Maryland State News

Here’s how Maryland jurisdictions are handling the academic school year amid the coronavirus pandemic

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 02:31:52 +0000

Maryland counties are announcing and revising plans and guidelines for holding classes while containing the spread of coronavirus.

BWI To Extend Rent Relief For Food, Retail Stores Inside Airport

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 02:13:05 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) —There’s new help for the food and retail stores inside BWI Airport.

The Board of Public Works unanimously voted to extend rent relief and lease extensions through June.

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

BWI says this represents about $16 million in relief to help ease the financial burden caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, total concession sales fell by roughly 61%.

For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department’s website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ’s coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.

CVS Announces 570K Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Doses Across 17 States, Including Maryland

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 02:06:24 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — CVS is hoping to relieve some of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout frustration.

The chain is getting additional COVID-19 vaccines through the Federal Retail Pharmacy Program.

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

Over 500,000 doses will be available in 17 states, including Maryland, starting Thursday.

CVS says it can administer 20 to 25-million shots per month, and as the vaccine supply increases, more states will have access.

For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department’s website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ’s coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.

Queso Fresco By El Abuelito Cheese Linked To Listeria Outbreak, CDC Says

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:57:29 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — El Abuelito is recalling all of its queso fresco products because they could be contaminated with listeria monocytogenes.

This has sent at least nine people to the hospital in four states, including Maryland.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said they all got sick from the queso fresco made by El Abuelito cheese and sold under three different brands.

Listeria can cause common food poisoning symptoms, but it can be serious in seniors and pregnant women.

Carroll County school board votes to move forward with reopening plan, expects to return to five days of in-person learning in the fall

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:53:29 +0000

The board of education voted Feb. 10 to allow students to return to in-person learning full-time and will meet Feb. 24 to discuss a return plan.

Carroll school board votes to move forward with reopening, expects to return to five days of in-person learning in fall

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:53:29 +0000

The Carroll County Board of Education voted Wednesday night to send an updated return-to-school plan that would double the amount of in-person learning for most students to the state’s education department for approval.

Towson women’s lacrosse upsets No. 10 Loyola Maryland, 13-7, behind Nikki Sliwak | ROUNDUP

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:35:43 +0000

Nikki Sliwak scored four goals and the Towson women’s lacrosse team went on a 10-0 run spanning both halves to secure a 13-7 upset victory over No. 10 Loyola Maryland on Wednesday night.

Man Injured In Shooting In Essex, Baltimore County Police Say

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:25:19 +0000

ESSEX, Md. (WJZ) — Baltimore County Police are investigating a shooting in Essex that left one man injured Wednesday night.

Officers responded to the unit block of Valley Arbor Court around just after 5:30 p.m. after gunshots were heard from inside an apartment.

The preliminary investigation found that the victim, a 27-year-old man, suffered at least one gunshot wound to the upper body.

He was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Detectives from the Baltimore County Violent Crimes Unit have responded to the scene and continue to look for at least one suspect that fled the apartment on foot following the shooting.

Anyone who may have seen anything or who has additional information is asked to contact detectives by calling 410-307-2020.

Callers may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward when submitting tips through Metro Crime Stoppers.

Judge Rejects Motion To Release Maryland Man Who Allegedly Beat Officer With Bat During U.S. Capitol Riots

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 01:07:42 +0000

WASHINGTON (WJZ) — A judge has rejected a motion to release a Maryland man accused of attacking police with a baseball bat during the U.S. Capitol riots.

According to court documents, Emanuel Jackson, 20, was among the violent mob that stormed the Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.

Jackson was seen on video surveillance footage making a fist and repeatedly striking a U.S. Capitol Police officer, while he tried to enter the building.

He was one of the first people to enter the building, federal authorities said.

Judge rejects motion to release 20-year-old homeless Maryland man accused of attacking police with a baseball bat during January US Capitol riot. Our past story https://t.co/4eG8p8z5oW Order below @wjz pic.twitter.com/5PZJ2c9dCx

— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) February 25, 2021

Jackson was interviewed the day of the riot and the video was posted to Twitter.

Crisis at the Capitol: Complete Coverage

“I had a bat. They were pepper-spraying people. Then, they got me in the eye,” he said.

Asked why he was there, Jackson replied, “Fighting for America. We’ve been taken over by globalists, by the Chinese. Fighting for America. I’m not here for Trump. I’m here for America.”

He then said he didn’t vote because “I thought my vote didn’t count, but I learned a lesson, and I will vote next in the midterms and in other elections.”

In days after the riot, police found more surveillance footage showing Jackson with the metal bat, striking other officers.

On Jan. 18, Jackson turned himself into officials. He admitted to police that he took part in the riot and identified himself in video and photographs shown to him by police.

Calvert Hall basketball rallies behind Mike Williams’ 35 points for 62-51 win over McDonogh

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:36:52 +0000

The sophomore guard enjoyed a career game, scoring 35 points, including 16 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Cardinals to a 62-51 comeback win.

Mt. Washington Tavern Reopens Its Doors After Closure Due To Baltimore City COVID-19 Restrictions

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:30:59 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Mt. Washington Tavern reopened its doors Wednesday, welcoming customers back after nearly two months of a complete shutdown.

“We’re excited,” David Lichty, Co-Owner of Mt. Washington Tavern, said. “Everybody’s happy to be here and ready to go.”

The tavern has been closed since just after New Year’s due to Baltimore City dining restrictions.

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

The owners said they could not stay open on just carryout and delivery, so they made the tough choice to close until restrictions on indoor dining were lifted.

“It was just not worth it,” Lichty said. “Just not sustainable with just carryout.”

He said nothing beats indoor dining. Now, nearly two months later with the hour-long time limit lifted,
the community staple of over 40 years is back in business and ready to serve its customers.

“It was just time to go,” Lichty said. “We need to become relevant again and let people see that Mt. Washington Tavern is still here and ready to go.”

“I’m hoping that now that the weather is getting nice that we can get back outside we can get back into our flow,” Shannon Maddox, Bartender and Manager at Mt. Washington Tavern, said.

Although indoor dining capacity still remains at 25% in Baltimore City, a return to something that even looks somewhat normal has restaurant employees and diners feeling good.

“This is strange for a bar atmosphere, but I really missed the social ability that goes on here at the tavern,” Tom Merryman, a customer, said.

With the doors finally back open, the owners are encouraged by falling coronavirus numbers and hope it won’t be long before capacity limits are eased.

