Maryland Archives - Page 335 of 395

Governor Hogan Announces Emergency Directive to Prohibit Use of TikTok, China and Russia-Based Products and Platforms in State Government

Published December 6, 2022 at 3:43PM

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Larry Hogan today announced that the State of Maryland has issued an emergency cybersecurity directive to prohibit the use of certain Chinese and Russian-influenced products and platforms for the executive branch of state government, including TikTok. These entities present an unacceptable level of cybersecurity risk to the state, and may be involved in activities such as cyber-espionage, surveillance of government entities, and inappropriate collection of sensitive personal information.

“There may be no greater threat to our personal safety and our national security than the cyber vulnerabilities that support our daily lives,” said Governor Hogan. “As the cyber capital of America, Maryland has taken bold and decisive actions to prepare for and address cybersecurity threats. To further protect our systems, we are issuing this emergency directive against foreign actors and organizations that seek to weaken and divide us.”

Eleven Defendants Facing Federal Charges Relating to Unemployment Insurance Fraud Scheme with More Than $1.6 Million in Losses

By MCS Staff

Published December 6, 2022 at 9:55AM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: – A federal grand jury has returned a superseding indictment adding two new defendants to the nine defendants previously charged in relation to a Maryland and California unemployment insurance scheme. The superseding indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and stealing a post office key. The superseding indictment was returned on November 30, 2022. Charged in the superseding indictment are:

The superseding indictment was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Postal Inspector in Charge Damon E. Wood of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division (USPIS); Acting Special Agent in Charge Troy W. Springer, of the Washington Regional Office, U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General (DOL-OIG); and Chief Amal E. Awad of the Anne Arundel County Police Department; Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Colonel Woodrow W. Jones III, Superintendent of the Maryland State Police (MSP); and Special Agent in Charge Toni M. Crosby of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division.

Defendant in Murder-For-Hire Conspiracy Sentenced to Life in Prison

By MCS Staff

Published December 5, 2022 at 5:23PM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland – U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis sentenced Jose David Navarro Cervellon, age 41, of Norcross, Georgia, today to life in federal prison, on charges related to a murder-for-hire that occurred on November 30, 2016, in Hyattsville, Maryland. On July 20, 2022, after an eight-day trial, a federal jury convicted Navarro for a murder-for-hire conspiracy. Navarro was also convicted for the use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of a murder-for-hire and for murder resulting from the use, carrying, brandishing and discharging of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Co-defendants Miguel Angel Ayala Rivera, age 28, of Silver Spring, Maryland, and Miguel A. Renderos, age 48, of Hyattsville, Maryland, each pleaded guilty to their roles in the murder-for-hire and are awaiting sentencing. In a related case, Luis Cruz Hernandez, age 28, of Silver Spring, Maryland, previously pleaded guilty to his role in the murder-for-hire and was sentenced to 51 years in federal prison.

DHS Announces Extension of REAL ID Full Enforcement Deadline

By Patrick Herron

Published December 5, 2022 at 12:28PM

Per the Department of Homeland Security: Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its intent to extend the REAL ID full enforcement date by 24 months, from May 3, 2023 to May 7, 2025. Under the new regulations published to execute this change, states will now have additional time to ensure their residents have driver’s licenses and identification cards that meet the security standards established by the REAL ID Act. As required by the law, following the enforcement deadline, federal agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will be prohibited from accepting driver’s licenses and identification cards that do not meet these federal standards.

“DHS continues to work closely with U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories to meet REAL ID requirements,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “This extension will give states needed time to ensure their residents can obtain a REAL ID-compliant license or identification card. DHS will also use this time to implement innovations to make the process more efficient and accessible. We will continue to ensure that the American public can travel safely.”

Rocket Launch Will Be Visible (Weather Permitting) on Friday, December 9th

By MCS Staff

Published December 5, 2022 at 8:28AM

Per NASA: NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility will support the launch of Rocket Lab USA’s first Electron rocket from Virginia at 6 p.m. EST, Friday, Dec. 9.

The mission, named “Virginia is for Launch Lovers,” will deploy radio frequency monitoring satellites for HawkEye 360. The 59-foot-tall Electron rocket will lift off from Launch Complex 2 at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island. The launch window for the mission is 6 to 8 p.m. The backup launch days are Dec. 10 to 20.

Governor Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan Welcome Marylanders to Their Final Holiday Open House

By Patrick Herron

Published December 4, 2022 at 10:05AM

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan today welcomed thousands of Marylanders to Government House in Annapolis for their final Holiday Open House.

