The Daily Dose: Maryland Confronts COVID-19

Adnan Syed is now a free man. The Maryland Department of Health is changing course on a multimillion dollar request. The Baltimore County Board of Elections is also doing a U-turn on early mail-in ballot counting. Immigrants and refugees in Baltimore will get some crucial help under a new initiative funded with ARPA funds and residents who live near  the blighted Security Square Mall will get a say in the 10-million dollar makeover plans.

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Maryland’s highest court has ruled that state election officials can begin counting mail-in ballots early.  President Biden was in our state today where he made a stop at a Hagerstown auto plant. A recently released report finds victims of violent crime in Baltimore need better support services. Drug affordability, especially for the city’s seniors was the topic of a community forum with Mayor Scott and other lawmakers today.

We’ll have those stories and more from our news team, coming up in headlines. Plus… in the race for Baltimore County’s top job, the candidates show just how opposite their approach to governing will be! and we’ll take you to aninclusive arts exhibit for those with often unrecognized special gifts opening in Hampden.

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Baltimore’s violence prevention programs will be getting some new funding. Maryland health officials say they are getting a handle on monkeypox. The state’s  Republican and Democratic candidates for governor share vastly different views at a Marylanders With Disabilities forum. Governor Larry Hogan has been asked to testify in the trial of his former chief of staff. Baltimore has a new map for its police districts and October brings dozens of free arts events to Baltimore. 

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Some of the most important laws that went into effect Saturday aim to improve the health of Marylanders. Transportation for some kids to get to school will be improved this fall. Is Covid over? Dr. Leana Wen weighs in on President Biden’s declaration of victory over the pandemic. Ballots are on their way to Marylanders who prefer to vote by mail and new public TV documentaries present surprising portraits of two Maryland heroes. 

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Maryland’s highest court will hear Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox’s appeal to block early vote counting. The Baltimore City Council received some preliminary answers about the recent E. Coli contamination. The City is making it easier to pay your water bill. The proposed Hopkins police force continues to attract controversy and Maryland lawmakers grill local elections officials about a shortage of polling places.

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Maryland is planning for an increased demand for abortion, as other states in the region make the procedure difficult or impossible to get. Baltimore County and its teachers finally have a deal for raises. Dan Cox and Wes Moore will debate October 12th, but some gubernatorial candidates will be missing. A Johns Hopkins professor wins a quarter million dollars for a simple idea that caught on big. Morgan State University may be losing track of some of its money, according to a new report. The city’s juvenile justice center is facing some tough challenges and Maryland is running out of area codes so some counties will be getting a new one. 

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Baltimore City Schools staff came to work on Sunday, trying to find students who aren’t showing up to class. The EPA is making more than $140 million available to help solve the city’s water woes. A meeting scheduled for this week on the new Johns Hopkins police force has been canceled. Morgan State is taking the lead in helping prepare traditionally under-represented students to study the environment. And with so many jobs to fill, one nonprofit is encouraging businesses to think outside the box.

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A judge has ruled that Maryland officialscan start counting mail-in ballots ahead of election day. A Baltimore county employee has been busted for using  the county’s computer system to run a private business. A town hall meeting to discuss a private police force for Johns Hopkins University  was brought to an abrupt end by protestors last night. I’ll have more headlines plus, the Republican running for Baltimore County Executive is promising a revolutionary change in government if he’s elected. 

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A medical panel at the U.S Department of Health is recommending that everyone under age 65 get screened for anxiety. Our health reporter talked with the Director of  the Mental Health Association of Maryland about how  this pandemic has affected us all, and what help there is for Marylanders. The sanitation issues of the city’s homeless encampments got a public hearing today. Most Marylanders condone recreational marijuana use according to a Goucher Poll with WYPR and the Baltimore Banner. We’ll have more results from the poll, plus tomorrow is the 29th annual “Dining Out for Life,” I’ll have a conversation with their director about this year’s goal for supporting Maryland’s chronically ill and food insecure.

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A judge orders convicted murderer Adnan Syed to be freed. A new poll conducted by Goucher College in partnership with WYPR and The Baltimore Banner shows democrats would sweep the midterm election if held today. There’s some optimism about the economy too. We’ll have those stories and some headlines coming up and talking about sexuality to children as young as 3½? An educator of human sexuality for half a century says, yes, we can!

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The city’s Department of Public Works was raked over the coals at a hearing last night on its handling of the E.Coli water crisis. Today Mayor Brandon Scott  addressed the fallout on WYPR’s Midday.  A  trial delay for Baltimore’s outgoing top prosecutor. A hearing Monday could mean freedom for convicted murderer Adnan Syed. The union representing thousands of University System of Maryland employees brought their grievances to College Park today.  Baltimore’s health department lays out a comprehensive plan to fight Monkeypox and the dissension continues over how to give Baltimore County teachers a promised pay raise.

