Maryland Archives - Page 295 of 395

Attorney General Brown Backs Montgomery County Gun Violence Prevention Laws

Published September 8, 2023 at 8:36PM

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today filed an amicus brief in Maryland Shall Issue, Inc., et al v. Montgomery County, Maryland supporting the right of Maryland counties to adopt local gun violence prevention laws. The lawsuit, brought by a gun rights advocacy group, challenges recently enacted Montgomery County laws that limit access by children to untraceable “ghost guns” and restrict possession of guns near sensitive locations in the county.

The brief, filed in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, asks the court to enter judgment in favor of Montgomery County and uphold the challenged county laws. In the brief, Attorney General Brown argues that the challenged county laws do not conflict with any Maryland state laws and, instead, fall squarely within the legal authority of counties to pass gun laws with respect to children and within 100 yards of places of public assembly, such as parks, churches, schools, and public buildings, among other locations. The brief also explains that long established advice given in public Opinions of the Office of the Attorney General supports the compatibility of the county laws with applicable state law.

AT&T and Cricket Violated the Consumer Protection Act in Sales of Cellphones During Implementation of Corporate Merger; Finding Upheld by Appellate Court of Maryland

By Patrick Herron

Published September 8, 2023 at 8:33PM

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: The Appellate Court of Maryland has upheld a Final Order issued by the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division (CPD) finding that AT&T, Inc., and Cricket Wireless LLC engaged in unfair and deceptive trade practices, in violation of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act, when they sold Cricket cellphones that they knew would stop working after Cricket and AT&T entered into a corporate merger agreement in 2013.

In its July 21, 2021, Final Order, CPD found that the companies’ merger plans included decommissioning Cricket’s CDMA wireless network, which would, and ultimately did, cause Cricket’s CDMA-only cellphones to stop working. Our Consumer Protection Division determined that AT&T and Cricket violated the Consumer Protection Act by continuing to sell the CDMA-only devices to Maryland consumers for more than 18 months before shutting down Cricket’s CDMA network. The company ultimately sold more than 50,000 soon-to-be-inoperable devices in Maryland, without adequately disclosing their plan to render the devices inoperable. The Division ordered AT&T and Cricket to refrain from similar conduct in the future, to provide restitution to consumers who purchased Cricket CDMA-only devices during the relevant period, and to pay civil penalties.

Governor Wes Moore Announces Appointment of Jennifer Sue Hollander Fairfax to Montgomery County Circuit Court

By Patrick Herron

Published September 8, 2023 at 4:49PM

The Circuit Court for Montgomery County is a court of general jurisdiction with the authority to hear civil and criminal cases. It is the only court in the county authorized to conduct jury trials and is part of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, comprising Montgomery and Frederick counties. This is Governor Moore’s first judicial appointment. Governor Moore is committed to building a strong, impartial judiciary that reflects the people of Maryland.

Jennifer Sue Hollander Fairfax is the founder of Jennifer Fairfax, LLC. She practices family law with a focus on domestic and international adoptions and assisted reproduction issues. Ms. Fairfax authored the preeminent book on adoption law, and has worked with lawmakers on advancing legislation related to both adoption and assisted reproduction. She has also advocated for Maryland laws that expedite the second parent adoption process for married and unmarried partners and provide for gender-neutral terms when referring to parents. Ms. Fairfax has taught law school courses on the adoption process and law including LGBTQ law, adoption process issues, contract issues and family law and has published extensively in this field.

Severe Thunderstorm Watch For Most of the DMV Area Until 9pm Thursday Night

By MCS Staff

Published September 7, 2023 at 1:26PM

A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Montgomery County and surrounding areas until 9:00pm, today, 9/7. The primary risk is large hail, damaging winds, and lightning. Severe thunderstorms can and […]

Taste and Odor Changes to Tap Water Still Affecting Many in Maryland

By MCS Staff

Published September 7, 2023 at 1:04PM

As previously reported, customers served by WSSC Water’s Potomac Water Filtration Plant (Potomac River) may still notice changes in the taste and odor of their tap water because of algal activity in the Potomac River (map available below). This change is not harmful and is due to an increase in a naturally occurring substance, Geosmin, caused by warmer weather and low water levels in the Potomac River. As Geosmin are prone to fluctuate with rain and changing water levels, customers may notice order is stronger at certain times than others. This is completely normal.

