Whether you’re looking for the best spot to watch fireworks paint the night sky or you’re scouting some daytime events for the little ones with early bedtimes, we’ve got you covered this Fourth of July.
Fourth of July: Where to enjoy fireworks, parades, and more in the Baltimore area
Everything you need to know about traffic this July 4 weekend
No doubt the fireworks display over Baltimore’s Inner Harbor will draw your attention to the sky this Fourth of July — but don’t forget to also keep an eye on what’s happening at street level. Baltimore’s holiday festivities this week are expected to draw large crowds downtown for a variety of events throughout the day and into the evening. Visitors are strongly encouraged to use public transportation, including mass transit, the Charm City Circulator and rideshare options.
Collapse of Key Bridge reduces tolls by $141 million, hastens likely toll increase
The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge will cost the state an estimated $141 million in lost toll revenue over six years and may bring toll increases a year sooner than expected. That projected loss makes up the lion’s share of the revised forecast that includes a decrease in toll revenues across all facilities. “The forecast reflects a $153 million decline in toll revenues throughout the 2024 through 2030 forecast period,” Chantel Green, director of finance for the authority, said during a meeting of the Maryland Transportation Authority board Friday.
Metro adjusts shuttle bus travel times for riders affected by shutdown of Red Line stations
Starting Monday, Metro is changing its shuttle bus service for riders affected by the shutdown of four Red Line stations in Montgomery County, Maryland, aiming to improve travel times and decrease bus congestion. The “Limited 2” shuttle, which stops at Forest Glen, Silver Spring and Fort Totten stations, will be replaced by two new, “more-efficient express shuttle loops,” Metro said in a news release.
McKay alleges that introduction of his moratorium bill was delayed in attempt to kill it
The introduction of a bill to establish criteria for a temporary moratorium on residential growth in Frederick County was postponed from this Tuesday to July 16, but County Councilmembers have different explanations as to why. Councilmember Steve McKay, a Republican who sponsored the proposed moratorium legislation, has alleged that the bill was pulled from Tuesday’s agenda in an attempt by Democrats to kill it upon introduction.
As the plan to clean up the Chesapeake Bay by 2025 falls short, officials recommend what’s next
After 10 years and millions of dollars spent, scientists, government officials and environmentalists agree that the latest agreement to restore the Chesapeake Bay will fall short of its 2025 deadline. So what now? The path forward became a bit more clear Monday, after a key Chesapeake Bay Program committee released its suggestions for “Beyond 2025,” opening a 60-day public comment period.
2 hotels unveiled as homeless shelters: ‘Something like this has never been done in Baltimore’
Baltimore City has transformed two hotels that it purchased this year, the Holiday Inn Express and the Sleep Inn & Suites, into temporary shelters for people experiencing homelessness. Mayor Brandon Scott held the ribbon-cutting Monday at the Sleep Inn in downtown Baltimore alongside U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development acting Secretary Adrianne Todman, Secretary for the Governor’s Office of Housing and Community Development Jacob Day, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services Ernestina Simmons and other officials.
Baltimore sees ‘notably greater’ declines in gun violence into 2024
By about this time last year, Southwest Baltimore’s Penrose/Fayette Street Outreach neighborhood had seen 15 shootings, six of which were fatal. This year, as of June 24, the community of aging two-story rowhouses and vacant lots stretching from Grace Medical Center to the westside MARC station saw two gun homicides and one nonfatal shooting.
Maryland has tons of new mental health care providers. Are they for real?
Maryland got a ton of new providers of mental health and addiction services in recent years, and state health officials are not so sure they are all on the up-and-up. The Maryland Department of Health said Friday it would not approve any new licenses for some types of providers for the next six months as they assess what is happening.
Farmers concerned about high temperatures, dryness as county begins entering drought
As Frederick County begins to enter a drought, farmers are worried about the consequences of going through another drought for the second year in a row — one with notably higher temperatures earlier on in the season compared to last year. As of Tuesday, about 68% of Frederick County is experiencing a moderate drought, and the other 32% is abnormally dry, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.