“We’ll get by and we’ll crank this thing back up and we’ll be good to go,” Lichty said.

For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department’s website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ’s coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.

‘Game-Changing’ Johnson & Johnson Single-Dose Covid-19 Vaccine Meets Requirements For Emergency Use Authorization, FDA Says

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:30:35 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Johnson and Johnson’s new Baltimore-made vaccine is safe and effective at fighting COVID-19 according to a new analysis from the Food and Drug Administration, which is likely to vote Friday to allow emergency use by the public.

“It’s been challenging, but it has also been exciting. Obviously, we are at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19, and we are very proud to play that role,” said Sean Kirk, the executive vice president at Emergent BioSolutions where the vaccine is made in Southeast Baltimore.

If the vaccine is approved, Maryland could get 40 thousand doses by next week.

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

“There’s going to be a tremendous–no pun intended–shot in the arm,” a hopeful Maryland Governor Larry Hogan told The Washington Post.

Earlier this month, WJZ toured the inside of the Bayview facility.

The manufacturing process is not waiting for the FDA’s approval. Emergent has already been making doses for weeks.

While Johnson & Johnson is made here, the vaccine is shipped to another location where it is placed in vials then sent around the country.

“It’s going to take a little bit of patience. The supply is going to ramp up over time. Enough doses are going to be available,” Kirk told WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren. “There is light at the end of the tunnel for returning to a state of normalcy.”

A Johnson & Johnson representative told lawmakers this week that manufacturing is moving more slowly than expected. 12 million doses were supposed to be ready by the end of this month but that number is down to roughly 4 million.

“If an emergency use authorization is issued, we anticipate allocating 3 to 4 million doses of Johnson & Johnson vaccine next week. Johnson & Johnson has announced it aims to deliver a total of 20 million doses by the end of March. We’re working with the company to accelerate the pace and time frame by which they deliver the full 100 million doses, which is required by contract by the end of June,” said Jeff Zeints, the White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator who met with Governor Hogan this week. “While we await the FDA’s decision, we want the American people to know that we’re doing the work so that if the EUA is granted we will waste getting this life-saving vaccine into the arms of Americans.”

Kirk told Hellgren the supply question “is an important one” but wanted to assure Marylanders his team is up to the task.

“There’s obviously a high sense of urgency to vaccinate everyone as quickly as possible. Practically speaking, that is a challenge,” he told Hellgren. “There was always going to be a supply ramp over time. It was always going to be that way. I would like everyone to appreciate and understand that we are doing the very best we can to get as much safe and effective product out of the manufacturing process as possible.”

The Johnson & Johnson vaccine has some big advantages: It requires just a single dose and can be refrigerated at normal temperatures and stored for three months.

It is also 72 percent effective overall in the United States, which is less than the current two-dose Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, but it is 86 percent effective against severe forms of COVID–meaning it will keep many out of the hospital.

And it was proven effective in trials at fighting more contagious strains of the virus that are now circulating in Maryland. There are at least 60 combined cases of the South African, U.K. and Brazilian variants here. Johnson & Johnson was found to be 82 percent effective at fighting severe COVID-19 symptoms in South Africa and is 64 percent effective there overall.

Trials found the vaccine was 100 percent effective at preventing deaths. “28 days after vaccination, the vaccine provided complete protection against COVID-19 related hospital and hospitalization and death,” said Johnson and Johnson’s Dr. Richard Nettles.

Governor Hogan said Tuesday that Maryland is in a race to vaccinate as many people as possible before variants spread widely. Most cases involving the new strain are not linked to travel, suggesting community spread already.

The state has now fully vaccinated 6.3 percent of its population.

For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department’s website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ’s coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.

Carroll County school board discusses reopening plan, social distancing at meeting

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:27:37 +0000

The board of education voted Feb. 10 to allow students to return to in-person learning full-time and will meet Feb. 24 to discuss a return plan.

Mt. Washington Tavern Reopens Its Doors After Closure Due To Baltimore City COVID-19 Restrictions

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:24:59 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Mt. Washington Tavern reopened its doors Wednesday, welcoming customers back after nearly two months of a complete shutdown.

The tavern has been closed since just after New Year’s due to Baltimore City dining restrictions.

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

The owners said they could not stay open on just carryout and delivery, so they made the tough choice to close until restrictions on indoor dining were lifted.

For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department’s website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ’s coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.

Coronavirus relief for concessions at BWI Marshall Airport is approved by Maryland Board of Public Works

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:17:00 +0000

The Maryland Board of Public Works expanded financial relief Wednesday for shops and restaurants at BWI Marshall Airport that have lost business during the coronavirus pandemic.

COVID cases in Carroll schools decline again; officials remind citizens to be diligent because pandemic isn’t over

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:11:14 +0000

The Carroll County Public Schools dashboard that tracks positive coronavirus cases reported Wednesday that 48 people — 11 staff members and 37 students — have the virus this week. Last week, 61 people — 14 staff and 47 students — tested positive.

Orioles’ Ryan Mountcastle Looks To Build On Impressive Start To Young Career

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:06:26 +0000

SARASOTA, Fla. (WJZ) — The Orioles are showing progress in developing their young players.

Some made their Major League debuts last season, and now, they’re getting ready for an encore.

Ryan Mountcastle has graduated from prospect to time to show he’s a big-time pro.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK – AUGUST 28: Ryan Mountcastle of the Baltimore Orioles catches a flyball hit by Travis Shaw of the Toronto Blue Jays during the ninth inning at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

He showed plenty of promise with a strong Major League debut in the pandemic-abreviated season last year.

Mountcastle’s been on the radar and on the rise since the Orioles picked him as a first-round draft choice six years ago when he was an 18-year-old high schooler.

Drafted as a shortstop, he’s transitioned to outfielder and can play some first base.

But most of all, Mountcastle can hit. His batting average, home runs and runs driven in were all impressive in his first 35 games as a big leaguer.

Mountcastle is projected to be the Orioles’ starting left fielder, and because he played in just 35 games last season, he’s classified as a “rookie” this year.

Baltimore City Schools To Offer Weekly COVID-19 Testing For Students, Staff

Thu, 25 Feb 2021 00:00:48 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — As schools across Maryland prepare for students to return to the classrooms in some form, Baltimore City Public Schools plans to offer weekly COVID-19 testing for all students and staff members.

The tests will be offered to people regardless of whether they are showing symptoms of the virus or not in an effort to provide early detection of possible cases.

