Read more about the article Cardin named chair of U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
County News / Human Resources / Leadership / News You Can Use / Public Information and Ethics
Cardin named chair of U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee

U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland was named chair of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday, September 27. He replaces Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey. Cardin is a Democrat who has served on the Foreign Relations Committee ever since he joined the Senate in 2007. He’s also co-chair of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, better known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission. In a statement, Cardin said he’s accepting the…

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October 3, 2023
Read more about the article New Poll: Black and White Democrats Divided on Juvenile Crime Strategy
Health and Human Services / Public Safety and Corrections
New Poll: Black and White Democrats Divided on Juvenile Crime Strategy

Respondents were asked about charges, strict laws, and leniency to reveal that 62 percent of black democrats favored stricter laws for juvenile offenders compared to a comparable percentage of white democrats who disagree. Juvenile crime has been a major topic of conversation over the last couple months. Recently, the House Judiciary Committee held a five hour hearing on the state of juvenile crime and how new laws may or may not have an affect on…

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October 3, 2023
Read more about the article Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Conserves 589 Acres in Dorchester County
Agriculture / County News / Economic Development / Environment / Finance and Procurement / Housing and Community Development
Eastern Shore Land Conservancy Conserves 589 Acres in Dorchester County

Eastern Shore Land Conservancy (ESLC) has announced a new conservation easement in Dorchester County. The property, owned by Ed “Biff” Burns, protects 589 acres of land southeast of Cambridge. The permanent protection of the property helps to secure the agricultural and natural resources of the region, with approximately 227 acres planted in grain and 363 acres held in woodlands, with many qualifying as forested wetlands. The woodlands are especially important, as they provide significant habitat…

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October 3, 2023
Read more about the article USDA Invests $3B in Climate-Smart Practices on Agricultural Lands 
Agriculture / Environment / Intergovernmental Relations
USDA Invests $3B in Climate-Smart Practices on Agricultural Lands 

The USDA is investing $3 billion in climate-friendly practices on farms and other agricultural operations.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making more than $3 billion in funding available for agricultural producers and forest landowners nationwide to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices in fiscal year 2024. These additional investments are estimated to help hundreds of thousands of farmers and ranchers apply conservation to millions of acres of land. The program will…

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October 3, 2023
Read more about the article Comments Due Oct 9 on Updated FAMLI Appeals Regulations Outline
County News / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources
Comments Due Oct 9 on Updated FAMLI Appeals Regulations Outline

The Maryland Department of Labor has released an updated outline of draft regulations overseeing appeals processes for the state’s paid leave benefit. Written comments are due on October 9. The Maryland Department of Labor’s FAMLI Division — tasked with implementing and guiding the statewide Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) law — has released a "Draft FAMLI Appeals Regulatory Outline” for stakeholders to weigh in on. The revised outline reflects stakeholder feedback from the original…

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October 3, 2023
Read more about the article USDOT – FHWA Opens $10B in Bridge Funding
Intergovernmental Relations / Transportation and Public Works
USDOT – FHWA Opens $10B in Bridge Funding

The Federal Highway Administration recently opened applications for $10 billion in bridge funding.  The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration opened applications for nearly $10 billion in funding for fiscal years 2023-2026 through the competitive Bridge Investment Program’s “Large Bridge Project” category, which funds projects larger than $100 million. The Bridge Investment Program was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which makes the single largest dedicated investment in bridges since the construction of the Interstate…

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October 3, 2023
Read more about the article Speed, Accuracy, Inclusivity: Frederick Rolls Out Enhanced 9-1-1 System
County News / Emergency Management / Public Safety and Corrections
Speed, Accuracy, Inclusivity: Frederick Rolls Out Enhanced 9-1-1 System

New enhanced 9-1-1 service includes language translation and precise location for mobile devices contacting 9-1-1. Frederick County is making significant strides in delivering Next-Generation 9-1-1 (NG911) services to equip public safety agencies and first responders with 21st-century tools and technology to protect residents and save lives. Frederick County's 9-1-1 center has a range of new capabilities, including language translation for over 170 languages and dialects and precise location of mobile phone callers. "Every person should…

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October 3, 2023
Read more about the article County Funded Food Banks Had Braced for Federal Shutdown, Will Reserves Hold Out?
Health and Human Services
County Funded Food Banks Had Braced for Federal Shutdown, Will Reserves Hold Out?

A federal shutdown can compound already increased demand on some county funded food banks and pantries across the state. Will those reserves be enough to cover current increases and a potential shutdown if an agreement is not reach before the 45 day extension expires? With COVID-19 emergency funding depleted, a government shutdown can compound the already growing demand on local food banks and pantries. As a Maryland Matters article recently highlighted, demand on food banks…

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October 3, 2023
Read more about the article Federal Government Looks to Set “Zero-Emission” Building Standards
Energy / Environment / Housing and Community Development / Intergovernmental Relations
Federal Government Looks to Set “Zero-Emission” Building Standards

The Biden Administration is looking to set building emission standards in an effort to help developers navigate a patchwork of state and local policies.  Commercial and residential buildings make up nearly one-third of US emissions. As climate change has continued to intensify, policymakers at the state and local levels have pushed to enact building energy performance standards, or BEPS, with the hope of reducing pollution in their communities. The state of Maryland & Howard County…

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October 3, 2023
Read more about the article State Sets Contribution Rates for FAMLI Paid Leave Benefit
Business Affairs / Employee Benefits and Relations / Health and Human Services / Human Resources
State Sets Contribution Rates for FAMLI Paid Leave Benefit

The Department of Labor has set the FAMLI contribution rate at .9%. As part of its draft regulatory process for the state's new Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) benefit program, the Maryland Department of Labor (MDL) has set contribution rates and has provided guidance on the split between employers and employees. MDL has set the initial contribution rate for the FAMLI State Plan as 0.90% of covered wages, to be equally divided between employees…

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October 3, 2023
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