West Virginia’s governor signed a bill Wednesday allowing people with concealed carry permits to take firearms onto public college and university campuses. Calling it a proud day for West Virginia, Republican Governor Jim Justice signed the bill, surrounded by more than two dozen state lawmakers, members of the National Rifle Association, and the West Virginia Citizens Defense League…  The law will take effect in July 2024. Similar legislation has passed in 11 other states. Justice said guns have been present on state campuses even without the new law…

Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D) released a report this week with dozens of recommendations designed to  improve the state agency of more than 1,000 employees. The comptroller’s legislative agenda would upgrade technology, create an Office of Taxpayer Advocate and establish a rebate program for delayed unemployment insurance payments. The comptroller's office has a tremendous impact on everything from reimbursing crisis centers to making taxpayers whole. But Lierman said the office technology is antiquated, and there are limited options to assist taxpayers… Although lawmakers have reached the halfway point in the session, the comptroller is confident there's still enough time for…

There was no umpire behind the plate calling balls and strikes when the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates decided to keep playing Tuesday. The umpires were done with their day’s work after Baltimore’s Josh Lester grounded out to end the top of the ninth inning with the Orioles trailing 7-4, officially ending the spring training contest. But after the umps left the field, the teams kept going and played the bottom of the ninth following a quick discussion between Pirates manager Derek Shelton and Baltimore skipper Brandon Hyde. With the umpires gone, the balls and strikes were called by the…

The Allegany County Emergency Services reports that there are residents near the Allegany County Fairgrounds without water service. Indications are that there was a leak in a ten inch water line that is being repaired. Service should be restored shorlty. 

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Jamie Raskin, David Trone and Glenn Ivey (all D-Md.) today announced that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has delivered $38,000,000 in Federal Aviation Administration funding for improvements to Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) Airport.   The funding was made available through the FY2023 Airport Terminal Program, which was created by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The grant will be used to support an improved passenger experience at BWI through a comprehensive upgrade to the airport’s largest baggage-handling system, new…

The Cumberland Times News reports one man was killed and another taken into police custody following a shooting Tuesday afternoon in Romney. Hampshire County Sheriff Nathan Sions identified the victim Wednesday as Thomas Puffinberger, 31, and the alleged shooter as Michael R.T. Nair, 39. Sions, whose agency assisted Romney Police Department with the investigation, said both men lived at 104 S. Grafton and no one else was at the residence at the time of the incident, which happened about 3:50 p.m.

President Joe Biden will be in Baltimore on Wednesday to deliver remarks at the House Democratic Caucus Issues Conference. The conference will be focused on issues surrounding reproductive rights, gun violence, border security, the economy, and climate change. The president will be joined by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott. The event is expected to be held at the Hyatt Regency downtown. Biden's most recent visit to Baltimore came in January. He addressed replacing the aging Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel.  

WBAL reports Maryland Gov. Wes Moore testified on Wednesday before before the State Senate Budget and Taxation Committee in support of veterans. The "Keep Our Heroes Home Act" would expand current tax exemptions on retired military income in hopes of encouraging veterans to stay. "These veterans and their families are not only spirited entrepreneurs, but also highly sought-after employees," Moore said. "They are the glue of their communities." Current state law states military veterans that receive retirement benefits can deduct the first $5,000 of their taxable income if they're under the age of 55, and $15,000 if they're 55 and…

Governor Wes Moore today announced $13.4 million to support projects that create or preserve affordable rental housing units, awarded this morning during the Board of Public Works meeting. The board approved requests from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to provide $10.4 million through the Rental Housing Works Program and $3 million from the Partnership Rental Housing Program to support three projects in Dundalk, Hanover, and Edgewood.  “These programs are critical and effective state initiatives that create or preserve affordable housing rental units in communities across our state,” said Governor Wes Moore. “We are committed to ensuring that…

Maryland is still graduating a high number of students years into the COVID-19 pandemic, but younger students through that same stretch of time are struggling, particularly those that are now in middle school. That’s according to a new report from Maryland State Department of Education. State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury said Maryland has “much more work to do” after years of pandemic-spawned “learning disruption.” WTOP reports that in Maryland, 86.3% of the class of 2022 received a diploma in four years; it’s a percentage drop from the previous year which saw 87.2% of students graduate. The 2022 class was sent home in spring…