Around Maryland

A solemn holiday to honor those who died fighting for the U.S. armed forces, Memorial Day weekend brings events and celebrations across the D.C. area. Here’s what you need to know. Memorial Day is also the unofficial start of summer, which means many area swimming pools are starting to open.

New rates for hangar rentals and other services at Hagerstown Regional Airport won approval from the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, but without some of the added fees initially proposed, and a new three-year rate schedule for water and sewer service was also approved. Because of increasing costs for services, Airport Director Neil Doran had sought approval to implement fees to cover Dumpster costs, security badges, airport maintenance, after-hours fire and rescue services and miscellaneous operations fees in addition to a 4% hike in hangar rentals.

Baltimore officials say they are working to streamline the transfer of police misconduct files to the civilian oversight group that determines discipline, amid concerns about delayed cases. Members of the city’s Administrative Charging Committee told The Baltimore Sun last month that Baltimore Police had been turning over some internal investigations too close to deadlines for disciplinary decisions, forcing them to cram hours of body camera footage into weekends and, at times, schedule emergency meetings.

The Frederick County Council is considering five proposed amendments to the Frederick County charter, including one providing for the removal of a council member from office and another authorizing the legislators to remove an appointed department head. During a meeting on Tuesday, the council voted unanimously to send the five proposed amendments to a public hearing.

The state has acceded to public demand to retain all 36 of its commuter bus routes but at reduced frequencies, the Maryland Department of Transportation and Maryland Transit Administration said in a news release Wednesday. In February the department said it would cut eight routes and reduce service on 26 more, including 10 in the Baltimore region.

The Howard County Council on Wednesday unanimously adopted a $2.4 billion operating budget for the coming fiscal year that holds the line on property taxes while increasing spending on public safety and schools. After a month of public hearings and legislative meetings, the council approved a spending plan that makes minimal changes to the one recommended by County Executive Calvin Ball.

The Maryland State Department of Education has received a $6.8 million grant that will allow teachers to take courses on the science of reading, an evidence-based instructional philosophy. The four-year grant will provide free professional development for more than 30,000 eligible teachers, administrators and paraprofessionals.

The search for a new Montgomery County police chief has reached a milestone with the nomination of one of the members of the Maryland county’s police department. Assistant Chief Marc Yamada has been tapped to replace Marcus Jones, who earlier this year announced that he will be retiring in July as head of the Montgomery County Police Department.