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Maryland Reporter
State Roundup: Expanding pre-K a struggle for many districts; widening 6% sales tax ‘a conversation starter’ to fill budget gap; Elections Board appointment delayed
STATE’s PRE-K PROGRAM STRUGGLES TO EXPAND: The state’s plan to make pre-K free to low- and moderate-income families and available to all faces some serious struggles. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education overhaul relies on a mix of private providers and public schools to expand the availability of pre-K, but many districts are struggling to enlist enough private providers. On top of that, some public schools that would otherwise host the pre-K population don’t have the room to do so. Marijke Friedman And Natalie Weger of Capital News Service/MarylandReporter.com.
Maryland’s education ‘Blueprint’ struggles to expand pre-K
As a group of 4-year-old boys worked to create a towering building block castle in their colorful Montgomery County Public Schools pre-K classroom, Head Start teacher Molly Scherf reminded them it is important to build a strong foundation. The boys used their tiny hands to create the tower piece by...
State Roundup: Senate committee sends budget package to floor without tax hikes; new program would offer grants to offset cost of zero emissions work vehicles
NO TAX HIKES INCLUDED IN 2025 BUDGET: Senate leaders Friday said Maryland’s fiscal 2025 budget will continue to protect key priorities without the need for tax increases. The Senate Budget and Taxation Committee finished work on a $63.1 billion budget proposed earlier this year by Gov. Wes Moore (D). The revised spending plan is expected to be before the Senate with a final vote next week. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
Elevate Your Maryland Home Maintenance with the Gentle Touch of Low Pressure Soft Washing
Across the diverse landscapes of Maryland, from the shores of the Chesapeake Bay to the rolling hills of its countryside, homeowners are turning to a revolutionary approach to maintain their homes’ exteriors. Low-Pressure Soft Washing is emerging as the superior choice for preserving the beauty and integrity of properties, offering a soft touch that traditional power washing methods cannot match.
State Roundup: Battle over tax hikes may loom as lawmakers disagree on solving budget gap; AFSCME union signs new contract with Md.; juvenile justice bills diverge
WORSENING MD. REVENUE PROJECTIONS BOOST TALK OF TAX HIKES: Maryland’s budget problems worsened Thursday with tax receipts failing to hit estimates for the fifth consecutive time since the pandemic ended. The news quickly ratcheted up the rhetoric among Democrats, who are divided on whether now is the time to raise taxes. Erin Cox/The Washington Post.
Fatigue-Related Accidents and the Importance of Rest Breaks
Fatigue-related accidents are a major concern for many industries, particularly those that involve long hours of work and driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that fatigue is a contributing factor in around 100,000 accidents each year in the United States alone. These accidents can have serious consequences, including injury and death, as well as significant financial costs for businesses and individuals.
Opioid deaths spur push for kids to carry naloxone
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Jackson Taylor remembers when a peer passed out from an overdose across from his high school. He knows friends who have struggled with addiction. One has been in and out of rehab. Those experiences help explain why the Rockville High School senior now trains his peers...
Lawmakers may dash dreams of high-speed transit
ANNAPOLIS, Md. –Maryland lawmakers this session are debating their possible role in funding a high-speed rail project from Washington, D.C. to New York City, with some convinced the answer is clear: The state shouldn’t have any role at all. Those who back the project continue to push for...
Born or Made? The Ongoing Debate About Innate vs Learned Leadership Abilities
Leadership abilities – are great leaders born or made? This age-old question continues to spark debate among researchers and experts in business, politics, sports, and more. The crux of the argument lies in whether leadership skills are innate, fixed traits, or if they can be cultivated through learning and experience over time.
Stop the predatory ticket selling and support SB 539/HB 901
While the world’s attention turned to concert ticketing with the recent Taylor Swift and Beyoncé kerfuffle, we’ve been fighting for years to protect fans who are being victimized by resellers. We’ve not yet opened the season at Merriweather Post Pavilion, but already we see scalpers grifting, selling $150 Alanis Morrisette tickets for $7,000, as just one example. What’s more, these may not be real tickets.
