Maryland

The Maryland Board of Public Works approved 27 new Maryland Agricultural Preservation Foundation easements during their October 4 meeting. The easements will permanently preserve 4,600 acres of prime farmland in Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne’s, and Wicomico counties, for an investment of more than $16.9 million. “Preserving Maryland farmland is incredibly beneficial to its citizens,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks. “By preventing irreversible conversion of farmland to other uses, we protect our local food supply and our local economy. I am grateful to the landowners that volunteered to preserve these 4,600 acres of farmland.”

The Maryland Agricultural Preservation Foundationwas established in 1977 as part of the Maryland Department of Agriculture.The foundation purchases agricultural preservation easements from willing farmers to forever protect prime farmland and woodland. To view a list of the Maryland Agricultural Preservation Foundation easements broken down by county, see this list. The newly-approved easements will help the state meet its newly-enacted goal of conserving 30% of state land by 2030. The new goal went into effect on October 1st in accordance with the Maryland the Beautiful Act as passed in the 2023 Session by the Maryland General Assembly.

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: “Baltimore, MD (October 13, 2023) – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced today that the State has filed suit against Metropolitan Washington High School and its Principal Gamaliel Onyemaobi-Prince for submitting a fraudulent application for COVIDrelated aid. In response to the COVID pandemic, the Maryland State Department of Education made emergency funds available to private schools to cover COVID-related expenses such as cleaning supplies, PPE, improving ventilation systems, installing physical barriers to allow social distancing, testing, and educational technology needed for on-line or hybrid instruction.

Onyemaobi-Prince submitted an application on behalf of Metropolitan Washington High School, claiming that the school enrolled six hundred students and providing copies of receipts for supplies and services the school claimed to have purchased as a result of COVID. The school, however, allegedly operates out of a residential address and the receipts submitted were forgeries. The Maryland State Department of Education noticed these discrepancies and did not approve the application for COVID aid.

Per the State of Maryland (10.12.23): “Governor Wes Moore today announced that the Maryland Department of Commerce has helped place more than two dozen international companies in incubators across the state through the Maryland Global Gateway program. The 27 approved participating companies represent 19 countries and are in a number of industries including quantum computing, cybersecurity, life sciences, aerospace, manufacturing, and agriculture.

“The state’s Global Gateway program is truly an innovative tactic for attracting new businesses to Maryland,” said Gov. Moore. “While going through this soft landing trial, companies will quickly learn the benefits of doing business in Maryland. Six of these participants have already registered to do business in the state and we are excited to see more positive results from the program.”

Governor Wes Moore today visited the University of Maryland BioPark for a discussion and tour focused on biotechnology, innovation and economic development. Governor Moore was joined by University of Maryland Baltimore President Bruce E. Jarrell, M.D., F.A.C.S.; Biotechnology Innovation Organization Chief Executive Officer Rachel King; and numerous biotech and life sciences industry leaders to discuss opportunities for collaboration and promoting the innovation economy in Maryland.

“BioPark isn’t just a hub for discovering new, breakthrough treatments and cures–it’s also a key piece of our state’s economic engine,” said Gov. Moore. “The biotech industry contributes $20 billion to our state’s economy each year, and average annual life sciences incomes are significantly higher than other industries in Maryland. The biotech sector is going to create jobs, drive growth, and build an economy fit for the 21st century.”