Maryland Archives - Page 303 of 395

Maryland Has the 3rd Best Early Education System in America, According to Study

Published August 1, 2023 at 9:09AM

With only 11 states currently offering universal pre-K education, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2023’s States with the Best & Worst Early Education Systems, with Maryland coming in 3rd overall. Maryland came in 1st in the income requirement for State Pre-K eligibility category, and was ranked as the 8th best school system overall in a study released by WalletHub last week.

In order to determine the best early education systems in America, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 12 key metrics. The data set ranges from share of school districts that offer a state pre-K program to number of pre-K quality benchmarks met and total reported spending per child enrolled in pre-K. Quality of Early Education in Maryland (1=Best; 25=Avg.):

Governor Wes Moore Announces $6.6 Million Federal Grant To Advance Apprenticeships Through Maryland Department of Labor

By Patrick Herron

Published July 31, 2023 at 6:12PM

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore today announced that the Maryland Department of Labor received $6.6 million through the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration to help expand apprenticeship throughout the state. The funding will help connect thousands of Marylanders to good paying careers in vital and high-growth industries, including hospitality and tourism, and will establish a public sector innovation fund to bolster public service attraction and retention efforts.

“With this grant, we will be able to keep pace and continue to add new industries and new occupations, in addition to bringing apprenticeship to more Marylanders,” said Gov. Moore. “The funding will direct key resources to supporting apprentices and establishing connections to partners and employers to bolster staffing, outreach, training, in addition to modernization of the state’s data systems.”

Many in the Mid-Atlantic Will Be Able to See NASA Launch Tuesday Night

By MCS Staff

Published July 31, 2023 at 12:35PM

The next resupply mission to the International Space Station from commercial cargo provider Northrop Grumman is preparing for launch during a window that opens Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 8:31 p.m. EDT at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. Many in the mid-Atlantic region may be able to see the rocket after liftoff according to the timetable above in the featured image, weather permitting.

Loaded with more than 8,200 pounds of research, crew supplies, and hardware, Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus cargo spacecraft will launch on the company’s Antares rocket from Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport’s Pad 0A on Wallops Island. The Cygnus spacecraft for this launch is named in honor of the late NASA astronaut, undersea medical officer, and naval flight officer Laurel Clark. Selected by NASA in 1996, Dr. Clark flew as a mission specialist aboard Columbia STS-107. Live coverage of the launch will air on NASA Television, the agency’s website and the NASA app beginning at 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday, Aug. 1, with a prelaunch briefing Sunday, July 30 at 5 p.m. EDT.

University of Maryland is One of Eight Universities Recognized in Newsweek’s List of “America’s Greatest Workplaces”

By MCS Staff

Published July 30, 2023 at 9:51AM

The University of Maryland was included in Newsweek’s 2023 list of America’s Greatest Workplaces, one of only eight universities recognized among the 1,000 major employers.

The rankings, based on a large-scale study conducted in collaboration with data firm Plant-A Insights Group, evaluated and scored companies based on eight categories: company image, corporate culture, working environment, work-life balance, training and career progression, compensation and benefits, sustainability awareness, and proactive management of the diverse workforce. UMD earned four out of five stars in the list released this month.

Did You Know Maryland is The Only State Without Any Natural Lakes? FAQ About Lakes in Maryland

By MCS Staff

Published July 28, 2023 at 12:57PM

Per the Maryland Geological Survey: Q1: Is it true that Maryland does not have any natural lakes? A1: Yes, there are no natural lakes in Maryland. All of Maryland’s lakes are manmade by damming rivers. Some have been named lakes (e.g., Lake Habeeb in Allegany County and Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County), but most have been named reservoirs (e.g., Loch Raven Reservoir in Baltimore County).

Q2: Did Maryland ever have any natural lakes in the past? A2: Yes. We know of at least one, and there could be more. The one clearly documented case is Buckel’s Bog, which was a 160-acre, shallow periglacial lake (actually a glade) that occupied the headwater region of the North Branch of the Casselman River in Garrett County during the late Pleistocene (19,000-14,000 years ago). [Reference: Maxwell, J.A. and Davis, M. B., 1972, Pollen evidence of Pleistocene and Holocene vegetation of the Allegheny Plateau, Maryland: Quaternary Research, 2(4): 506-530.]