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Marilyn Mosby’s trial has been delayed just a day before jury selection was to begin. The murder conviction of the man at the heart of the podcast, “Serial” could be vacated. An extra two-billion dollars? That’s how much more unexpected revenue Maryland ended the fiscal year with!  Our new health reporter says Baltimore is stepping up its response to Monkeypox with its vaccine availability. A community meeting of stakeholders and squeegee workers met to come up with solutions and we’ll hear from two Johns Hopkins professors who say their home was appraised hundreds of thousandsbelowmarket value because they are Black. 

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Mayor Scott is trying to get the message out that the water in west Baltimore is safe to drink again. Maryland’s Governor is joining other Republicans in calling on President Biden to rescind his student loan forgiveness plan. When it comes to colleges in the state there are some stand outs according to a Forbes list. Seniors living on a college campus? That’s what Goucher College is planning and a new initiative aimed at building relationships between incarcerated parents in Baltimore and their kids is starting to take shape. 

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Residents in West Baltimore and parts of Baltimore County have been given the green light to consume their tap water again. Construction has begun on a multi-million dollar complex in the city  that aims to entice emergency responders to live where they work. A gun scare and a death  in city and county schools have left students grief stricken at one…and on edge at another. Johns Hopkins health system warns they may stop accepting plans from one of the nation’s biggest insurers and what’s the human and dollar cost of Baltimore’s vacant housing? A new report has some data.

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E.Coli bacteria contamination has left West Baltimore residents boiling tap water since Monday, but we have an update from DPW. The Mervo High School community is coming together with mental and emotional support for those affected by last week’s traffic and fatal student shooting. Baltimore county council members have voted themselves a pay boost, the first one since 2014. Thousands of roadways in the county will get a 3-D review to see where repairs are needed. I’ll have those headlines and more, plus Dr. Lena Wen talks about the threat to public health officials and the COVID booster to fight omicron.

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The first week of school ended today with a deadly shooting outside of a Baltimore City high school this afternoon. A deadly shooting at an apartment complex near Morgan State University has left students and area residents shaken. New COVID booster shots will be available for Maryland residents as early as next week, now that the FDA and CDC have approved them. A program that gave thousands of needy Maryland students a free lunch during the pandemic has ended. A dire report from the National Center for Education Statistics shows how the pandemic eviscerated math and reading scores and we’ll hear from a labor reporter about how millennial workers are a driving force for unionization.

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A greenlight from the FDA today on two new COVID boosters to ward off the highly contagious omicron variant. The U.S. has its first death believedto be the result of Monkeypox. Baltimore Countyhealth officials are reaching out to residents considered high risk for contracting the virus. County Council members are eyeing a raise for themselves as well as the county executive who’s raked in the dough, according to the latest campaign finance reports. I’ll get a breakdown from our state government reporter on how much is in the coffers of Maryland’s gubernatorial candidates and our education reporter has a conversation with a Johns Hopkins medical director about how the weight of the past two-and-a-half years will impact learning this school year, and beyond.

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It was back to school for thousands of students across Maryland today. I’ll have a quick recap of the kickoff in the city and counties. Workers at a grocery chain in Baltimore have voted to unionize for better pay and job security and when it comes to American politics from national, down to our local elections, it seems we are more divided than at any other time in recent history. We’ll share an excerpt from a Johns Hopkins political science professor who’s co-authored a new book that speaks to the violence and danger of what she calls, “Radical American Partisanship.”

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore says he welcomes a debate with his republican opponent ahead of November’s midterm election. President Joe Biden paid a visit to Maryland last night to rally Democrats. As schools open across Maryland Monday, the Baltimore County teachers union has put off a contract vote to boost salaries. At a City council hearing last night, public school leaders and local agency officials gathered to come up with solutions for tackling violent crime and we’ll have a report on what city officials plan to do about the rising number of carjackings.

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A brazen afternoon shooting at a Baltimore intersection ends in one fatality and several injuries. Local city, state and federal officials gathered in Maryland today to promote new efforts to tackle violent crime. The city council has approved spending one-million dollars on new cell phone tracking technology. Time is running out for Marylanders to take advantage of the Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit Program. I’ll have those stories in headlines, plus Baltimore County is scrambling to fill teacher vacancies before school starts next week and a giant indoor salmon farm on the Eastern Shore is raising the eyebrows of some environmentalists.

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Maryland’s covid positivity rate lingers in the double digits, just below 12-percent. Dr. Fauci says he’s calling it quits at the end of this year. The FDA has greenlit the expansion of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine to kids as young as 12. Hundreds of thousands of kids across the country fell behind on routine vaccinations since the start of the pandemic and as schools across the state welcome back students next week, we’ll hear from a local pediatrician who breaks down the myths vs. the wisdom of keeping kids current on routine vaccines.

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There’s new movement in a legal case calling for more funding for Baltimore City schools. Anne Arundel county school officials are telling parents there are still hurdles in efforts to hire more bus drivers. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is trying to rid parts of the Eastern shore of gang activity and drug trafficking and Baltimore County officials are trying harder to give away free bus rides on the Towson Loop.

