Baltimore City schools CEO Santelises introduces $1.18 billion budget for a “normal” school year
April 29, 2021 -

Baltimore City CEO Sonja Santelises is proposing a small increase in her school system operating budget for next year, but an infusion of some $700 million in federal funds over the next four years will help defray pandemic related costs. The $1.18 billion general fund budget would increase spending by only $10 million over this year even as the school system tries to return to normal next school year, saying it intends to have students come back full time, five days a week.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
3 Md. mass vaccination sites no longer require appointments
April 28, 2021 -

Three Maryland locations have been added to the state’s list of places where people can drive-thru and get COVID-19 vaccinations without appointments. The locations are the mass vaccination sites at Six Flags America in Prince George’s County, Regency Furniture Stadium in Charles County and Ripken Stadium in Harford County. People can now get vaccinated at nine sites without appointments, Gov. Larry Hogan’s office said. Teens who are 16 and 17 are only eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Read More: WTOP
How Maryland is working to vaccinate its homeless population
April 27, 2021 -

On March 5, 2020, Maryland’s first three positive cases of COVID-19 were confirmed. What followed has been more than a year of business lockdowns, virtual schooling, skepticism of the scientific community and, sadly, more than 8,000 virus-related deaths in Maryland alone. This month, on April 6, Gov. Larry Hogan (R) announced that all Marylanders over the age of 16 were eligible to receive the long-sought COVID-19 vaccine. While the news gave the state its first true glimpse at a possible return to normalcy, some of the most vulnerable communities are still struggling to gain access to that same hope.

Read More: Frederick News-Post
Number of new COVID-19 cases in Carroll County drops for third straight week; fewest in nearly 2 months
April 27, 2021 -

Last week, Carroll County reported its fewest weekly cases of COVID-19 in nearly two months. According to the Carroll County Health Department, there were 143 total new cases for the week beginning April 18. The last time Carroll had a weekly total of fewer than 150 cases was the week of Feb. 28, when 121 were reported. It is the third consecutive weekly decline. Health department data shows 190 cases the week of April 11, 228 the week of April 4 and 229 the week of March 28, which was the highest number since mid-January.

Read More: Carroll County Times
COVID-19 In Maryland: More Than 1K New Cases & 17 Deaths Reported Sunday
April 19, 2021 -

Maryland added 1,169 new coronavirus cases and 17 deaths as hospitalizations increased on Sunday. Hospitalizations went up by 43 to 1,252. Of those, 304 people are in ICU beds and 948 are in acute care. The state’s positivity rate went down slightly to 5.61% The state conducted 33,132 coronavirus tests in the last day. Since the pandemic began in the state there have been 436,028 confirmed COVID-19 cases. At this time, 8,376 Marylanders have died.

Read More: WJZ-TV
Video of BCPS Board meetings shows profanity, pornography, verbal altercations
April 16, 2021 -

A video of Baltimore County School Board meetings is making the rounds on social media. The video comes with a warning label and, as of Thursday afternoon, has been viewed 13,000 times. “To hear pornographic sounds during a meeting, to have f-bombs dropped during meetings, to have verbal altercations on the meetings — its just inappropriate and these are the people that are supposedly helping our children,” said parent Dave Patrick.

Read More: WBFF
After a year of COVID-related isolation, Baltimore Muslims thankful for drive-thru dinner to break Ramadan fast
April 16, 2021 -

It’s 2 1/2 hours before sunset, a drizzle is falling under gloomy skies, and the cars are lined up by the dozen in the parking lot of the Islamic Society of Baltimore. Drivers and passengers, many wearing headscarves or skullcaps, wait in minivans, luxury sedans and old beaters for a signal to move forward. On reaching the entrance to the mosque, they’ll be handed fresh, boxed meals to take home to their families. It’s a coronavirus-era version of the communal ceremonial dinner known as iftar, a nightly observance for Muslims during Ramadan, a holy month that began Monday.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
‘Deeply concerning’: Baltimore City emerging as a COVID hot spot; officials urge vigilance
April 16, 2021 -

Cases of COVID-19 in Baltimore City have spiked in recent weeks, outpacing every county in Maryland and rivaling an infection level not recorded since the winter peak. The reasons aren’t entirely clear, but state and local data suggest the pandemic could worsen still in the city before it gets better this summer as vaccinations against the disease continue. Cases and hospitalizations are rising in the state generally, though remain well below their mid-January peak, and state and local health officials are cautioning people to wear masks, practice social distancing and get tested after traveling or if they think they’ve been exposed.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
‘It puts people’s minds at ease’: UMBC using Maryland-made COVID-detection device in labs, classrooms, dorms
April 16, 2021 -

After a visitor to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County’s Performing Arts & Humanities Concert Hall tested positive for COVID-19 last week, Mike Pound wheeled a lab cart carrying a printer-sized device with a large megaphone-like attachment into the room. The BioFlash, a Maryland-made technology, sucked in an air sample, which passed over a compact disc-like biosensor containing a COVID-19 antibody. In a matter of minutes, a small digital panel on the side read: “Test complete — No agents detected.” The room was cleared for class to take place the next day.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
COVID-19 In Maryland: Two More Mass Vaccination Sites Open Monday
April 12, 2021 -

Two more mass vaccination sites will open Monday in Maryland at Frederick Community College and at the Navy-Corps Memorial Stadium. This comes as Maryland added 1,483 new COVID-19 cases Sunday with 11 new confirmed deaths reported, according to data from the State Department of Health. The state has recorded 426,730 cases since the beginning of the pandemic and 8,269 deaths, up 11 from Saturday. Hospitalizations stand at 1,240, down 10 from the last day. Of those, there are 279 in ICU beds and 961 in acute care.

Read More: WJZ-TV