Maryland News & Current Events | Public News Service

Global warming is impacted by atmospheric ammonia and nitrogen oxides, both from animal waste and fertilizers. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 4, 2023

NASA grant funds study on impact of farming techniques on greenhouse gases

NASA-funded research using satellites to study atmospheric nitrogen will examine how different farming approaches affect greenhouse gas emissions…

Nationally only 26% of cases are diagnosed at an early stage when survival rates are much higher. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: MD needs to do more for high-risk lung cancer population

The American Lung Association has released its annual State of Lung Cancer report - showing Maryland needs to do more for high-risk patients…

Students in Howard Community College's IT apprentice program are paid around $21 per hour to start. (Adobe Stock)

HCC apprentice program opens doors for students

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News Se…

Federal Trade Commission data for 2023 show Marylanders have been scammed out of $120 million. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

Advocates urge Marylanders to watch out for fraud this holiday season

With the holidays on the horizon, advocates are reminding older Marylanders to watch out for scams during the upcoming season. Federal Trade …

Community members fought to protect a playground after learning about a zoning proposal for a gas station, which would have required its removal. From left: Jeff Cronin, Al Powell and Paul Rowe. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer)

Prince George’s County playground almost torn down to put up a gas station

By Kayla Benjamin for The Washington Informer.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Ne…

A United Health Foundation report found the number of women's health care providers declined by 7% nationally between 2019 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report ranks Maryland 11th in health of women, children

A new report covering women's and children's health shows Maryland is doing well overall, but some concerning trends have emerged. The 2023 Health …

Maryland SNAP participation peaked during the summer of 2021 with more than 860,000 enrolled in the program. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 1 in 9 Marylanders rely on federal programs to avoid food insecurity

A new report looking at hunger in Maryland showed the role federal nutrition programs play in supporting many residents, as well as the state's food …

Baltimore City students can experience hands-on planting at Great Kids Farm. (Adobe Stock)

USDA announces partnership to reform school food procurement

October is National Farm to School Month and the Department of Agriculture has announced a new effort to improve students' access to high-quality food…

Current federal rebates for home heat pump HVAC installation total $8,000. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD must adopt air quality equipment standards to meet climate goals

A new report documenting the impact of fossil fuel-powered appliances on air quality makes the case that Maryland will need to take additional steps t…

In its poll of 1,200 people, the National Wildlife Federation found 82% of respondents said they are open to leaving fall leaves in place to benefit wildlife. (Adobe Stock)

NWF asks Marylanders to 'Leave the Leaves' this fall

As fall weather arrives, the National Wildlife Federation is making the case for Marylanders to take a new approach to leaf management. Fall lawn …

Researchers will examine how the urban heat island and aerosols contribute to heavy precipitation events. (Adobe Stock)

Yearlong study to examine atmospheric conditions over Baltimore

A climate study focusing on the atmosphere above Baltimore is in the works for next year. A team of 23 investigators from 13 research institutions …

Measurements of electrical conductivity indicating elevated salinity is affecting the soil hundreds of meters from visible salt patches. (Rebecca Epanchin-Niell)

Study: Thousands of acres of MD farmland facing saltwater intrusion

Researchers have found the amount of land affected by saltwater intrusion on the Delmarva Peninsula has dramatically increased in recent years…

Vote 16 USA reported 16- and 17-year-olds turned out at higher rates than older voters. (Adobe Stock)

Some Maryland Communities Lowering Voting Age to 16

Today is National Voter Registration Day and in addition to urging you to check your registration advocates are making the case for lowering the votin…

The Environmental Working Group published a peer-reviewed study in 2020 estimating more than 200 million Americans could have PFAS contamination in their drinking water. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Proposed EPA Cuts Would Slow PFAS Cleanup

Environmental advocates said proposed budget cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency will slow cleanup of toxic "forever chemicals," per- and poly…

The Blueprint for Maryland's Future will increase education funding by $3.8 billion per year over the next nine years. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Nearly 50% of Maryland Teachers Working Second Job

As students head back to school, a recent poll of teachers in Maryland found many are facing financial hardships. The poll conducted over the summer …

Households with income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are eligible for the ACP. (Adobe Stock)

Thousands of Maryland Households Qualify for Internet Subsidy

Maryland residents struggling to pay for web access can get help from two connected programs. The Federal Communications Commission's Affordable …

The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program was established in 1977. (Xavier Ascanio/Adobe Stock)

