Maryland Archives - Page 351 of 395

Maryland U.S. Attorney Announces Strategies to Use Additional State Funds to Reduce Violent Crime

Published August 25, 2022 at 6:49AM

Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Leaders Renew Commitment to Fight Violent Crime Together

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland (8/24/22): – At a press conference earlier today, U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron, joined by federal, state, and local partners announced that his office is devoting more federal resources than ever before to fight violent crime in Maryland. These resources have been made possible by an unprecedented level of state funding to support these efforts. Partners at today’s announcement included:

Texas Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Threatening a Maryland Doctor Who Advocated for the Covid-19 Vaccine

By MCS Staff

Published August 24, 2022 at 8:30PM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: U.S. District Judge George L. Russell, III sentenced Scott Eli Harris, age 52, of Aubrey, Texas, yesterday to six months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for sending a threatening message to a Maryland medical doctor who publicly advocated for the COVID-19 vaccine.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; and Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Sobocinski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Baltimore Field Office.

Governor Hogan Announces Maryland’s State Small Business Credit Initiative Programs Now Open

By Patrick Herron

Published August 24, 2022 at 9:46AM

“The State of Maryland’s small business programs are proven and effective, providing critical relief during the pandemic and supporting strong economic growth during our ongoing recovery,” said Governor Hogan. “This additional funding will ensure Maryland continues to remain open for business by supercharging these programs to increase capacity and better serve entrepreneurs and small businesses, especially those creating jobs and other opportunities that fuel the revitalization of disinvested communities.”

Created by Congress in 2010, SSBCI received a $10 billion allocation as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. Maryland was the first state in the nation to submit its SSBCI deployment plan to the United States Treasury Department and was one of the first five states to be approved. The nine programs funded by SSBCI will support businesses with limited opportunities for growth whether due to the pandemic or historic disinvestment. Maryland’s statewide SSBCI initiatives will target communities and areas with a high concentration of small, micro, and Socially and Economically Disadvantaged Individual (SEDI) businesses to support ongoing state investments in underserved communities.

Governor Hogan Announces Maryland Manufacturing 4.0 Grant Program

By MCS Staff

Published August 22, 2022 at 7:20PM

From the office of Governor Larry Hogan: Governor Larry Hogan today announced the launch of the Maryland Manufacturing 4.0 grant program, a new Maryland Department of Commerce initiative that provides grants to small and mid-sized Maryland manufacturers to invest in Industry 4.0 technologies to modernize their operations. This pilot program is funded by $1 million in the fiscal year 2023 budget, which focuses on continuing the state’s strong economic recovery.

“Manufacturing and innovation have played a critical role in our incredible economic turnaround,” said Governor Hogan. “We are excited to launch the new Maryland Manufacturing 4.0 program as another tool to help our manufacturers stay competitive in a rapidly changing environment and to revolutionize how they do business.”

Press Release: Decedent Identified in July’s Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting in Montgomery County

By MCS Staff

Published August 19, 2022 at 9:11AM

Per the news release from the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: The Independent Investigations Division of the Office of the Attorney General has identified the decedent in the fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred on July 20 in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

The decedent has been identified as 35-year-old Hamed Ghorouni Delcheh, of Germantown, Maryland. Because the involved officer was assigned to the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force at the time of the shooting, the Independent Investigations Division is investigating this incident in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Both agencies continue to investigate the circumstances of this fatal shooting.

Former Maryland MVA Employee Sentenced to Federal Prison for Providing Fraudulent Driver’s Licenses to Applicants Who Paid a Fee

By MCS Staff

Published August 18, 2022 at 5:27PM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang sentenced Marion Rose Payne, age 55, of Harwood, Maryland, on August 15, 2022, to 15 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to produce and transfer identification documents without lawful authority, specifically, Maryland driver’s licenses. Judge Chuang also ordered Payne to forfeit $25,000, which constitutes the proceeds of Payne’s participation in the criminal conspiracy.

The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Special Agent in Charge James C. Harris of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore.

