WYPR Podcast

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.

Don’t touch anything, or it might touch you back.

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.

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.

It used to be Mount Vernon. Is it still?

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.

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.

Before The Orioles, there were The Baltimore Black Sox and the Baltimore Elite Giants

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.

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.