“This asymptomatic testing really is part of our commitment to keeping our staff safe, to keep students safe and to provide families with a truly viable in-person learning option,” Baltimore City Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises said.

Dr. Santelises said the testing will complement other efforts like social distancing, personal protective equipment and cleaning.

Under the current plan, elementary and middle school students and staff members will swab themselves.

Results at the elementary school level will be pooled by classroom, and if a classroom pool has a positive test, all of its students and staff will need to quarantine.

“This new tool further strengthens current efforts,” Dr. Santelises said.

The tests will then be picked up by a mobile lab from the University of Maryland Medical Center.

At the high school level, students and staff members will use saliva-based tests that will be processed at a lab in Washington, D.C.

Results will be available within eight hours through an app.

Some students pushed back.

“I think it is helpful, but I don’t think it’s enough,” Kimberly Vasquez, a student at Baltimore City College, said.

Some said they’re still concerned about public transportation, and they want teachers to be fully vaccinated before heading back.

“This puts students in a position to choose between grades and the health of ourselves, our families and our teachers,” Aniyah Taylor, a Baltimore City Schools high school student, said.

On Tuesday, Gov. Larry Hogan said everyone over the age of five will be required to wear masks in schools, including classrooms, gyms and hallways.

Baltimore School For The Arts Student Mia Dyer Named 2021 Recipient Of Scholastic Art And Writing Award

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 23:49:14 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A Baltimore School for the Arts student recently won a prestigious regional award.

Mia Dyer is a junior at the school. She’s been named a 2021 recipient of the Scholastic Art and Writing Award.

Of the 2,700 entries, she’s one of only 94 to get a Gold Key award.

Walking in the halls of the Baltimore School for The Arts, Dyer knows there’s great history in the building, but she was reluctant to admit she’s now part of the illustrious history.

For this film student, her entry was about women in 1920s Hollywood.

“I saw this article from a book back in the 20s that described Hollywood in the filmmaking industry as a Manless Eden because it was so dominated by women,” Dyer said.

“So I was really surprised that it was ever known as something that was a women’s place to be working and an artistic place that was making a lot of money. I started researching and my paper became what caused that decline,” she added.

When asked how her essay was received, Dyer said many of her peers were interested in the topic.

“I think it’s something again that you just don’t hear,” Dyer said.

The award has been around for nearly a century. Author Stephen King was a recipient, and so was poet Amanda Gorman.

Gorman performed at President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ Inauguration just a month ago.

“I think I’m humble because I’m surrounded by so many talented people,” Dyer said as she reflected on the talent in her high school.

Dyer also had a second entry that got an honorable mention.

Carroll County educators rally for a ‘safer’ return to schools

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 23:32:01 +0000

Carroll County Education Association organized a car rally just before a school board meeting meant to discuss a return plan for students.

Carroll educators rally for a ‘safer’ return to schools amid coronavirus pandemic ahead of board meeting

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 23:32:01 +0000

Carroll County Education Association organized a car rally just before a school board meeting meant to discuss a return plan for students.

Maryland Bill Would Ban Chemical Conversion Of Plastic Into Fuel

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 23:31:41 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Plastic pollution is an ever-growing problem for the entire planet.

“If we don’t do anything by 2050, we will have the weight of three million blue whales worth of plastic in our ocean,” Maryland State Delegate Sara Love said.

Much of it isn’t getting recycled. According to the EPA, only about 9% of plastic waste was recycled in 2018, and the demand to reuse that recycled material isn’t high.

“Recycling only works if there are people who want to buy it to turn it into something new,” Kate Breimann, Director of Environment Maryland, said.

Advanced recycling, or chemical recycling, is what some argue could help solve the problem.

Instead of chopping plastic up, the process melts it down and turns it into a new type of material to be reused.

“We see it as a tool to convert plastics back into plastics to their original natural state,” Dan Felton, Executive Director of Ameripen, said.

But a new bill in the Maryland General Assembly would ban the chemical conversion of plastic into fuel.

“In the process, it lets out a huge amount of carbon dioxide,” Love said.

Breimann said making new fuel out of used plastic also pollutes the air.

“We certainly do not need a new fossil fuel stream as our state tries to take meaningful action to move away from fossil fuels,” Breimann said.

Breimann said she would only like to see a ban on converting plastic into fuel, but does not have a problem with plastic to plastic.

But some, like Felton, believe chemical recycling is part of the solution.

“If you take a technology off the table that could be helping address some of the exact same issues these policymakers are trying to tackle, we don’t think that’s the right choice,” Felton said.

Others also oppose the bill, like Craig Cookson, from the American Chemistry Council.

“Advanced recycling is an innovative technology that helps recycling efforts in states and communities and allows for more types of plastics to be recycled,” said Cookson in a statement to WJZ. “These facilities have the potential to keep plastics out of the environment and landfills while displacing the use of virgin natural resources with limited emissions. Ten states have already taken legislative steps to allow advanced recycling facilities to open in their communities, including most recently in Virginia and Pennsylvania. Given the current state of our nation’s recycling infrastructure, it is not the time to ban new recycling technologies, something no state has done to date.”

A spokesperson for Eastman Chemical Company, which operates a plastic producing facility in Chestertown, also does not agree with the proposed bill and provided the following statement to WJZ:

“While Eastman does not operate in the waste-to-fuel space, we do find HB 21 to be problematic because of its broad scope. The bill as written also includes prohibition of recycling facilities that would recycle plastic into feedstock through chemical conversion processes. Advanced recycling technologies that are material-to-material solutions, including Eastman’s Advanced Circular Recycling technologies, are absolutely essential to expanding the type of plastics that can be recycled, so the world can solve the global plastic waste crisis. Eastman’s recycling innovations convert plastic waste into new, reusable materials and HB 21 as written would close off this vital technology.”

Delegate Love said this bill still has a long way to go, but she feels good about it advancing in the General Assembly.

The full bill can be viewed on the Maryland General Assembly website.

James K. Lightner, professional photographer who took pictures as a child of the last Union and Confederate reunion at Gettysburg, dies

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 23:18:01 +0000

James K. Lightner, a career professional photographer who in 1938 took pictures of the last reunion of Union and Confederate veterans, died Feb. 7 of pneumonia at the University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center. The longtime Cockeysville resident was 93.

Hogan says Baltimore could get a version of Washington’s Purple Line if private sector bought in

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 23:03:47 +0000

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan used the Purple Line in the Washington suburbs of Maryland as an example of the sort of public-private partnership he likes.

