Maryland Archives - Page 354 of 395

Maryland Ranks 5th in List of “2022’s Best School Systems”

Published July 25, 2022 at 10:14AM

With the gaps in test scores between low-poverty and high-poverty elementary schools growing by 15% to 20% during the COVID-19 pandemic, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2022’s States with the Best & Worst School Systems. Maryland was ranked 5th overall, including bring ranked 7th in “Quality” and 6th in “Safety”. In order to determine the best school systems in America, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 32 key measures of quality and safety. The data set ranges from pupil-teacher ratio and dropout rate to median standardized-test scores.

Quality & Safety of Schools in Maryland (1=Best; 25=Avg.):

Press Release: IID Responds to Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting in Montgomery County (Gaithersburg)

By MCS Staff

Published July 22, 2022 at 3:24PM

Press Release from Maryland Attorney General’s Office: The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General responded to a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred in Montgomery County, Maryland, on Wednesday morning.

As a result of the involved deputy’s duty assignment to the federal task force, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Baltimore Field Office is conducting the initial investigation. The IID retains an obligation under Maryland law to conduct its own investigation and write its own report of the shooting. At the conclusion of the ID’s investigation, that report will be referred to the relevant State’s Attorney’s Office to consider whether state charges are appropriate.

MoCo Native Wes Moore Wins Democratic Nomination for Maryland Governor

By MCS Staff

Published July 22, 2022 at 1:21PM

Wes Moore has won the Democratic nomination for Maryland Governor, according to several projections. He has defeated former Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez, Maryland comptroller Peter Franchot, former Education Secretary John King, and former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler in the primary and will move on to the General Election against Dan Cox.

Moore is a native of Takoma Park, who grew up in the area until he was 6 years old, moving to New York after his father passed away. He returned to Maryland for college and attended Johns Hopkins University where he studied international relations and economics and graduated Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa in 2001.From 2017 to 2021 Moore served as the CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation– a charitable organization which attempts to alleviate problems caused by poverty in New York City.

Maryland has the 8th Lowest Job Resignation Rate in the U.S., According to Study

By MCS Staff

Published July 21, 2022 at 8:34AM

With Americans quitting their jobs at record rates during the so-called “Great Resignation,” even in the face of rising inflation, WalletHub today released its report on 2022’s States With the Highest Job Resignation Rates. WalletHub ranked the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on how frequently people are leaving their places of employment, and Maryland has the 8th lowest resignation rate in the United States. Below, you can see highlights from the report.

Maryland Job Resignation Stats

Trump-Backed Dan Cox Wins Republican Nomination for Maryland Governor After Defeating Hogan-Backed Kelly Schulz

By MCS Staff

Published July 20, 2022 at 12:22PM | Updated July 20, 2022 at 4:26PM

Delegate Dan Cox, a Republican politician who represents district 4 in the Maryland House of Delegates, defeated former state Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz to win the Republican nomination for Maryland Governor. Cox was endorsed by former President Donald Trump while Schulz was endorsed by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan. With 2043 of 2074 Election Day precincts reporting, Cox has received 132,463 (56.22%) while Shulz has received 94,877 (40.27%). Disbarred Montgomery County attorney Robin Ficker came in third with 5,062 (2.15%) votes. The Associated Press called the election in Cox’s favor at approximately 11pm on Tuesday night.

Cox has stated he has been active in politics since 1980, when he campaigned with his parents for Ronald Reagan. He also worked on the 1996 presidential campaign of Alan Keyes and as an aide to former U.S. Representative Roscoe Bartlett. From 2007 to 2009, he was the President of the Town Commission of Secretary, Maryland, located in Dorchester County. He was the Republican nominee for Dorchester County Circuit Court Clerk in 2006, losing the race to Democratic nominee Michael L. Baker. Co was also the Republican nominee for Maryland’s 8th congressional district in 2016, losing the race to Democratic nominee and state senator Jamie Raskin of Montgomery County.

