Around Maryland

The state is advancing its American Legion Bridge and 270 Corridor Program–a project aimed at improving traffic congestion and transit in the region and replacing the American Legion Bridge–and Monday the Maryland Department of Transportation is hosting its first open house to gather public feedback on the project.

If you received an auto insurance renewal notice in July with higher rates, you weren’t alone. Car owners across Maryland saw their premiums soar. Rates in the state are going up, in part, because of a surge in car thefts. National data shows half a million vehicles were reported stolen in the first half of the year — a 2% increase compared to the first half of 2022. In Baltimore, the number of vehicles stolen this year has tripled to rates not seen since the mid-’90s.

Back-to-school vaccine clinics got off to a rocky start in some Maryland counties this year after the state health department did not renew a statewide contract with a Baltimore-based nonprofit that supports such immunization efforts. Without the help of nurses from the Maryland Partnership for Prevention or PrepMod, the nonprofit’s scheduling and vaccine documentation software, at least three county public school systems did not hold their usual flu vaccination clinics.

After months of delay, a pair of bills that would require — and incentivize — developers to build more affordable housing units will be presented before the full Baltimore City Council Tuesday, and could be called for a vote. The bills are part of a package of what’s known as inclusionary housing legislation because they would require all new developments exceeding a certain size and value to reserve a portion of units for people earning below the Baltimore-area median income. Another bill would allow developers to apply for a property tax credit.

When a federal grand jury indicted Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby on perjury and mortgage fraud charges, she railed against the allegations during a defiant appearance in front of the powerful office she’d held then for seven years. Mosby claimed that day in January 2022 that she was being persecuted for disrupting the status quo as a progressive prosecutor.

The Frederick County Board of Education will hold a special virtual meeting Thursday, so members can discuss proposals for a redistricting of Frederick-area students and ask questions of district leaders. A vote on the redistricting, which could affect up to 2,800 students, is scheduled for Dec. 6. Board President Sue Johnson said this week’s meeting would allow officials to better understand the four options on the table.

A new monster truck event will go before the Mayor and Council with a favorable recommendation from a resort commission. On Monday, the Ocean City Tourism Commission voted unanimously to advance a new Monsters of Metal Beach Brawl event to the Mayor and Council with a favorable recommendation. Special Events Director Frank Miller said the event will be held Oct. 18-20 of next year on the downtown beach.

McDaniel College on Monday introduced Carroll County Scholars, a new program providing guidance and support to Carroll County students as they navigate the college search process. All eighth- and 10th-grade students who live in Carroll County can enroll to participate in this free program, which includes college readiness workshops and other programming to prepare students in identifying and successfully applying to college.