Man indicted on charges he rammed a stolen minivan into a Baltimore police car, injuring officer

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 23:02:40 +0000

The Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office charged James Johnson, 22, with first and second degree assault after ramming into a police car in late January, according to police.

‘The Future Of Currency’: Baltimore Hair Salon Now Accepting Bitcoin

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:55:08 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The Federal Reserve’s system that lets banks send money back and forth electronically went down Wednesday morning.

It’s an issue you wouldn’t have to worry about if you were using a Cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin, which some businesses in Baltimore are starting to do.

At Dryland Salon in Canton, you can now get a blowout and pay for it with Bitcoin.

“This is the future of small business I believe,” Lynnae D’Alleva, Owner of Dryland Salon, said.

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The full-service salon, owned by sisters Lynnae and Kate D’Alleva, started accepting the form of Cryptocurrency in January.

“We started accepting Bitcoin because I know that Baltimore is a great city for women in tech. And we have a lot of very technically savvy women that come to our shop all the time. Those women are so ready to adopt new forms of technology, like Bitcoin,” Katie D’Alleva said.

Chase Maselka is one of those customers.

“I just think that it’s really the future of currency and it’s going to just become increasingly prevalent in the consumer place,” Maselka said. “As a young consumer, I think it’s something to get involved in earlier versus later.”

Dr. J.P. Krahel, an Associate Professor of Accounting at Loyola University, said there are several reasons Cryptocurrency is attractive.

“This time last year, Bitcoin was under $10,000. Now, it’s hovering around $50,000,” Dr. Krahel said.

It’s also decentralized, meaning it’s free of government interference. But there are some downfalls.

“Of course there have been plenty of falls along the way, so you have to have the stomach for it,” Dr. Krahel added.

But with such a small percentage of customers paying with Bitcoin, it’s a risk Dryland Salon is willing to take.

“It’s wild that you can have money that has nothing to do with a bank. You do not have to go see somebody else to have a bank in your hand. And I think that is so liberating,” Katie D’Alleva said.

The prices are still set in US dollars. They converted into what value would be in Bitcoin.

Trial Bond Hearing For Anne Arundel County Police Officer Who Knelt On Black Suspect In 2019 Postponed

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:51:03 +0000

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — Community members in Anne Arundel County continue to press for answers in a 2019 incident involving a police officer who knelt on the upper body of a young Black suspect.

Video shows Officer Daniel Reynolds kneeling on Daniel Jarrels while Jarrels was being detained. Jarrels later sued the Anne Arundel County Police Department seeking to have Reynolds fired.

Reynolds was scheduled to have a trial bond hearing Wednesday morning as he fights to keep his job.

A limited number of people are allowed to attend, but local activists want the hearing open to the public and live-streamed.

“The public has a right to know what restraint was used and how it impacted the suspect’s ability to breathe,” Jacqueline Alsop, the NAACP chair for Anne Arundel County, said.

Alsop added the police department “has a great opportunity to restore trust in the community by making police trial board hearings open to the public.”

Leaders from the NAACP, United Black Clergy and the Caucus of African American Leaders, as well as state Del. Shaneka Henson (D-Anne Arundel County), said what happened in 2019 was too similar to what happened to George Floyd in Minnesota 15 months later. Jarrels was not seriously hurt, but the community wants change and restored trust in the police department.

“The legal system says everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty and no one person should be the judge, jury and executioner,” Henson said.

Police said Jarrels was initially stopped for a traffic violation and later charged with resisting arrest. Once a complaint was filed, all charges against him were dropped.

The next step is Reynolds’ hearing, which has been postponed. A new date has not been set.

The police department did not respond to a request for comment following a news conference Wednesday.

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Former employee says Under Armour destroyed evidence crucial to her wrongful termination lawsuit

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:43:20 +0000

A former Under Armour employee who is alleging she was fired in retaliation for reporting on inappropriate work behavior and an environment hostile toward women claims the company and her former boss destroyed evidence that was relevant to her case.

Maryland Doctor Says He’s Not Ruling Out A Tiger Woods Return After Surgery For Injures In Rollover Car Crash

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:40:41 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — After a rollover car accident in Los Angeles, Tiger Woods had emergency surgery for open fractures on his ankle and lower right leg.

According to a statement posted on his Twitter account, doctors at Harbor UCLA Medical Center inserted a rod into his tibia and stabilized his foot with screws and pins.

pic.twitter.com/vZitnFV0YA

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) February 24, 2021

Dr. Andrew Pollak is an Orthopedic Surgeon at the University of Maryland, Shock Trauma, where he treats similar injures.

“There are certain types of injuries that make walking or standing on uneven surfaces particularly challenging, particularly injuries to the back part of the foot,” Dr. Pollak said. “Those types of motions can be very, very important in a golf swing.”

The vehicle driven by golfer Tiger Woods lies on its side in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, on February 23, 2021, after a rollover accident. – US golfer Tiger Woods was hospitalized Tuesday after a car crash in which his vehicle sustained “major damage,” the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s department said. Woods, the sole occupant, was removed from the wreckage by firefighters and paramedics, and suffered “multiple leg injuries,” his agent said in a statement to US media. (Photo by Patrick T. FALLON / AFP) (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

Dr. Pollak said there are two things that will define the outcome: The severity of the injury and the presence of any complications. Both of these are not yet known.

There are three things that will influence long-term outcomes: A strong social network, resilience and self-efficacy, all of which apply positivity to professional athletes.

Woods, who has won 15 major tournaments, was already recovering from his fifth back operation.

Dr. Pollak said, in many cases, someone who has already overcome adversity becomes better at it in the long-term.

“I wouldn’t take an athlete like Tiger and rule out his return to participation on any point,” he said.

In the coming days, doctors will be monitoring Woods for infection.

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Baltimore strip club performers protest COVID restrictions that bar adult entertainment, interrupting City Hall news conference

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:34:26 +0000

As COVID-19 cases have eased up and Baltimore has loosened restrictions on live performances at other venues, adult entertainment has remained off-limits.

Baltimore County school board sends $1.74B budget to county executive’s desk

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:34:20 +0000

Baltimore County Board of Education passed a $1.74 billion budget plan Tuesday night, sending it to the county executive and council for final consideration.

