Maryland Archives - Page 344 of 395

Maryland Listed as One of the “10 Least Popular States to Move to in 2022” According to Report

Published October 8, 2022 at 8:26AM

A recent report from moveBuddha, a relocation tech company, ranked the least popular states to move to in 2022. According to the article, “Roughly 13% of Americans moved each year before the pandemic. So, it makes sense that Americans have attacked COVID-19 as they’ve resolved so many other challenges: by hitting the road. Since the pandemic, 22% of Americans have moved in response to the virus or know someone who has.” Maryland came in as the 7th least popular state to move to in 2022.

moveBuddha uses proprietary data collected from 2020, 2021, and 2022 (Jan 1 through July 5th) to analyze moves trends. The data comes directly from the moveBuddha Moving Cost Calculator. In-to-out ratio: “We rely primarily on the in-to-out ratio equation in our analysis to see which cities are earning more residents by moves in than losing them via moves out: [Number of queries for moves in] ÷ [Number of queries for moves out] = [in-to-out ratio].”

Connect Maryland: Governor Hogan Announces Applications Open Today for $95 Million to Further Expand Broadband Access

By Patrick Herron

Published October 7, 2022 at 11:45AM

Internet Service Providers, Local Jurisdictions Can Apply for Grants to Connect Unserved and Underserved Areas

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan announced that applications open today for $95 million in funding to expand high-speed internet access across the state through Connect Maryland, an initiative to supercharge the state’s investment in broadband and address the digital divide. Through the program, an historic $400 million in funding has been dedicated to address broadband access in unserved and underserved communities.

Governor Hogan Announces Maryland Exceeds Energy Efficiency Targets For State-Owned Facilities Years Ahead of Schedule

By Patrick Herron

Published October 6, 2022 at 9:51AM

“By reaching and exceeding our energy efficiency goals for state buildings several years ahead of schedule, we are lowering both costs and emissions,” said Governor Hogan. “In addition to leading by example, we continue to encourage families and businesses to look at ways to become more energy efficient.”

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has ranked Maryland among the best states in the nation for efforts to reduce energy use through efficiency. Prominent in ACEEE’s report was Maryland state government’s lead-by-example initiatives, including HB 662, which was enacted in 2020 and incorporated into statute the governor’s 2019 Executive Order setting new energy savings goals for state-owned buildings and calling for 10% savings by 2029 over a fiscal year 2018 baseline.

Gov. Hogan Announces Hiring of Netta Squires, Former MoCo Emergency Management Specialist, As Director of Local Cybersecurity

By MCS Staff

Published October 5, 2022 at 10:27AM

Governor Larry Hogan announced that the State of Maryland has hired Netta Squires, Esq. as the Director of Local Cybersecurity. The position was created as part of an overarching cybersecurity legislative package passed early this year. Squires will work at the Department of Information Technology and report to the State Chief Information Security Officer.

Netta Squires, Esq. has over 14 years of experience in emergency management and incident response as well as almost 8 years of specific experience in cybersecurity. She previously worked as an Emergency Management Specialist for the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security where she managed multiple projects and teams in various emergency support functions. Ms. Squires has her Juris Doctorate from George Washington Law School and a Masters of Science in Law in Cybersecurity from UMB School of Law. She is also a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) by the International Association of Emergency Managers.

Governor Hogan Announces New State and Local Directors of Cybersecurity

By Patrick Herron

Published October 4, 2022 at 6:27PM

Today’s appointments come as the state marks October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Earlier this year, the governor announced a new $102 million cyber readiness and workforce initiative to modernize, strengthen, and expand our cyber infrastructure and threat response activities; expand cybersecurity education; and provide universal and equitable access to Advanced Placement computer science classes.

“Maryland is the cyber capital of America, and these two extremely qualified individuals will help continue that leadership and build on the incredible progress we have made to protect our state’s critical infrastructure,” said Governor Hogan. “As we mark Cybersecurity Awareness Month, I want to continue to encourage Marylanders to remain vigilant about the security of their data and information at home and at work.”

