I was not born Black. The birth certificate issued in Rockdale County, Georgia, more than 69 years ago, identified me as “colored,” as were my parents. But I didn’t “happen to turn Black,” the way Donald Trump seems to think is possible. Once upon a time, anything that smacked of Black, as the U.S. Supreme Court acknowledged the year before my birth, held negative connotations — especially where race was concerned in this country.
In this week’s episode of Center Maryland’s The Trail, Damian, Candace & Don recap the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump.
My favorite facts about the Chesapeake Bay involve oysters: They were once so plentiful they could filter all bay waters (estimated at 19 trillion gallons) in less than a week; oyster reefs were once so large they constituted navigational hazards; and the competition for oysters was so fierce and violent in the 19th century that the Maryland legislature established an Oyster Navy to keep tongers and dredgers from killing each other. (Photo: Baltimore Sun)
Maryland’s alarming slide from 22nd to 31st place in CNBC’s 2024 Top States for Business rankings is more than a statistic — it’s a glaring warning sign about our state’s economic competitiveness. This significant drop demands immediate attention and decisive action from policymakers, business leaders and all stakeholders invested in Maryland’s economic future.
Vice President Kamala Harris demonstrated in Tuesday night’s presidential debate, in case any rational person had doubts, that she is the only decent, prepared and fit candidate in the presidential race. In both her answers and demeanor, she demonstrated the unmistakable contrast between a mature, responsible adult and someone who resembles the mean, crazy relative no one wants to sit next to at the holiday table.
Baltimore’s $152.5 million settlement with Cardinal Health and $80 million settlement with Walgreens represent more than just a legal victory — it’s a chance to heal from an opioid crisis that devastated our city. As a nurse who has worked in every Trauma Level 1 hospital in Baltimore, I’ve witnessed firsthand the pain and loss this crisis has inflicted.
Given Baltimore’s long-standing problems with drug abuse — including suffering one of the highest overdose death rates of any city in the nation — it is not customary to read about hopeful developments in this arena. Yet, in recent weeks, there has been reason for at least some degree of optimism. Lawsuits filed against manufacturers and distributors of opioids, the chief culprit in these untimely city deaths, have one by one resulted in substantial financial settlements.
After years of sitting on money from school mitigation fees the city of Frederick charges to residential developers who build in the city, the Board of Aldermen has voted to use $4.5 million to expand pre-kindergarten education programs at two elementary schools. It’s about time. The city mitigation fees are intended to reduce the impact of new development in city neighborhoods.
It was common, in those days, for the Morgan State University choir to assemble on short notice. In a time before widespread cellphones, the scattered vocalists had pagers — a 911 message from choir director Nathan Carter meant to get ready to perform quickly. Thaddeus Price can’t remember the exact sequence that led him and the choir to Camden Yards on July 13, 1993.
Americans in 2024 face a host of issues, but the cost of living is top of mind for many voters. Families are struggling to afford basic necessities and making difficult choices about what they can spend money on. Yet one issue may be the most important of all, especially to younger voters: the housing crisis. Cost-burdened renters hit a national record high in 2022 with over 50% of all renters spending more than 30% of their gross income on housing expenses — and 52% of Marylanders fall into this category.
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