Around Maryland

There were too many times during the last school year that simply transporting kids to Prince George’s County Public Schools turned into a fiasco. Buses were late, if they even showed up, and so many routes were essentially vacant because the county didn’t have enough bus drivers on staff. This fall, a series of moves the county put into place during the spring are going to make a positive impact, according to school leaders who briefed the Prince George’s County Council on Monday.

Former Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Monifa McKnight, who resigned amid the Maryland school system’s handling of accusations of bullying and sexual harassment, has a new gig. She will become the University of Maryland’s inaugural dean’s fellow and superintendent in residence, the university announced this week. The new position is in effect starting Aug. 23.

A grassroots organization that advocates for education equity in Maryland could soon be in a jurisdiction near you to talk about the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan. The staff with Strong Schools Maryland has already visited four counties this summer – Dorchester, Anne Arundel, Garrett and Prince George’s – to talk about the Blueprint plan with residents at local events.

Maryland Correctional Enterprises, which produces and sells goods using prison labor, failed to pursue millions in payments it was owed for the goods and services it sold last year, according to a recent state audit. The Office of Legislative Audits said that of $12.9 million in accounts receivable the agency held as of June 30, 2023, about $7 million had been due for more than 90 days – with some accounts languishing for more than a year.

A female chimpanzee was born at the Maryland Zoo on June 10. Now she’s waiting for a name. The infant will join Maryland Zoo’s three other juvenile chimps as chimpanzees learn from birth how to get along in a group. The baby will join Lola, born in July 2019; Violet, born in December of 2019; and Maisie, born in August 2020 and came to Maryland Zoo in September of that year.

The Apple+ series “Lady in the Lake” spent more than three months filming around Baltimore. Beyond publicity for the city, the production brought cash and jobs to the area, Gov. Wes Moore said Tuesday. The production used the state’s Film Production Activity Tax Credit, an incentive of the Maryland Film Office that helps attract productions to film on location in the state and provides refundable tax credits for certain costs incurred during filming.

The center will house several workforce development opportunities, including financial literacy sessions by Bank of America and other skills and job training. (Photos courtesy of the Baltimore Office of the Mayor / J.J. McQueen)

The impact of housing shortages across the U.S. has jurisdictions in the D.C. area taking a look at tossing restrictions on multifamily homes in neighborhoods previously zoned for single-family properties. In Alexandria, Virginia, that resulted in residents filing a lawsuit earlier this year asking a zoning change to be voided. In Arlington County, homeowners lodged a legal challenge in 2023, opposing changing zoning laws in their neighborhood

Legendary singer Chaka Khan, music’s “Queen of Funk,” will headline Baltimore’s Artscape next month, Mayor Brandon Scott announced Monday night. Khan, winner of 10 Grammy Awards, is known for her hits “I’m Every Woman,” “Tell Me Something Good” (with Rufus), “Sweet Thing” and “Do You Love What You Feel,” among others.