Marylanders Eligible For COVID-19 Vaccine Struggle To Find Appointments As M&T Bank Stadium Site Set To Open

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:30:25 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Frustration is mounting in the state’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout, as those eligible continue to struggle to find appointments.

Joyce Thane, 80, of Aberdeen, said she’s been on a vaccine waiting list for 40 days and counting.

“Officially put me on their register on the 15th,” Thane said.

CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

She has been eligible for a shot for more than four weeks. Now, the state is in Phase 1-C.

“And, they haven’t even finished with the 1-B’s,” Thane said.

At the direction of state health officials, she’s on multiple waiting lists, starting with Harford County.

“I signed up in Cecil County. I tried to get on Walgreens. I signed up on anywhere that would take,” Thane said.

Gov. Larry Hogan said there is a reason for this problem.

“The basic problem, quite simply, is that you cannot schedule an appointment for a vaccine that does not yet exist,” the governor said.

The state has two mass vaccination sites up and running with two more on the way.

M&T Bank Stadium is set to begin shots Thursday, and the minor league baseball stadium in Waldorf is set to begin shots next month.

The University of Maryland Medical System is operating the M&T Bank Stadium site.

“Obviously, we need to get shots into arms,” Dr. Michelle Gourdine, with UMMS, said.

In Harford County, local officials offered up Ripken Stadium to serve as a site, but as of now, there are no plans to use it.

“They offered the site. It’s right on I-95, and as you said, we think it’s a perfect site for a mass vax site,” Harford County Executive Barry Glassman said.

For Thane, who has high blood pressure and is turning 81 this summer, she and others over 75 continue to wait for supply to catch up to demand.

For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department’s website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ’s coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.

Harford County Sheriff’s Deputy Struck By Fleeing Vehicle In June 2020 Returns To Full Duty

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:22:00 +0000

BEL AIR, Md. (WJZ) — A Harford County Sheriff’s Deputy who was seriously injured when he was hit by a fleeing vehicle in June 2020 returned to full duty last week.

Sr. Deputy J. Nate Gerres, “endured multiple surgeries and physical therapy to be able to overcome his injures and return to full duty”, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office said.

Last week, Sr Dep Gerres returned to full duty. As many of you remember, Gerres was seriously injured when he was struck by a fleeing vehicle on June 25, 2020. Gerres endured multiple surgeries and physical therapy to be able to overcome his injuries and return to full duty. pic.twitter.com/hX5YCTJHQz

— Harford Sheriff (@Harford_Sheriff) February 24, 2021

On June 25, 2020, deputies conducted a traffic stop just before 2:30 p.m. on I-95 near the Route 24 underpass.

During the traffic stop, the driver began to pull away, dragging one deputy as he fled the scene, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office said.

The suspect continued onto Route 152 before turning right onto Old Joppa Road. Additional deputies and Maryland State Police were called in and laid tire spike strips at the intersection of Whitaker Mill Road and Old Joppa Road.

The driver failed to stop at the intersection, striking Sr. Deputy Gerres and other vehicles, according to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect was taken into custody following a brief foot pursuit and charged accordingly, the Harford County Sheriff’s Office said.

Baltimore approves $50,000 settlement with man who fell into utility hole left open for months

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:21:07 +0000

Darrin Tinker rode a bicycle into the water-filled hole in a Towson sidewalk, falling and breaking his jaw, a forearm and a wrist.

External Cameras On Howard County Schools Buses Will Catch Drivers Who Pass Illegally

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:00:53 +0000

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (WJZ) — It’s illegal to pass a school bus when it’s stopping or stopped with a stop sign extended and lights flashing. But over and over again drivers ignore that law and do it anyway, putting the lives of student passengers at risk.

Now in Howard County, it’ll be much easier to catch the drivers who break that law. Starting March 1, school buses that serve the Howard County Public School System will have external cameras installed to capture the license plates of drivers who pass buses illegally.

“The safety of our students as they travel to and from school is a collaborative effort that every citizen and visitor to Howard County must be accountable for,” said HCPSS Superintendent Michael J. Martirano. “Every day, too many drivers are traveling in an unsafe manner near our bus stops and in our school zones, putting our children at great risk. I am grateful for the partnership with the Howard County Police Department to advance this important aspect of maintaining safety at school bus stops.”

The cameras which will be maintained by BusPatrol America LLC will be able to capture 180-degree high-definition, color images and up to eight lanes of traffic.

The program, in conjunction with Howard County Police, will begin on March 1, 2021 — when in-person instruction is expected to begin in the county.

“The most common complaints we receive at the police department are about traffic violations, often in the very residential communities where school buses are picking up and dropping off our children,” said Police Chief Lisa Myers. “Passing those buses creates a serious potential danger to all students who are simply trying to travel safely to and from school. External cameras on school buses will send a message to drivers that it is critically important to stop for every school bus, every time.”

During the first month, violators will be issued a warning and paid citations will begin on April 1, 2021, by the county police.

“Nothing is more important the safety of our kids,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “Every parent should feel comfortable sending their child to the bus stop, and these new cameras are an important deterrent for those putting our kids in harm’s way. I appreciate the support of the Howard County Council, Police Chief Myers, Superintendent Martirano, and the Board of Education for making this law a reality and ensuring accountability and enforcement when it comes to our children’s safety.”

State courts have set the fine at $250 with no points. Every fine collected will go back into the cost for the cameras.

It is illegal for drivers in both directions to pass a school bus when it’s stopping or stopped with a stop sign extended and lights flashing.

As @HCPSS students start returning to school, buses will be outfitted with external cameras to catch the license plates of those who pass stopped buses illegally: Read more: https://t.co/ItiM1hGS43 pic.twitter.com/pUeN2jyJ0f

— Howard County Police Department (@HCPDNews) February 24, 2021

School buses are used daily to transport 41,000 students in Howard County, making more than 10,000 stops.

Before the pandemic, a one-day survey found 290 drivers failed to legally stop while the bus was picking up or dropping off students.

“Our students are our most precious resource and it is critical that they are able to travel to and from school in a safe manner,” said HCPSS Board Chair Chao Wu. “External bus cameras are in place in many school districts in Maryland and I am grateful that Howard County is now able to implement this important safety measure.”

Information about preventing school bus-related accidents, including laws about passing school buses, may be found on the Maryland Department of Transportation website.

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Owner Of Maryland Market That Sold Winning $731M Powerball Ticket Gets $100K Bonus Check

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:00:32 +0000

LONACONING, Md. (WJZ) — The owner of the western Maryland market that sold a winning $731 million Powerball ticket last month has claimed the $100,000 bonus the store earned for selling the winning ticket.