Maryland Adds 1400 Acres of Preserved Farmland

The Maryland Board of Public Works recently approved the preservation of several working farms. The Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation …

Researchers were able to extract more than 100,000 text messages from purchased phones in a University of Maryland study. (Maksym Yemelyanov/Adobe Stock)

MD Researchers: Many Police-Auctioned Cell Phones Contain Personal Data

In a recent study, researchers at the University of Maryland found personal data remained on many used cellphones purchased through a police auction …

Nationally, more than 16 million workers had union representation in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Unionization Votes Don't Always Translate into Contracts

While unionization votes often make headlines, the path to a contract can be a long one. Since the beginning of last year, seven Starbucks locations …

The Latino population in Maryland is the 17th largest in the nation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Widening College Completion Gap Between Latino, White Students in MD

A new report looking at Latino college completion rates across the country shows Maryland is doing better than most. The report from the non-profit …

The Open Access portal concept was originally developed by the Aspen Institute's Food and Society Program. (Adobe Stock)

Open Access Baltimore Brings Free Support to Food Entrepreneurs

A new web resource supporting food entrepreneurship in Baltimore is open for business. Morgan State University has partnered with the City of …

More than 7 million Americans are receiving Supplemental Security Income. (Adobe Stock)

Social Security Administration Raising Awareness of SSI in Maryland

The Social Security Administration wants to make sure Marylanders know about the Supplemental Security Income program. Supplemental Security Income …

Photographic evidence from the 1930s suggests that seagrass like that in this contemporary photo may have covered between 200,000 and 600,000 acres along the Chesapeake Bay shoreline. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Seagrass Restoration Making Progress in Chesapeake Bay

A new report found some vital improvements in the Chesapeake Bay over the last few years. The Chesapeake Bay Program reported 76,000 acres of …

The report anticipates improvements in air quality will result in up to 1000 fewer cases of upper and lower respiratory symptoms. (Adobe Stock)

Report Estimates 16K New Jobs Possible via Climate Pathway

A new report provides a road map for how Maryland can achieve its climate goals, and officials want to hear from the public. Maryland's Climate …

The Annie E. Casey Foundation reported child care workers make less than 98% of all other professions.(Adobe Stock)

Report: Nearly 70K MD Kids May Lose Access to Child Care

Maryland parents may soon have fewer options when it comes to finding child care. At the end of September, federal support for child care will shrink …

In March, Gov. Wes Moore announced Maryland would adopt the Advanced Clean Cars II standard. <br />(Adobe Stock)

$900 Billion in Health Benefits Likely from EV, Green Energy Adoption

With air quality in the news of late, a new report found transitioning to electric vehicles would bring major public health benefits. The American …

The new Kids Count Data Book indicates 54% of 3- and 4-year-olds in Maryland were not enrolled in preschool programs between 2017 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Maryland Ranks 21st for Child Well-being

The new Kids Count Data Book found the child care system still struggling in the wake of the pandemic. The Annie E. Casey Foundation report showed …

The FBI reported 1,700 people over age 60 in Maryland lost more than $63.6 million to scammers in 2022. (Adobe Stock)

PROTECT Week: Focus on Preventing Elder Financial Abuse

This Thursday is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, and AARP Maryland observes its annual PROTECT Week with a focus on elder financial abuse. The FBI …

Maryland maintains an air monitoring network of 24 sites through the state, measuring ground level concentrations of six common pollutants. (Jennifer J. Taylor/Adobe Stock)

Wildfire Smoke Produces Worst MD Air Quality in Decades

As smoke from Canadian wildfires drifts over the state, researchers from the University of Maryland are flying into the smoke plumes to measure …

Meta has until Aug. 1 to respond to the Federal Trade Commission's blanket prohibition on monetizing data from children under 18. (Adobe Stock)

Unions Taking on Meta at Annual Shareholder Meeting

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, held its annual meeting last week amid new scrutiny from the federal government and multiple …

The FTC reports scammers will attempt to manipulate a victim's emotions by creating a sense of urgency, and then stressing that only they can help. (Adobe Stock)

AI-Powered Phone Scams Target Seniors

Phone scammers are now using artificial intelligence to steal money from victims with realistic-sounding facsimiles of loved ones. Scammers take …

Researchers found cities with the highest ParkScore rankings are healthier places to live based on the metrics of physical inactivity and mental health. (Adobe Stock)

ParkScore Rankings Name Washington D.C. Nation’s Best

The nonprofit Trust for Public Land has published its annual ParkScore rankings, and some area cities are high on the list. Washington, D.C.…

