Maryland State News

Kevin Zeese, attorney and activist who sought to reform drug laws, dies

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 17:02:30 +0000

Kevin Zeese, who sought to reform the U.S. government’s drug use and abuse policies, has died at 64.

Baltimore City Schools CEO Warns Of Financial Issues Linked To Pandemic In Letter

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:52:06 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Sonja Santelises warned of financial issues related to the coronavirus pandemic in a letter to city schools staff Friday.

Santelises said the abrupt closure of city schools in the spring due to Covid-19 led to unavoidable expenses to the district over the last six months.

“Expenses included the purchase of approximately 55,000 laptops for students and teachers, 15,000 hotspots for student broadband access, and large quantities of cleaning supplies for our buildings – among many other items. While the district has received several COVID-related grants, a large gap remains between expenses incurred and grant funding,” she wrote.

“While the district has received several COVID-related grants, a large gap remains between expenses incurred and grant funding. At the same time, we’re experiencing significant reductions in revenue usually generated by meals served through the school lunch program,” Santelises continued. “We must also consider the possibility that significant revenue reductions at the city and state levels could negatively impact City Schools’ resources in future district budgets, while additional federal assistance remains an unknown.”

Santelises said the district is facing a possibility of financial challenges for the foreseeable future and would be taking some cost saving measures, like a hiring freeze to conserve resources.

“While we remain hopeful that additional funding may become available through legislative action at the state and/or federal level, we must act now to preserve financial flexibility in anticipation of events as they unfold throughout the school year,” she added.

READ: Baltimore City Schools Letter

3 people seriously hurt in collision on Md. 27 in Manchester, police say

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:38:27 +0000

A two-vehicle crash on Thursday left three people injured and closed Md. 27 in Manchester for hours into the evening, Maryland State Police announced.

Anne Arundel court temporarily halts National PTA effort to restructure Maryland PTA

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:30:31 +0000

A circuit court has issued a restraining order against the National PTA after the organization announced plans to restructure the local PTA's leadership.

Meal Site At Digital Harbor High Closed Due To Water Leak

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:26:43 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — One city schools’ meal site will be closed Friday, September 18.

According to city schools, Digital Harbor High School is closed due to a water leak. The school serves as a city meal site.

For alternative meal sites, visit https://www.baltimorecityschools.org/meal-sites.

Donnell Johnson Charged In Murder Of Kenneth Bivens In North Baltimore

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:24:49 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A 28-year-old Baltimore man was taken into custody Thursday by the Warrant Apprehension Task Force and US Marshals and charged in the murder of 27-year-old Kenneth Bivens.

City police said on Sept. 10 around 6:46 p.m. officers responded to the 1000 block of Beaumont Street in north Baltimore. There they found Bivens with a gunshot wound to the head. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment, but died on September 12.

Police learned Bivens was arguing with an unknown man when he was shot.

Donnell Johnson

They later identified Donnell Johnson as the suspect.

Johnson was taken to Central Booking Intake facility where he was charged with first-degree murder.

Fifty people were shot last week, 15 people fatally, in a surge of violence. Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said some of the shootings were linked to illegal dice games.

Coronavirus In Maryland: More Than 119K COVID-19 Cases Reported, Hospitalizations Slightly Down

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:23:33 +0000

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ) — As of Friday morning, Maryland health officials said there a total of 119,062 positive coronavirus cases over the span of the pandemic. That’s up 543 cases since Thursday.

There are a total of 347 people hospitalized, down 6 from Thursday and 84 patients are in the ICU.

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The state positivity rate is down to 3.21%

A total of 2,324,252 COVID-19 tests have been administered in the state with 1,385,805 coming back negative.

