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Dozens of headstones toppled at Ukrainian cemetery in Dundalk in apparent vandalism

Some 49 headstones were knocked over and damaged at the St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Cemetery in Dundalk last week, church officials said, just as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was about to begin. Baltimore County Police are investigating the vandalism, said Sgt. Gladys L. Brown, a spokeswoman for the department. Brown could not immediately say whether the incident is being investigated as a hate crime, but the timing is difficult to ignore, said cemetery administrator Stephen Humeniuk.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Committee votes to allow Maryland school boards to make decisions on masks

Maryland lawmakers voted Friday to approve a change in state regulations that returns decisions to wear masks in schools to local boards of education. The 17-1 vote by the Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review Committee, followed more than an hour of testimony, some of which included harsh criticisms of state school board officials and lawmakers. The vote by the joint legislative panel comes two days after the Maryland Board of Education voted to rescind emergency regulations requiring the use of facial coverings while in school buildings.

Prince George’s school board moves forward with plan to consolidate its alternative schools

Current and former students, staff and community members had pleaded with school board members to keep the alternative schools open in their current The Prince George’s County school board approved a plan to consolidate its five alternative schools into three campuses over pleas from community members to keep all the schools open. As part of a budget proposal, public schools CEO Monica Goldson pitched the redesign plan for the alternative schools, which serve students who struggled in traditional school settings, as a way to bolster students’ academic performance by combining resources.

Prince George’s County to end indoor mask mandate Monday

Officials announced Friday Prince George’s County will end its indoor mask mandate Monday, a directive which has been in effect since last August. The announcement comes as COVID-19 cases decline locally and nationally following a surge caused by the highly transmissible omicron strain of the virus. Prince George’s County has the lowest transmission rate of any jurisdiction in Maryland, according to County Executive Angela Alsobrooks; its transmission rate is categorized as “moderate” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while all other Maryland jurisdictions are currently “substantial” or “high.”

COVID-19 In Maryland: 14 Deaths Reported Saturday As Hospitalizations Continue To Fall
Maryland reported more than 900 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday as hospitalizations continued to decline, according to the latest data from the Maryland Department of Health. Maryland added 947 COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, bringing the total of confirmed cases statewide to 1,001,509 since the pandemic began. A small fraction of those are cases of reinfection dating back to September.
Read More: WJZ-TV
Math exam
Maryland data on student achievement shows dramatic declines in learning across region during pandemic

The Maryland State Department of Education released more data this week on student achievement, offering a sobering look at how the pandemic has affected school systems across the region. The scores come from the first Maryland standardized tests given since the beginning of the pandemic. The assessments measured a student’s proficiency in English language arts, math and science at the grade level they completed the year before. Students in grades 3 through 8 as well as some high schools completed the testing in the fall.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Five takeaways from recent filings in Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s federal criminal case

Lawyers for Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby have filed a trio of legal motions as they seek to mount a defense against the federal charges she faces. Mosby’s defense attorneys attached a range of documents to support their pleadings, the most expansive being a long-shot legal argument for a federal judge to dismiss the case because of alleged prosecutorial bias.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Zoning change could speed up county’s review process for biohealth facilities

Montgomery County is trying to speed up the development process for biohealth facilities — both for new companies and for current ones to expand in major growth corridors and near rail and bus transit. The zoning change shortens the time for review by the county’s Planning Department, public input from 420 days — the current “speed to market” process — to 160 days, Council Member Andrew Friedson said Wednesday. At its longest, the process can take about 600 days.

Read More: Bethesda Beat
COVID-19 In Maryland: More Than 700 New Cases & 12 Deaths Reported Sunday

Maryland’s reported 718 new COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths, according to data released Sunday by the Maryland Department of Health. The seven-day COVID-19 positivity rate dipped to 4.32% over the past 24 hours, a 0.17% decrease since Friday. The statewide positivity rate peaked on Jan. 7 when it flirted with 30%.

Read More: WJZ
Archdiocese of Baltimore: Catholic Schools to move to optional masking, where jurisdictions allow

In a letter to parents and guardians, the Archdiocese of Baltimore said they will transition all archdiocesan schools, where jurisdictions allow, to optional masking. The move will take place starting on Feb. 14. For students, this option will be based on parental choice, according to the letter. Staff and visitors will also have the option to wear a mask or not and the change applies to all individuals, regardless of vaccination status.

Read More: WBAL

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