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COVID19 cases continue to stack up in Maryland. As the new school year approaches, Baltimore City public schools have a new COVID policy for those students planning to play sports. When Baltimore County students make their way back to class, the county’s head nurse says many pandemic protocols will no longer be in place.The Baltimore City Council has approved a bill aimed at stopping street and stunt racing. And a newly formed coalition takes up the homelessness issue in Baltimore by setting up camp.

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The NAACP and the ACLU say the state board of education continues to fail Baltimore City students. Howard County police begin wearing body cameras this week. According to a ProPublica investigation, the Baltimore County police department is behind on processing thousands of rape cases DNA evidence and the CDC has new relaxed covid guidelines as thousands of students prepare to return to Maryland schools this month.

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Baltimore County’s top watchdog is getting more support amid scrutiny from the county council. We’ll take a deep dive into the job of the county’s inspector general’s office. As students return to school in the coming weeks there might not be enough teachers in the classroom so schools are looking to recruit thousands of substitutes. Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby faces a $1,500 fine after a judge ruled she violated a gag order and a new look is on the way for downtown Essex.

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Surges of COVID19 continue across the US and the BA.5 variant remains the driving factor. Maryland universities examine what their COVID protocols will or won’t be in the fall. Anne Arundel County has a new Superintendent of Public Schools and he’s tackling the mammoth task of filling vacancies and a federal court has ruled in a discrimination case against Baltimore’s Catholic Relief Services.

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The family of Anton Black has reached a five million dollar settlement in his police custody death lawsuit that continues. A child playing with a loaded gun led to the tragic death of a 15-year old in Baltimore. City School officials plan to spend 25-million dollars on a tutoring program to help offset summer and remote learning loss. Maryland’s COVID positivity rate still hovers over 12-percent and a report from Annie E. Casey Foundation takes a deep national dive into the mental health of young people.

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More than 14-million dollars in ARPA funds will go toward an initiative to help clean up Baltimore neighborhoods.  Baltimore County school officials are hoping a new app will help ease the chaos created by the continuing school bus driver shortage. Parents have been notified that the free meal program in Baltimore County Public Schools is ending. A summer youth initiative is giving some inner-city students a taste of the aviation field and a plan by the The U.S. Naval Academy for a golf course across the Severn River is drawing criticism from some environmentalists.

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Maryland health officials say they will press for more monkeypox vaccines, but for now will keep the limited supply for those most in need. The state’s COVID-19 positivity rate is now above 12-percent. Baltimore’s Mayor outlined his violence prevention plan for residents who participated in National Night Out. An indictment on a first degree murder charge means a 15-year old squeegee worker’s case will remain in adult court, for now. I’ll have those headlines and more,plus a look at the economic and social cost of those incarcerated in Maryland’s state prison. 

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State health officials say the new COVID-19 vaccine is here. Two more primary races in Maryland are now settled.  Baltimore’s mayor says he’s ashamed, following another violent crime weekend in the city and we’ll hear from Baltimore’s new deputy mayor for public safety on how he’ll work with the city’s leaders to restore Baltimore to a place he’s always loved. 

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We’re far from the November general election, but Baltimore City already has a new top prosecutor. Baltimore County’s incumbent State’s Attorney appears to have fended off his Democratic primary challenger. The race for Anne Arundel’s county executive in the Republican primary still hasn’t been called as elections officials were still counting ballots. Police in Middle River tried to calm nerves at a community meeting last night over a shooting involving a major drug dealer. Baltimore’s Health Commissioner defends the city’s Monkeypox vaccine supply and a new regional hotline aims to help those experiencing a mental health crisis. 

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State health officials say Maryland’s COVID positivity rate remains dismal. Baltimore’s Health Commissioner defends the city’s handling of the Monkeypox vaccine. The City Council held a hearing today on what to do about the number of squeegee workers at busy intersections. Two races still undecided in Baltimore County’s democratic primary. We’ll have those headlines and more, plus climate change and environmental equity in Black and brown communities.

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Baltimore has a new democratic nominee for City State’s attorney who also promised to crack down on violent crime. Violence over the weekend pushed Baltimore to another grim milestone in its homicide rate. Two settled, one to go in Baltimore County’s three democratic primary races. Wes Moore, Maryland’s democratic nominee for Governor says voters have a choice between “unity” and “division.” Governor Larry Hogan says Trump backed nominee Dan Cox does not stand a chance in the general election and Maryland’s COVID positivity rate continues to climb amidst the looming BA.5 variant and concerns about the spread of Monkeypox. I have a conversation with an epidemiologist who breaks down the latest.

