Around Maryland

EPA officials want to spend about $45 million to clean up a section of Baltimore County’s Bear Creek that was contaminated by Bethlehem Steel. A 61-acre portion of the creek, located to the west of the Sparrows Point peninsula, officially became a “Superfund” site in 2022, joining a national list of other badly polluted hazardous waste sites eligible for federal cleanup aid. The creek’s sediment is laden with cancer-causing PCBs, arsenic, heavy metals and grease. The Superfund area sits at the foot of the Tin Mill Canal, where wastewater from steelmaking was dumped.

The Maryland Department of Human Services will now fully reimburse stolen food and cash assistance. The department made this change after a Baltimore Banner investigation last year found that the Maryland Department of Human Services has been failing not only to fully reimburse many theft victims, but also to properly inform them of their rights. This new policy applies to any thefts since January 1, 2021, including previously denied claims that are now eligible for reimbursement under the new guidelines, according to a DHS memo released yesterday. In addition, the department will start reimbursing for stolen Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT) Program.

People in the south end of Worcester County face a significant journey of approximately 45 minutes to Ocean City, the sole early voting location in the county. It is why County Commissioner Caryn Abbott is advocating for a change. Residents in Pocomoke City express their enthusiasm for the prospect of a more conveniently located early voting center. Jessmin Duryea, a Pocomoke resident, highlights the importance of convenience.

Some homeless shelters on Maryland’s Eastern Shore are voicing concern over a proposed bill in Annapolis. If passed, House Bill 577 would mandate that all Maryland homeless shelters accept government funding, and thus follow state rules and regulations. Anthony Dickerson, Director of the Christian Shelter in Salisbury says if this passes, The Christian Shelter could no longer offer its teachings of Christianity.

The Montgomery County Board of Education unanimously appointed an interim superintendent to replace Monifa McKnight, who parted ways with Maryland’s largest school system Friday following scrutiny into the school system’s handling of bullying and harassment allegations. The board appointed Monique Felder to the post Tuesday “to support the district during this period of transition as the board conducts a national search to identify a permanent superintendent,” said board President Karla Silvestre before introducing the vote.

Baltimore’s newly formed Police Accountability Board wants to explore having independent legal counsel, separate from the city’s lawyers. But it’s facing pushback from city government. Board members say they see a potential conflict in city attorneys representing both the Baltimore Police Department and the body overseeing that law enforcement agency. Some in Monday’s board meeting also highlighted early questions arising over budget allocations and differing interpretations of city ordinances around hiring staff.

For years, tensions have existed between the volunteer firefighters in Prince George’s County and the career firefighters paid by the Maryland county to provide fire and emergency medical system services. It has led to fist fights at fire scenes, arrests, lawsuits and other forms of complaints. In recent weeks, the condition of a volunteer firehouse in Beltsville has become a source of tension between the two sides. It’s one issue out of many.