Marriott International has agreed to pay $52 million and make changes to bolster its data security to resolve state and federal claims related to major data breaches that affected more than 300 million of its customers worldwide. The Federal Trade Commission and a group of attorneys general from 49 states and the District of Columbia announced the terms of separate settlements with Marriott on Wednesday.
A bar serving a drink that claims to be a healthier alternative to alcohol is getting ready to launch in Mt. Vernon. Root City Kava Bar & Lounge plans to bring kava, a drink popular in Pacific islands like Samoa, to Baltimore. Indigenous people have long consumed the plant by grinding the roots into a pulp and steeping it in water, similar to tea.
Bank of America Greater Maryland is awarding two local non-profits that are doing good work in the community with a $200,000 grant.
The Baltimore Ravens are now selling memberships to three new premium clubs at M&T Bank Stadium, giving the team’s more affluent fans some new places to spend time before and after games. The Ravens on Tuesday started sales for memberships to the all-inclusive clubs: The Trust Club, The Raven and The Champions Club. The new premium areas are part of the $430 million in renovations to bring M&T Bank Stadium up to the same level as other NFL stadiums when it comes to premium offerings.
The Maryland Science Center plans at least $10 million in upgrades over the next two years, the biggest makeover in two decades for the Inner Harbor’s oldest attraction. The interactive museum is looking to add new exhibits, including one on space exploration, and to enhance existing ones, including refreshing technology in its popular dinosaur display.
Baltimore Gas & Electric busted its budget and is seeking a rate adjustment to recoup the cash. The company is asking the Public Service Commission to pass on that cost to customers. In any rate case, the utility has to show that the money was spent wisely — if they can’t, the Public Service Commission can reject the recovery of the amount sought.
After seeing coverage of the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, two horsewomen in different states had the same thought: They had to help other farmers and horse owners like themselves. Each took action, independent of each other. In Maryland, Deana Tice, of En-Tice-Ment Stables in Harwood, figured she’d load up two 30-foot trailers with needed supplies for horses and their owners.
A September jobs report from the nonprofit and nonpartisan National Federation of Independent Business released Monday found 34% (seasonally adjusted) of small business owners reported job openings they could not fill in September, down six points from August and the lowest reading since January 2021. NFIB Maryland State Director Mike O’Halloran said the worker shortage has been a consistent issue for Maryland’s small businesses and although it has eased slightly, it is still a challenge.
One of the Baltimore area’s largest public companies has named a new chief operating officer. Columbia’s BigBear.ai (NYSE:BBAI) disclosed the appointment of Carl Napoletano as COO on Friday. Napoletano is a familiar face at the cybersecurity firm. He has worked for the company since 2020 and helped spearhead the firm’s $70 million acquisition of facial recognition company Pangiam.
PepsiCo on Tuesday lowered its full-year outlook for organic revenue after its second straight quarter of weaker-than-expected sales. The repercussions of the Quaker Foods North America recalls, weakening demand in the U.S. and business disruptions in some international markets weighed on the company’s performance in the quarter, CEO Ramon Laguarta said in a statement.
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