Richard Ravenscroft, the owner of Coney Market in the Allegany County community of Lonaconing, previously told WJZ he would use the money to invest in the building and will give some to his staff.

Maryland Lottery Public Relations Specialist, Doug Lloyd (center), presents Richard Ravenscroft (right), owner of Coney Market in Lonaconing, Maryland, with a $100,000 bonus check for selling the jackpot-winning Powerball ticket for the January 20, 2021 drawing. Lottery Powerball mascot, Bryan Kelly (left) cheers them on. Credit: Maryland Lottery and Gaming

Lottery officials on Wednesday shared photos of Ravenscroft with a large $100,000 check and in front of a banner celebrating the store’s role in the jackpot.

Earlier this week, a Pittsburgh man claimed the $2 million prize he won in the drawing on a ticket he purchased in Hagerstown.

The $731 million winner has not yet come forward.

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Mercia Bowser, Sister Of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, Dies From COVID-19 Complications

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:58:09 +0000

WASHINGTON (WJZ) — Mercia Bowser, the sister of Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, has died from COVID-19 complications, the mayor said Wednesday.

On Twitter, Muriel Bowser wrote her sister, who was just shy of turning 65, died Wednesday morning.

“Mercia was loved immensely and will be missed greatly, as she joins the legion of angels who have gone home too soon due to the pandemic,” the mayor wrote in a series of tweets.

My family and I are mourning the loss of my sister, Mercia Bowser, who passed away this morning due to complications related to COVID-19. Mercia was loved immensely and will be missed greatly, as she joins the legion of angels who have gone home too soon due to the pandemic.

— Muriel Bowser (@MurielBowser) February 24, 2021

She also thanked the medical staff at Washington Hospital Center for treating her sister for COVID-related pneumonia.

“Mercia was a loving, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend,” Bowser wrote. “She worked tirelessly for children, the elderly, and those with behavioral disorders until her retirement and beyond. She counted many friends and fond memories of her service to Catholic Charities & the DC Office on Aging.”

Mercia was a loving, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She worked tirelessly for children, the elderly, and those with behavioral disorders until her retirement and beyond. She counted many friends and fond memories of her service to Catholic Charities & the DC Office on Aging.

— Muriel Bowser (@MurielBowser) February 24, 2021

Bowser asked for time and space for her family to mourn Mercia’s death.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said he and the first lady are sending the Bower family their “heartfelt condolences.”

The First Lady and I extend our heartfelt condolences to Mayor @MurielBowser and her entire family as they mourn the passing of her sister Mercia.

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) February 24, 2021

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Anne Arundel activists call on police to make trial board hearings accessible by livestream

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:45:54 +0000

In a digital world accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic that pushed most government proceedings online, Anne Arundel County activists called on the police department Wednesday to adapt their policies and stream officer disciplinary hearings over the internet.

Owner Of Maryland Market That Sold Winning $731M Powerball Ticket Gets $100K Bonus Check

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:43:32 +0000

Richard Ravenscroft, the owner of Coney Market in the Allegany County community of Lonaconing, previously told WJZ he would use the money to invest in the building and will give some to his staff.

Lottery officials on Wednesday shared photos of Ravenscroft with a large $100,000 check and in front of a banner celebrating the store’s role in the jackpot.

Earlier this week, a Pittsburgh man claimed the $2 million prize he won in the drawing on a ticket he purchased in Hagerstown.

The $731 million winner has not yet come forward.

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Local Company Gets Contract To Create Redevelopment Plans For Pimlico, Laurel Park

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:42:59 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — The Maryland Stadium Authority has awarded a contract to a local company to come up with plans to redevelop both Pimlico and Laurel Park.

The contract, of just under $1 million, went to Ayers Saint Gross.

The design for the redevelopment of both sites is expected to take two years.

It will not interfere with the Preakness in May.

Stimulus Check Update: Why Your Next Relief Payment May Not Be $1,400

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:42:00 +0000

(CBS Detroit) — A $1,400 third stimulus check is currently working its way through Congress as part of a $1.9 trillion relief package. The Biden administration’s American Rescue Plan, in its proposed form, also features better unemployment benefits, an improved child tax credit and a $15 minimum wage. These and other possible programs are meant to provide additional aid to millions of Americans dealing with economic hardship stemming from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. How it evolves will determine how much money actually reaches people’s bank accounts in the coming months.

President Biden and politicians from both sides of the aisle support giving Americans another stimulus check quickly. While Republicans have questioned other aspects of the plan — like the minimum wage hike — Democrats control both houses of Congress and are willing to pass stimulus legislation on a straight party-line vote. Budget reconciliation lets them sidestep the filibuster in the Senate and move the stimulus package to the President’s desk with a simple majority. Reaching 60 votes in this divided Congress would be unlikely.

Why Your Stimulus Check Could Shrink

The topline $1,400 number that’s drawn so much attention seems destined to become a reality. But the actual amount that people receive could change based on the income threshold, the number of dependents and other factors.

The idea of lowering the annual income requirement has gathered some steam. In early February, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine proposed an amendment aimed at “targeting economic impact payments to Americans who are suffering from the effects of COVID–19, including provisions to ensure upper-income taxpayers are not eligible.”

The previous two stimulus checks phased out for individuals with an adjusted gross income (AGI) over $75,000 per year and married couples with an AGI over $150,000. (AGI is the total of one’s wages, interest, dividends, alimony, retirement distributions and other sources of income minus certain deductions, such as student loan interest, alimony payments and retirement contributions.) For every dollar of income over the threshold, the previous two stimulus payments decreased by five percent. So the $1,200 payment from the CARES Act shrank to $0 for incomes over $99,000 ($198,000), and the $600 from the second stimulus shrank to $0 for incomes over $87,000 ($174,000).

Late last week, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen assured CNBC that Biden is looking “to make sure that [the next stimulus check is] appropriately targeted so they go to people in need. You know, not to very high-income people who don’t need it.”

To that end, the Biden administration is considering lowering the income threshold to $50,000 ($100,000). Assuming the same five percent formula applied to the first two checks, a $1,400 ($2,800) payment would actually be $700 ($1,400) at an annual income of $64,000 ($128,000) and $0 at an annual income of $78,000 ($156,000).