The Pentagon is currently considering alternatives to firefighting foam containing PFAS. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Analysis: Pentagon PFAS Cleanup Backlog Growing Faster than Funding

A new analysis from the nonprofit Environmental Working Group said the Department of Defense is not doing enough to clean up contaminated military ins…

Placements in foster care group homes have decreased by 13% nationwide since 2006. (Adobe Stock)

Foster Care Report Shows Fewer in System, But Achievement Gaps Remain

A new report covering foster care trends among older children in the U.S. shows some improvements but critical achievement gaps remain. The …

More than 129,000 Marylanders are employed as retail salespersons or cashiers, and more than 40% of those have incomes below a survival-level budget. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Nearly 900,000 MD Households Economically Insecure

A new report found tens of thousands of Maryland households were made financially insecure by the pandemic. The report puts the number of …

Nationally, more than one in three Americans live in counties that had unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution. (Adobe Stock)

State of the Air Report Shows Mixed Results for Air Quality in Maryland

A new report found a mix of good and bad findings for air quality in Maryland. The American Lung Association recently released its annual State of …

One method of tracking migrating monarch population size is measuring the amount of acreage on which they overwinter in Mexico. (Adobe Stock)

Monarch Week Highlights Butterfly Population Decline

This is Monarch Week, and environmental advocates are calling attention to the plight of the monarch butterfly. Monarchs are considered essential …

A tick must be attached for 36 to 48 hours to transmit the Lyme bacteria. (Adobe Stock)

Increasing Cases of Lyme Disease in Dogs Highlighted During April

April is Prevent Lyme disease in Dogs Month, and animal health experts are getting the word out about tick borne diseases in pets. Over the past two …

Estimates indicate Maryland will lose $69 million of federal funds per month. (Piman Khrutmuang/Adobe Stock)

MD SNAP Benefit Reductions Will Total Nearly $700 Million in 2023

With the end of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotments, hunger advocates are sounding the alarm over food insecurity …

The number of children in the U.S. as a share of its total population has fallen from 35% in 1960 to 22% in 2020. (Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock)

Report: U.S. Child Population On the Decline

A new look at the most recent census data shows the child population in America has declined - and predicts ripple effects for the job market and educ…

The Inflation Reduction Act extended the $7,500-per-vehicle tax credit through 2032. (Adobe Stock)

Could Churches be Prime Locations for EV Charging Stations?

By Amethyst Holmes for Religion News Service.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Net…

A report from Generation Hope about child-care access for student parents finds 78% of student parents surveyed wished their college or university campus supported their child-care needs better. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Eliminating Child-Care Barriers for Student Parents

A new report highlights the need for better access to child care for college level student parents. The report, from Generation Hope, finds 92% of …

A new EPA rule will limit inhalable particles with diameters of 10 micrometers and smaller. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Finalizing New Air Quality Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency is in the process of finalizing a new rule to improve air quality in America. The proposal will lower the amount …

The Williams Institute estimates that 1.3 million U.S. adults identify as transgender. (Adobe Stock)

MD House and Senate Approve Trans Health Equity Act

Both chambers of the Maryland legislature have passed a bill that would require the state's Medicaid program to cover gender affirming care. While …

Estimates indicate 8.6% of children in Maryland will be bereaved by age 18, which is higher than the national average of 7.7%. (Adobe Stock)

Conference in Baltimore to Focus on Childhood Grief

Knowing how to hold space for the grief of children can be complex, but learning how to do it is vital for their well-being. A death in the family …

If enacted, the pilot program would begin on July 1. (Adobe Stock)

MD Legislature Considers Four-Day Workweek Pilot Program

A bill in the Maryland Legislature would create a pilot program to study the impact of a four-day workweek. The pilot program would create a tax …

In addition to helping capture carbon in the soil, no-till farming practices with seasonal cover crops help preserve soil nutrients and prevent erosion. (Margaret Burlingham / Adobe Stock)

U.S. Carbon Farming Takes Root, but Do Economics Add Up?

By Carey L. Biron for Context.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Context/Solutions Journalism Network/…

Maryland's Broadband Expansion Incentive Act has 74 cosponsors, including a dozen House Republicans. (Adobe Stock)

MD Legislature Considers Broadband Expansion

The Maryland Legislature is looking at ways to expand broadband access in the state and advocates are weighing in. Gov. Wes Moore's broadband …

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