Around Maryland

An attorney for Maryland’s Administrative Office of the Courts on Monday defended its refusal to disclose the alphanumeric key used to identify District Court judges in the public Judiciary Case Search database, telling the state’s top court the key was not a “policy” statement required to be released under Maryland state law.

Health providers across Maryland have joined a federal initiative to expand COVID-19 testing and treatment access to residents. At Maryland pharmacies and health partners participating in the Test to Treat initiative, people are able to get a rapid COVID-19 test and — if they test positive — can get the appropriate treatment or prescription filled all at one location According to the Maryland Department of Health, more than 50 healthcare providers are participating in the initiative in the state.

The beach bonfire program in Ocean City has become wildly successful, but the cost of a permit could be increasing. During a budget work session on Monday, Ocean City Fire Marshal Josh Bunting presented revenue projections for the beach bonfire permit program, which began in the 1970s and has steadily gained popularity over the years. From a low of just 68 beach bonfire permits in 2010, the number grew to 251 in 2016.

The Baltimore Department of Public Works on Friday said it had been working with the Maryland Environmental Service for months to correct issues at the Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant, and that it wasn’t given enough time before the state took over operations at the facility.Maryland  Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles on Sunday directed the Maryland Environmental Service to take over operations in response to pollution and other compliance issues at the wastewater treatment plant, the largest of its kind in the state.

After two years of virtual programming, the Maryland Film Festival is set to return next month for five days of in-person screenings and events. The 24th edition of the festival is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27 through Sunday, May 1 at the historic Stavros Niarchos Foundation Parkway Theatre. “MdFF attracts talented filmmakers from all over the world, as Baltimore is considered ‘hallowed’ ground for emerging artists. We are thrilled to return to a five-day, in-person event this year,” said Sandra Gibson, executive director of the festival and theater.

Students at a Philadelphia elementary school received a surprise promise from the Baltimore university that shares its namesake: free tuition to Coppin State University — just so long as they graduate high school. Fanny Jackson Coppin Elementary School, previously called Andrew Jackson Elementary, celebrated its namesake Monday with an event revealing the building’s new signage. At the event, Coppin State University President Anthony Jenkins said students would have their full tuitions covered should they complete high school and attend the historically Black university.

A local developer’s donation of land will allow the Lower Shore Land Trust to launch a new conservation fund. In 2019, Blue Water Development owner Jack Burbage gifted a stretch of forested buffer to the north of the Ocean City Airport to the Lower Shore Land Trust. And this week, the organization’s leaders announced the recent sale of that land will allow for the creation of the Jack Burbage Conservation Land Fund.