Maryland News & Current Events | Public News Service

Montgomery County, Maryland, is home to thousands of multifamily rental units, and many of those units already have air-conditioning. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 23, 2024

Lessons learned from an air conditioning law on rentals in MD

By Ysabelle Kempe for Smart Cities Dive.Broadcast version by Zamone Perez for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-…

Among adults over the age of 65, 20% do not drive, according to one study on the transportation needs of seniors. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, December 20, 2024

Helping seniors through loneliness during the holidays

With Christmas less than a week away, experts are giving advice on how seniors and the community can fight against social isolation. A United Health …

A second Trump term leaves many questions about how he will use available legal levers to subpoena reporters and their sources. (Gage Skidmore/ Wikimedia Commons)

Bill in Congress could protect journalists, sources

In the last days of President Joe Biden's term, senators are tackling some of their highest priorities, like confirming judges. But that may also …

Graduation rates in behavioral health fields at Maryland's colleges and universities have experienced declines from pre-pandemic levels, according to a report from the Maryland Health Care Commission. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD must address behavioral health specialist shortages

Maryland is facing a significant shortage of behavioral health professionals and a new report from the Maryland Health Care Commission offered some su…

Only four Black women have been elected to the U.S. Senate, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Maryland Senator-elect Angela Alsobrooks, Connecticut Senator-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester and former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley Braun. (Maryland GovPics/ Wikimedia Commons)

Maryland in top 10 for number of women state legislators

More than 2,400 women will serve in state legislatures across the U.S. in 2025. That's a new record, according to the Center for American Women and …

A bill to allow interim legislative appointments passed in the Maryland Senate last session, but died in a House of Delegates subcommittee on elections. (Adobe Stock)

New law seeks to change how state legislative vacancies are filled

Lawmakers in Annapolis plan to introduce a bill to require a special election if a lawmaker is appointed to a seat in the first half of their term…

Invertebrates include a variety of pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and moths. (Phillip Nalangan/ Wikimedia Commons)

MD expands wildlife protections to new species

Environmental advocates in Maryland are celebrating legislation that expands the definitions of wildlife in the state. The law also requires the …

Volunteers for the National Audubon Society's annual Christmas Bird Count are always needed, organizers said. (Adobe Stock)

MD birders prepare for count across the state

Christmas, it turns out, is for the birds, at least for those that will be counted this year in the National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count…

A poll from the Alliance for American Manufacturing poll found more than 80% of Americans would buy more American-made products if larger retailers sold them. (Adobe Stock)

The challenges and joys of printing holiday cards in MD

Americans purchase around 6.5 billion greeting cards each year, with around 20% of them bought for the holiday season. Sarah Hitchcock Burzio…

In a report on the lobbying transparency laws of each state, Colorado was the only state to receive an 'A' grade. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Maryland fossil fuel lobbyists fail to disclose activities

A new report says fossil-fuel lobbyists in two states with strong transparency and disclosure laws are not making full disclosures - including in Mary…

Parental separation, drug abuse in the home and physical abuse were some of the most common Adverse Childhood Experiences cited by people imprisoned as children. (Adobe Stock)

MD ranks among worst states for long-term incarceration

Maryland has one of the highest percentages in the nation of people in prison who began serving time when they were juveniles. A new report from …

President-elect Donald Trump's promise to slash the federal workforce is prompting concerns in Maryland, home to one of the highest concentrations of federal employees in the country. (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons)

Maryland's federal workers prepare to defend their jobs

It's no secret President-elect Donald Trump wants to fire thousands of federal workers. But in a state like Maryland - home to the fourth-highest …

A monarch butterfly can travel between 50 to 100 miles a day during its migration. (Derek Ramsey/Wikimedia Commons)

Are monarchs 'threatened enough?' Government soon decides

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to decide soon whether to list the monarch butterfly as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act…

The UMB program is self-paced and includes a two-day in-person simulation training. (Adobe Stock / AI)

Maryland trains more health workers to offer abortion care

By Sarah Varney for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Servi…

New research says enrollment at U.S. colleges and universities is down 10% over the past 10 years. (Adobe Stock)

Report: It’s getting easier to get into college

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Zamone Perez for Maryland News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News S…

The smoking rate among adults in Maryland is 9.6%, much lower than the national average of 12.9%. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Screenings for lung cancer a must