Seven more Marylanders died from the virus since Thursday, bringing the total number of deaths to 3,724.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES:

Here’s a breakdown of the numbers:

By County

County	Cases	Deaths
Allegany	439	(22)
Anne Arundel	9,504	(231)	11*
Baltimore City	15,177	(460)	18*
Baltimore County	17,288	(594)	23*
Calvert	901	(27)	1*
Caroline	622	(4)
Carroll	1,891	(120)	3*
Cecil	968	(32)	1*
Charles	2,664	(95)	2*
Dorchester	557	(10)
Frederick	3,851	(122)	7*
Garrett	71	(1)
Harford	2,900	(72)	4*
Howard	4,881	(113)	6*
Kent	293	(22)	2*
Montgomery	21,640	(796)	41*
Prince George’s	28,361	(794)	23*
Queen Anne’s	630	(25)	1*
St. Mary’s	1,241	(57)
Somerset	240	(4)
Talbot	524	(5)
Washington	1,589	(36)
Wicomico	1,855	(48)
Worcester	975	(25)	1*
Data not available		(9)	1*

By Age Range and Gender

Age/Gender	Cases	Deaths
0-9	4,389
10-19	9,707	(2)
20-29	22,285	(23)	1*
30-39	21,649	(47)	6*
40-49	19,184	(119)	3*
50-59	17,402	(306)	16*
60-69	11,677	(607)	14*
70-79	7,026	(931)	27*
80+	5,743	(1,686)	78*
Data not available		(3)
Female	62,953	(1,825)	76*
Male	56,109	(1,899)	69*

By Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity	Cases	Deaths
African-American (NH)	37,992	(1,528)	55*
Asian (NH)	2,266	(137)	6*
White (NH)	29,269	(1,577)	72*
Hispanic	26,124	(433)	11*
Other (NH)	5,482	(40)
Data not available	17,929	(9)	1*

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.

Glen Burnie pizza shop damaged by accidental fire, officials say

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:20:13 +0000

The Anne Arundel County Fire Department said the fire was discovered behind a commercial pizza oven Thursday.

Study: 51% Of All School Employees Are At Increased Risk Of COVID-19

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:15:17 +0000

(CNN) — School districts across the country are navigating out how to reopen safely amid the deadly coronavirus pandemic, and the results of a new study could make those decisions more difficult.

Between 42% and 51% of all school employees in the US met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s criteria for either having an increased risk or potentially increased risk for Covid-19 infection, researchers with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found.

Underlying health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease, and older age put people into the highest risk groups, according to the CDC.

“Among all adults with CDC risk factors for severe Covid-19, between 33.9 million and 44.2 million had direct or within-household connections to schools,” the researchers wrote.

Obesity and high blood pressure were the main factors putting school employees at higher risk of infection, the study reported. Men were more vulnerable to the virus compared to women, and Blacks were more at risk than Whites.

The study, released as a pre-print ahead of peer review by the journal Health Affairs on Thursday, used data from between 2014 and 2017 to see how those most at risk for Covid-19 infection were connected to elementary and secondary schools either as employees or by living with staffers or school-aged children.

“Our results highlight the public health challenge that arises when the risk of school-related exposure is coupled with the potential for within-household transmission,” the researchers wrote.

The study found low-skill support staff among school employees were more likely to be at increased risk of infection — more than 58% of them, compared to teachers and teaching assistants at 38%, or administrators and higher skilled staff at 39%.

The analysis also found that 63% of school employees lived in homes where at least one adult was at high risk of contracting Covid-19; 59% percent of school-age children lived in households with at least one vulnerable adult; and high schoolers were more likely than elementary school children to live with an adult vulnerable to the coronavirus.

“While it is not surprising that the health issues of parents and other household members would increase as they and their children get older, this finding takes on special importance in the context of Covid-19, insofar as transmission risks also increase with child age,” the researchers said.

Just over 35% of American adults were either school employees or lived with someone connected to an elementary or secondary school or a school age child, the study found.

The data reviewed predated the pandemic and doesn’t account for the tremendous changes that have occurred in employment, school attendance or household members, and there’s a likelihood the study undercounts the true number of those connected to a school and meeting the CDC risk guidelines for Covid-19.

UMBC maintains a low COVID-19 positivity rate as the fall semester continues with a mix of online and in-person classes

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:13:31 +0000

While some other colleges and universities have struggled with COVID-19 outbreaks, UMBC has kept its positivity rate low.

