Maryland Archives - Page 309 of 419

Maryland Attorney General Announces $10 Million Multistate Settlement with ACI Worldwide Over Attempted Unauthorized Withdrawals from Consumer Accounts

Published October 20, 2023 at 10:04AM

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: “Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has joined a coalition of 49 Attorneys General announcing a $10 million settlement with payment processor ACI Worldwide over a 2021 testing error that led to the attempted unauthorized withdrawal of $2.3 billion from the accounts of mortgage-holders. The settlement includes injunctive relief designed to prevent a similar incident in the future.

ACI Payments, a subsidiary of ACI Worldwide Corp., is a payment processor for a variety of third-party clients, including mortgage servicers. Nationstar Mortgage, known publicly as “Mr. Cooper,” offered ACI’s Speedpay product to its customers so they could schedule and electronically pay their monthly mortgage payments through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) system. On April 23, 2021, ACI was testing the Speedpay platform when it erroneously attempted to withdraw mortgage payments from hundreds of thousands of “Mr. Cooper” customers on a day that was not authorized or expected. In many cases, consumers were subjected to the attempted withdrawal of multiple mortgage payments from their personal bank accounts. The Attorneys General allege the April 2021 incident was due to significant defects in ACI’s privacy and data security procedures and technical infrastructure related to the Speedpay platform.

MoCo Councilmember Will Jawando Drops Out of U.S. Senate Race

By MCS Staff

Published October 20, 2023 at 9:16AM

Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando announced today that he is dropping out of the U.S. Senate race. Jawando announced in May that he was launching a campaign for the U.S. Senate after Senator Ben Cardin, Maryland’s senior senator and Chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, announced that he would not seek re-election at the end of his term. Jawando’s full statement can be seen below (including a video):

“We are all living through such uncertain times. War is raging in the Middle East and Ukraine. Everyday Americans are not sure whether they can afford to keep a roof over their head or food on the table. Our Congress is meeting crisis with chaos and is paralyzed by far-right extremists. MAGA Republicans keep trying to elevate hard right election deniers to Speaker all while marching lockstep behind Donald Trump, a man who is running for president on a platform of revenge in a party that welcomes that with open arms. Now more than ever we need strong Democratic voices in the Senate. That’s why I got into this race.

Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller Reinforce Administration’s Commitment to Keeping Marylanders of All Faiths Safe from Hate Crimes

By Patrick Herron

Published October 19, 2023 at 10:23PM

Keeping Marylanders of All Faiths Safe from Hate Crimes

Per the State of Maryland: “In an effort to reinforce the administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of Marylanders of all faiths, Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller today met with Muslim community leaders, educators, parents, and students at the Islamic Society of Baltimore. Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski, Jr. and Islamic Society of Baltimore President Hasan Hammad joined the governor and lieutenant governor. Last week, Lt. Gov. Miller visited the Beth El Congregation of Baltimore to attend evening Shabbat service and meet with congregation members.

“In Maryland we do not—and we will never—tolerate hatred. Not toward Muslims. Not toward Jews. Not toward Christians. Not toward anyone. Now is the time for us to stand together in love and community.”

NOAA Releases U.S. Winter Weather Outlook: El Nino is in Place

By MCS Staff

Published October 19, 2023 at 2:08PM

This year, El Nino is in place heading into winter for the first time in four years, driving the outlook for warmer-than-average temperatures for the northern tier of the continental United States, according to NOAA’s U.S. Winter Outlook released by the Climate Prediction Center — a division of the National Weather Service. Seasonal temperatures are predicted to be “Leaning Above” average with precipitation also “Leaning Above” average for the D.C. Metro area. NOAA’s seasonal outlooks provide the likelihood that temperatures and total precipitation amounts will be above-, near- or below-average (photos below). The outlook does not project seasonal snowfall accumulations as snow forecasts are generally not predictable more than a week in advance.

“These outlooks provide critical guidance on the upcoming season for many industries and sectors of our economy, from energy producers to commodities markets to agricultural interests to tourism,” said Sarah Kapnick, Ph.D., NOAA chief scientist. “With a strengthening El Nino and more potential climate extremes in an already record-breaking year, we’re lucky to have scientists like those at the Climate Prediction Center helping to build a Weather and Climate-Ready Nation by providing critical operational seasonal climate predictions.”

Governor Wes Moore Shares Vision for Inclusive, Equitable, and Resilient Economy in Maryland During Bloomberg CityLab Plenary Session in DC

By Patrick Herron

Published October 19, 2023 at 8:37AM

Governor Moore Shares Vision for Inclusive, Equitable, and Resilient Economy in Maryland During Bloomberg CityLab Plenary Session

“I want the people of Maryland to know that we care deeply about their communities,” said Gov. Moore. “I want to see issues first-hand and I want communities to be at the table when we talk about how we’re going to fix them—that is how we are going to make this Maryland’s decade.”

