SCHOOLS LOCK UP STUDENT CELLPHONES; KIDS UNLOCK THEIR BRAINS: Putting away your cellphone for six hours a day turns out to be a wonderful thing — even in the eyes of middle schoolers who were forced to give up their devices for an entire school year. Locking up their cellphones, students at the Hampstead Hill Academy in Baltimore said, unlocked their brains. With their phones stored in pouches only an administrator can open, they no longer feel that constant itch to sneak a peek. Liz Bowie/The Baltimore Banner.
SIX TO SEEK TEMP BA CO EXEC SPOT SHOULD OLSZEWSKI WIN HOUSE SEAT: Six people, including two state legislators, the brother of the House Speaker and a longtime community activist are vying for a temp job that might open up soon: Baltimore County executive. Each is making their case to the County Council that they should replace Johnny Olszewski Jr. if the Democrat wins his congressional race in November and steps down with two years remaining on his term. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
Long-time U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer suffered a mild stroke over the weekend but his symptoms have since abated.
REP. HOYER RECOVERING FROM MILD STROKE: Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D), a former House majority leader and longtime Maryland politician, sought medical care for a mild stroke Sunday night, his office said in a statement Tuesday. Katie Shepherd/The Washington Post.
- The Democrat, who is 85, will likely return to his normal schedule next week and has responded well to treatment. An ischemic stroke usually happens when a blood clot blocks a vessel in the brain, cutting off the supply of blood — and therefore oxygen and nutrients — to a region of the brain. It’s the most common type of stroke. Clara Longo de Freitas/The Baltimore Banner.
- News of Hoyer’s stroke quickly brought well-wishes from colleagues and acquaintances. Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) in a social media post wished Hoyer “a speedy recovery and know you will be back delivering for Marylanders, as you always have” – followed shortly thereafter by former Gov. Larry Hogan (R), Alsobrooks’ opponent in this fall’s election for Senate, who wished Hoyer well on behalf of himself and his wife, Yumi. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
OPPOSITION GROWS TO ELECTRIC GRID RELIABILITY PROJECT: Since the beginning of summer, opposition to the so-called Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project has spread like wildfire. Landowners and elected officials have crowded into town hall meetings in Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick counties to voice their fears and anger that the project could lead to takings of multiple properties throughout the region. And the movement continues to grow: On Monday afternoon, the bipartisan Frederick County delegation to the General Assembly expressed its opposition. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
MARYLAND A MIXED BAG ON REDUCTION OF VIOLENT CRIME: Violent crime in the nation’s largest jurisdictions fell across the board in the first six months of this year, but the results were mixed in four of Maryland’s largest jurisdictions, according to preliminary data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association. The report said that in 69 of the nation’s 70 biggest cities and jurisdictions, homicides, rapes, robberies and aggravated assaults fell 6% overall in the first half of the year, when compared to the first six months of 2023. The New York City Police Department did not provide data for this year’s report. But in Maryland, the year-to-year results were up and down. Robberies were up in Baltimore, Baltimore County and Montgomery, while rapes were up in the city and in Prince George’s County, according to the report. Prince George’s also saw a small rise in aggravated assaults. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
STATE SEES SUMMER SPIKE IN COVID: Maryland, like much of the nation, is seeing a summer spike in Covid-19 as people across the nation are traveling for vacation and gathering at social events. Maryland’s wastewater viral activity is at its highest level since March and seems to be on a trend to climb higher. “Right now, Covid is everywhere. We are going through a summer wave. I personally know of many people who have had Covid,” said Dr. Leana Wen, former Baltimore health commissioner and professor of public health at George Washington University. Scott Maucione/WYPR-FM.
FLOOD WALLS PROPOSED FOR BALTIMORE TUNNELS: Baltimore faces an increasing threat of coastal flooding from rising sea levels, worsened by storms like Debby. To help manage that risk, the U.S. Army of Corps Engineers announced this week it would recommend Congress fund about $77 million to build floodwalls to protect two of the city’s major thoroughfares, the Fort McHenry and Harbor tunnels. Penelope Blackwell/The Baltimore Banner.
- If completed, motorists can expect to see new walls rise along the southern approaches to both tunnels, ranging from 2.5 to 6.5 feet from the ground, said Cynthia Mitchell, a spokesperson for the Baltimore District of the Army Corps, in an email. The existing walls at the tunnel entrances were not built to withstand floodwaters, and engineers would determine during the design phase for the project whether they would have to be replaced, Mitchell said. Christine Condon/The Baltimore Sun.
BA CO IG GOT 277 COMPLAINTS IN YEAR; PROBES 22 OF THEM: Baltimore County’s Inspector General received 277 complaints in the most recently completed budget year, on matters ranging from misusing county computer systems to submitting fraudulent timesheets to trash haulers commingling commercial and residential waste so they could avoid paying dump fees. Of those, 22 turned into new investigations for the six-person team, established five years ago to increase transparency and accountability in government. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.
FOLLOWING DEATH OF DPW WORKER, B’MORE COUNCIL TO HOLD HEARING: The Baltimore City Council announced a hearing set for next week focused on the working conditions at the Department of Public Works following the death of a worker. This comes after DPW worker Ronald Silver II died on duty of heat exhaustion. Rushaad Hayward/WMAR-TV News.
MO CO TO INCREASE HIGH SCHOOL SECURITY: Stepped up security is coming to Montgomery County high schools this year. There’s even consideration of bringing weapons detectors to the schools. “I’m on record as the chief of police noting that I’ve seen guns at an all-time high and particularly amongst young people, that still concerns me. This is why I think it’s important for us to put some important measures in place,” said Marcus Jones, former county police chief and current head of Security, Safety and Emergency Management for Montgomery County Public Schools. Dick Uliano/WTOP-FM.
MO CO FAMILIES HOPE VIRTUAL ACADEMY CAN RETURN: Families whose children had been in a specialized virtual academy in Montgomery County Public Schools have been spending the summer weighing their options, and some don’t like what they see in terms of programming for the new school year. The Board of Education voted to end the Montgomery Virtual Academy in the spring after determining the FY2025 school budget couldn’t support the service for nearly 800 families. Kate Ryan/WTOP-FM.
B’MORE SCHOOLS NAMES NEW POLICE CHIEF: Baltimore City Public Schools announced today that Jeffrey Shorter has been appointed as the new chief of the city school police. Shorter has had a 28-year career in the Baltimore Police Department, including over a decade in leadership roles. Shorter will lead the 90-member police force responsible for ensuring the safety and security of students, staff, and school property. Susan Dunn/Baltimore Fishbowl.