2 Good Samaritans Help Carroll County Deputy Arrest Driver Who Reportedly Assaulted Him

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:09:45 +0000

KEYMAR, Md. (WJZ) — Two Good Samaritans are being praised for helping a Carroll County Sheriff’s deputy arrest a man who allegedly assaulted the deputy during an arrest.

According to the sheriff’s office, Master Deputy Etzler was on routine patrol Sunday morning around 11 a.m. when he was driving north along Route 194 near Keysville Brucevill Road. That’s when he saw a vehicle driving southbound in the northbound lane to pass another vehicle in a no passing zone.

Anthony Russo

Etzler got to the side of the road to avoid a crash, then turned on his sirens and made a u-turn to pull the driver over.

The driver stopped and got out of the Honda Civic and approached the deputy.

Because the driver was “defiant and belligerent,” the deputy tried to detain the driver in order to continue his investigation. But the driver became even more aggressive, and struck the deputy. During the scuffle, they both fell to the ground.

Two passing motorists stopped to assist the deputy. They held the driver while he was placed in handcuffs and helped put the driver in the back to the deputy’s patrol car.

Additional units responded to the scene from both the sheriff’s office and Taneytown Police.

The driver was later identified as 24-year-old Anthony Joseph Russo from Frederick County. He was transported to Carroll County Central Book and charged with first- and second-degree assault, assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting and interfering with arrest, failure to obey lawful order, obstructing and hindering and reckless endangerment.

Etzler was transported to Carroll Hospital Center for treatment of his injuries. He has since been released and is recovering.

“We are thankful to the two individuals who took action when they saw a deputy in need,” the sheriff’s department said.

Carloads of families watch movies on new Gordon Outdoors mega-screen in Owings Mills

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:08:32 +0000

Screen at Rosenbloom Owings Mills Jewish Community Center features popular movies

Howard County Public Schools To Bring Back Small Groups For In-Person Learning

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:08:26 +0000

COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ) — Howard County Public Schools announced Thursday night that they too will be bringing back small groups of students for in-person instruction.

“Recently, Superintendent Martirano announced that in-person supports and services will soon be offered to small groups of selected students. Following is an overview of the programs and services under consideration and the criteria that will be used to identify students for participation,” the district said in an announcement.

The in-person instruction will be made available for:

Special education services for children receiving the most intensive services
School-Based Learning Centers for students who are experiencing significant barriers to attendance or virtual learning, or who need intensive mental health or behavioral support
Family conference opportunities to address barriers to student learning
Teen parenting program
Homewood Bridges program

Schools will identify the students who will most benefit from in-person instruction.

” Schools will also assess the availability of appropriate staff to support each program, based on anticipated student participation. In cases where there are not enough staff available to offer a specific in-person program at a school, eligible students may be able to participate at another school where space is available,” HCPSS said.

The school district did not say when the students or instructors would begin.

Baltimore County Public Schools also announced it would bring back some student for in-person learning starting in November.

They did say they will continue to assess the situation with the coronavirus pandemic to determine when more students may be able to return.

You can read the latest information here.

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.

Judge: Capital Gazette gunman cannot be compared to mass shooters; prosecution psychiatrist can testify about sanity

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:06:13 +0000

The prosecution’s psychiatrist cannot compare the gunman who murdered five Capital Gazette staffers to other mass shooters studied by the FBI, an Anne Arundel County judge ruled Friday.

Fire Breaks Out At Hilltop Pizza & Subs In Glen Burnie

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:04:19 +0000

GLEN BURNIE, Md. (WJZ) — A fire broke out Thursday morning at Hilltop Pizza & Subs in Glen Burnie.

Firefighters were called to the 7700 block of Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard around 7:16 a.m. for a fire at the pizza shop. It took 36 firefighters 20 minutes to put out the blaze at the one-story restaurant.

A passerby called in fire after seeing smoke coming from the pizza shop.

Firefighters determined the blaze started in the wall behind the pizza oven and was accidental. There were no injuries.

Police arrest man in Annapolis strong arm robbery

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:04:16 +0000

Annapolis police said they arrested Thursday a 36-year old man after he punched another man several times before taking his car keys and throwing them across the street.