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Well the sun has set on night three after Maryland’s primary and many races are still up in the air but several news outlets are projecting non-profit exec and Rhodes Scholar, Wes Moore as the winner of the Democratic contest, but that’s not official. Elections boards across Maryland are busily counting hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots received, so it'll be a few more days, at least before final outcomes are known. Maryland’s GOP establishment is left wondering what to make of  Dan Cox’s near certain primary victory. If you didn’t notice, there’s a heat wave gripping Maryland and much of the country.  Some city parents are already turning their attention to the upcoming school year and the headaches they’ll face with new start times and we’ll get a check in with Dr. Leana Wen on Monkey Pox and the BA.5 COVID variant.

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Well folks, it’s the day after the primary, but despite a low voter turnout there were some big surprises… and some cliffhangers even in big races that may not be decided for another week or so. In this special election edition…we’ll have a roundup from our reporters of what happened and what’s next.

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Primary day in Maryland is upon us!  But between redistricting, the delayed elections, and a late counting of mail-in ballots, elections officials warn we may not know the winners in tomorrow’s key races for a while.  Baltimore’s incumbent State’s Attorney says she is the right person for reducing the city’s violent homicide rate…despite facing a federal trial on perjury charges.  Maryland’s COVID positivity rate is continuing with grim numbers.  A 15-year old city squeegee worker has been denied bail. And we’ll get out on the Chesapeake Bay where our oyster population is making a comeback.

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The DOJ has opened an investigation into the Maryland State Police over allegations of racial discrimination in its hiring and promotion policies. An arrest made this week in a homicide involving a motorist and a squeegee worker in Baltimore…The attorney for the 15 year old says it was in self-defense.  The widows of two Baltimore firefighters gave emotional testimony at a  city council public hearing on what to do with the city’s abandoned dwellings. An audit of Maryland’s Social Services agency finds kids in foster care are not getting all the care they need.  We’ll have all those stories plus…Midges! What they do and why they are hurting some eastern Baltimore County businesses. 

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In Maryland, the number of COVID hospitalizations are down, but only slightly, and the CDC warns of a new fast spreading variant. A city council meeting this week brought heated discussion about Baltimore’s squeegee workers and a recent homicide and Mayor Brandon Scott says while violence and harassment can not be tolerated, there can’t be a one-step solution to clear the city of panhandlers.

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Maryland’s COVID positivity rate remains above nine-percent. Testing for monkeypox began today at Mayo Clinic laboratories. Early voting underway in Maryland is so far…underwhelming. And, what are called the “lungs” of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay get a close examination by Smithsonian researchers.

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City officials speak out on yesterday’s shooting in downtown Baltimore that left one man dead. COVID 19 cases are still on an uptick. The latest on Baltimore County School’s chief auditor and will a soccer stadium be in Baltimore’s future? 

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Maryland’s COVID positivity rate is back on a high, a dismal look for where Baltimore’s homicide number is heading..Baltimore’s school chief is being celebrated while at the same time her office faces a lawsuit. In Baltimore County, the school’s chief auditor has a lawsuit of her own. What inspired a 17 yr old in Howard County to run in an election and we’ll tell you about a summer program designed to teach area youth life and work skills.

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Baltimore Raven’s linebacker Jaylen Ferguson’s death was the result of illicit drugs according to the state’s medical examiner. Maryland public schools must stop using restraints and seclusion to manage students’ unwanted behavior.  One Maryland gubernatorial candidate gets a surprise endorsement from a local leader. According to a WYPR election poll with Goucher College and The Baltimore Banner, republicans and democrats are concerned about election integrity, but their reasons differ. And our education reporter tells us what some Maryland colleges hope to gain by getting rid of the SAT and ACT tests.

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Early voting begins next week in Maryland. With less than three weeks to go before our primary election, the races to be the Republican and Democratic nominees for governor are tight according to a new poll by WYPR and The Baltimore Banner. Education and democracy are also on the minds of voters.  Maryland is in dire need of election judges and is offering incentives to state employees who sign up. And Baltimore police have made an arrest of a suspect in a traffic stop that has left an officer in critical condition.

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If gas prices are not already high enough, Marylanders are about to pay more as the state’s gas tax takes effect this week. The state’s COVID positivity rate remains below eight percent. More state lawmakers react to the Supreme Court’s decision to kill Roe. V. Wade. And we’ll catch you up on the latest news source in town collaborating… with us.

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The Supreme Court has struck down the landmark Roe V. Wade decision which legalized abortion across the U.S. five decades ago. Today’s decision is sending shock waves across the country for women’s right’s advocates and praise from anti-abortion groups.  In this special edition of today’s podcast we have coverage from our news team and reaction from local leaders across the state. ..and we’ll still update you on where we are on the state’s Covid positivity rate and the other big news this week….on vaccines for children five years old and younger!

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An uptick in hospitalizations, we’ll have Maryland’s latest COVID numbers. Gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore picks up more endorsements. The Baltimore Ravens are mourning the death of two of its own. It will cost a bit more to ride the MTA.  And a Baltimore County 4th grader campaigns against unidentifiable school lunches. 