However, Yellen remains firmly behind the American Rescue Plan. “The truth is, there are pockets of pain that go beyond what can be reached in those highly targeted ways,” she said at a recent event.

The thinking behind targeting stimulus checks to reach lower-income people is to ensure that more money gets spent in the broader economy rather than saved. According to a survey from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the average percentage of the first stimulus payment that a household spent on essentials decreased as income increased. The average percentage of the first stimulus payment that a household saved increased as income increased.

While reducing the income limit would better target the economy, it would also reduce the number of people receiving a third stimulus check and the amount received by others. Upwards of 30 million CARES ACT payments were received by households with incomes above $75,000. Most of those would not receive a check if a $50,000 threshold were implemented. Those earning between $50,000 and $78,000 would see their checks shrink.

Why Your Stimulus Check Could Grow

Dependent children could also affect the size of your next stimulus check. The second stimulus check included $600 per dependent child. A dependent child was defined as anyone under the age of 17 living in your household. There was no limit to the number of children. And for the purpose of the phaseout, that $600 was added to the total for the adult(s). As an example, one adult, who had two kids, would have received $1,800 in January if her AGI was under $75,000. That amount would have decreased to $1,200 at an AGI of $87,000; $600 at an AGI of $99,000 and $0 at an AGI of $111,000.

The American Rescue Plan looks to expand the pool of eligible dependents to include those over the age of 16. In that group would be college students and older adults with certain kinds of disabilities. Such a change could make an estimated 13.5 million more people eligible to receive stimulus checks.

The amount of a third stimulus check could also be affected by a recipient’s taxes. To speed up distribution, the Internal Revenue Service has used the most recent tax filings to determine AGI and, therefore, eligibility. AGI changes from year to year, as people receive raises, switch jobs or become unemployed. The first relief payment was passed in March of 2020. At that point, some people had filed their 2019 taxes and some had not. So the check amount could have been based on 2018 or 2019 taxes. The second relief payment became law in December of 2020, after most everyone had filed their 2019 taxes. So that amount was determined by 2019 tax filings.

When Could You Receive Your Stimulus Check?

The third relief payment could be signed by early or mid-March of 2021. At that time, some people will have filed taxes for 2020. Others won’t have. That means a third payment could be based on 2019 or 2020 taxes. The past year has seen significant unemployment, which often hurts the finances of individual households. Many others have seen their hours reduced. If one’s AGI changes significantly from one tax filing to the next, so too could the amount of their next stimulus check.

When might that third stimulus check arrive? The administration’s goal is to sign the American Rescue Plan into law by March 14. That is also when the current $300 federal unemployment benefit bonus expires. Assuming President Biden is able to sign the relief package on March 14, direct deposits would likely start the week of March 22, with checks beginning to arrive the week of March 29.

But the House looks ready to pass the American Rescue Plan this week without changes. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently reiterated her more aggressive timeline, stating that the bill could pass by the end of February. The Senate could then pass it next week on a straight party-line vote. That assumes, of course, that Democrats can quickly work out their differences over the $15 minimum wage. (Manchin supports an $11 per hour minimum wage, and Republicans just announced a proposal for a $10 minimum wage by 2025.) If they do, the stimulus package could pass through Congress by March 5 and be signed into law on March 8. Direct deposits would start arriving in bank accounts by March 15, and checks would start being mailed on March 22. Either timeline could be extended for any number of reasons.

Why Stimulus Checks Are Still Needed

The economy shrank by 3.5 percent in 2020, the largest single-year decline since the end of World War II. Weekly unemployment figures remain historically high, with 861,000 people applying for unemployment insurance for the first time last week. An additional 516,000 sought Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. (A typical pre-pandemic week saw about 250,000 new unemployment applications.) At the end of January, approximately 18 million people were receiving unemployment benefits of one kind or another. That’s one out of every nine workers. While the official unemployment rate is 6.3 percent, the actual rate is probably closer to 10 percent, given all the people who have dropped out of the labor force.

An economic bounceback depends on the widespread distribution of a COVID vaccine. But efforts to inoculate the public have proceeded somewhat sluggishly. Shortages and winter weather have forced some areas to temporarily close vaccination centers and scale back administering the vaccine in recent weeks. Many who qualify have faced problems in scheduling appointments. On the bright side, the federal government started distributing the vaccine to certain pharmacies earlier this month. And Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, believes vaccination will be open to everyone by July, when demand will no longer for outpace supply. But mask-wearing and a general lack of normalcy could continue into 2022. Currently, domestic COVID cases exceed 28 million, while deaths have surpassed 500,000.

Originally published at 2:46 p.m. ET on Thursday, February 11, 2021.

Baltimore-born author and educator Wes Moore considering running for Maryland governor

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:16:19 +0000

Wes Moore joins a number of high-profile Democrats and Republicans considering campaigns to succeed two-term Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who cannot seek re-election in 2022 because of term limits.

COVID-19 In Maryland: 862 New Cases Reported; Hospitalizations, Positivity Rate Continue Declining

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:05:38 +0000

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — Maryland added just over 860 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday as the number of hospitalizations and the positivity rate decreased, data from the state’s health department shows.

The state added 862 new cases and 27 new deaths, bringing the totals to 378,490 and 7,607, respectively.

Eighteen fewer people were in the hospital; of the 960 hospitalized patients, 711 were in acute care and 249 were in intensive care.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES:

The state’s calculation of the positivity rate dropped slightly from 3.9% on Tuesday to 3.8% on Wednesday.

Since the pandemic began, the state has seen 7,718,790 COVID-19 tests conducted; of those, 2,972,600 people have tested negative.

The health department reported 21,549 more first doses of vaccines and 15,067 more second doses of vaccines administered as of Wednesday, bringing the totals to 768,468 and 380,799, respectively. Combined, 1,149,267 vaccine doses have been administered in the state.

