Maryland Archives - Page 365 of 406

Governor Hogan Announces $10 Million in Grant Awards to Combat Opioid Epidemic, Expand Access to Treatment and Community-Based Recovery Programs

Published July 26, 2022 at 11:07AM

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan and Maryland’s Opioid Operational Command Center (OOCC) today announced $10 million in block and competitive grant awards to help support programs around the state to address the opioid crisis. The grant funding, which will be distributed between July 2022 and June 2023, will be used to support the Hogan-Rutherford administration’s policy priorities of Prevention & Education, Enforcement & Public Safety, and Treatment & Recovery.

“Our administration has made it a top priority to put the resources and support systems in place at every level to expand access to treatment, and combat the heroin and opioid crisis,” said Governor Hogan. “These grants play a critical role in supporting the local and grassroots work taking place in our communities and health care systems to save lives and promote healing.”

Maryland State Police Issue Update on Licensing Portal Due to Unprecedented Number of Conceal Carry Permit Applications

By Patrick Herron

Published July 26, 2022 at 10:03AM

Pursuant to the recent Supreme Court ruling, on July 5, 2022 Governor Larry Hogan directed the Maryland State Police to suspend the ‘good and substantial reason’ standard to wear, carry or transport a regulated firearm on your person. Before you may legally wear and carry a regulated firearm, you must possess, and maintain on your person at all times, the Maryland State Police issued Handgun Wear and Carry Permit. Submission of the application does not authorize you to wear, carry, or transport a handgun. Maryland law does not recognize handgun carry permits issued by any other state. Further, Maryland law does not authorize the State to enter into reciprocity agreements with any other states concerning the recognition of out-of-state handgun carry permits.

Many things have changed regarding documentation requirements to complete the application process. In Maryland, wear and carry permit applicants are still required to meet the training and fingerprinting requirements for approval of their application. The suspension of the “Good and Substantial Reason” requirement does not change any other aspect in the review of applications for the issuance of a Maryland Wear and Carry Permit.

Mobile Sports Betting Moves One Step Closer in MD

By MCS Staff

Published July 25, 2022 at 8:06PM

The Sports Wagering Application Review Commission (SWARC) voted Wednesday to approve a set of draft regulations and application forms for prospective mobile and Class B facility sportsbook operators, according to a BizJournals report. The drafts will head next to the Maryland General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative, Executive and Legislative Review for emergency approval.

Per Gaming Today, “SWARC hopes to have a decision from the state legislative administrative rules committee by the next scheduled SWARC meeting on Aug. 17. That will start the clock on a public comment period (which is typically 30 days), and move the emergency rules toward final approval. That said, a mobile launch by NFL kickoff on Sept. 8 looks unlikely.”

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

By MCS Staff

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.”