STATE TAKING LOAN APPLICATIONS FROM FED EMPLOYEES WORKING WITHOUT PAY: Maryland is now accepting loan applications for federal workers who are working without pay during the ongoing government shutdown, the state Department of Labor announced Monday. Carson Swick/The Baltimore Sun.
- Federal workers deemed essential continue to report for work but do not get paid. Historically, those workers have received back pay when the shutdown concludes. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
LAWYER ARGUES JURISDICTIONS ARE TARGETING DECEITFUL PRACTICES OF FOSSIL FUEL FIRMS: Maryland Supreme Court justices had pointed questions Monday for a lawyer who was arguing that local governments are not exceeding their authority by seeking damages from large fossil fuel companies for their role in climate change over the decades, saying that lawsuits against the companies by Baltimore, Annapolis and Anne Arundel County are not trying to restrict emissions, as the companies claim, but only to protect consumers from deceitful practices by corporations. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.
MORE WOMEN OWN BUSINESSES BUT ROADBLOCKS REMAIN: As women across the country, and in Maryland, are owning more businesses, women who own small businesses say there are still roadblocks, but they also see ways through them. About 44.8% of businesses in Maryland are owned by women or are equally owned by women and men as of 2022. Of the 41.9% of Maryland businesses that are owned by women, almost 92% are small businesses that do not have direct employees. About 82% of men-owned businesses are nonemployers. Katharine Wilson/The Baltimore Sun.
EPA TAPS CAREER EMPLOYEE TO HEAD BAY PROGRAM OFFICE IN ANNAPOLIS: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected a career employee with two decades of experience at the agency as the new head of its Chesapeake Bay Program Office in Annapolis. In an email to Bay Program participants, the agency said that Dan Coogan was scheduled to begin Oct. 6. Karl Blankenship/The Bay Journal.
HARFORD PUBLIC SCHOOLS CONTINUES MEALS DESPITE FED SHUTDOWN: Harford County Public Schools will continue to serve school meals during the federal government shutdown. The school system said that the USDA, MSDE and SNA have said there is no immediate impact on school funding or operations at this time. And currently, families may apply for free and reduced-priced meal benefits. Shaela Foster/The Aegis.
JUDGE ORDERS TRUMP TO PRODUCE EVIDENCE ON ABREGO GARCIA: A federal judge on Monday ordered the Trump administration to produce evidence within 48 hours on its efforts to again deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia, this time to the southern African country of Eswatini. Ariana Figueroa/Maryland Matters.
- At the next hearing, Abrego Garcia’s attorneys said they will request his immediate release. Kaicey Baylor/WJZ-TV News
BA CO COUNCIL OKs 30-YEAR TAX BREAK TO TWO REDEVELOPMENTS: The Baltimore County Council on Monday approved expansion of a revitalization tax credit to projects in Owings Mills and Woodlawn, incentivizing development while also giving developers millions of dollars in tax breaks over 30 years. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.
- The bill only affects two redevelopments: Metro Center in Owings Mills and Security Square Mall in Woodlawn. Developer Howard Brown has a significant ownership interest in Metro Center and used to own parts of Security Square. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.
UMES PRES REQUESTS DISSERTATION REVIEW AFTER ACCUSATION: University of Maryland Eastern Shore President Heidi Anderson’s 1986 doctoral dissertation will be reviewed at her request, following allegations that she plagiarized a portion of the paper. Josh Davis/The Baltimore Sun.
- “Integrity, accountability and trust are the foundations of my leadership, and I take these concerns with the utmost seriousness,” Anderson wrote in a statement. “Consistent with University System of Maryland policy, there will be an assessment of these allegations.” Anderson has served as president of the historically Black university in Somerset County since 2018, overseeing roughly 3,000 students. Ellie Wolfe/The Baltimore Banner.