“For the past eight years, it has been the honor of a lifetime to serve as your Governor and First Lady, and we were proud to welcome a record number of Marylanders of all ages to Annapolis for our final Holiday Open House,” said Governor Hogan. “We hope everyone enjoyed the decorations, live music, and the holiday cookies prepared by Government House chefs!”

Governor Hogan Addresses First-Ever Quantum World Congress

By Patrick Herron

Published December 3, 2022 at 3:44PM

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Larry Hogan today addressed the first-ever Quantum World Congress at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC, discussing the importance of Maryland’s leadership in innovation and new sciences and technologies to address the economic and security challenges the nation faces.

“Maryland has created a robust and unmatched quantum ecosystem, rich with academic research partnerships, industry investment, and critical federal government engagement,” said Governor Hogan. “We are leading a quantum revolution in our state that serves not just our long-term economic benefit, but also advances our critical national security and cybersecurity goals. My hope is that other states will follow Maryland’s example so that together we can form a strong quantum network that will ensure that our national and international leadership in this field will continue to flourish.”

Maryland Remains Undefeated; Beats #16 Illinois 71-66

By MCS Staff

Published December 3, 2022 at 12:26PM

New Maryland Coach Kevin Willard has Maryland playing great basketball to start the season, coming out to an 7-0 start and ranked #22 in the country going into last night’s game. The team had its toughest test of the season, playing #16 Illinois in College Park. The team was able to defeat its first ranked opponent of the Kevin Willard Era behind a season-high 24 points by Jahmir Young, who is averaging 15.1 points per game this season.The Terps are now 8-0 and one of just fifteen unbeaten teams remaining in the country.

Per UMTerps: Young, Hakim Hart and Donta Scott all had big nights for the Terps in their Big Ten season opener. Young led the way with a season-high 24 points while Hart dropped 17 on 5-of-6 shooting from deep. Scott did a bit of everything inside for Maryland, notching 12 points, three rebounds and three assists.The Terps and Illinois traded baskets early before Maryland exploded for an 11-0 run, dialing up the decibel level in XFINITY. The Illini went on a run of their own, but Hart continued to make clutch threes to turn the momentum back to the Terps as they entered halftime with a 41-34 lead.

The 10 Worst Areas for Traffic in the DMV, Per Report

By MCS Staff

Published December 2, 2022 at 5:29PM

While there are plenty more places with traffic issues in the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia), the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board has released its top ten bottleneck analysis in its report for the calendar year of 2021 (seen below). According to the report, bottlenecks are typically defined by a traffic queue upstream of the bottleneck, a beginning point for a queue, free flow traffic conditions downstream of the bottleneck that have returned to nominal or design conditions, a predictable recurring cause, and traffic volumes that exceed the capability of the confluence to process traffic.

The PDA Suite Bottleneck Tool offers several bottleneck ranking factors using tool-specific methodology:

Maryland Awarded $20,000 Grant to Give Rideshare Credits During Holiday Season

By Patrick Herron

Published December 1, 2022 at 5:33PM

Per MDOT: For the second year, the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MDOT MVA) Highway Safety Office has received a grant from the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) to provide rideshare credits to Marylanders to help them Be the Make A Plan Driver and choose an alternative to driving impaired. Through the partnership funded by GHSA, Lyft, and Responsibility.org, 4,000 Lyft ride credits, each worth $5, will be available during the holiday season. Maryland is one of four states awarded the grant.

“Once again, we’re making the choice easy to be the driver who makes a plan and arranges a sober ride home,” said Governor Hogan. “No one should lose a loved one this holiday season, or ever, due to someone’s selfish choice to drive impaired. I encourage all drivers to make a plan for a sober ride home and save a life.”

Maryland Department of Health Launches Program to Reduce Suicides Among Maryland Service Members, Veterans

By Patrick Herron

Published December 1, 2022 at 2:37PM

Per the State or Maryland: The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today fully launched the Trained Military Assistance Provider (TMAP) Program, a new initiative to reduce suicides and increase lethal-means safety for service members and veterans. Developed by the Maryland Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans and their Families, this training is free to all Maryland-based primary care staff. The initiative was first launched as a pilot program in 10 Maryland primary care practices.

“Maryland’s service members and veterans benefit from specially targeted medical and mental health care,” said MDH Secretary Dennis R. Schrader (CAPT, U.S. Navy, Retired). “With this new resource, we aim to reach providers and practices and let them know we have the information and the tools to help this population before they reach a crisis.”