Harford County Public Schools shut down its onsite voluntary COVID-19 testing on March 17. During the last few weeks, the site operator, MAKO, saw a decline in the number of voluntary tests administered in the school system, according to a news release from the school system. HCPS encourages parents and staffto contact their medical provider for questions about future COVID-19 testing, the release said.
Harford County Public Schools shuts down COVID-19 voluntary test sites
Marylanders Fill Up Their Tanks After Gas Tax Suspension Becomes Law
Marylanders are seeing some relief at the gas pumps this weekend after Gov. Larry Hogan signed emergency legislation that suspends the state’s 36-cent-per-gallon gas tax. Hogan and Maryland General Assembly leaders signed the legislation into law on Friday, enacting the suspension for 30 days. “As soon as I saw the numbers change I was like, well, it’s time to fill everything up,” said a man named Zach who was filling up his car and power washer at a gas station on Key Highway on Saturday afternoon.
Cargo ship could be stuck in Chesapeake Bay for over a week, officials say
It has been nearly a week since a massive cargo ship with thousands of containers on board got stuck in the Chesapeake Bay. And officials say it could be another 10 days before the ship is able to float again because it is a rare, complex mission. On Friday morning, CBS Baltimore‘s Ava-Joye Burnett traveled out onto the bay with U.S. Coast Guard engineers and investigators as they tried to bring the vessel afloat.
Baltimore Raises Prevailing Wage For Construction Workers On City Projects
Construction workers on many city-funded projects will make at least $22 per hour starting this year, Mayor Brandon Scott said. The Board of Estimates earlier this week approved raising the base rate of pay from $8 per hour to $22 per hour, roughly equating to a $43,000 annual salary, on all municipal contracts above $5,000. All workers in the construction trades are impacted by the change, with the exception of contractors on federally funded Housing and Urban Development projects, whose wage is set by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Cancer survivor, Westminster doctor both encourage screenings during Colon Cancer Awareness Month
With March nationally recognized as Colon Cancer Awareness Month, healthcare providers and colon cancer survivors are encouraging adults to think about getting screened sooner rather than later. Dr. Aminat Oluyemi, of Woodbine Gastroenterology Associates in Westminster, said colon cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in men and women. Colon cancer is also the second deadliest cancer worldwide.
Offshore wind turbines will likely line Maryland’s coast by 2026
Over one hundred wind turbines will soon dot the Maryland coastline, pending federal approval, as part of a series of offshore renewable energy projects. The projects, developed by companies US Wind and Ørsted, are slated to collectively power more than 600,000 homes in Delaware and Maryland upon their completion in 2026. The construction and maintenance of the turbines will also create thousands of jobs in Maryland.
Prince George’s County is steadily absorbing movers from D.C.
When Amazon.com Inc. decided to place its second headquarters in Arlington, some Prince George’s County officials had an immediate reaction: Their locality could be “ground zero” for Amazon workers who couldn’t afford to live in Northern Virginia or D.C. After all, as Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce President David Harrington explains, his county provided more affordable abodes, but without sacrificing indispensable Metro accessibility.
InfieldFest returns to Preakness with performances by The Chainsmokers, Marshmello, Moneybagg Yo and DJ Frank Walker
InfieldFest, a multi-act music concert held in the infield during the Preakness Stakes, will return to the Pimlico Race Course in May after a two-year hiatus for COVID-19. The festival lineup includes electronic artists Marshmello, The Chainsmokers, DJ Frank Walker and rapper Moneybagg Yo. The 147th Preakness Stakes, one of three horse races part of the Triple Crown series, is on May 21 in Baltimore. Tickets for the infield concert are on sale and start at $65.
Soaring gas prices push Maryland drivers to alter travel, spending decisions
Hunter Williams stopped at a BP gas station in south Baltimore this week to add a little bit more to the tank. Normally, Williams, in town from Ohio to visit his daughter, would spend $40 and have a nearly full tank. But not this time. With prices at near records, Williams was more cautious and opted for $20 worth of fuel. He only got four gallons. Williams is like a lot of motorists these days. He said he finds himself making tougher financial decisions now and driving less.
No more snow days? State approves Anne Arundel schools’ plan to allow virtual learning when roads are impassable
Students in Anne Arundel County can now learn virtually on inclement weather days prompted by snow, wind, rain or other hazardous conditions, logging on at home instead of taking the day off and potentially prolonging the school year. State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury established standards this year for the use of virtual learning on inclement weather days in the state and asked systems to submit a plan if interested.