The Frederick County Council made a puzzling choice recently when it refused to rezone roughly 223 acres in Adamstown from agricultural use to general industrial use. The owners of the land, Windridge Properties LLC and Windridge Farm LLC, did not submit development plans, but indicated that they were seeking approval to move forward on a future data center development.

 

In a video conference call this week with The Baltimore Sun Editorial Board, the CEO of Oak View Group was bullish on the future of downtown Baltimore. That wasn’t especially surprising since Oak View’s CFG Bank Arena has gotten off to an auspicious start with concerts by Bruce Springsteen and the Eagles, and more major acts to come — along with some positive reviews for the revitalized venue.

For several weeks I have been researching a commentary, working title, “Should state schools superintendent Mohammed Choudhury stay or go?” And in a submission I sent in this week, I attempted a balanced analysis of his controversial two years in office. He (by July 1) and the State Board of Education (by no later than around September 30) must declare whether they are interested in renewing his contract, which expires in June 2024.

I am a pediatric psychologist working with youth who have chronic illnesses in Baltimore, a city with generations of disinvestment and trauma. The past four years have been marked by a notable increase in the number of children referred to me with psychological distress that is worsening their physical and emotional well-being. What started as a relatively lengthy waitlist, has evolved into a seemingly endless list of patient names.

At the funeral of a colleague who died young, the priest felt it important to warn the non-Catholics in attendance that they were forbidden to take Communion with the rest of us. The admonition was not gentle, it was crisp. And disgusting. How could a priest be so unwelcoming, officious and doctrinaire at a time when so many friends of the young woman had gathered to mourn her death? It was hard to imagine Jesus citing the house rules in opening remarks to those who had just lost a sister, daughter and companion.

This time of year is filled with many “firsts” for young people throughout Maryland. Recent high school and college graduates may have just filed their first tax returns as independent adults. Those getting ready to graduate in a few weeks are looking for their first jobs. They may be getting ready to rent their first apartment or buy their first car. Others may be using a credit card for the first time.

Despite the myriad challenges facing public education as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and widening inequality, in Maryland there is a sense that the future looks bright. That optimism is largely due to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, a broad-based strategy to improve educational outcomes in the state. I, for one, am excited to witness the ascendance of public education in our state as my two young children become school-aged in the coming years.

Baltimore, a city nestled in the Northeast megalopolis [but not the DMV] and defined by its four-one-oh, four-four-three, and six-six-seven zip codes, holds a special place in the hearts of residents who have had or are having the privilege to come of age here. Though not always spangled, the city’s grit and charm, combined with its upscale crab shacks, row homes, and the wide expanse of the inner harbor, make it a beloved home.

 

Nearly 40 years ago, a series of lawsuits were filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and civil rights advocates against Eastern Shore towns and counties with a history of voter discrimination. All of the towns had deep segregationist roots, and all had failed to elect Black candidates to public office, despite having significant number of African American residents.

The Maryland Chamber of Commerce recently published The 2023 Competitiveness Redbook for Maryland, a data-driven snapshot that compares Maryland’s economic health with the rest of the country across various economic indicators, such as population change, employment growth, taxation and economic, fiscal and regulatory freedom.