What to expect from 2020’s big art prize winners: MICA professors Susan Waters-Eller and LaToya Hobbs

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 16:00:00 +0000

The two prize winners reveal what they are working on for 2021.

Maryland Adds 24.2K Jobs; Unemployment Rate Decreases To 6.9%

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:47:30 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, Maryland added 24,200 jobs and the state’s unemployment rate decreased to 6.9% in August.

In the last four months, Maryland gained 183,200 jobs.

According to the federal data, the leisure and hospitality sector experienced the most job growth. Other sectors that grew: trade, transportation and utilities, education and health services, financial activities and information.

Last week, more than 13,000 Marylanders filed for unemployment which grew since the previous week.

Coronavirus in Maryland: 5 takeaways from the week

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:44:50 +0000

To keep Marylanders up to date with the week’s most pressing takeaways, here are five key points from The Baltimore Sun’s coronavirus coverage.

Woman shot at by Baltimore County detective in downtown Baltimore turns herself in, strongly disputes police account

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:28:11 +0000

Tiara Kianna Baker, 22, was accused of robberies in Baltimore County. Then while trying to initiate an arrest in Baltimore City, officers fired shots at her.

Upper Chesapeake Health to set up indoor COVID-19 testing site at Aberdeen campus, one of the first in Maryland

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:15:15 +0000

University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health will be among the first in the state to deploy a temporary building where people can be tested for COVID-19 indoors, built on UCH’s Aberdeen property, along Route 22. The testing site is expected to open Oct. 1.

Baltimore Police plainclothes units now in uniform, marked cars

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:13:55 +0000

Baltimore Police have ordered most of its plainclothes units into uniform and to work out of marked cars, the latest shift in the agency’s approach to the controversial policing style.

Police Identify Women Killed In NE Baltimore Double Shooting On Sept. 12

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:10:55 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Police have identified the two women killed in a double shooting in northeast Baltimore last Saturday.

Julie Rice, 46, and 23-year-old Michelle Green were shot and killed on September 12 in the 2800 block of Clifton Park Terrace.

Officers were called to the home around 6:30 p.m. and found two women had been shot. While investigating, they learned the suspect, Dandre Woods-Bethel, was inside a home.

Woods-Bethel later called 911 to report the shooting and then surrendered to police a short time later.

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Investigators believe both victims were outside when the suspect, identified as Dandre Woods-Bethel exited his home, shot the victims, and then went back inside of his home to call 911.

Dandre Woods-Bethel will be charged with murder, assault, and various handgun related charges.

Orioles on deck: Pitching matchup and how to watch Friday’s game vs. Rays

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 15:00:00 +0000

Here's everything you need to know before the Orioles' home game Friday night against the Tampa Bay Rays.

Ego Alley stunt jump by motorsports star Travis Pastrana in jeopardy after details made public

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:57:29 +0000

Pastrana previously performed stunts that required the closing of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles without word leaking beforehand, Pastrana said.

After death, Stanley the Canton Ace Hardware cat is memorialized in store

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:48:27 +0000

Over the course of his short life, the orange kitty accumulated quite the fan base.

Here are the known cases of coronavirus in Maryland [GRAPHICS]

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:27:50 +0000

These are the confirmed Maryland cases of the novel coronavirus, the illness that causes the COVID-19 disease, confirmed by the Maryland Department of Health. The charts and maps below show what has been reported by the state and update around 10 a.m. each day.

Coronavirus In Maryland: More Than 119K COVID-19 Cases Reported, Hospitalizations Slightly Down

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:23:33 +0000

There are a total of 347 people hospitalized, down 6 from Thursday and 84 patients are in the ICU.

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The state positivity rate is down to 3.21%

A total of 2,324,252 COVID-19 tests have been administered in the state with 1,385,805 coming back negative.