Over $6 Million in Debt Relief for Past ITT Students From Maryland Who Were Defrauded By The School

By MCS Staff

Published August 16, 2022 at 11:24AM

“Many ITT Tech students were misled, coerced, or victimized by other illegal misconduct. The students incurred thousands of dollars in debt, often for useless degrees or credits,” said Attorney General Frosh. “We are pleased that the Department of Education heeded our recommendation to forgive the federal loans owed by defrauded students.”

ITT’s widespread and pervasive misrepresentation violated state consumer protection laws, including Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act. In 2019, Attorney General Frosh secured a settlement obtaining $6,021,455.80 in debt relief for 582 former ITT Tech students in Maryland as part of a multistate settlement with Student CU Connect CUSO, LLC (CUSO). The attorneys general alleged that ITT pressured and coerced students into accepting loans from CUSO, which often carried interest rates that far exceeded rates for federal loans.

Governor Hogan Announces Expansion of SmartBuy Initiative To Help Homebuyers, Includes Up to $50,000 In Student Debt Payoff Assistance

By Patrick Herron

Published August 15, 2022 at 12:58PM

“As the country continues to deal with an inflation crisis, we are again taking steps to provide relief to Marylanders,” said Governor Hogan. “Our SmartBuy initiative—the first of its kind in the country—has established a national model for removing persistent roadblocks to homeownership and financial security, and this expansion will allow us to help even more families.”

Up to $50,000 In Student Debt Payoff Assistance. Through the SmartBuy 3.0 product, buyers purchasing an eligible home through the Maryland Mortgage Program can receive either 15% of their home purchase price or $50,000 in student debt payoff assistance—whichever is lower.

Maryland Lottery, Casinos and Sports Wagering Contribute Record-Breaking $1.511 Billion to the State in FY2022

By Patrick Herron

Published August 15, 2022 at 10:45AM

The Lottery and the casinos each contributed more than ever before to the state, with Lottery profits totaling $673.7 million and casino contributions of $832.3 million. The combined figure of $1.506 billion from the Lottery and casinos surpassed the $1.391 billion generated in FY21. Meanwhile, the launch of sports wagering and revenue from fantasy competitions added another $5.6 million to that already record-breaking sum.

“We are immensely proud to be a vital source of funding for programs and services that Marylanders depend on every day,” said Maryland Lottery and Gaming Director John Martin. “We’re in the entertainment business, but we never lose sight of the role we play and our place in the community.”

Maryland Ranks #17 in 2022 ‘Best States to Live In’ List

By MCS Staff

Published August 15, 2022 at 9:18AM

With around 8.4% of Americans having moved last year, which is a historic low, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2022’s Best States to Live in. To help Americans settle down in the best and most affordable place possible, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 52 key indicators of livability. They range from housing costs and income growth to education rate and quality of hospitals, with Maryland coming in at 17 overall.

Maryland was listed in the top 15 in three categories, which included #2 in ‘% of Population Living in Poverty’ (Maryland has the second lowest %), #12 in ‘Education & Health’ and #13 in ‘Safety.’ Our state didn’t fare as well in three other categories, coming in at #38 in ‘Affordability’, #31 in ‘Economy’, and #31 in ‘Quality of Life.’ Per the article, “If you do the math, some states clearly outshine others in various categories. To find out the best states to live in, WalletHub compared the 50 states based on 52 key indicators of livability. They range from housing costs and income growth to education rate and quality of hospitals.”

Maryland Department of Transportation, Maryland State Department of Education Deliver Back to School Supplies for Students

By Patrick Herron

Published August 14, 2022 at 12:46PM

“We put out the call, and our MDOT team, our partners at MSDE and our customers all across Maryland responded to help the Boys and Girls Clubs of Maryland prepare students for success in the classroom,” said MDOT Secretary James F. Ports, Jr. “Marylanders are eager to invest in the future of our young people. The result of this drive – filling 1,000 bags with school supplies – sends a tremendous message of support for students.”

During the drive, MDOT business units including the Transportation Secretary’s Office, MDOT Maryland Transit Administration (MDOT MTA), MDOT Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA), MDOT Maryland Aviation Administration (MDOT MAA), Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), MDOT Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) and MDOT State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) collected supplies from employees and customers at more than 50 locations statewide.