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The union representing workers at a state psychiatric facility say security issues and understaffing continues to put the lives of employees and patients in danger. More than one-thousand Baltimore County residents facing eviction will get to stay in their homes. A contract vote by the county school board ends a three decade career of the school system’s chief auditor. And we’ll hear about a new work by a local professor of composition and music theory that will premiere in Baltimore just in time for Juneteenth.

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A show of support for the Baltimore County School Superintendent currently under fire. Baltimore’s City Council introduces resolutions to deal with the city’s vacant property problem. The expert we’ve all come to know and turn to for guidance these last 2 years on COVID19 has now tested positive himself. And Baltimore City’s new director of LGBTQ Affairs says inclusion and accountability are among their top priorities.

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The Baltimore County School Board votes to terminate the public schools’ chief auditor. The board is also meeting in a special closed session Monday as the county superintendent comes under increasing fire. Gov. Larry Hogan announces millions of funds to make it easier to reach the beach at Ocean City. And a local arts and music festival, put on hold during COVID-19, is set to return. 

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Hospitalizations are down with COVID19 in Maryland - We’ll have the latest numbers. State health officials say they’re ready for vaccines for children 6 and under as soon as the green light is given by the FDA and CDC and in Baltimore County it’s the return of the summer meals program for those 18 and under. 

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The Baltimore County Council is going after the superintendent of county schools.  Members say they are fed up with chronically late school buses and other issues over the past two years and now they want him out. And we’ll hear from a software developer who’s using technology to address the mental health needs of young students in K-thru-12.

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The state’s COVID-19 positivity rate still hovers above eight percent, with more than 2,000 new cases added. Gas prices in the state have hit a new record high according to Triple-A. Baltimore Pride is returning to the city this year. We’ll have those stories for you in headlines. Plus, we’ll have a report about how the pandemic has created a work life riddled with underfunding, staff shortages, fear and intimidation for Maryland’s county health officers.

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Maryland’s COVID positivity rate goes up slightly. After a delayed start, a Baltimore County commission created to examine the Inspector General’s office will convene next week. If not new legislation, can anything be done about gun violence and mass shootings in the U.S.? We’ll hear from the co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions

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Baltimore City has announced a lawsuit against the country’s largest manufacturer of ghost guns. Candidate for Attorney General Anthony Brown scores an endorsement from big labor. Brooke Lierman and Tim Adams lay out their job descriptions for Maryland Comptroller. Baltimore County school officials get raked over the coals again, for chronically late school buses. And as the Biden administration reportedly weighs wiping out some student loan debt for millions of Amercians, two physicians say it should be through a lens of racial justice.

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Baltimore’s COVID-19 transmission rate is now “high” under CDC standards.  Baltimore County’s police department and school system get a verbal thrashing from the county council after passing a more than $4 billion dollar budget. A billion dollar program to increase the number and mentor Black scientists is named in honor of UMBC’s beloved outgoing president, Freeman Hrabowski. And city residents speak out against giving more money to BPD and development projects.

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As the state’s COVID positivity rate hovers above eight percent, there's concern about the rate of cases in Baltimore County Schools…and there’s still no plans of a new mask mandate. The shifting demographics of the county along with redrawn council districts has made the race for council seats a diverse contest. Maryland’s gubernatorial candidates shared their platforms on dealing with homelessness and mental illness at a forum in Silver Spring. 

And how do we help one another, especially our children, with the trauma of yet another deadly mass school shooting? A local psychologist offers some answers.

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Maryland’s COVID-19 positivity rate continues to rise, topping eight percent. With more than a month to go until Maryland’s primary election, candidates are racking up the endorsements. But in such a crowded field how much sway does it hold with voters?  And it’s National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. A doctor shares some simple steps to manage spring allergies and asthma. 

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The Baltimore County schools superintendent gets an earful from council members about the havoc being created by the continued school bus driver shortage. COVID-19 rates continue to go up. And we’ll hear from a pediatrician on what parents can do to get through the national baby formula shortage.

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In Baltimore County, the NAACP and teachers' advocates rally for better pay and safer schools. A resolution affirming safe access to abortion services in Baltimore easily passes the City Council. HUD officials joined Baltimore City officials today announcing a plan to tackle homelessness. A CDC advisory panel is expected to green light COVID booster shots for ages 5 to 11 this week. Baltimore moms use social media to navigate the baby formula shortage.  And a pilot program that will give some low income Baltimore families one-thousand dollars a month is part of a national study.

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A proposed charter amendment would take elected officials out of the advisory board for the office of Baltimore’s Inspector General. Spring Grove Hospital now belongs to UMBC, but there are questions about the future of the facility, patients and staff.  Racial inequities in health care are far reaching and when it comes to the field of dermatology it can be dangerous. We’ll hear from a dermatologist and Howard professor who is advocating for more inclusion.