Maryland State Police To Celebrate National Night Out In Communities Across Maryland

By Patrick Herron

Published July 28, 2023 at 11:19AM

Per the Maryland State Police: Maryland State Police will visit communities throughout Maryland in support of National Night Out, an event that aims to bridge law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. National Night Out since 1984 has been observed annually on the first Tuesday of August. This year’s event is on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Police officers throughout the country will visit neighborhoods connecting with citizens during this community-building campaign.

Festivities at each National Night Out site include family-friendly activities for all ages. Maryland State Police will participate in events at the following locations:

Mosquitos Infected With West Nile Virus Found in Maryland

By MCS Staff

Published July 28, 2023 at 8:13AM

Mosquitos infected with West Nile Virus were trapped in Maryland– in two parts of Anne Arundel County on July 11, authorities said, and some were also found in the Bowie area of Prince George’s County. So far, no human cases have been reported. “For most people that get West Nile, they have zero symptoms. No symptoms at all,” said Johns Hopkins University senior scholar and physician Dr. Amesh Adalja (per FOX 5).

In response, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), in cooperation with the Prince George’s County and Anne Arundel County Health Departments, expanded mosquito control services in areas due to a public health concern over the potential for mosquito-borne diseases. While not all mosquitoes carry diseases, MDA suggests that residents take precautions to minimize their exposure to mosquito bites. These measures include:

Maryland Tax Free Week 2023: Everything You Need To Know

By MCS Staff

Published July 27, 2023 at 9:10PM

Maryland tax free week will take place from Sunday, August 13th until Saturday, August 19th this year. Below we have everything you need to know about how Tax-Free Week works in Maryland:

Facts About Tax-Free Week: From 12:01 a.m. on the second Sunday in August through midnight on the following Saturday, qualifying clothing and footwear priced $100 or less will be exempt from Maryland’s six percent sales tax. The first $40 of back/bookbag sales also qualify. A list of exempt and taxable items is available on the Comptroller’s Website at www.marylandtaxes.gov, or by calling the Taxpayer Service Section at 410-260-7980 in Central Maryland or toll-free 1-800-MD TAXES from elsewhere.

Attorney General Brown Joins Multistate Coalition Opposing Proposed Contaminated Drinking Water Settlement

By Patrick Herron

Published July 27, 2023 at 10:11AM

Per the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Office: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of 23 Attorneys General announcing opposition to a proposed class action settlement that fails to adequately hold accountable the 3M Company for contaminating Americans’ drinking water supply. Under the proposed settlement, water providers would withdraw the hundreds of lawsuits they have filed against 3M over its use of PFAS, or toxic “forever chemicals,” in a wide range of consumer products and firefighting foams. PFAS are stable in the environment, resistant to degradation, persistent in soil, and known to leach into groundwater.

“The proposed settlement falls short of delivering the accountability and protection our citizens deserve,” said Attorney General Brown. “The potential risks posed by PFAS contamination are far-reaching, threatening the health and well-being of our families, our communities, and the ecological balance of our environment. Marylanders deserve better than a half-hearted attempt and sweeping these concerns under a rug.”

Governor Wes Moore Urges Marylanders to Take Precautions as Extreme Heat Conditions Move Into Maryland

By Patrick Herron

Published July 26, 2023 at 8:13PM

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore is today urging Marylanders to take appropriate precautions as extreme weather conditions are expected beginning Thursday. According to the National Weather Service, a heat advisory has been issued for central, northeast, and southern Maryland, with temperatures expected to reach 100 degrees and heat index values expected to reach approximately 105 degrees. Temperatures approaching 100 degrees are also forecast for Friday and Saturday.

“The health and safety of Marylanders is our top priority,” said Gov. Moore. “Take preventative measures to deal effectively with this week’s high temperatures and look out for those in your community during these extremely hot summer days.”

Maryland Attorney General Brown Supports Federal Ocean Justice Strategy to Address Historically Excluded Communities from Policy Decisions

By Patrick Herron

Published July 26, 2023 at 12:43PM | Updated July 26, 2023 at 1:39PM

Per the Maryland State’s Attorney’s Office: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a coalition of six Attorneys General in submitting a comment letter in support of the Biden administration’s development of a national Ocean Justice Strategy. Certain communities (“ocean justice communities”) have been historically excluded from ocean policy decisions – including Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) communities as well as people with disabilities, low-income communities, and the youth and elderly – and ocean justice aims to address those disparities.

In submitting the letter, Attorney General Brown joins the Attorneys General of California, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New York.