Governor Moore announced the relaunch of the Baltimore Red Line to significantly enhance east-west connectivity across the Baltimore region. Shaped by more than ten years of study, engineering, environmental analysis, and substantial community participation, the relaunch of the Red Line project will improve transit efficiency, increase access to work and activity centers, provide connections to existing transit and other transportation modes, offer more commuter choices, and support economic development and community revitalization.

Maryland Residents Encouraged to Participate in Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills

By Patrick Herron

Published October 19, 2023 at 7:03AM

Per the MDEM: “The Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) is proud to promote Earthquake Preparedness and encourages Marylanders to take part in The Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills occurring across the Country on October 19 at 10:19 a.m. EDT. Almost 73,000 people representing approximately 50 organizations, including individuals and families from Maryland were registered as of Friday afternoon. Others are encouraged to register here before the exercise begins.

Governor Wes Moore Announces Record Federal Funding to Support International Efforts for Maryland Small Businesses

By Patrick Herron

Published October 18, 2023 at 2:57PM

Per the State of Maryland: “Governor Wes Moore today announced that the Maryland Department of Commerce has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration to broaden the state’s international reach and help companies create jobs and access new foreign markets. The funding is the highest single award that the department has ever received through the State Trade Expansion Program, which supports participation in overseas trade shows in targeted industry sectors and funds the state’s ExportMD program.

“Maryland’s economy will grow and thrive when our small businesses have more opportunities to succeed,” said Gov. Moore. “We thank the U.S. Small Business Administration for their support in expanding Maryland’s global economic reach. This record funding represents boundless possibilities.”

Maryland Attorney General Announces Guilty Plea And Sentencing of Curtis Bay Energy LP – Owner of Largest Medical Waste Incinerator in United States

By Patrick Herron

Published October 18, 2023 at 12:54PM | Updated October 18, 2023 at 1:22PM

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office (10.18.23): – Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today announced the guilty plea and sentencing of Curtis Bay Energy, LP (Curtis Bay Energy), the owner and operator of a special medical waste incinerator facility located in south Baltimore City, to a forty-count criminal information that resulted from a long-term investigation conducted by the Office’s Environmental and Natural Resources Crimes Unit (ENRCU). The charges to which Curtis Bay Energy pled guilty relate to the insufficient treatment and improper handling of special medical waste and the operation and concealment of an unpermitted discharge outlet.

On August 18, 2023, in sentencing Curtis Bay Energy, the Honorable Judge Martin H. Schreiber II of the Circuit Court of Maryland, placed the company on 2-years of probation and ordered the company to pay a fine of $1,000,000 to the Maryland Clean Water Fund. As a special condition of that probation, Curtis Bay Energy will fund a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) that will direct $750,000 into communities surrounding the facility for environmental projects to protect and improve the environment and reduce risks to public health. The SEP will be administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, a nonprofit grant-making organization. This sentence is one of the largest penalties in the Office’s history for an environmental criminal case.

“Cold, Snowy” 2023-2024 Winter Forecast by The Old Farmer’s Almanac

By MCS Staff

Published October 17, 2023 at 11:05AM

The 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac is now available everywhere complete with its 2023-2024 winter weather forecast. Winter arrives this year on December 21, 2023 and sometimes brings shoveling, snow blowing, dealing with bad roads, and unbearable temperatures with it. Lately, we haven’t had much snow to talk about in our area, but this winter may be different according to the almanac with above-normal precipitation and snowfall expected for the entire region. Below, you’ll see forecasts for the Atlantic Corridor and the Appalachians, which covers all of our area.

Will There Be Snow? Yes! Winter precipitation and snowfall will be above normal (2 to 3 inches above monthly averages). The snowiest periods will occur at the end of December, late January, and mid-February. We don’t expect a white Christmas.
How Cold Will Winter Be? Winter temperatures will be above normal overall. Specifically, December is slightly above average temps; temperatures for January and February are below average. The coldest spell will run from late January into mid-February.

Most Popular Halloween Candy in Maryland

By MCS Staff

Published October 16, 2023 at 7:14PM

Halloween candy sales are expected to be up 15% from last year and CandyStore.com has gathered the data to figure out the most popular Halloween candy for each state– their analysis was even featured on the Today Show. Before we get to Maryland, let’s take a look at the Top 10 across the country and some quick facts about Halloween Candy this year:

10. Snickers

Maryland Attorney General Urges Supreme Court to Protect Access to Safe and Effective Abortion Medication

By Patrick Herron

Published October 16, 2023 at 4:15PM

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a multistate coalition of 24 Attorneys General in protecting access to abortion medication nationwide. The coalition filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court in support of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) and Danco Laboratories LLC’s petitions to reverse the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit’s ruling that reinstated certain medically unnecessary, and previously eliminated, restrictions on the medication.

The coalition is urging the Supreme Court to grant the petitions to bring the case on medication abortion before the court. The coalition also asks the Supreme Court to reverse the Fifth Circuit’s decision that restricts how mifepristone can be prescribed and dispensed. The brief highlights that the Fifth Circuit’s decision ignores decades of high-quality evidence and clinical research that shows mifepristone is safe and effective.