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Maryland’s COVID-19 positivity rate surpasses six percent. The FDA further limits the use of the J&J vaccine. Gov. Hogan is withholding abortion training funds. What does this mean for the availability of abortion in Maryland? Baltimore’s police districts are set to be redrawn for the first time in decades. The president of the University of Maryland Baltimore County steps down. Plus some tips from a physician on what to do this Mother’s Day. 

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Abortion rights advocates rallied in Baltimore last night as fallout continues from the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion on Roe v. Wade. Some legal experts say Maryland could become a destination for abortion services. The state has surpassed the five percent positivity rate for COVID as daily cases continue to top 1,000. In Baltimore County, the council decided to hold off on establishing a police accountability board. And after nearly two years of remote education, Baltimore County schools are struggling to get a handle on in school violence and bullying.  

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The state’s COVID-19 positivity rate is once again approaching the five percent mark. Some young parents in Baltimore City will get $1000 a month under a Guaranteed Income Pilot program. Dr. Leana Wen talks more about the Moderna COVID vaccine for young children, where other pharmaceutical companies are in their efforts, and the rise in severe hepatitis cases among young children worldwide.

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A long anticipated COVID-19 vaccine for infants and toddlers could be approved as early as June. Baltimore’s mayor and congressional leaders announced today a multi-million dollar investment in public safety.  The city’s downtown and Inner Harbor will get a $166 million facelift. And the superintendent of Baltimore County Schools says he wants to stay on after his term expires.

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Mayor Scott grants a temporary reprieve for some homeowners on the city’s tax sale list. Baltimore will play host to the first Maryland Cycling Classic. Economic equity and the wealth gap were the main focus of a gubernatorial forum at Coppin State last night with several of the Democratic candidates trying to stand out from a crowded field. Baltimore County’s plan for a police accountability board was met with sharp rebuke at a hearing Tuesday night. And a City Council meeting to discuss reviving Baltimore’s Dollar House program devolved into a shouting match.

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The COVID-19 positivity rate makes its first dip in weeks. A report shows widening wage gaps at the University of Maryland College Park. The Starbucks in Midtown Baltimore becomes the fourth in the nation to form a union. Attorney General Brian Frosh seeks a court order connected to the investigation of an officer-involved shooting. And a historic West Baltimore market will be getting a renovation.

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Baltimore County wants to co-run the city’s water and sewer system. A new festival is coming to the Inner Harbor. The state’s COVID-19 rate surpasses 4.5%. And U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg visits Morgan State University. 

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Maryland’s COVID-19 positivity rate continues its creep upward, while masks become optional on MTA transport. The often fractious Baltimore County school board will see a major change this election. And Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott unveils details about his guaranteed income pilot program. 

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Baltimore County is trying to fight off an infestation of midges! The student member on the County’s school board will have a vote on the budget over objections of some members, but only if Gov. Hogan signs the bill. A federal judge ruled that Baltimore State’s Attorney, Marilyn Mosby cannot avoid a trial on perjury charges. $10 million in ARPA funds will go toward a public health approach to fighting crime in the city. And Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski awaits approval of his four-point-eight billion dollar budget.

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The CDC has updated its COVID-19 travel restrictions after a new order from the Biden administration extending mask mandates. COVID positivity rates are creeping up in Baltimore and across the state, but so far no renewed mandates. Governor Hogan signed a host of bills into law as the 2022 Legislative Session came to a close. The deaths of three Baltimore firefighters earlier this year have now been ruled homicides. And the debate over banning plastic bags in Baltimore County is heating up as council members are coming down on opposite sides of the issue. 

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The last day of Maryland’s legislative session is finally here, and Democratic lawmakers closed out with wins on big agenda items from climate change, to paid family leave to increased access to abortion care. Baltimore County Councilwoman Cathy Bevins is found to have violated charter by moving outside of her district, but there’s no precedent for punishment. The state’s COVID-19 positivity rate continues to rise. Cases remain low but the new omicron B.A.2 subvariant is slowly driving numbers up. We’ll hear from Dr. Leana Wen on how we navigate this stage of the pandemic.

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Another slight uptick, and Maryland’s COVID-19 positivity rate is the highest it's been since February. Baltimore’s mayor delivered the first State of the City address from City Hall in three years. The focus: public safety. Baltimore County council’s fraught redistricting map paves the way for a new council candidate. And one council member is sounding the alarm about the health of the county’s pension.

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The legal battle over Maryland’s Congressional redistricting map has been settled. For the first time, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County names a woman as president. The state’s COVID positivity rate sees a slight uptick. Baltimore City Hall and state courthouses re-opened for normal business today, but some pandemic restrictions remain. And the Baltimore County Council is taking up the issue of a contract to inspect the Inspector General’s office.

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Maryland’s congressional redistricting map is in limbo as legal challenges remain. The race is on in Annapolis to get bills to Gov. Larry Hogan’s desk in the last full week of the 2022 legislative session. Plus hospitals get some economic relief but continue to face a workforce shortage. And a CDC study shows just how pervasive poor mental health has become among teenagers during the pandemic. 