A new report on lung cancer by the American Lung Association showed Maryland has quite a bit of room to improve diagnoses and treatment but experts sa…

The Employment Navigation and Partnership Program first launched in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

How troops struggle, excel in civilian employment

By Victoria Lim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Zamone Perez for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Ser…

A report from the Maryland Public Interest Research Group anticipates future emissions reductions will come from the transportation and industrial sectors. (Adobe Stock / AI-generated)

Report: MD leads nation in greenhouse gas reduction

New research finds Maryland leading the nation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental Protection Agency data show between 2005 and 2022…

Older kids have fewer options to find adoptive families

This coming Saturday is National Adoption Day, but kids who are older or have special needs face more difficulty in finding adoptive parents…

President-elect Donald Trump over performed in a number of traditionally Democratic cities and states, including Maryland. (Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons)

Trump’s performance in Maryland keeps other races tight

Maryland voters swung toward Donald Trump for president by nearly seven points compared to 2020, making the margins in down-ballot races a little too …

School districts in 29 states banned books during the 2023-2024 school year, according to the latest PEN America report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Maryland ties for ninth in book bans

Book bans are on the rise in Maryland, according to a new report from PEN America. The nonprofit that tracks issues of free expression says …

Maryland results canvassed before the election will be released after all polls are closed on Election Day. (Adobe Stock/AI)<br />

Experts: Election results may not be known for days

With concerns about election integrity in the air, experts are reminding Marylanders determining the outcome may take a while. Maryland will utilize …

The University of Maryland-Baltimore's Genetics of Latin American Diversity Database (GLADdb) includes genome-wide information from almost 54,000 Latin Americans representing 46 geographical regions. (AI-generated/Adobe Stock)

MD scientists create Latino genetic database for medical research

Genetic studies overwhelmingly are based on data from people of European descent. But University of Maryland, Baltimore scientists are working to …

Air-source heat pumps use two to three times less energy than electric resistance heating. (Adobe Stock/AI)<br />

MD adopting building energy use standards to meet climate goals

With President Joe Biden in Baltimore today to talk about infrastructure and the climate crisis, the state is in the process of finalizing a new set …

As of 2022 there were more than 800,000 Marylanders enrolled in Medicare. (Jim Vallee / Adobe Stock)

Marylanders encouraged to weigh options during open enrollment season

With open enrollment season getting underway, advocates are reminding Marylanders to consider their options before the window closes. Medicare's …

Maryland criminalized cyberbullying in 2013 and strengthened its law in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Relational bullying highlighted during Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and a recent study showed teens bullied in high school tend to become pessimistic about life prospects…

Air pollution from livestock farms and feed production is estimated to cause 16,000 deaths per year. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Global veganism offers sustainable, nutritious alternative

As worldwide demand for meat and dairy continues to grow, so does evidence showing animal agriculture, as currently practiced, is harming the …

There were more than 70 substantial pesticide producers in the United States in the 1960s. (Adobe Stock / AI)

Report: Agribusiness monopolies harming farmers, consumers

A new report looking at agribusiness consolidation found decades of mergers have reduced competition, leading to higher costs for farmers and …

The menhaden catch limit in the Chesapeake Bay was set in 2006 and lowered to its current limit in 2017. (Bill Perry / Adobe Stock)

Group addressing menhaden decline in the upper Chesapeake Bay

Forage fish, a critical food source for other species, are in decline up and down the Eastern Seaboard but menhaden decline in Maryland waters has …

The federal minimum wage was raised to its current rate of $7.25 per hour in 2009. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Increasing minimum wage does not reduce jobs

A new report shows minimum wage increases have had little effect on the number of jobs in Maryland and nationwide. While the rhetoric around …

According to NOAA data, since 1980, the U.S. has sustained 376 weather and climate disasters with a cumulative cost of $2.6 trillion. (Adobe Stock / AI)

Van Hollen introduces federal 'climate superfund' legislation

New federal legislation would make polluters pay for the costs of climate change mitigation. On Thursday, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., introduced …

A 2018 study estimated 33% of Baltimore City is a food desert. (Adobe Stock)

Baltimore food deserts highlighted during Hunger Action Month

September is Hunger Action Month and advocates in Baltimore City are calling attention to expanding food deserts. Over the summer the Giant Foods …

The recommended ratio of school counselors to students is 250 to 1. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Mental health in focus as MD kids head back to school

