Around Maryland

Members of Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board expressed frustration Monday on the slow pace of the so-called “cost review” process to determine if six prescription drugs are unaffordable for workers on state health plans. While most of the administrative hurdles have been addressed, staff said it could still take months before the board is at a point where it can officially declare whether a half-dozen medications are unaffordable for Marylanders.

On a typical night just north of Washington, a dozen drone flights quietly take off as part of a major police trend spreading across the country. And the agency behind them — the Montgomery County Police Department — plans to double its program over the next few months. “They really have made a difference for us,” County Executive Marc Elrich (D) said Wednesday night, speaking at a community meeting in Bethesda, the latest area for coverage.

Looking for where to take your out-of-town guests? This 24-hour itinerary packs in the best of Baltimore, blending iconic landmarks with quirky, off-the-beaten-path gems. With a pick-your-own-adventure twist, you’ll explore vibrant breakfast spots, historic sites, local eats and thrilling entertainment. Charm City’s unique blend of history, culture and culinary delights promises a day full of fun and full bellies.

Military veterans can face a tangle of challenges when they complete their service, from physical and mental health problems to employment and financial issues, as they return to the civilian world. Frederick County officials are hoping to better inform the roughly 17,000 veterans in the county about the range of services available to them.

Robert Moody, the newly appointed music director of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, lost his beloved husband five months ago to a sudden heart attack. That devastating loss is changing everything about how the acclaimed conductor approaches his art form. This fall Moody, 57, will become just the third music director in the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra’s history.

The Humane Society of Washington County is waiving its adoption fee for dogs and cats, encouraging folks who can adopt or foster pets to stop by, and wants to hear from businesses with large properties interested in adopting working cats. The humane society’s animal shelter near Hagerstown has been full for nearly six weeks, Executive Director Colin Berry said Monday.

D.C.-area institutions — including hospitals, courts and transit services — modified operations Friday due to a global technology outage. The three major D.C. area airports saw delays and cancellations Friday morning, with some disruptions continuing into the afternoon and even spilling into Friday. Buses and trains are back on schedule after the region’s largest transit agency experienced delays early Friday morning with some of its services — including its website — as it dealt with the impact of the communications outage.

With President Joe Biden announcing Sunday that he won’t run for re-election after all, all eyes are turning to the next generation of Democrats, including Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. For more than a year, Moore has been one of Biden’s most stalwart surrogates, serving on a national advisory board for the campaign.

A coal-fired power plant near Baltimore will be operating past its planned retirement date next year, pumping out pollution, while the cheaper clean energy projects that could help replace it are stuck in a queue to connect to the region’s electric grid. That’s the type of snarl a recent federal order aims to reduce by requiring regional grid operators to carry out long-term planning that accounts for states’ needs, including their clean energy targets.