Maryland Is 2022’s 4th Best State for Teen Drivers, According to Study

By MCS Staff

Published July 19, 2022 at 1:16PM

With teens obtaining driver’s licenses during the summer more than any other season, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2022’s Best & Worst States for Teen Drivers. The state of Maryland has come in ranked as the 4th safest state for teen drivers.

In order to determine the safest and least costly driving environments for U.S. teenagers, WalletHub compared the 50 states based on 23 key metrics. The data set ranges from the number of teen driver fatalities to the average cost of car repairs to the presence of impaired-driving laws.

Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Justice Department Launch Investigation of Maryland Department of State Police To Assess Whether MDSP Has Engaged in Racially Discriminatory Hiring/Promotion Practices

By MCS Staff

Published July 19, 2022 at 7:42AM

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today that the Justice Department has opened a civil pattern or practice investigation into the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP) under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The investigation will assess whether MDSP has engaged in racially discriminatory hiring and promotion practices.

“This office strives to protect the civil rights of all Marylanders, including the rights of our sworn law enforcement officers,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. “This investigation also furthers our mission to restore trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve by ensuring fair employment practices by police departments.”

Five DMV Counties Make ‘15 Richest Counties in the U.S.‘ List by U.S. News & World Report

By MCS Staff

Published July 17, 2022 at 3:58AM

U.S. News & World Report Logo.

U.S. News & World Report released its ‘15 Richest Counties in the U.S.’ list last week and it included five counties located in the DMV area. The list includes just one Maryland jurisdiction, Howard County, and four counties located in Northern Virginia. Montgomery County, which is not included in this list, has come in just outside of the “Top 15” in other lists from recent years, including 18th on Forbes and Fox Business.

The list ranks the 15 richest counties or county equivalents by median household income, according to American Community Survey estimates for 2016-2020. Per the list, “According to the latest five-year estimates, a total of 49 counties had median household incomes that were above $100,000. Of the 15 counties with the highest incomes, five are located in Virginia or Maryland, near the nation’s capital. Four counties are located in California – all in the San Francisco Bay Area – and another four are in New Jersey or New York.”

Governor Hogan Announces New Chief Legal Counsel, More Than 300 Additional Appointments

By Patrick Herron

Published July 13, 2022 at 9:48AM

The governor is also naming Heather Shek, currently Director of the Office of Governmental Affairs for the Maryland Department of Health, to serve as Deputy Legal Counsel. Shek succeeds Stephanie Meighan, who has been appointed to the Board of Contract Appeals.

“Chris Mincher is an exceptionally committed public servant who has been an integral member of our administration for nearly six years,” said Governor Hogan. “We have always had a strong and experienced team in the Office of Legal Counsel, and I know Chris will continue this legacy. Mike Pedone was part of the core team that led us through the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery. I am deeply grateful for Mike’s wise counsel and many contributions, and I wish him and his family the best.”

Governor Hogan Announces $18.8 Million for Chesapeake Bay Restoration Projects

By Patrick Herron

Published July 11, 2022 at 11:47PM

“Our administration’s commitment to environmental stewardship has included making record investments in Chesapeake Bay restoration, and fully funding the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund,” said Governor Hogan. “Each of these projects plays a critical role in improving the quality of the bay and making our ecosystem more resilient.”

Grants are made possible with funding through the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Trust Fund, which targets the most cost-efficient and effective non-point source pollution reduction projects. The projects awarded this funding round will benefit local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay by removing more than 41,083 pounds of nitrogen, 4,332 pounds of phosphorus, and 7,967 tons of suspended solids.

Governor Hogan Announces More Than $127.6 Million For Broadband Grants

By Patrick Herron

Published July 11, 2022 at 11:19AM

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan today announced that, through the state’s Connect Maryland initiative, the Office of Statewide Broadband has awarded more than $127.6 million to local jurisdictions, Internet Service Providers, educational, and community organizations to increase high-speed internet access and affordability. The funding will help provide broadband service to an estimated 15,000 households that are currently unserved or underserved while specific education grants will both expand infrastructure and provide wireless devices and equipment to Maryland’s K-12 students.

The governor made the announcement while kicking off a series of events in Harford County to highlight administration initiatives and accomplishments.