crime and other serious violence. Department officials made the announcement during a visit to Baltimore. Amy L. Solomon, the office’s principal deputy assistant attorney general, announced local awards during a roundtable hosted by Roca Baltimore, one of recipients. The Black Mental Health Alliance for Education and Consultation and the Living Classrooms Foundation in Baltimore were also awarded.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Cheeseburgers, ‘emoji fries’ and fruit: Inside Baltimore City’s school lunch program
September 30, 2022 -

It’s 10:30 a.m. and the pre-K students at Curtis Bay Elementary School were lining up for lunch. Across a metal counter that rises to their shoulders, they cautiously slid compostable trays, staring wide-eyed at the staff who place cheeseburgers and smiley-faced “emoji fries” on their plates. “How can you not love ‘em?” asked cafeteria manager Patricia Newman, a 27-year veteran of the school system who attended this school as a child. As the kids teetered toward their lunch tables, trying not to spill, Newman made a note on a clipboard to ensure that every student grabbed a piece of fruit or a vegetable, as required by federal guidelines.

Read More: The Baltimore Banner
AAA hopes expanded ‘Move Over’ law makes Maryland roads safer
September 29, 2022 -

A new Maryland law takes effect this weekend that requires motorists to move over when any vehicle is on the side of the road displaying hazards or flares. The state’s newly expanded “Move Over” law takes effect Saturday, and officials with AAA said it will save lives. “We certainly hope so,” AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Ragina Ali said, “Unfortunately, studies have shown that most people do not know that there’s a slow-down/move-over law. And if they do, they’re not abiding by it.”

Read More: WBAL NewsRadio
Family of Hae Min Lee to appeal Baltimore judge’s decision to free Adnan Syed
September 29, 2022 -

The brother of Hae Min Lee submitted notice to the Maryland courts that he intends to appeal the decision last week to overturn the murder conviction of Adnan Syed, the subject of the hit podcast “Serial.” Steven Kelly, the attorney for Young Lee, filed notice Wednesday of his intent to appeal the decision to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. The Baltimore Banner obtained the notice.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Report details alarming levels of toxins being dumped in Md. waterways
September 29, 2022 -

Industrial facilities dumped at least 94,000 pounds of toxic chemicals, including PFAS, into Maryland’s waterways in 2020, according to a report released Wednesday by the Maryland PIRG Foundation. The startling and sobering report, “Wasting Our Waterways,” takes statistics from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxics Release Inventory for 2020 and puts the health of Maryland’s waterways in the context of broader national environmental trends. “Our children deserve a safe and healthy future,” said Maryland PIRG State Director Emily Scarr.

Read More: WTOP
New Md. area code ‘227’ may premiere in 2023
September 29, 2022 -

Maryland telephone users may have to grapple with the area code “227” as early as next year because available numbers with familiar area codes such as “301” and “240” are running out, officials said Wednesday. In a statement, the Maryland Public Service Commission said “227” will serve the same geographic area as “301” and “240” after it approved a request from the North American Numbering Plan Administrator (NANPA) last month.

Read More: Washington Post

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