Maryland’s Legislative Spending Affordability Committee met this week to go over preliminary details about state spending.  With Maryland now facing a significant deficit after ending the Hogan years with a $5 billion surplus, the shadow of tax increases is looming.  Maryland Senator Mike McKay doesn’t sit on the committee, but he says taking a look at scaling back commitments to the Blueprint For Education, which takes a huge chunk of the state budget, could be a starting point… McKay says that legislators are going to find themselves between a rock and a hard place come January when they are faced…

Allegany County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police – Barrack C have combined resources to target open and active warrants. As a result, the following individuals have been apprehended. \Wednesday, November 8, 2023: John Wesley Cramer Jr., 35 of Greensboro, PA was extradited from Fayette County, PA on a District Court Bench Warrant for Failure to Appear. His original charge is Driving Motor Vehicle Without Required License and Authorization. He is currently held on a $2,000 bond and pending a bail review. Makayla Marie Lloyd, 21 of Westernport, was arrested on two Circuit Court Bench Warrants for Violation of Probation….

The continuing infrastructure spending by Columbia Gas will be affecting customer bills through the year 2050.  A recent report from the Office of People’s Counsel shows that Columbia Gas of Maryland’s replacement investments are continuing past their original end date of 2026 for another 17 years. That capital spending means customer bills could grow from an average of $221 in 2023 to $419 by 2035 – a 90% increase. Those bills could be even higher as customers move away from fossil fuels for heating and appliances, leaving less customers to foot the bill of massive infrastructure retooling.

Maryland is getting over $5 million to strengthen maternal health care across the state. The state’s US Senate delegation announced the funding to support better access across the state.  Five maternal health programs will be able to provide additional resources to combat maternal mortality and improve maternal and infant health outcomes. Federal grants have been awarded to the Maryland Department of Health, Johns Hopkins University, Medstar Health Research Institute, and Morgan State University for programs and research to support pregnant women, especially in underserved communities.

West Virginia University reported a bomb threat on Tuesday at the Mineral Resources Building on the Evansdale Campus.  An employee received the threat via phone just after 12:30 yesterday and the building was evacuated.  Messages from the WVU Alert system told students to avoid the Evansdale Campus while a sweep was conducted. The all-clear was given just before 3pm.  

A Micro-Revolving Loan Fund, designed for new small businesses along with a Business Disruption Fund is being planned by the City of Cumberland.  Money loaned can be used for specific business purposes and will also be available to businesses that have had disruptions due to the Baltimore Street Project. Jeff Silka, City Administrator, described the program during the Mayor and Council work session, saying the loan rate will be about 3%.

The Shapiro Administration released the results of Operation Safe Stop, an annual school bus enforcement initiative across Pennsylvania. Held annually, Operation Safe Stop is a one-day targeted enforcement event where law enforcement and participating school districts document drivers violating the state's School Bus Stopping Law in order to bring attention to the importance of watching for school buses and students. Over 175 violations were observed in one day.

Monday night, Annapolis got a first-hand encounter with now-Independent Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Several of his family have publicly opposed his Independent party run for the White House, but Kennedy spoke at a rally for his supporters, saying he thinks being an independent will make the difference in the coming election…

Baltimore Orioles General Manager and Executive Vice President Mike Elias has been voted Executive of the Year by Major League Baseball.  Elias directed the growth of a home-grown Orioles team, bringing players up through the Orioles farm system. Full of young talent, the 2023 Orioles finished with a 101-61 record and a playoff appearance.  Elias took the management helm in 2018.

Six dollars a day per person…  If you are receiving SNAP Benefits in Maryland, that’s the amount you have to spend on food. A recent Maryland Hunger Solutions report shows that Allegany County averages over 15,000 residents using SNAP benefits monthly – almost 25% of the population. In March, the pandemic levels of SNAP benefits ended, cutting the amount families received on a monthly basis.