Seven more Marylanders died from the virus since Thursday, bringing the total number of deaths to 3,724.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES:

Here’s a breakdown of the numbers:

By County

County	Cases	Deaths
Allegany	439	(22)
Anne Arundel	9,504	(231)	11*
Baltimore City	15,177	(460)	18*
Baltimore County	17,288	(594)	23*
Calvert	901	(27)	1*
Caroline	622	(4)
Carroll	1,891	(120)	3*
Cecil	968	(32)	1*
Charles	2,664	(95)	2*
Dorchester	557	(10)
Frederick	3,851	(122)	7*
Garrett	71	(1)
Harford	2,900	(72)	4*
Howard	4,881	(113)	6*
Kent	293	(22)	2*
Montgomery	21,640	(796)	41*
Prince George’s	28,361	(794)	23*
Queen Anne’s	630	(25)	1*
St. Mary’s	1,241	(57)
Somerset	240	(4)
Talbot	524	(5)
Washington	1,589	(36)
Wicomico	1,855	(48)
Worcester	975	(25)	1*
Data not available		(9)	1*

By Age Range and Gender

Age/Gender	Cases	Deaths
0-9	4,389
10-19	9,707	(2)
20-29	22,285	(23)	1*
30-39	21,649	(47)	6*
40-49	19,184	(119)	3*
50-59	17,402	(306)	16*
60-69	11,677	(607)	14*
70-79	7,026	(931)	27*
80+	5,743	(1,686)	78*
Data not available		(3)
Female	62,953	(1,825)	76*
Male	56,109	(1,899)	69*

By Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity	Cases	Deaths
African-American (NH)	37,992	(1,528)	55*
Asian (NH)	2,266	(137)	6*
White (NH)	29,269	(1,577)	72*
Hispanic	26,124	(433)	11*
Other (NH)	5,482	(40)
Data not available	17,929	(9)	1*

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.

Maryland reports 543 new coronavirus cases, seven deaths; Hopkins positivity rate still above 6%

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:19:38 +0000

Friday’s new batch of data put the state at a total of 119,062 confirmed infections and 3,724 deaths since March. The state has reported single-digit death counts in 13 out of the last 14 days.

University of Maryland lab stops use of much-touted coronavirus tests from South Korea

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:15:26 +0000

Hundreds of thousands of coronavirus tests that Gov. Larry Hogan bought from South Korea in April to much fanfare appear to be showing reliability problems, returning a spate of false positive results to nursing homes around the state.

Maryland lab stops use of much-touted coronavirus tests from South Korea after spate of false positive results

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:15:26 +0000

Howard County Public Schools To Bring Back Small Groups For In-Person Learning

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:08:26 +0000

COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ) — Howard County Public Schools announced Thursday night that they too will be bringing back small groups of students for in-person instruction.

The in-person instruction will be made available for:

Special education services for children receiving the most intensive services
School-Based Learning Centers for students who are experiencing significant barriers to attendance or virtual learning, or who need intensive mental health or behavioral support
Family conference opportunities to address barriers to student learning
Teen parenting program
Homewood Bridges program

Schools will identify the students who will most benefit from in-person instruction.

The school district did not say when the students or instructors would begin.

Baltimore County Public Schools also announced it would bring back some student for in-person learning starting in November.

They did say they will continue to assess the situation with the coronavirus pandemic to determine when more students may be able to return.

You can read the latest information here.

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.

Chiefs-Chargers Preview: Chargers Look To Contain Chiefs In Home Opener

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:02:07 +0000

(CBS Los Angeles) — The Kansas City Chiefs seemed to continue the 2019 season in Week 1 to 2020. The defending Super Bowl Champions, led by Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, handled a strong Houston Texans team en route to a 34-20 win at home. It was their 10th straight win dating back to the second half of last season.

The Texans jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the notoriously slow-starting Chiefs. But Kansas City soon showed the benefit of continuity in this strange season. With the same coaching and system and similar player personnel in place, finally got going late in the first quarter with beginning of its first scoring drive. They would go on to score 31 unanswered points. By the time Houston scored again in the fourth quarter, the game was already well out of reach.

Mahomes finished off the evening going an efficient 24-32 for 211 yards and three touchdowns. Sammy Watkins hauled in one of them; Travis Kelce added another. Rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire, a new addition who seems to have improved the running game, piled up 138 yards on his 25 attempts and added a touchdown of his own. The offense hummed right along, as if a preseason was completely unnecessary.