State Roundup: County execs call on state to close billion-dollar tax loophole; lawmakers eye raising some tolls to fill transportation budget gap
COUNTY EXECS CALL ON STATE TO CLOSE LOOPHOLE TO RAISE $1.6B: County executives from Anne Arundel, Frederick and Montgomery called on state lawmakers Wednesday to ignore special interests and campaign donors and pass a proposal that would raise $1.6 billion in new tax revenue. A coalition of more than two dozen groups and progressive lawmakers want to implement combined reporting for corporations doing business in Maryland, which treats a parent corporation and its subsidiaries as one corporation for state income tax purposes. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
Lawmakers work toward solution on juvenile justice
ANNAPOLIS –Lawmakers are moving toward consensus on changes to Maryland’s juvenile justice system, discussing how to address crime by children ages 10 to 12 and get them into rehabilitation programs that can help. The House and Senate have each passed their own version in this effort, and lawmakers...
Maryland lawmakers urge Congress to spend more on Chesapeake Bay restoration
WASHINGTON – Citing encouraging signs of improvement, five Maryland lawmakers expressed their support Wednesday for increased funding of the federally-backed Chesapeake Bay restoration program. “We’ve made progress,” Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, said at a luncheon hosted by the Choose Clean Water Coalition. “We have the least amount of dead...
Proposed Maryland bill to criminalize distribution of heroin or fentanyl
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Lawmakers in the Maryland General Assembly are hearing bills to prohibit the distribution of heroin and fentanyl without lawful authority to do so. Victoria & Scottie’s Law is named in honor of two individuals who died from fentanyl overdoses. The bill would impose up to 20 years of imprisonment on anyone convicted of selling these substances that lead to serious bodily injury or death.
Proposed bill in Montgomery County, Maryland aims to limit police from searching vehicles during traffic stops
Capital News Service is a student-powered news organization run by the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism. With bureaus in Annapolis and Washington run by professional journalists with decades of experience, they deliver news in multiple formats via partner news organizations and a destination Website.
State Roundup: Families of overdose victims urge lawmakers to toughen sentences for dealers; some cuts in transit still possible even with new revenue streams
FAMILIES OF OVERDOSE VICTIMS URGE TOUGHER SENTENCES FOR DEALERS: Family members who lost loved ones to deadly drug overdoses spoke in favor of a proposed law that would empower the Maryland court system to sentence individuals who sold fentanyl or heroin to an individual who dies from or is seriously injured by an overdose, to up to 20 years in prison. The measure would also offer criminal immunity to those who assist a person in a medical emergency induced by taking heroin or fentanyl. Thomas Goodwin Smith/The Carroll County Times.
University of Maryland investigating fraternities and sororities, suspending activities pending results
COLLEGE PARK, Md.- The University of Maryland issued a cease and desist letter Friday to all Interfraternity and Panhellenic Council groups after a series of misconduct allegations. The university is launching an investigation into the claims but has halted any recruitment activities or events involving alcohol. This is the latest incident in a series of reports across the country where Greek life has been alleged of misconduct.
State Roundup: Cuts to community colleges among those considered in debt reduction effort; Senate passes juvenile crime reform bill
$22.6M FUNDING CUT TO COMMUNITY COLLEGES CONSIDERED: State legislators are considering a budget that cuts $22.6 million in funding across 15 of Maryland’s community colleges, in an effort to reduce debt. Community colleges just reached full funding under a formula adopted in 1998, receiving 29 cents from the state for every dollar given to the University of Maryland system for the past two years. But the new budget plan wants to reduce that allocation to 26.5 cents, while giving a 5 percent funding increase to the University of Maryland institutions overall. Bri Hatch/WYPR-FM.
Ticketing Resale Laws Need to Protect Fans not Businesses
Members of the Maryland General Assembly have made it clear that reform of the live events ticketing industry is on the agenda this session. This is encouraging news for the countless fans who have faced limited choice in the ticket market, experienced a clunky purchasing process, or felt duped by misleading pricing.
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