Around Maryland

The report describes differing interpretations, applications and adherence to grade change procedures among high school staff. Maryland’s Inspector General for Education is calling on the state’s Department of Education to authorize a performance audit of the Baltimore City school system after investigators found inconsistencies in grading practices. Inspector General for Education Richard Henry released a 28-page report Tuesday detailing his office’s examination of grading policies for the school system that enrolls an estimated 78,000 students. The report describes differing interpretations, applications and adherence to grade change procedures among high school staff.

American adults who haven’t yet gotten vaccinated against COVID-19 may soon get another choice, as advisers to the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday backed a more traditional type of shot. Next, the FDA must decide whether to authorize the protein vaccine made by latecomer Novavax as the nation’s fourth coronavirus shot for adults. It’s made with more conventional technology than today’s dominant Pfizer and Moderna shots and the lesser-used Johnson & Johnson option. Novavax shots are already available in Australia, Canada, parts of Europe and multiple other countries, either for initial vaccinations or as mix-and-match boosters. But U.S. clearance is a key hurdle for the Maryland-based company.

The Harford County Moms Demand Action group held a community cleanup and resource fair Saturday at the Edgewood Recreation Center to draw attention to the need for gun safety. The event was among several held throughout the state by the Maryland chapter of Moms Demand Action as part of Wear Orange Weekend and in recognition of National Gun Violence Awareness Day on June 3. “We were thrilled with the community’s participation in creating a cleaner, healthier space for our children to play, while also providing essential resources to families,” said Heather Cantos, Moms Demand Action Harford County local group lead.

If Keith Davis Jr. is tried on the same murder charge for the fifth time, the trial will take place in a Baltimore courtroom. Baltimore Circuit Court Judge John Nugent denied prosecutors’ request to have murder case against Davis and a separate attempted murder case moved to another county. Prosecutors contended that extensive pretrial publicity, highlighted by the escalating campaign pushing for State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby to drop charges against Davis, would make it impossible to seat a jury or for the state to receive a fair trial in Baltimore.

The federal agency responsible for reviewing offshore wind projects will hold a series of virtual public meetings later this month as it begins the process of evaluating a planned wind farm off the coast of Ocean City and southern Delaware. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said Tuesday that it will formally launch its review of the environmental impacts associated with a wind farm of up to 121 turbines that US Wind LLC plans to build by 2026.

Buses will remain free in Anne Arundel County but not in Annapolis, after a proposal to eliminate transit fares was voted down by the City Council Monday. The vote was 7-2 against the budget amendment, which was earmarked to cost the city $700,000. Mayor Gavin Buckley and Alderman DaJuan Gay voted for the measure. After a lengthy debate — including testimony from the city’s acting transportation director supporting the idea — Buckley graciously conceded defeat, saying the fee-free plan was “not ready for prime time.”