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Meanwhile, the Chiefs defense limited Deshaun Watson and the Texans high-powered offense for much of the game. While Watson ultimately threw for a respectable 253 yards, much of that came after the game was essentially over. The Kansas City defense seemed a little vulnerable against the run. Running back David Johnson, hoping to jump start his career in Houston, looked sharp. He ran for 77 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries and added three catches for 32 yards.

Kansas City will now turn their attention to Los Angeles, where they’ll face a Chargers team this Sunday that doesn’t present quite the offensive punch of their previous opponent. The Chargers slipped by the Cincinnati Bengals, 16-13, in their opener. It’s hard to put much stock in the win, however. The Bengals won two games last season and kept rookie quarterback Joe Burrow on a tight leash, and the Chargers still needed to come back in the fourth quarter.

There were some positives, however. The running game was productive, with Austin Ekeler picking up 83 yards on 19 carries, and Joshua Kelley adding 60 more on his 12 carries. The defense also turned in a strong performance against the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner, sacking him three times, hitting him four times and forcing an interception on a scramble.

Tyrod Taylor, who took over for the departed Philip Rivers, was his usual pedestrian self, avoiding mistakes but also missing out on big plays. The Chargers quarterback threw for just 208 yards on 16-30 passing.

That sort of performance from Taylor won’t be enough for the Chargers to keep pace with Mahomes and the Chiefs. They’ll need the running game and defense to defense to step up as well. The Texans showed in Week 1 that the Chiefs run defense is still susceptible. The Chargers D showed last season that they can play the Chiefs tough. In both their matchups last season combined, Mahomes completed just 35 of 57 passes for 356 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. If the Chargers offense can control the clock and limit Mahomes’ opportunities, and Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram can contain him somewhat with the pass rush when he is on the field, the Chargers might just have a chance. Not a big chance, but a chance.

The Chiefs are currently favored by 8.5 points, and they’ve enjoyed a few extra days of rest since their opener last Thursday. But the Chargers will be playing their first game in the new SoFi Stadium, and they played the Chiefs tough in their last two meetings.

Still, “how can you go against the Chiefs, asks CBS Denver sports anchor Michael Spencer. “Their offense seemed to pick up right where it left off after the Super Bowl. And I think they maybe got even better with the addition of Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The Chiefs are every bit as dominant as they were last year at least they were in Week 1.”

The Chiefs play the Chargers Sunday, September 20 @ 4:25 pm ET on CBS.

Changing of the guard: Ravens rookie Tyre Phillips' unlikely journey to NFL starter

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:00:00 +0000

Tyre Phillips, a third-round pick in April’s draft, who was given the first opportunity to replace future Hall of Famer Marshal Yanda at right guard. It culminated an uncanny journey that even Phillips didn’t foresee.

Can The Ravens Roll Over The Texans Like They Did The Browns?

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 13:55:21 +0000

(CBS Baltimore) — The Houston Texans have had a nice long break to recover from their Thursday night loss to the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Unfortunately for them, Week 2 offers no let up in the competition. The Texans will host the Baltimore Ravens for their home opener in Houston this Sunday.

The Ravens are coming off a 38-6 dismantling of the Cleveland Browns that already has Baltimore fans talking Super Bowl. Lamar Jackson looked every bit the incumbent NFL MVP, completing 20 of his 25 pass attempts for 275 yards and three touchdowns, and rushing for another 45 yards. Tight end Mark Andrews hauled in six catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns. The Browns defense couldn’t stop them. The game was eventually so far out of reach that Ravens coach Jon Harbaugh was criticized for leaving Jackson in the game late into the fourth quarter.

“And when you bring it back to Lamar, not only did he improve in the offseason, [but] decision-making, looked very decisive about where to throw the football,” says NFL On CBS analyst Charles Davis. “Only one real bad throw as far as I’m concerned that should have been picked off when he was short on the throw downfield. But after that, he was able to change arm angles, able to see it, able to look people off and come back and hit Andrews in the end zone.”

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Jackson isn’t the only Raven to show growth over this unusual offseason. “Mark Andrews continues to improve as a tight end,” says Davis. “They can use him split out as a wide receiver at times. They didn’t even have to run the ball with their normal authority to have a good offensive attack which I think bodes well for them…”

In short, they looked unstoppable, at least against they perennially under-achieving Browns.