Here’s a breakdown of COVID-19 cases and deaths by county (probable deaths are listed with an asterisk):

County	Cases	Deaths
Allegany	6,398	(197)	1*
Anne Arundel	35,297	(513)	14*
Baltimore City	40,037	(853)	21*
Baltimore County	50,351	(1,226)	34*
Calvert	3,626	(67)	1*
Caroline	2,025	(18)	0*
Carroll	7,475	(206)	5*
Cecil	4,979	(117)	2*
Charles	8,801	(152)	2*
Dorchester	2,320	(42)	1*
Frederick	16,778	(260)	9*
Garrett	1,836	(60)	1*
Harford	12,373	(230)	4*
Howard	15,647	(212)	6*
Kent	1,108	(40)	2*
Montgomery	62,767	(1,354)	45*
Prince George’s	72,609	(1,285)	29*
Queen Anne’s	2,555	(37)	1*
St. Mary’s	5,034	(113)	0*
Somerset	2,370	(30)	0*
Talbot	1,860	(32)	0*
Washington	12,281	(248)	3*
Wicomico	6,719	(141)	0*
Worcester	3,244	(91)	1*
Data not available	0	(83)	0*

Here’s a breakdown of COVID-19 cases and deaths by age and gender (probable deaths are listed with an asterisk):

Age/Gender	Cases	Deaths
0-9	18,794	(3)	0*
10-19	36,183	(6)	1*
20-29	68,689	(34)	1*
30-39	65,052	(75)	6*
40-49	57,444	(206)	5*
50-59	57,111	(575)	24*
60-69	38,643	(1,203)	18*
70-79	22,003	(1,936)	36*
80+	14,571	(3,567)	91*
Data not available	0	(2)	0*
Female	198,167	(3,666)	89*
Male	180,323	(3,941)	93*
Unknown	0	()	0*

Here’s a breakdown of COVID-19 cases and deaths by race and ethnicity (probable deaths are listed with an asterisk):

Race/Ethnicity	Cases	Deaths
African-American (NH)	108,275	(2,605)	65*
Asian (NH)	8,500	(263)	7*
White (NH)	130,687	(3,883)	95*
Hispanic	61,045	(696)	15*
Other (NH)	17,771	(75)	0*
Data not available	52,212	(85)	0*

For the latest information on coronavirus go to the Maryland Health Department’s website or call 211. You can find all of WJZ’s coverage on coronavirus in Maryland here.

Baltimore approves $50,000 settlement with man who fell in utility hole left open for months

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:05:29 +0000

Darrin Tinker rode a bicycle into the water-filled hole in a Towson sidewalk, falling and breaking his jaw, a forearm and one wrist.

Baltimore City Schools To Offer Weekly COVID-19 Testing For Students, Staff

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 21:00:48 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — As schools across Maryland prepare for students to return to the classroom in some form, Baltimore City Public Schools plans to offer weekly COVID-19 testing for all students and staff members.

The tests will be offered to people regardless of whether they are showing symptoms of the virus or not in an effort to provide early detection of possible cases.

City Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises said the testing will complement other efforts like social distancing, personal protective equipment and cleaning.

Under the current plan, elementary and middle school students and staff members will swab themselves. Results at the elementary school level will be pooled by classroom, and if a classroom pool has a positive test, all of its students and staff will need to quarantine.

The tests will then be picked up by a mobile lab from the University of Maryland Medical Center.

At the high school level, students and staff members will use saliva-based tests that will be processed at a lab in Washington, D.C.

Results will be available within eight hours through an app.

On Tuesday, Gov. Larry Hogan said everyone over the age of five will be required to wear masks in schools, including classrooms, gyms and hallways.

Stay with WJZ on this developing story. To get breaking news alerts, download our app now!

Anne Arundel County announces legal assistance program for Annapolis housing authority residents facing eviction

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 20:52:03 +0000

Arundel Community Development Services is contracting with Civil Justice Inc., a Maryland legal services organization, to give legal assistance and financial counseling among other resources to residents of the Housing Authority of the City of Annapolis, County Executive Steuart Pittman announced Tuesday during his weekly news conference.

Anne Arundel creates legal aid program for Annapolis housing authority residents facing eviction

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 20:52:03 +0000

Maryland State Police Investigating Fatal Pedestrian-Involved Crash In Prince George’s County

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 20:40:41 +0000

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (WJZ) — Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian-involved crash Wednesday afternoon in Prince George’s County.

Troopers from the College Park Barrack responded to the outerloop of Interstate-495 at Route 450 for a reported crash.

According to a preliminary investigation, a pedestrian was running from the right shoulder across the highway to the left shoulder where his vehicle was disabled on the shoulder.

Police say a gray 2007 Honda Accord began to slow for traffic that was trying to yield to the pedestrian running across the roadway when the Honda struck the victim in the left lane.

The driver remained at the scene.

The victim, Ryan Cain, 26, of Virginia, was transported to the University of Maryland Prince George’s Hospital Center, where he died.

The investigation is still ongoing.

James Dale Reed Found Guilty Of Voter Intimidation After Leaving Letter Threatening President Biden, VP Harris In Maryland Mailbox

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 20:38:58 +0000

FREDERICK, Md. (WJZ) — A 42-year-old Frederick man was found guilty of voter intimidation Wednesday for leaving a letter in a mailbox that threatened then-presidential and vice presidential candidates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and their supporters, the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office said.

Judge Eric William Schaffer also found James Dale Reed not guilty of a count of making a threat of mass violence in the incident and sentenced him to two years behind bars with all but time served suspended. He will also spend three years on supervised probation.

A federal case is still pending.

Reed had been accused of leaving a letter in the mailbox of a home on Kline Avenue in Frederick in October.

The letter read in part: “This is a warning to anyone reading this letter if you are a Biden/Harris supporter you will be targeted. We have a list of homes and addresses by your election signs. We are the ones with those scary guns, We are the ones your children have nightmares about…”

The rest of the message was too graphic to detail but claimed they would allegedly beat Biden and sodomize Harris before executing them on national television.

Investigators identified Reed as a suspect after getting a citizen tip. He was also caught on the home’s doorbell camera.

RELATED COVERAGE:

At first, Reed denied being behind the letter, but he later admitted to leaving it at the home, telling investigators “this will happen,” referring to people making threatening comments due to the “political climate.”

The residents of the home where Reed left the letter told WJZ at the time it was concerning but that they didn’t plan to take down any of their campaign signs supporting Biden and Harris.

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46-Year-Old Man Injured In Shooting In SW Baltimore, Police Say

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 20:31:33 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Police are investigating after a 46-year-old man was injured in a shooting in southwest Baltimore Wednesday afternoon.

Police say a Southwest District Community Service Officer was driving in the 5000 block of Frederick Avenue shortly after 2 p.m. when they were stopped by the victim who was suffering from apparent gunshot wounds.

Baltimore City medics responded to the location and transported the victim to an area hospital for treatment.

Southwest District detectives are asking anyone with information to contact them at 410-396-2488 or Metro Crime Stoppers at 1-866-7Lockup.