The odors from the naturally occurring compound, Geosmin, are not toxic. Because the human nose can detect Geosmin concentrations at very low levels, the unpleasant smell can cause sensitive individuals to experience nausea/headaches. Despite the taste and odor issues, the water remains safe, meeting all EPA Safe Drinking Water Act standards.

Maryland Attorney General Urges Congress to Study AI and Its Harmful Effects on Children

By Patrick Herron

Published September 6, 2023 at 9:45PM

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: As part of a 54-state and territory bipartisan coalition, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a letter urging Congress to study how artificial intelligence (AI) can and is being used to exploit children through child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and to propose legislation to protect children from those abuses. The danger of AI as it relates to CSAM is in three main categories: the likeness of a real child, who has not been physically abused, being digitally altered to depict abuse; a real child who has been physically abused being digitally recreated in other depictions of abuse; and a fictitious child being digitally created in a depiction of abuse that feeds the market for CSAM.

“The terrifying truth is that for all its potential benefits, artificial intelligence can also be used to hurt children and perpetrate child sexual abuse. With support from states, Congress must act now to get ahead of this manipulation of AI that could have such tragic consequences,” said Attorney General Brown. “We must work together to eradicate the use of this technology to exploit and harm kids.”

Maryland Cannabis Sales Surpass $91 Million in August

By Patrick Herron

Published September 6, 2023 at 11:56AM

Bethesda:

Burtonsville:

Reforest Montgomery Offers Coupon For Major Discount on Qualifying Trees

By MCS Staff

Published September 5, 2023 at 9:49PM

Per Montgomery Planning: Green Montgomery County by planting native trees on your property. Download our Reforest Montgomery coupon to receive a $50 discount on any qualifying tree with a retail value of at least $75 from one of the participating nurseries or garden centers below. Adapted to the unique environmental conditions of Montgomery County, these native trees may need less maintenance and offer high quality habitat that supports pollinators and other local wildlife.

This $50 coupon can be combined with the State of Maryland’s $25 Marylanders Plant Trees coupon for $75 off the price of a tree that qualifies for both programs. View trees that qualify for the Marylanders Plant Trees program. Note: This program was formerly known as Leaves for Neighborhoods.

Former MD Deputy Secretary of State Charged With Sexual Solicitation of Minor

By MCS Staff

Published September 5, 2023 at 11:37AM

Maryland State Police arrested a man Wednesday on charges he solicited sex from an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a child over a smartphone app in Anne Arundel County. Luis Esteban Borunda, 65, of Essex, Maryland, is charged with one count of sexual solicitation of a minor. He is being held without bond at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center. Borunda served in Maryland’s State Department during the Hogan and Ehrlich administrations and was named the deputy Secretary of State in 2015.

According to a preliminary investigation, on August 22 Borunda engaged in an inappropriate text chat who he believed was an underage female. Borunda was actually chatting with a special agent with the Fort Meade Army Criminal Investigation Office posing as a 13-year-old female online.

Heat Emergency Alert Issued For Montgomery County on Tuesday, September 5

By MCS Staff

Published September 4, 2023 at 6:07PM | Updated September 4, 2023 at 6:24PM

Montgomery County has activated a Hyperthermia Alert for extreme heat for Tuesday, Sep 5 from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Expect the heat index to be above 95 degrees. Stay hydrated. Take precautions to protect yourself & pets from heat-related illnesses: County officials urge residents to take precautions to protect themselves, and their loved ones, against heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke and heat exhaustion. A Hyperthermia Alert is issued for the County when forecasted temperatures, and/or heat index, in at least part of the County is at least 95 degrees or higher creating a hazardous situation in which heat-stroke and heat exhaustion are likely.

A Heat Emergency Alert could be issued for the County when dangerously hot conditions are present, including, but not limited to, temperatures and/or heat index reaching 105 degrees for a period of at least two days or longer for which it will be dangerous to anyone exposed to the heat for an extended period of time. Residents are also asked to check on elderly friends, relatives and neighbors who may be isolated, to ensure they are not showing signs of heat-related illnesses.

MCPS High Schools Perform Well in U.S. News and World Report Rankings

By Patrick Herron

Published September 4, 2023 at 4:54PM

Per Montgomery County Public Schools: All 25 Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) high schools earned spots on the 2023 Best High Schools list published by U.S. News & World Report. Five ranked in the top 500 nationally, and nine were ranked in the top 30 in Maryland. Poolesville High School was ranked first in Maryland and 140th nationally.

The MCPS schools that made the top 30 list in Maryland are: