Maryland

Per the Maryland Nation Park and Planning Commission: M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County paleontologists and volunteers discovered the largest theropod fossil in Eastern North America during a dig experience program at the Dinosaur Park on April 22, 2023. Additional fossils found nearby elevate the Dinosaur Park’s classification to a “bonebed.” The term “bonebed” is used by paleontologists when bones of one or more species are concentrated within a geologic layer. This is the first dinosaur bone bed discovered in Maryland since 1887.

“Finding a bonebed like this is a dream for many paleontologists as they can offer a wealth of information on the ancient environments that preserved the fossils and provide more details on the extinct animals that previously may have only been known from a handful of specimens,” said JP Hodnett, M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County Dinosaur Park Paleontologists and Program Coordinator. “Most paleontologists have to travel across the country or go overseas to find something like this, so having this rare find so close to home is fantastic!”

The Cannabis Business Assistance Fund was created as part of legislation in the 2023 General Assembly session and seeks to increase small business and entrepreneur capacity to participate in Maryland’s adult-use cannabis industry.

The first round of funding was focused on providing grants to help existing medical-use licensees with the cost of converting their license to an adult-use license. Future rounds of funding will be offered to Historically Black Colleges and Universities for cannabis-related programs; to businesses applying for licenses; and to business development organizations, including incubators.

Bethesda: 

Burtonsville:

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore today announced that 67 child care facilities have been awarded a total of $11.5 million through the inaugural round of the Child Care Capital Support Revolving Loan Fund, administered through the Maryland Department of Commerce in partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education. The fund, created during the 2022 General Assembly, offers no-interest loans for capital expenses to child care providers who are licensed and participate in Maryland State Department of Education’s Child Care Scholarship Program.

“Child care providers all across our state need funding to support access to their critical services,” said Gov. Moore. “The Child Care Capital Support Fund will also help ensure that Maryland’s families have access to high-quality child care and Maryland’s children will have access to more learning opportunities.”

Per Maryland.gov: The Maryland Department of Agriculture is encouraging farmers looking for markets for their hay and straw to provide their contact information for a new state Hay and Straw Directory. “This directory will be a valuable tool for farmers marketing their hay and straw and for their potential customers,” said MDA Secretary Kevin Atticks. “I encourage farmers to take advantage of this promotional tool.”

To view the current directory list, please visit https://mda.maryland.gov/maryland_products/Pages/Hay-and-Straw-directory.aspx. To include hay and straw for sale in the directory, please contact Agricultural Marketing Specialist Audrey Broomfield at 410-260-9349 or by email at [email protected].