Around Maryland

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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%.

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.