Around Maryland

The Environmental Integrity Project claims 97% of Delaware rivers and streams are too polluted for both water recreation and aquatic life. The Clean Water Act at 50 report, released March 17, lists Delaware among the worst in the nation in terms of miles polluted by illegal runoff of fertilizer, other contaminants, and algae blooms dangerous to both humans and fish.

The first of a trio of deluges to hit historic Ellicott City since 2011 was enough to make Vince Saulsbury buy flood insurance for his 122-year-old rowhouse atop Main Street. So when devastating surges of stormwater roared down the old mill town’s steep hillsides in 2016 and 2018, the insurance paid Saulsbury more than $30,000. He used the money to clean out muck, replace insulation, water heaters and furnaces, and line the dirt floor of his basement with concrete. He has done whatever he can, like storing boxes and tools high on shelves, to cut his losses the next time the Tiber Branch overflows in his backyard.

As the number of homicides increases in Baltimore City, Police Commissioner Michael Harrison told C4 and Bryan Nehman that the department is making improvements. "We're making a lot of progress in the police department," Harrison said. "In rebuilding, reshaping, redesigning a police department that's performing better. it's not translating into the offender's decision to commit these violent acts because it takes more than just a police department, a better police department to change their minds."

The Maryland State Board of Education presented data on Tuesday that showed how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted students in the state.  There were steep drops in math and English standardized scores from 2019 to 2021. And an assessment found that less than half of students were prepared for kindergarten.  Those numbers did not shock the people WJZ spoke with on the topic.  “I was totally not surprised at all,” Chris Gutwein, a retired Montgomery County School teacher, said.

With newfound cooperation, or at least conversation, with online rental hosting platforms, resort officials this week approved on second reading an ordinance requiring all rental properties acquire the appropriate rental license and remit room tax. For the last couple of years, Ocean City has been working on code changes that will help ensure all rental properties are paying for rental licenses regardless of how the properties are rented, whether it is through a traditional rental agency, online or through a third-party hosting platform such as Airbnb, VRBO or Expedia, for example.

Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine works in babies, toddlers and preschoolers, the company announced Wednesday — a development that could pave the way for the littlest kids to be vaccinated by summer if regulators agree. Moderna said that in the coming weeks it would ask regulators in the U.S. and Europe to authorize two small-dose shots for youngsters under 6. The company also is seeking to have larger doses cleared for older children and teens in the U.S.

Howard University is advancing plans to replace the hospital on its Northwest D.C. campus — and is set to receive $100 million from the federal government to help get it done. The $1.5 trillion spending bill signed into law March 15 by President Joe Biden includes more than $344 million for the university, with $100 million of that specifically devoted “to support construction of a new hospital,” according to Congress’ joint explanatory statement on the legislation.

Traveling back in time: it’s 1910 in Baltimore, and construction is underway on what would soon become a bustling transportation hub. Penn Station was then called Union Station and it was built for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Over time, Baltimore had multiple railroad stations serving different lines, but when cars came into the picture, some of the private railways closed. Penn station, though, remained, and quickly became one of the busiest train stations in the country.