Maryland Archives - Page 370 of 406

Governor Hogan Announces Global Gateway Initiative to Attract More International Businesses at World Economic Forum

Published May 25, 2022 at 9:54AM | Updated May 26, 2022 at 5:16PM

Press release: Today during the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Governor Larry Hogan announced a $2 million investment in the state’s innovative Global Gateway Initiative. Managed by the Maryland Department of Commerce, this first-in-the-nation program helps attract international businesses and ease their transition into the U.S. market by connecting them with local incubators and accelerators.

“As we continue to have one of the strongest recoveries in the world, we want to be as aggressive as possible and kick this initiative into high gear,” said Governor Hogan. “Our state is worth the attention and investment of even more international companies, and now we look forward to making it easier than ever to forge closer ties with partners across the globe.”

Maryland State Trooper Rescues Tow Truck Driver Who Was Trapped Underneath SUV In Silver Spring

By Patrick Herron

Published May 24, 2022 at 12:21PM | Updated May 25, 2022 at 8:46AM

Shortly before 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Trooper Jason Reid, who is assigned to the Rockville Barrack, was on the scene of a motor vehicle crash on the ramp from eastbound I-495 to southbound Colesville Road (US 29) in Silver Spring, Maryland. According to a preliminary investigation, a tow truck operator was on the scene working on removing the vehicles involved in the crash. The tow truck driver, a 51-year-old male, was working on getting a Chevrolet Equinox onto the back of his tow truck.

While the driver was attempting to attach the winch to the underside of the vehicle, the Chevrolet Equinox slipped off the back of the tow truck bed and fell on top of him. Trooper Reid saw what happened, and despite having no previous training on the equipment, he was able to use the tow truck’s controls to lower the tow truck’s bed to the ground and re-position it underneath the front of the Chevrolet Equinox. Trooper Reid then used the rear of the tow truck’s bed to lift the car off of the victim and then pull him away from the vehicle.

Governor Hogan Calls on Comptroller Franchot to Minimize Impact of Scheduled Summer Gas Tax Increase

By Patrick Herron

Published May 23, 2022 at 6:09PM

Under legislation passed by the General Assembly in 2013, the Comptroller announces gas tax increases on or before June 1 of each year that are set to take effect on July 1. The tax increase is calculated by the Comptroller’s Office.

“This tax increase, while hardship-inducing for Marylanders at any time, is simply unconscionable at this moment when gas prices are already at their highest level in recorded history amid a period of prolonged inflation and economic uncertainty,” writes Governor Hogan in a letter to the comptroller. “I know that you agree we should do more to give Marylanders a break from these punishing prices. That is why it is my hope that you will use every legal and regulatory power at your disposal to halt or minimize the impact of the accelerating gas taxes, and that you consider granting an extension for paying the taxes and removing penalties for unpaid tax, including the revocation of business licenses.”

Maryland Is 2022’s 4th Best State for Military Retirees, Per WalletHub Study

By MCS Staff

Published May 23, 2022 at 8:08AM

With May being Military Appreciation Month and the U.S. sending additional troops to NATO countries in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2022’s Best & Worst States for Military Retirees.

Maryland came in fourth, behind our neighbor Virginia who was in first, Florida, and Minnesota. “To help our troops plan their years after service, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 29 key indicators of retirement-friendliness toward veterans. The data set ranges from job opportunities for veterans to housing affordability to quality of VA hospitals.”

Governor Hogan Announces Plan to Deploy $198 Million in Small Business Relief

By Patrick Herron

Published May 19, 2022 at 11:51AM

“Through a number of relief programs, our efforts to keep Maryland ‘open for business’ during the pandemic have protected jobs and empowered one of the strongest and sustainable recoveries in the nation,” said Governor Hogan. “We have one of the most aggressive plans in the country to get these resources out the door utilizing our very successful lending and investment programs to help our small businesses, particularly those in underserved communities primed for revitalization.”