Governor Hogan Announces New Application Round for Opportunity Zone Microgrants

By Patrick Herron

Published October 3, 2022 at 4:45PM

Governor Larry Hogan has announced that the next round of Opportunity Zone microgrant funding will open on October 4. The grants will allow eligible small businesses seeking to expand within designated Opportunity Zones (distressed communities) to apply for microgrants ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. Below is a map of “Opportunity Zones” in Montgomery County, courtesy of www.Maryland.gov

Maryland has 149 designated Opportunity Zones, and each of Maryland’s 24 jurisdictions has at least one designation. The first two rounds of Opportunity Zone microgrant funding have invested $1 million in 20 businesses across the state.

Governor Hogan Proclaims Walktober, Encourages Marylanders To Walk For Health, Recreation, and Transportation

By Patrick Herron

Published October 3, 2022 at 11:33AM

“Walking is one of the most beneficial ways to support better physical and mental health, and fall is the perfect time to get outdoors and experience the beauty of our great state,” said Governor Hogan. “Research shows that people who take part in daily physical activity live longer and have a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, depression, and other health issues. Walking is an activity available to people of all ages and abilities, and I encourage Marylanders to take part in our annual Walktober celebration.”

On this year’s Walk Maryland Day, residents can become “sole mates” by joining one of many official walks that will take place across the state, or register a walk they plan to take by themselves or with others in their community. Registration is available at mdot.maryland.gov/walktober.

Maryland Department of Transportation Launches Campaign to Address Sexual Harassment on Transit

By Patrick Herron

Published October 3, 2022 at 11:15AM

“There is no place for sexual harassment on transit or anywhere else,” said MDOT MTA Administrator Holly Arnold. “We want everyone to know we take incidents of harassment seriously and are launching this campaign so that we can improve the overall experience for all who take transit.”

The campaign is focused on educating the public on what constitutes sexual harassment and how it can be stopped. Ads that aim to shift the culture in that direction are being deployed on buses and rail vehicles in addition to social media. In conjunction with the ad campaign, MDOT MTA is launching a safety and security webpage at mta.maryland.gov/safety. The webpage highlights resources and a reporting form for individuals experiencing harassment on an MDOT MTA transit vehicle or at an MDOT MTA stop or station. The webpage also identifies the “3Ds” (Distract, Delegate and Direct) – strategies that bystanders witnessing harassment can use to help the victim.

The Act of Declawing Cats is Now Illegal in Maryland

By Patrick Herron

Published October 1, 2022 at 9:06PM

Maryland has become the second state in the county to ban the act of declawing cats, unless deemed necessary for therapeutic purposes. It was banned in New York in 2019. The bill was approved back in April and Governor Hogan signed it for the law to go into effect on October 1. Sen. Cheryl Kagan and Del. Lorig Charkoudian, both Montgomery County Democrats, were the lead sponsors for the bill in their respective houses.

According to the Humane Society, declawing involves the amputation of the last bone of each toe. If performed on a human being, it would be like cutting off each finger at the last knuckle.

Maryland State Police Reminding Motorists Move Over Law Expands To All Vehicles Beginning Oct. 1

By Patrick Herron

Published September 30, 2022 at 1:53PM

The intent of the Move Over law is to provide an extra barrier of safety for motorists, along with police officers, fire fighters, emergency medical service personnel and utility workers working on Maryland roads. It is hoped that drivers will become more aware of police and emergency workers and others stopped along the road and move away from them or slow down as they pass by the traffic stop or incident scene.

This movement should only be done if another lane in the same direction is available and the move can be made safely and without impeding other traffic. If moving to another lane away from the stopped vehicle is not possible, the law requires drivers to slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe for existing weather, road, and vehicular or pedestrian traffic conditions.

Governor Hogan Announces Statewide Preparedness Efforts For Remnants of Hurricane Ian

By Patrick Herron

Published September 30, 2022 at 1:16PM

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced statewide preparedness efforts as the remnants of Hurricane Ian move up the mid-Atlantic, leading to coastal flood and gale warnings in the region. Earlier this week, the governor announced the deployment of an Incident Management Team to the State of Florida to assist with the response.

“In addition to sending personnel to Florida to help with the response to Hurricane Ian, we have been preparing on all fronts to deal with the remnants of the storm,” said Governor Hogan. “As we always emphasize with potential flooding events, it is critical for drivers to avoid rising waters—‘turn around, don’t drown.’ We advise Marylanders to watch the forecast closely throughout the weekend and heed local warnings.”