Metrorail’s regulatory agency is investigating whether a rail traffic controller told the operator of a train carrying passengers to check on a reported track fire. The fire shut down a section of the Red Line in Northwest Washington for part of three days. Metro on Monday denied that a train operator had been instructed to do a track inspection for the fire, saying the request was for an inspection on an unrelated circuit problem that didn’t pose a safety concern. The probe followed reports on social media about the incident, which was captured on dispatch recordings.
The Community Foundation of Howard County, which raises, manages and distributes funds to support Howard County nonprofits, awarded a total of $200,000 in community grants this year to 45 nonprofit organizations throughout Howard County. The foundation received 69 grant applications this year as part of an open grant application process for eligible 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations in Howard County. A grant committee of foundation board members and volunteers selected the grant recipients, which will use the funds for operating and programmatic needs.
Mackie Barch and Christina Johnson join Nestor for a discussion about CANMD, the upcoming referendum, and local goals for the cannabis industry.
A recent decision by Maryland’s Public Service Commission (PSC) allowing electric utility companies to access millions of dollars in federal grants without public oversight or input violates the Commission’s regulatory responsibilities, the state agency representing ratepayers said this week in its latest filing. The agency added that the decision also could divert funding away from the state’s policy goals, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions through clean energy projects and achieving climate resilience.
State management of the troubled Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant could end in as little as five weeks, an official from the Maryland Department of the Environment said during a community meeting Tuesday night in Essex. The plant, which is owned and operated by Baltimore City but located in Baltimore County, has complied with its environmental permit for the past seven weeks following months of pollution overages, said Lee Currey, director of MDE’s water and science administration. If the facility stays in compliance for five more weeks, the Maryland Environmental Service — which took over the troubled plant in March at MDE’s behest — would have to leave unless the city asks it to remain, per an agreement reached between the two parties last month.
Sallie Whitney had no plans to move from an apartment in a city neighborhood she loves for its walkability and access to transportation. But when it came time to renew the lease on her one-bedroom unit in Brewers Hill, she was shocked to see her rent jump 15%, by $300 a month. With more of her retirement income going toward rent, she’ll be forced to consider other options. So far, she has found limited choices.
Under Armour and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have settled their longstanding litigation over a 2016 sponsorship deal that the Baltimore sportswear maker sought to terminate early. According to the settlement agreement obtained by the Baltimore Business Journal Friday, Under Armour was required to pay UCLA $67.49 million in a single cash payment by June 26, 30 days after the agreement was first signed on May 26. UCLA would then drop the civil lawsuit and the sponsorship would officially be terminated.
The Maryland Medical Cannabis Commission may look to Annapolis the next time it offers new licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries. The Annapolis City Council voted 8-1 Monday night to allow dispensaries within city limits. The change to the zoning code takes effect immediately and comes a year after Ward 6 Alderman DaJuan Gay, a Democrat, introduced similar legislation, which failed after rancorous debate. As with the 2021 debate, there was considerable discussion about possible buffer zones separating the dispensaries from schools and distances between dispensaries.
A shortage of physicians in Western Maryland has prompted one of the region’s largest health systems to create a medical school. Meritus Health will invest $160 million to create the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine in Hagerstown, the county seat of Washington County. Along with academic facilities, the planned 190,000-square-foot-school will include student housing for some of the school’s planned 720 students.
Ambu, a medical device maker with U.S. headquarters in Columbia, has won federal approval to sell a new generation of single-use bronchoscopes after demand for such products increased during the pandemic. Regulatory clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will allow the Danish company to commercialize its new bronchosope products, which come with advanced imaging and design features, including a new high-resolution camera chip, the company said.
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