News You Can Use Archives

Frederick Seeks Input on Draft Historic Preservation Plan

Frederick County is inviting residents and stakeholders to review and provide feedback on its draft Historic Preservation Plan, a long-range framework that guides how the County identifies, protects, and manages historic and cultural resources. Public comments are being accepted through June 2, 2026. Balancing Preservation and Growth The plan is designed to serve as a functional planning document, helping the County integrate historic preservation into broader land use and development decisions. In addition to protecting…

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May 7, 2026

Elections / News You Can Use

New Mobile App Gives Voters Direct Access to Election Information

The Maryland State Board of Elections announced the launch of its voter resource phone app, Go Vote Maryland. Researchers and students from the Empowering Secure Elections research lab at Towson University and the Center for Democracy and Civic Engagement at the University of Maryland developed the app in partnership with the Maryland State Board of Elections. The free app is now available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The app…

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May 6, 2026

County News / Economic Development / News You Can Use

FY27 Rural Maryland Grant Cycle Now Open

The Rural Maryland Council (RMC) has opened its Fiscal Year 2027 grant cycle, offering funding opportunities to support economic development and long-term sustainability in rural communities across the state. The application process includes two phases, beginning with a Letter of Intent due by May 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM. This year’s cycle includes more than $6 million in funding for two key programs: Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF) Maryland Agricultural Education and Rural Development…

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April 28, 2026

County News / Health and Human Services / Information Technology / News You Can Use

Baltimore Tracks Opioid Settlement Spending With New Dashboard

Baltimore City is adding a new layer of transparency to how opioid settlement funds are being used, launching a public dashboard alongside its first annual report on the Opioid Restitution Fund. The tools offer a clearer look at how funding from opioid litigation is being allocated, tracked, and evaluated as jurisdictions continue responding to the overdose crisis. From the press release: “I am so proud that we are investing Opioid Restitution Fund dollars directly back…

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April 23, 2026

County News / Environment / News You Can Use

Charles County Marks Water Quality Milestone in Lower Patuxent

Charles County has earned a notable water quality milestone after the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) approved the removal of the county’s portion of the non-tidal Lower Patuxent River Watershed from Maryland's sediment impairment list. The decision took four years of environmental monitoring and means that this portion of the watershed will now be recognized as meeting Maryland’s water quality standards for sediment-related biological health. For the county, this milestone helps clarify where future restoration…

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April 9, 2026

County News / Economic Development / Housing and Community Development / News You Can Use / Parks and Recreation

Baltimore County Expands Senior Services in Jacksonville

Baltimore County is making a significant investment in services for older adults, breaking ground on a new Jacksonville Senior Center designed to better meet the needs of its growing and active senior population. The new facility will replace the current center with a space that is three times larger, giving the county more room to expand programming, improve accessibility, and support a wider range of activities and services. County officials say the project was shaped…

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April 2, 2026

County News / Economic Development / Environment / News You Can Use

Prince George’s Uses Trees as Climate Infrastructure

Prince George's County is taking tree planting to a whole other level. More than just beautification, their new program focuses on local infrastructure development. Through its Urban Tree Planting Program, the county is planting 2,147 additional native trees and more than 3,000 native perennials, shrubs, and smaller trees in communities identified as having some of the greatest environmental need. The effort reflects a growing reality for counties: tree canopy is increasingly being viewed not just…

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March 26, 2026

Agriculture / County News / Economic Development / News You Can Use

Harford Tackles What’s Next for County Agriculture

Agriculture is constantly changing and Harford County’s upcoming Agriculture Symposium promises a snapshot of the issues shaping county agriculture right now. Set for May 9, the county’s 2026 symposium titled “Rooted in Change,” will bring together farmers, agricultural professionals, and community members for a day of discussion around some of the biggest issues facing local agriculture today. And while the event is local, the themes are anything but. From emerging farm technology to business diversification…

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March 25, 2026

County News / Education / Emergency Management / News You Can Use

Training Tomorrow’s First Responders Today

Counties across the country are struggling to recruit the next generation of firefighters, dispatchers, and law enforcement officers. One Florida county is taking a different approach, building that pipeline before students even graduate high school. In Okeechobee County, public safety career programs are giving students hands-on training and early exposure to careers in fire rescue, 911 dispatch, and law enforcement. The programs are embedded directly into the school day through career and technical education (CTE)…

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March 24, 2026

County News / Emergency Management / General Assembly News / MACo Testimony / News You Can Use

General Assembly Advances County Emergency Management Priorities

Two priority bills for county emergency managers are advancing in the General Assembly, both focused on stabilizing funding and bolstering long-term preparedness amid federal uncertainty. HB 953 has passed the House and now moves to the Senate. This bill authorizes transfers from the Revenue Stabilization Account to the State Disaster Recovery Fund, providing flexibility when disasters create immediate costs that counties must cover before federal aid arrives. The fund helps bridge that gap when costs…

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March 23, 2026