In 2022, we lost more than 2,400 Marylanders to fatal overdoses. Nearly 700 of those deaths occurred in Baltimore, Anne Arundel, and Prince George’s counties –– the districts we represent and are sworn to protect. These are more than just numbers on a report; they are a reminder that people who use drugs do not have adequate support networks to meet their needs. As public officials, it is our duty to step up and do everything we can to protect our communities.

Last year doctors like myself were thrilled when the Maryland General Assembly passed the Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program. As we look forward to watching the program benefit our patients and their families, we urge the General Assembly to ensure that the costs to implement the program are shared equitably. The Time to Care Act passed in 2022 was a huge step forward for Marylanders and their loved ones.

 

There was a time when indoor retailing space, with restaurants and food courts and major department store “anchors,” dominated not just retailing but the social scene. “See you at the mall” was a common refrain a generation ago — before the enormous popularity of online shopping made them largely extinct and COVID-19 drove a final nail in that coffin. So-called “dead malls” now can be found all over this country, empty shells of their former selves.

We need free, healthier, and equitable meals for students of all ages in Maryland schools. Growing up in Prince George’s County while having one parent be more present than the other has been tough. When I think about the financial stress my mother dealt with as me and my siblings grew up, I will always vividly remember me and my siblings’ experiences with public school lunches.

Ever come across a place and try to imagine what it was like 300 or 400 years ago? It’s not something you do every day, when you have errands to run, work to do, children to care for, meals to fix, politics to abhor. But sometimes and some place, you surrender to the moment and try to squint away all the clutter of the modern world — office buildings in the distance, plastic bags in trees, the board fence on the edge of a pasture.

The Maryland General Assembly is considering a gun control bill that would absolutely save lives in this state. And it isn’t the one you are probably thinking about. The state Senate is moving forward on a needed revision to the concealed-carry law, in the wake of a Supreme Court decision that struck down a similar law in New York. We believe that measure deserves support to reinstate limits on the ability to carry a gun in many settings to preserve public safety.

While Montgomery County is dominated by elected leaders who are concerned with things like adding bike lanes on Old Georgetown Road, which don’t get used but severely clog traffic, and who promote drag shows for minor children at local libraries, Northern Virginia continues to grow its economic base and generate revenue that will lessen the financial burden on working taxpayers.

 

Dan Rodricks’ recent column (”Dan Rodricks: Fox45 ignores context on Baltimore’s post-pandemic test scores,” March 3) as well as Roberta E. Sabin’s letter to the editor about Baltimore City Public Schools’ test scores (”This retired teacher wants to help tutor city students. Any takers?” March 10) illustrate a key question: What can community members do to support our city’s future leaders?

Roughly 280,000 people live in Frederick County. That’s twice as many as in 1987. And three times as many as 1972. Given all that makes Frederick County attractive, and our proximity to Washington and Baltimore, the county will keep growing. That growth isn’t random. It happens according to plans. The most important questions related to planning for growth are where and how. The county and every municipality have plans that capture a variety of goals and values, and reflect choices we’ve made, and continue to make.

 

 

Maryland aims to have 300,000 electric vehicles on the road by 2025. As of Dec. 31, 2022, there were 62,744 EVs registered in the state. As the number of EVs in Maryland continues to grow, it is essential that the state’s EV charging infrastructure keeps pace. One crucial aspect of growing the infrastructure is ensuring that the EV charging stations are fully functional.