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A bill to make abortion services easier to access in Maryland passed along partisan lines. House lawmakers take another step in hashing out a bill to reduce Maryland’s carbon footprint. Baltimore County volunteer firefighters will get some ARPA money after all. And a proposal to make it easier to shut down businesses in the county with ties to criminal activity has run into opposition. 

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Gov. Hogan, joined by House and Senate leaders, announced a more than $1 billion tax relief plan to help small businesses and keep retirees from leaving the state. Maryland’s House and Senate leaders say they’ve come up with a revised congressional redistricting map after a judge threw out the one presented Friday, ruling it unconstitutional. Baltimore County will spend an extra $70 million to fix and replace dated schools.  A Johns Hopkins project is using social media to gather global data on changing attitudes about health and well being during the pandemic. And experts at the Bloomberg School of Public Health tell us where we are in the fight against COVID and what we can expect in the near future. 

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A Maryland judge has sent lawmakers back to the drawing board over a contested  congressional map as partisan debate over how elections maps are drawn on the state and local levels remains fraught. With weeks left to go in this General Assembly session, Governor Hogan announces more state funding  for crime fighting initiatives and chides lawmakers to take action. And there’s a plan afoot to infuse new economic life into a historically Black community in Baltimore County using its “opportunity zone status.”

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Moderna seeks emergency use  authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine for younger children. The Maryland General Assembly has cleared  crossover day and now has the final weeks to get unfinished legislation done before sine die. Medically necessary gender-affirming care for those who can’t afford it would be covered by medicaid under a bill that cleared the Maryland Senate. 

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The court battle over redrawn council districts in Baltimore County is creating a headache for at least one candidate. A package of bills in the Baltimore City Council aim to crack down on vacant housing. The COVID-19 positivity rate remains low in Maryland, but public health officials say we’re not in the clear yet. And Senate hearings are underway for the first Black woman to be nominated to the Supreme Court.

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Maryland residents will get a short holiday to help ease the pain from high gas prices. A new study shows harassment against local health officials was widespread during the early months of the pandemic. A bill that would ban ghost guns passes the Senate. Baltimore County’s State’s Attorney has a Republican challenger. And Baltimore’s Penn North Library becomes a haven for those struggling with substance abuse. 

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Relief from high fuel prices could be on the way as a gas tax holiday moves a step closer to reality. A new state program would allow Maryland job seekers without college diplomas to fill more vacant jobs. State lawmakers want to pull pension fund investments from Russia. Maryland must work toward being “carbon-neutral” by 2045 under a bill passed along party lines this week. And Baltimore’s Office of Homeless Services looks to keep hotels available as non-congregate shelters.   

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Masks are now optional in Baltimore City Public Schools. The state’s COVID positivity rate continues to go down. The latest Goucher poll shows Marylanders are feeling more than a pinch from recent price increases. Baltimore County’s executive promises notax increases in the coming year. And a doctor gives advice on how to treat back pain without opioids.

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It’s been another busy week in Annapolis. State lawmakers move forward legislation to ban ghost guns. After an hour of emotional debate, the House passes bills to make it easier for people to get abortions. Maryland’s growing surplus leads to calls for a gas tax holiday. A report shows declining pollution enforcement at the Maryland Department of the Environment. Baltimore City Hall is set to reopen to the public in April. And the mayor announces his largest ARPA fund allocation thus far – for housing.  

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The Baltimore County Council’s revised redistricting map, still draws ire from the local NAACP. Maryland’s GOP senators launch a drive for what they say will be ‘meaningful tax relief.’ Baltimore City uses millions in ARPA funds to create a jobs training program. Local health systems team up to send medical supplies to Ukraine. The war there continues to drive up gas prices in Maryland and across the country. And a doctor tells us what you need to know about Evusheld, a COVID antibody treatment for the immunocompromised. 

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The world hits a grim milestone: more than six million people have died of COVID-19. The Baltimore County Council will consider a bill that would make it easier to shut down businesses tied to illegal activity.  A Tuesday deadline looms for the County Council to present a new redistricting map before a judge. And a conversation with Dr. Leana Wen on the CDC’s new masking guidelines and the path forward to getting to normal. 

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On this date two years ago, Maryland hospitals admitted their first COVID-19 patients. Baltimore City Council President Nick Mosby is not giving up on his battered Dollar House bill. Maryland’s large Ukrainian community is speaking out against the assault by Russia on their native homeland. In Annapolis: legislation to legalize recreational marijuana use moves to the Senate after being approved in the House, where State delegates are tackling climate change with four separate bills. March is National Kidney Month. We’ll hear how one local medical system is leading the way with ending the practice of usingrace as a factor in determining kidney health.

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Baltimore City lifts its indoor mask mandate, and Baltimore City Public Schools follow suit. State senators are close to passing a bill that would alter how police body camera footage can be viewed by the public. Senators also vote to ban the use of PFAS in the state. And former county health officers and a whistleblower raise concerns at a hearing about the state health department’s pandemic response, and its treatment of staff and local health officials. 

