Read more about the article Speaker Jones Calls on Hogan for More Rent Relief, Stronger Tenant Protections
Coronavirus / Housing and Community Development
Speaker Jones Calls on Hogan for More Rent Relief, Stronger Tenant Protections

Dozens of state delegates joined House Speaker Adrienne Jones in a letter to Governor Larry Hogan demanding additional rent relief funding and funding for a tenant legal protections -- a call echoed by Attorney General Brian Frosh.  The letter comes at a time where concerns continue to mount about the impacts the coronavirus pandemic is having on renters at risk for eviction. Fox 45 News reports: The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates 13% of…

Comments Off on Speaker Jones Calls on Hogan for More Rent Relief, Stronger Tenant Protections
September 3, 2020
Read more about the article Law Enforcement Briefs House Police Reform and Accountability Workgroup
Public Safety and Corrections
Law Enforcement Briefs House Police Reform and Accountability Workgroup

The workgroup heard testimony from Maryland Chiefs and Sheriffs Associations, Fraternal Order of Police, Department of State Police, Maryland Troopers Association, and State Law Enforcement Officers Labor Alliance.  Over the course of five hours, the presentations before the House Police Reform and Accountability comprehensively covered law enforcement perspectives and expertise on a range of issues including the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights (LEOBR); Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA); use of force policies; police body-worn…

Comments Off on Law Enforcement Briefs House Police Reform and Accountability Workgroup
August 28, 2020
Read more about the article CDC Changes COVID-19 Testing Guidelines, Experts Raise Concern
Coronavirus / Health and Human Services
CDC Changes COVID-19 Testing Guidelines, Experts Raise Concern

New CDC guidelines narrow the scope of people who should get tested for COVID-19 concerning public health experts.  Under the revised Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 testing guidelines people who have been exposed to the virus but are symptomless are not required to get tested. Experts have raised concerns that under these changes people who are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic would continue to spread the disease and delay treatment. The New York Times…

Comments Off on CDC Changes COVID-19 Testing Guidelines, Experts Raise Concern
August 28, 2020
Read more about the article State Awards Counties Nearly $10 Million in Grants to Fight Opioid and Substance Use Crisis
Coronavirus / County News / Health and Human Services
State Awards Counties Nearly $10 Million in Grants to Fight Opioid and Substance Use Crisis

The Opioid Operational Command Center distributed $9.6 million in grants to counties for FY 2021 as part of a $50 million, five-year commitment the Hogan-Rutherford Administration made to fight the crisis.  Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford announced the awards in coordination with the Maryland Opioid Operational Command Center (OOCC) and Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). The funds are a combination of competitive grants for specific programs and block grants to county Opioid Intervention Teams. From the…

Comments Off on State Awards Counties Nearly $10 Million in Grants to Fight Opioid and Substance Use Crisis
August 26, 2020
Read more about the article Dozens of Maryland Companies Take Active Role in Developing Coronavirus Treatment
Coronavirus / Health and Human Services
Dozens of Maryland Companies Take Active Role in Developing Coronavirus Treatment

Nearly 40 Maryland based life sciences companies and research hospitals have dedicated time and resources to provide COVID-19 therapeutic or technological support including to help develop and manufacture vaccines.  These institutions include the University System of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University. Each of which has dedicated millions towards comprehensive COVID-19 research and treatment. The former's School of Medicine has begun phase 3 trials of a COVID-19 vaccine. A press release from the Governor's Office highlights…

Comments Off on Dozens of Maryland Companies Take Active Role in Developing Coronavirus Treatment
August 25, 2020
Read more about the article Pandemic Presents Former Inmates with New Barriers to Re-entry
Coronavirus / Public Safety and Corrections
Pandemic Presents Former Inmates with New Barriers to Re-entry

Individuals recently released from jails face limited reentry programs and loss of job opportunities as the pandemic rages on. The coronavirus pandemic has millions of Americans without a job. Formerly incarcerated individuals are facing particular employment challenges as the lack of jobs also impacts their ability to meet probation requirements or pay required fees. From Governing: The crisis has halted some reentry programs entirely, limited the resources available to their clients or forced them to…

Comments Off on Pandemic Presents Former Inmates with New Barriers to Re-entry
August 24, 2020
Read more about the article Federal Report Finds Correlation Between Increased Rents and Homelessness
Housing and Community Development / NACo and Federal Issues
Federal Report Finds Correlation Between Increased Rents and Homelessness

The report from the GAO found a correlation between a median increase of $100 in rent and a 9% increase in homelssness. As concerns mount regarding COVID-19 related housing issues, a federal report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds rent increases to be a factor in the increase in homelessness in the majority of jurisdictions they studied. From Route Fifty: The report analyzed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's homeless population count,…

Comments Off on Federal Report Finds Correlation Between Increased Rents and Homelessness
August 24, 2020
Read more about the article Group of County Leaders Request More Contact Tracing Data from State
Coronavirus / County News / Health and Human Services
Group of County Leaders Request More Contact Tracing Data from State

Five county executives and the mayor of Baltimore City have called on state leaders to provide more information and clarity from state COVID-19 contact tracing efforts.  In particular, the letter directed to the Governor and the Department of Health called for more data sharing and collaboration between state and local health departments.  The Baltimore Sun reports: Specifically, the six executives urged Hogan and health officials to share more data on the state’s website and with…

Comments Off on Group of County Leaders Request More Contact Tracing Data from State
August 21, 2020
Read more about the article Court Affirms City’s Food Truck Distance Rules
Business Affairs / County News / Economic Development / Government Liability and Courts
Court Affirms City’s Food Truck Distance Rules

Maryland Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Baltimore City's '300-foot rule' for food trucks. The law, passed in 2014, prohibits all mobile vendors from operating within 300 feet of a competing brick and mortar establishment. Violators can be fined or have their licenses revoked. Though typically violators are asked to relocate or change menus. The court rejected arguments from the food trucks that the rule violated their constitutional rights. The Baltimore Sun reports: The…

Comments Off on Court Affirms City’s Food Truck Distance Rules
August 21, 2020
Read more about the article Montgomery Awards $10 Million to Child Care Providers
Coronavirus / County News / Education / Health and Human Services
Montgomery Awards $10 Million to Child Care Providers

The county awarded a total of $10 million in grants to 467 child care providers for pandemic related expenses.  The funds were awarded through the Montgomery’s Child Care Recovery Program to help with reopening costs and COVID-19 financial losses. As announced in a Montgomery County press release: The grants are critical to the County’s recovery so that families can to go back to work and ensure that their children are in safe and caring environments.…

Comments Off on Montgomery Awards $10 Million to Child Care Providers
August 21, 2020
Newer Posts
Older Posts