Around Maryland

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.

Green Street Housing and TM Associates Development, two of Maryland’s largest affordable rental housing developers, will host a groundbreaking ceremony April 4 at the Village at Blenheim Run in Havre de Grace. The event will be held at the Village at Blenheim Run, 1921 Pulaski Hwy., at noon. Refreshments will be provided. Parking is available at Swan Creek Shopping Center just west of the construction site.

Baltimore City Public Schools will provide COVID-19 test kits to students and school staff before Spring Break next month, the school system said. Students and staff will be on break from April 11-18. On Friday, April 8, the school system will provide kits with two at-home tests. The school system advises taking the test as early as Sunday, April 17, and no later than noon on Monday, April 18.

The Securities Division of the Office of the Attorney General on Wednesday warned investors and securities firms to watch out for bad actors looking to profit off of the conflict in Ukraine. During times of international conflict there is an increased threat of cyber-attacks and potential investment scams, officials said.