Governor Larry Hogan today convened a cybersecurity summit at the Maryland State House in Annapolis focused on coordinated federal, state, and private sector efforts to prepare for and address cybersecurity threats. The summit brought together senior government officials, including leaders from the White House, Congress, the National Security Agency (NSA), and the FBI, as well as governors, academic leaders, and private sector experts. “Public officials have no higher responsibility than keeping the American people safe, and there is no greater threat to their safety than the cyber vulnerabilities of the systems that support our daily lives,” said Governor Hogan. “Now, the…

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s COVID-19 briefing on Thursday, was full of concern. A number of indicators: an increase in cases, 100 Delta variant cases and an increase in yellow and gold counties on the state’s map, have caused the governor’s concern. “It’s going up and it’s going up significantly. The map is filling up with colors we don’t want, more than half of our counties are out of the green. It’s not good,” he said. State officials are evaluating PPE levels, hospital staffing and bed availability, nursing homes preventative measures and antibody supplies

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, released the following statement regarding the Senate passage of an emergency security supplemental package to fund the U.S. Capitol Police and reimburse Maryland’s National Guard and D.C. Metropolitan Police for their assistance on and following January 6th:     “While our democracy was under attack, members of the U.S. Capitol Police Force, the National Guard, and the D.C. Metropolitan Police stepped up to protect it. These public servants – many of whom I represent – risked their lives and answered the call when our country needed…

505 new cases and five additional deaths as a result of the coronavirus were reported in Maryland on Thursday.  The state health department attributed the increase to the spread of the Delta variant among the unvaccinated. Hospitalizations also increased Thursday. There are 215 people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 with 160 in acute care and 55 in the ICU. The current positivity rate in Maryland is 2.58%.  

The Garrett County Department of Public Works – Roads Division advises that Sang Run Road Bridge will be closed beginning Monday, August 16, 2021. This road and bridge closure will continue for approximately six weeks until bridge project completion. The planned closure is located approximately 1 mile from Bishoff Road intersection. The suggested alternate route for traffic includes Hoyes Sang Run Road and Oakland Sang Run Road.

WBAL repots Maryland's second highest court has upheld the conviction of one of the four teens convicted of killing Baltimore County Police Officer Amy Caprio.  Dawnta Harris was 17 when he was convicted as an adult of running over and killing Officer Amy Caprio in 2018.  Harris' attorneys argue the charge of felony murder by motor vehicle was not valid, because as a juvenile he couldn't be charged with the offense.  In a unanimous 47 page ruling, the Court of Special Appeals disagreed and upheld the conviction and the life sentence Harris received. No word if Harris' attorneys will appeal…

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), and Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.-2) are calling on the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) to better support Paralympic athletes at Olympic and Paralympic Games after denying reasonable and essential accommodations for a deaf and blind swimmer. With an understanding of the unprecedented restrictions placed on who may be in Japan besides the athletes, the USOPC failed to recognize that the severe COVID-19 restrictions increased the need for trusted support staff to accompany many Paralympians, such as Marylander Becca Meyers, a deaf and visually impaired swimmer…

Delays are expected on Virginia Ave. from Elder Street to Mary Street for most of the day on Thursday until 6:00 p.m.  Additionally, Humbird Street will be closed from Virginia Ave to Ella Street for most of the day.  Columbia Gas will be performing maintenance work in the area. Flaggers will be in place to direct traffic.

In April, the University System of Maryland announced that all eligible students, faculty, and staff on Maryland campuses are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 before the start of the fall 2021 semester. Frostburg State University’s Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Jeffrey Graham said that the early directive from the state system has made planning for the fall semester easier and has created a much safer environment on campus… Allegany College of Maryland is not part of the system and not required to mandate vaccinations- however AC President Dr Cynthia Bambara said it is being strongly encouraged…      …

WBAL reports Maryland's new state school superintendent in his first public meeting said he's eager to move Maryland beyond what was once considered normal. Mohammad Choudhury's comments came on the heels of a post-COVID-19 education report. The results cover the period of time from mid-April until the end of this past school year – that's when students were starting to return to in-person instruction. Now a new report on fourth-quarter attendance and achievement, presented to the state board of education, helped to shed light on student results. Those results show that between seven and 14 systems, the rate of students failing this…