Initially established by Congress in 2010 to provide loans and investments to underserved small businesses, SSBCI received a $10 billion allocation as part of the American Rescue Plan Act. The SSBCI funds will be administered by three state agencies, including the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), the Maryland Department of Commerce, and the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO). The funds from SSBCI will be used to augment existing business lending programs to 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 Signs 140 Additional Bills Into Law, Including Legislation to Cap the Cost of Insulin and Allowing Paramedics to Administer Vaccines

By Patrick Herron

Published May 16, 2022 at 4:10PM

“Today we are signing dozens of impactful measures that directly affect Marylanders’ daily lives, including a historic capital budget that will help build new schools, modernize our parks, and make homeownership more accessible,” said Governor Hogan. “Together, we have put the people’s priorities first, and we have achieved real, common sense bipartisan solutions to change Maryland for the better.”

The governor was joined for today’s signing ceremony—the sixth of 2022—by House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson.

“Late Bloomer” Cicadas May Make An Appearance This Month

By MCS Staff

Published May 16, 2022 at 7:26AM

An expert from Mount Saint Joseph University says that Marylanders may see some “late bloomer” cicadas this month, according to a report by Baltimore’s WMAR.

Periodical cicadas are native to the eastern United States and emerge once every 13 or 17 years – making them a rare sight to see! Maryland is home to three 17-year species. Last year, in 2021, we experienced the The Brood X cicada emergence. Brood X is the largest of all broods, with many billions emerging at the same time.

Governor Hogan Receives Second COVID-19 Vaccine Booster, Encourages Eligible Marylanders to Get Boosted

By Patrick Herron

Published May 13, 2022 at 5:16PM

The booster shots were administered by vaccinators from the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). The governor presented a National Nurses Week proclamation to Karen Doyle, the chief nursing officer for UMMC.

Nearly 11.8 Million COVID-19 Vaccinations Statewide. To date, Maryland has administered nearly 11.8 million COVID-19 vaccines, including more than 2.3 million booster shots. Hundreds of locations across the state continue to offer free COVID-19 vaccinations and booster shots. Find a provider at covidvax.maryland.gov.

Governor Hogan Signs 105 Bipartisan Bills Into Law, Including Statewide Overdose Prevention, Infrastructure Funding For Local Governments, and Solidarity With Ukraine

By Patrick Herron

Published May 12, 2022 at 3:41PM | Updated May 12, 2022 at 6:36PM

“Today, we are signing another 105 bipartisan bills into law, including measures that keep important promises we have made—from tackling the opioid epidemic to restoring hundreds of millions of dollars in critical funding for local infrastructure improvements,” said Governor Hogan. “I want to thank legislative leaders and the members of the General Assembly for working with us on these initiatives to keep changing Maryland for the better.”

The governor was joined for today’s signing ceremony by House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones and Senate President Bill Ferguson.

Governor Hogan Proclaims National Police Week in Maryland

By Patrick Herron

Published May 11, 2022 at 4:06PM

“Serving in law enforcement is one of the most dangerous jobs in our nation and we are thankful for all those who put their lives in harm’s way every day to protect us,” said Governor Hogan. “We will continue to honor the memories of those who have fallen in the line of duty and will continue to champion police officers every single day with record funding and support.”

Since 2015, the Hogan administration has directed more than $618 million in grants to support law enforcement. The funding has helped launch important programs like the Maryland Criminal Intelligence Network, which has disrupted and dismantled more than 1,400 criminal organizations. The administration also supports initiatives with community partners like Boys and Girls Clubs that build relationships between communities and police officers while providing healthy outlets for children and youth.

Foreign National Who Fled and Was Later Extradited from the United Kingdom Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Bank and Wire Fraud in Relation to Theft of Over 2,600 Checks from Religious Institutions

By MCS Staff

Published May 11, 2022 at 6:55AM

Florin Vaduva, age 31, of Dania Beach, Florida pleaded guilty on Monday to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud. As part of his plea agreement, Vaduva will be ordered to pay at least $1,085,151.42 in restitution. Though specific details have not been released regarding the institutions that were defrauded, Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department was among those who announced the guilty plea indicating that at least part of the illegal activity occurred in Montgomery County.

Per the press Maryland District U.S. Attorney’s press release: The guilty plea was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Acting Postal Inspector in Charge Greg L. Torbenson of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service – Washington Division; Acting Special Agent in Charge Selwyn Smith of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Baltimore; Acting Special Agent in Charge Quenton Sallows, of the Mid-Atlantic Region, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG); Chief Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department; Chief Toni Dezomits of the Cary, North Carolina, Police Department; and Sheriff Dusty Rhoades of the Williamson County, Tennessee, Sheriff’s Office.