Around Maryland

Aberdeen Proving Ground Fire and Emergency Services fought uncontrolled fires Sunday as a strong smell of smoke and smoggy conditions set in across the Route 40 corridor. The proving ground’s fire and emergency services posted on Facebook at 3:30 p.m. that the National Guard was assisting them in fighting “range fires” — fires burning uncontrolled on a range of land. At least dozens of county residents posted images on social media of the smoky conditions along the Bush River and in numerous neighborhoods stretching from Aberdeen to Edgewood. A putrid, smoky smell also filled the air Sunday.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources issued a statewide ban on open-air burning Friday. Open-air burning – such as campfires and charcoal grilling – are not permitted under the burn ban, but state law does permit the use of propane grills. The ban comes amid a Red Flag Warning issued by the National Weather Service, which cited dry conditions, low humidity and strong winds making conditions favorable for the rapid spread of fires.

While many farmers across Delmarva have the resources to weather the drought, some small farmers aren't as fortunate. Floyd Pugh of C.P. Farm in Westover, Md., says he does not have a working irrigation system, which is why a fourth of his planted seeds did not germinate. "We got a well drilled in," says Pugh. "The well was pretty expensive to put in here, but the electric company wants $10,000 to run electric from the highway back to our well, and that's a little too far out for me to reach."

Right now, without getting up from your chair or leaving your house, you can search and review court records related to the 2020 Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd. Minnesota courts provide online access to a plethora of documents such as complaints, arrest warrants and jury verdicts. But in Maryland, it’s a different story.

A Maryland law passed earlier this year requires the Maryland Center for School Safety to study the effectiveness and the mental health impacts of active shooter drills and trainings on students and staff. Kim Buckheit, director of strategic initiatives at the Maryland Center for School Safety, explained that simulated sounds of gunfire or explosions, banging on classroom doors and having individuals posing as assailants or victims are banned under the guidelines for drills carried out during the school day: “All of those types of simulations are not allowed in Maryland.”

The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy hosted the free Pharmapreneurship Summit Oct. 8, bringing together thought leaders to engage with the university community, to propose bold and innovative ideas to address challenges and opportunities for the pharmacy world and to celebrate its successes.

About the changes in juvenile justice laws that took effect Friday, some prosecutors, defense attorneys and justice reform advocates agree on one thing: The laws are likely to result in increased caseloads for the Department of Juvenile Services. But whether that will have an effect on crime rates — or deter young offenders — is less clear.

Tourism revenue for Frederick County reached a record total in 2023, bringing in $539 million, up from $518 million the year before. The money came from 1.9 million visitors to the county, comparable to the number for 2022, according to a press release from the tourism organization Visit Frederick. The tourism rate shows the highest visitor total since 2019, the last year before the COVID-19 pandemic, the release said.

If you’re trick-or-treating Thursday night, expect to come up empty-handed at about one in 10 houses. That’s according to a new poll by the UMBC Institute of Politics, in which 11 percent of Marylanders said they will pretend they’re not home on Halloween. Fortunately, you’ll have some luck on the rest of the block, where 77 percent said they plan to give out candy or treats, and 5% said they will be handing out something else.