Maryland Archives - Page 323 of 395

Governor Moore Announces New Partnership Between Maryland Department of Environment and University of Maryland Center for Global Sustainability to Model Maryland’s Climate Goals Pathway

Published April 4, 2023 at 10:01AM

Per the State of Maryland (4.3.23): Governor Wes Moore today announced a new partnership between the Maryland Department of the Environment and The Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland to model Maryland’s pathway toward ambitious climate goals. The announcement came during a roundtable discussion at the State House with climate goal stakeholders including representatives from the Maryland Department of the Environment, University of Maryland, League of Conservation Voters, Maryland Commission on Environmental Justice and Sustainable Communities, and Blink Charging.

“We face an historic challenge – and we will tackle it with an all-of-government, an all-of-community, and an all-of-state approach,” said Governor Moore. “We cannot win this fight alone. It will take partnership, it will take collaboration, it will take teamwork; that includes this partnership with the University of Maryland and all of the stakeholders today.”

Thousands of Drivers Incorrectly Charged on ICC

By MCS Staff

Published April 4, 2023 at 5:15AM

According to a report released by Maryland’s Office of Legislative Audits looking into the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), thousands of drivers were incorrectly charged by Maryland tolls between April 13, 2021, and January 30, 2022.

“Based on our data analysis for all MDTA toll facilities, we identified 82,847 customers that were potentially charged more than once for a single trip through a toll facility. The toll charges (including both potential duplicate tolls and correct tolls) for these customers totaled approximately $645,000. A majority of these tolls (80 percent) occurred at three toll facilities – the Intercounty Connector (ICC), the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial (Bay) Bridge, and the Fort McHenry Tunnel.”

Fugitive Roy McGrath, Ex-Chief of Staff to Former Gov. Hogan, Has Died After Being Shot During Arrest in Tennessee

By MCS Staff

Published April 4, 2023 at 4:53AM

Roy McGrath, the fugitive ex-chief of staff for former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, has died after he was shot during an arrest in Tennessee, according to a statement by his attorney Joseph Murtha. “It is a tragic ending to the past three weeks of uncertainty,” Murtha said. “I think it is important for me to stress that Roy never wavered about his innocence.”

FOX 5 reports that “the FBI confirmed McGrath was found Monday in the 10700 block of Kingston Pike at Lovell Road in Knoxville, and was shot during the arrest. The FBI said McGrath was wounded and had to be taken to the hospital.”

Montgomery County Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for the Armed Robberies of an Armored Truck, Two Banks and a Convenience Store

By MCS Staff

Published April 1, 2023 at 8:23AM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland – U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang has sentenced Israel Ramirez, age 29, of Burtonsville, Maryland, to 17 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for an armed robbery of an armored truck, two armed bank robberies and the armed robbery of a convenience store. In each of the armed robberies, Ramirez discharged his weapon. Ramirez discharged his handgun multiple times in the bank robberies.

According to his guilty plea, on July 4, 2021 Ramirez committed the armed robbery of convenience store in Laurel, Maryland. During the robbery, Ramirez brandished a firearm, which he fired into a cigarette display behind the register when the employees had trouble opening the register. Ultimately, the employees were able to open the register and provided Ramirez with cash. On July 12^th, Ramirez robbed the same store. An employee recognized Ramirez as the person that had robbed the store and discharged his weapon the week before. Ramirez kept his hand in his pocket and demanded that the employee open the register. The employee provided Ramirez with cash from the register and Ramirez left the store.

Governor Moore Proclaims International Transgender Day of Visibility in Maryland

By Patrick Herron

Published March 31, 2023 at 1:48PM

International Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates the accomplishments of transgender, gender diverse, nonbinary, and two-spirit people while raising awareness of the work that remains to achieve trans justice. According to the Maryland Center for Economic Policy, an estimated 94,000 residents in Maryland identify as transgender or nonbinary.

Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, Maryland Secretary of State Susan C. Lee, members of the Maryland Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, members of the newly-formed LGBTQ+ Legislative Caucus, and transgender community members and advocates from across the state joined Governor Moore for the signing ceremony at the State House.

Maryland State Police Focus On Distracted Driving Enforcement in April

By Patrick Herron

Published March 31, 2023 at 11:03AM

Per the Maryland State Police: With April being National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Maryland State Police are reminding motorists just how dangerous it can be on the road if you are not paying attention to your surroundings. According to the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office, more than 24,000 people are injured and 200 others die each year on Maryland roads as a result of distracted driving. Distracted driving contributes to 48 percent of all crashes in Maryland. Each of these injuries and deaths were preventable.

In the first three months of 2023, Maryland State Police troopers have issued a total of 4,352 citations and warnings for distracted driving violations. Last year, troopers issued 21,757 citations and warnings for distracted driving violations of which, 4,199 were drivers who were caught using their handheld phone while their vehicle was in motion. Troopers across Maryland are increasing their distracted driving enforcement patrols and awareness efforts this month. Troopers will be working collaboratively with allied law enforcement agencies to stop motorists who are driving distracted. Seat belt enforcement will be also be a priority.

