Maryland

With Americans having increased their collective credit card debt by a record $179.4 billion last year, and the grand total at over $1.1 trillion, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the States with the Highest & Lowest Credit Card Debts, with Maryland coming in ranked 18th highest among all states.

WalletHub drew upon data from TransUnion, the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Census Bureau and WalletHub’s proprietary credit card payoff calculator to determine the cost and time required to repay the median credit card balance in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Below, you can find a handful of highlights from the report. Credit Card Debt in Maryland (1^st Rank = Least Sustainable):

Maryland’s Community Parks & Playgrounds Program invests in the future of Maryland’s established communities by developing and revitalizing parks and playgrounds statewide. Another $2.5 million in Community Parks & Playgrounds grant funds is also available for 20 projects statewide to rehabilitate, expand, or improve existing parks; create new parks; or purchase and install playground equipment. To date, more than $87 million in grant funding has been approved for more than 852 park and playground projects.

The following Community Parks and Playgrounds projects received funding in the FY24 budget:

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a bipartisan coalition of Attorneys General from 31 states and the District of Columbia to enhance competition and protect consumers in food and agricultural markets, including in grocery, meat, and poultry processing. The new partnership will assist the coalition of Attorneys General in tackling anticompetitive market structures in agriculture and related industries that are raising prices and limiting choices for consumers and producers.

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore hosted the 16th annual Buy Local Cookout at the Maryland Department of Agriculture in Annapolis last evening, sampling dishes prepared by local chefs with local ingredients, live music and exhibits featuring Maryland Department of Agriculture programs. Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, agricultural leaders, producers, chefs, and local and state officials joined the governor at the event to officially kick off Maryland Buy Local Week and the Buy Local Challenge, which runs today through July 31.

“Buying local is good for our state—it supports our small businesses and keeps our state’s economy competitive,” said Gov. Moore. “We encourage all Marylanders to buy local and enjoy the premium quality and broadly diverse offering that Maryland’s growers, producers, farmers, and watermen have to offer.”

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore today welcomed the 156th class of the Maryland Department of State Police during a graduation ceremony held at Lifepoint Church in Reisterstown. The governor delivered the keynote address to the department’s 26 new members and their families and friends, in addition to law enforcement leadership and local officials in attendance.

“Whether this day was something you hoped would come since you were little or a day that didn’t seem possible just a few years ago: You’ve shown us what it means to serve,” said Gov. Moore. “It’s not just that your service is impressive and inspiring—it’s that your service is a choice. You will make that choice again, and again, and again—to serve in the face of hardship; serve in the face of doubt, and risk, and fear—and I know you are ready to take on the challenge.”

Per the State of Maryland: During an Eastern Shore “Bay Day” tour, Governor Wes Moore today announced a major policy shift in how Maryland will deploy state resources to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways to restore the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays. At points throughout the day, the governor was joined by Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 Administrator Adam Ortiz, and various state, local, and federal officials to learn more about the impact of policies on local communities and industries.

“Our administration is focused on working in new and collaborative ways to reduce the pollution reaching our bays and providing our local communities and farmers with the opportunities and resources they need to succeed,” said Gov. Moore. “Now is the time to embrace the lessons we’ve learned in the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays over the past 40 years and evolve our strategy to reflect that.”

Per the Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Maryland’s boating and swimming season is in full swing and the Maryland Natural Resources Police is urging Marylanders to take proper precautions to ensure safe enjoyment of Maryland’s waterways this summer. So far this year, Maryland Natural Resources Police have responded to more than five boating-related deaths and eight non-boating related drownings, including four fatal incidents during the July 4 holiday weekend.

“Maryland is one of the nation’s leading destinations for summertime water recreation,” Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz said. “With the increased enjoyment of our waterways, state parks, rivers, and streams, it is essential that residents and visitors adhere to safety protocols and regulations that keep our recreational waterways safe and enjoyable for everyone.”