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The state's positivity rate is now well below 3%. Mayor Scott will lift Baltimore’s mask mandate Tuesday and we have a rundown of which Maryland counties are lifting mask mandates and for what activities and places. Baltimore’s Recreation and Parks will get over $40 million in ARPA funds. And the nursing profession is among those most affected by the past two years of this pandemic. We’ll close out this month’s series, Conversations with Black women in medicine, with a candid conversation with two deans and a graduating student of Coppin State University’s nursing and professional health programs. 

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The CDC updates its masking guidelines for the country. Baltimore’s mayor will lift indoor mask mandates in the City. Recreational marijuana legislation breezed through Maryland’s House of Delegates. Paid family leave and staffing shortages in the state’s education system also took center stage in Annapolis. The Community College of Baltimore discusses the slave history of its Catonsville campus. And we’ll have the second in our series, Conversations with Black women in medicine, this month. Executive editor Danyell Irby speaks with Dr. Nicole Rochester, founder of Your GPS Doc about how to navigate the medical system and advocate for yourself and your aging loved ones.

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The statewide mask mandate in schools may soon drop, after a vote from the State Board of Education. Baltimore County Public Schools lays out a plan for when to lift their mandate. A federal judge ruled that the Baltimore County Council must redraw its redistricting map to reflect the diverse population. The same judge also sets a trial date for Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby. The Maryland House of Delegates moves one step closer to legalizing recreational use of cannabis. And our executive editor Danyell Irby steps from behind the scenes to kick off a series of conversations with Black women in medicine. 

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More counties are dropping their indoor mask mandates this week. Attorneys for Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby file charges to dismiss her case. The state medical examiner’s office in Baltimore remains behind on at least 200 autopsies. And a conversation with two Baltimore City teachers who speak candidly about how the past two years have affected their lives and what they see for the future of teaching. 

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Baltimore County is ready to lift pandemic restrictions as COVID metrics trend downward. A coalition of education advocates say Gov. Larry Hogan has shortchanged Maryland schools by over $100 million…and they want that money put back. In Maryland legislative news: a hearing on a Senate bill to ban untraceable ghost guns goes long into the evening. A Republican caucus committee presents a package of billsthey say will restore integrity to state elections. Maryland’s senate president says a deal has been reached that will keep clubs on The Block open until 2 a.m., but one club owner says: what deal? And Paul McCartney makes a return to Baltimore after more than five decades.

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A U.S. District Court judge has heard testimony and is expected to soon rule on the challenge to Baltimore County’s redistricting map. State Democratic lawmakers are pushing an emergency bill to address errors on absentee ballots, but Republicans are crying foul. A package of climate solution bills and the push to legalize recreational cannabis are also working their way through the legislature. And the CDC says pregnant people who get vaccinated for COVID pass on immunity to their babies. 

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Face mask requirements in municipal buildings and some schools are dropping across the state…but some argue it’s politics over science. House Dems in Maryland introduced a package of bills today to protect the right to abortion in the state. Eating healthy to stay heart healthy is easier said than done for many. There’s a program that’s trying to help. 

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The CDC releases a new study on the effectiveness of COVID boosters. The FDA postpones authorizing vaccines for children under 5. Gov. Larry Hogan calls for an end to the school mask mandate. BCPS is launching a campaign to get more kids vaccinated. Maryland lawmakers consider bills that would grant workers paid family leave. They’re also considering a bill that would change the way the state addresses stalking. And a conversation with Dr. Leana Wen on the debate over lifting COVID restrictions. 

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Gov. Larry Hogan announces a lottery for boosted adults. Baltimore launches a long-awaited water bill discount program. Maryland lawmakers debate whether to ban ghost guns. Two expansive housing bills come before the Baltimore City Council. And a conversation with CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on the latest COVID guidelines. 

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COVID-19 hospitalizations are back under 1200…for the first time since mid-December. Today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. We’ll hear from a doctor and advocate on how racial disparities affect access to treatment. Plus a conversation with Baltimore’s director of homeless services, on ongoing and future efforts to get people safely sheltered – and rehoused. 

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Health experts are urging continued caution, though Maryland’s COVID-19 rates continue to go down. Gov. Hogan and Mayor Scott hold a closed-door meeting in Annapolis to discuss violent crime. Democrats and Republicans clash over a proposed crime package. And the president and CEO of the Maryland Food Bank says even as the pandemic dies down, food insecurity continues.

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Maryland’s COVID numbers continue to go in the right direction…down. State lawmakers and housing advocates push for legislation this session to hold landlords more accountable when it comes to evictions. Thousands of firefighters from across the country and abroad came to Baltimore today to honor three of their own, killed in the line of duty last month. And Baltimore County’s Executive says he’s keeping his campaign promise to build two  new high schools. 

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