Beyond MoCo: New 126,000 SF Indoor Water Park Opening Sooner Than Anticipated

By MCS Staff

Published March 31, 2023 at 10:07AM | Updated April 6, 2023 at 9:06PM

For the second time in the last couple months, the expected opening date for Great Wolf Lodge, North America’s largest family of indoor water park resorts, has moved up. Great Wolf Lodge will be opening its newest resort in Perryville, MD (located in Cecil County, northeast of Baltimore City) this summer. Originally scheduled to open in August, construction has been ahead of schedule and the lodge announced it would open on July 15. Now, it has moved opening day up again and is currently scheduled to open on June 29.

Great Wolf Lodge Maryland will be the company’s 20th resort in North America, and their largest. It will offer 700 family-friendly suites, a 126,000-square-foot indoor water park, a 57,000 square-foot entertainment center, and 12,000 square-feet of conference space. Perryville is about 70 miles and a little less than an hour and a half away from most parts of MoCo. The company has released additional information about the water park and is offering a 25% discount on reservations.

Montgomery County Man Identified as Suspect in College Park 4th Degree Sex Offense (Unlawful Touching) and Indecent Exposure Cases

By MCS Staff

Published March 30, 2023 at 6:00PM

Per University of Maryland Police: The suspect in the 4th Degree Sex Offense (Unlawful Touching) and Indecent Exposure Cases has been identified. On March 29, our Detective applied for and received an arrest warrant for Marquise Tranell Mahoney of Silver Spring. He was charged with the following: One Count of CR 3-308 ((b)(1)) Sex Off 4th Deg-Sex Contact, One Count of CR 3-203 Assault – Sec Degree, One Count of ED 26-101 ((b)) Schl Molest Etc Other Loc, Two Counts of CR 11-107 Indecent Exposure.

If you see Marquise Tranell Mahoney on our campus, call UMPD immediately at 301-405-3333 or #3333 (for AT&T and Verizon Wireless). You may also text or call UMPD using the UMD Guardian app. If you have any information on his whereabouts, you are encouraged to call UMPD at 301-405-3555.

Consumer Alert: Maryland Businesses Receiving Fake “2023 Certificate of Good Standing Request Form” Letter; Same Scam Letter Circulated in 2019 and 2020

By MCS Staff

Published March 30, 2023 at 7:42AM

The Office of the Attorney General has received information that businesses in Maryland have been receiving a letter entitled “2023 Certificate of Good Standing Request Form” that requests a fee in exchange for a letter of good standing with an “official seal of the Secretary of State.” This letter is a SCAM. This same scam letter was circulated in 2019 and 2020.

The scam letter asks the recipient to send a check or money order to an entity named “MD Certificate Service” in Baltimore, MD in exchange for an “elective Maryland Certificate of Good Standing.” The letter goes to great lengths to look official with a “document number” and a barcode, and includes a customer service phone number of 1-855-222-3322.

Texas Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Conspiring to Break Into Businesses in Maryland (Including Rockville) to Steal From ATMs

By MCS Staff

Published March 30, 2023 at 7:31AM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland – U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander sentenced Robert Reeves III, age 37 of Dallas, Texas, to two years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen goods where the defendant and his co-conspirators broke into businesses and stole cash from Bitcoin-related ATMs. Judge Hollander also ordered Reeves to pay restitution in the full amount of the victims’ losses, which is $55,316. The sentence was imposed on March 27, 2023.

According to his guilty plea, from August 2018 through at least September 13, 2018, Reeves, co-defendants Meleech Neugent and Brandon Davis, and other individuals conspired to travel from the Dallas, Texas area to other parts of the United States, including the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, break into businesses after they closed and steal cash from Bitcoin-related automated teller machines (“ATMs”). Specifically, on August 29, 2018, Reeves, his co-defendants and others traveled from Dallas, Texas to Dulles International Airport and rented a vehicle. In the early morning hours of August 31, 2018 and September 1, 2018, they used that vehicle to drive to locations in Rockville, Columbia and Baltimore, Maryland, where they broke into four separate businesses. Once inside the business, the conspirators stole cash from the ATM machines.

Maryland Department of Health Announces Request for Applications to Expand Abortion Provider Capacity

By Patrick Herron

Published March 29, 2023 at 9:28AM

Per the Maryland Department of Health (3.28.23): The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today announced a Request for Applications to administer the Abortion Clinical Training Program. The program will help expand the number of healthcare professionals with abortion care training, increase the racial and ethnic diversity among healthcare professionals with abortion care education, and support the identification of clinical sites in need of training.

“On my first full day in office, we announced the release of $3.5 million in previously-withheld funding to support Maryland’s Abortion Clinical Training program,” said Governor Wes Moore. “The program will help ensure that Maryland remains a safe haven for abortion and is critical to providing safe and supportive reproductive health care access.”