Business

A potential strike by CSX railroad workers beginning Friday would suspend commuter trains on the Camden and Brunswick lines, the Maryland Transit Administration said Monday. “As a result of an ongoing labor dispute between CSX Transportation and its labor unions, CSX has notified MDOT MTA that there is the potential for a labor strike,” starting Friday, the MTA said in a news release.

The United Way of Frederick County received a $50,000 grant that will go toward providing transportation to those who cannot afford basic living costs.  The grant comes from L-X Ranch Foundation, which has a mission to “promote human dignity and potential by investing in education, fulfilling basic needs, and enhancing opportunities to experience nature,” according to a news release from the United Way.

Frostburg State University’s Appalachian Festival will return to campus for its 17th year from Sept. 15 to 17. The free, family-friendly event brings together artists and craftspeople to celebrate all that makes the region unique — its history, culture, music and dance, folk arts, food and more — with performances, workshops, displays, discussions and activities. This year’s theme is Landscapes and Livelihoods.

Eddie O’Keefe wasn’t sure he wanted folks to know that Peabody Heights Brewery in Baltimore was an Asian American-owned-and-operated business. O’Keefe, whose mother is Korean, loves to support other Asian American-owned businesses in the area, but the vice president of the Charles Village brewery feared attracting attention to his business as hate crimes against Asian Americans spiked during the coronavirus pandemic. “It seems like things are turning the corner, and for all the hate that exists in the world, there’s thousands of people that want to know and experience and be a part of our culture,” O’Keefe said. “That’s cool.”

As the U.S. faces a growing mental health crisis, providing youth and families with the resources and support they need is vital. All too often, when mental health issues go unaddressed, it leads to substance use problems, which can wreak havoc on families and disrupt children’s ability to function. With the support of the Mental Health/Core Services Agency of Harford County, Ashley Addiction Treatment opened The Clubhouse by Ashley, a free after-school and summer care program for Harford County teens ages 12 to 17 (18 if still in high school) and families, particularly those who have been affected by or are at-risk for substance use disorders. 

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, the region’s largest health insurer, and Johns Hopkins Medicine notified patients Thursday that coverage for some medical procedures and services could be eliminated if the two entities fail to negotiate a new contract by Dec. 5. At issue are the costs associated with the care patients receive in outpatient procedure areas and ambulatory surgery centers, or those that don’t require an overnight stay, as well as doctor and other providers’ fees. That means those with CareFirst insurance who need routine visits with doctors and minor surgeries, such as lens and cataract procedures or endoscopies, would be forced to pay out of pocket for those services. Hospital rates for inpatient services and procedures, meanwhile, are set by the state and are regulated; those rates are not up for negotiation in these discussions.