Around Maryland

A drought watch in Maryland has been expanded to included the western parts of the state, authorities said. The news from the Maryland Department of the Environment comes nearly two weeks after it declared a drought watch for the Eastern Shore, which remains in effect. The new drought watch is based on lower-than-normal stream flows and groundwater levels for this time of year, state officials said.

Starting in September, Baltimore residents can apply for vouchers to help buy electric bikes under a city pilot program. Through the program “Bike Baltimore Electric,” the city wants to promote environmental sustainability, equitable access to transportation options and transport independence. Submitting an application, however, does not guarantee a voucher.

A multipurpose greenspace in northwest Baltimore has been upgraded with a new playing space on the football field, scoreboard, and playground. The Fields at Pimlico Park is the new name of the greenspace at Pimlico Safety Academy, formerly Northwest Baltimore Academy, on Northern Parkway. City and state officials, community members, and representatives from the Baltimore Ravens and the Baltimore Terps Youth Sports program unveiled the updated space on Monday.

Maryland’s consumer utility watchdog joined the chorus of residents, legislators, environmental advocates and farmers concerned about a plan to build a 70-mile power line through Carroll, Frederick and Baltimore counties. David Lapp, the people’s counsel, wrote a letter voicing his worries to the managers of PJM Interconnection LLC, the utility that manages the power grid infrastructure in Maryland and 12 other states.

Boonsboro, Funkstown and Smithsburg will benefit from the county's remaining, unallocated, American Rescue Plan funds. The Washington County Commissioners agreed Tuesday to divide $648,592 of the money the county received as a result of the American Rescue Plan Act between capital projects in these municipalities, except for $11,592 the county will retain to maintain its ARPA grant manager until final reporting is complete.

When Fortune magazine announced Tuesday that Silver Spring ranked No. 1 on its list of the 50 best places to live for families in the United States, it just confirmed what longtime resident Fig Ruggieri, 64, already knew. “My favorite part is probably that I’m so close to so much–Baltimore, D.C., being able to walk to the Metro and library and downtown Silver Spring.

Maryland transportation officials on Tuesday received federal environmental approvals necessary for rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. The Federal Highway Administration determined that the new Key Bridge, like the vast majority of federal-aid projects, isn’t expected to have a major impact on its surrounding environment.

The Maryland Department of Health released a new online drug overdose dashboard Tuesday that will allow visitors to delve more deeply into demographic and geographic data. The dashboard is a new iteration of the state’s previous site, which was maintained by Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response. The new dashboard will be updated monthly, rather than every 90 days, and has new features like the ability to search data by ZIP code, age, race and gender.