As kids head back to school, advocates are calling for expanded access to school-based mental health services in Maryland and nationwide. The …

Among all voters in Maryland, 79% rate their motivation to vote as 10 out of 10. (Fahad Ayub/Adobe Stock)

Poll: Hogan, Alsobrooks tied at 46% in Senate race

A new poll found the Maryland's U.S. Senate race is a dead heat and Marylanders 50 and older are highly motivated to vote. The bipartisan poll …

The Baltimore Tree Trust has planted nearly 17,000 trees around the city since 2008. (Andrew Kazmierski / Adobe Stock)

Community works to combat Baltimore heat island

With Baltimore City seeing record heat this summer, local groups are working to combat the effect of the city's urban heat island. Where …

The youth arrest rate peaked in 1996 at more than 8,000 per 100,000 young people. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Juvenile crime has been falling for decades, but disparities remain

A new report shows the rate of juvenile crime has been falling for years but disparities remain in Maryland and nationwide. The Sentencing Project …

There are more than 800,000 students enrolled in Maryland's 24 local school systems. (Adobe Stock)

Experts remind MD parents to schedule checkups for back to school

As summer winds down, experts are reminding parents about an often-overlooked aspect of back-to-school readiness: an annual health checkup for …

Six states received more than $1 billion each in tax revenue from undocumented immigrants. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Undocumented immigrants paying nearly $100 billion in taxes annually

A new report found undocumented immigrants are paying substantial taxes in Maryland and nationwide. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy …

The Empowering the Age group in Gaithersburg funded a program to provide older adults with individualized technology supported by high school students, teaching the adults skills to help them communicate online with family members and medical providers. (Adobe Stock)

Community Challenge grants help nonprofits benefit MD seniors

A relatively small amount of money can go a long way toward helping seniors in Maryland and across the country live better lives. AARP's Community …

In Maryland, more than 48% of tipped workers make less than $17 an hour. (wavebreak3/Adobe Stock)

New report measures benefits of MD’s 2024 minimum wage increase

Many Maryland workers are benefiting from the minimum wage increase that went into effect at the beginning of this year. But a new report from Oxfam …

Maryland has more than 750,000 renter households, representing 33% of all households in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD 'housing wage' 9th highest in U.S.

With rising housing costs an ongoing issue, a new report shows how fast rents have increased in Maryland and nationwide. The National Low Income …

The Port of Baltimore Federal Channel was fully reopened when restored to its original operational dimensions of 700 feet wide by 50 feet deep on June 10. (Adobe Stock)

Senate committee hears testimony on Key Bridge response

Last week, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee heard testimony on the state and federal response to the collapse of the Key Bridge…

The Poor People's Campaign said if poor and low-income people voted at the same rate as those in higher income brackets, they would have the power to sway elections in every state. (AI/Adobe Stock)

Poor People's Campaign rallies in D.C. ahead of election

With chants of "We are the swing vote," poor and low-wage workers gathered in Washington, D.C., recently to rally and strategize ahead of the …

A 2022 survey found that half of all adults in the United States said someone in their family had experienced a severe mental health crisis. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Report: MD needs to increase support for 988 mental health crisis system

A new report looking at the rollout of the 988 suicide and crisis hotline finds a wide variance between states, with Maryland among those taking …

Maryland schools served more than 34 million breakfasts during the 2022-2023 school year. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD schools serving thousands fewer meals post-COVID

The latest Maryland School Breakfast Report finds tens of thousands fewer kids are being served post COVID. The end of pandemic era waivers two …

On most farms, pregnant sows are confined to a small

Report: Restaurants allow abuse, disease risk at MD animal farms

Many food producers have made progress since 2008 toward ending the use of gestation crates for pregnant pigs, according to a new report from animal-…

The number of Maryland seniors reporting insufficient sleep increased to 29%, according to the American's Health Rankings Senior Report from the United Health Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD senior health ranks 10th in nation; challenges remain

A new report found Maryland's older residents face worsening physical and behavioral health and looks at the possible reasons. The America's Health …

The initial phase of the Maryland Tutoring Corps Grant Program will reach 80,000 students in the state. (Adobe Stock/AntonioDiaz)

Report: Maryland ranks 22nd nationally in overall child well-being

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has published its annual Kids Count Data Book and the report showed the toll the pandemic took on educational progress…

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