On the other side of the ball, Baker Mayfield actually completed more passes than Jackson (21 to Jackson’s 20). But his Browns could only turn that into 189 yards and six points. They turned the ball over three times and generally looked out of sync. That will happen with a new coaching staff implementing a new scheme in a season without preseason games.

While Mayfield and the Browns are still finding their way at QB (or not finding their way, depending on who you ask), the Ravens defense deserves plenty of credit too. The unit came into the season projected to improve upon last season’s top-five ranking. And they set the tone early with an interception on the Browns’ opening drive. Rookie linebacker Patrick Queen collected eight tackles and forced a fumble.

The Browns’ many weapons were held largely in check. Jarvis Landry caught five passes for 61 yards, while Odell Beckham Jr. caught only three passes for 22 yards. Neither found the endzone. Nick Chubb, who torched them for 165 yards on the ground in last season’s matchup in Baltimore, was held to just 60 yards.

The Ravens defense will face a stiffer challenge from Deshaun Watson and a Texans team that boasts one the NFL’s better offenses, when they show up. In their loss to the Chiefs, Watson displayed the skills that make him a dual threat. He scored a touchdown with his arms and another with his legs, totaling 253 yards on 20 of 32 passing. Will Fuller caught eight of those for 112 yards. New arrival David Johnson added 11 carries for 77 yards.

But much of Watson’s production came late in the game. After the Texans’ first-quarter drive for 80 yards and the lead, Houston couldn’t maintain the momentum. Watson faced pressure all day and was sacked four times. The offense couldn’t do anything with the ball. The Texans trailed by multiple scores by the time they put more points on the board three quarters later. The game was basically over at that point, even though the final score, 34-20, seemed much closer.

“DeAndre Hopkins isn’t there (in Houston) and you ran your offense through him,” Davis points out. “The ball is going to be spread more, everyone is going to have to step up and make plays. They have a plethora of guys who I think are good receivers. It’s just a matter of being ready, being available and understanding that the ball is going to come your way a little bit more.”

The Ravens, favored by seven points this Sunday, don’t have a history of slow starts like the Chiefs. They’ll press from the opening kickoff. The Texans will need to keep pace to avoid the Browns’ fate and falling into a 0-2 hole. They couldn’t do it against the Chiefs, and this Ravens offense probably won’t spot them the first-quarter head start.

The Ravens play the Texans Sunday, September 20 @ 4:25 pm ET on CBS.

Faced with blank canvas, BMA reimagines safe museum experience in coronavirus era as it reopens

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 13:51:06 +0000

The Baltimore Museum of Art is preparing to reopen Sept. 16 with changes that ensure museum visitors and employees are safe from COVID-19.

Upper Chesapeake Health to set up indoor COVID-19 testing site at Aberdeen campus, one of the first in Maryland

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 13:49:06 +0000

Amazon Offers Job Boost for 4,400 in Maryland

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 13:48:09 +0000

Online sales are booming right now for many companies across the country. The move away from in-store shopping to online shopping has accelerated in 2020. Increasing numbers of consumers in all demographics are choosing to do their shopping online. Due to their recent success, Amazon is planning to expand its workforce and this includes several centers across Maryland.

Amazon Increases Maryland Workforce

If there has been anybody made redundant or that is looking for a new job, Amazon may be the place to try. They are increasing the amount of staff in their sortation and fulfillment centers, as well as in the delivery team in Maryland. This is going to create 4,400 jobs in the area, which will be in the area Cecil County, Sparrows Point and Baltimore. Indeed, Amazon is going to create 100,000 jobs nationwide.

In addition, Amazon is offering incentives to new employees. However, it is not clear whether this is going to apply to jobs in Maryland. This can include sign-on bonuses that can be up to $1,000. With a good salary available from the marketplace giants, this is sure to encourage workers to apply. There might even be competition for the positions.

It is estimated that Amazon welcomes 215 million shoppers online every month. The company will have experienced a surge in sales with more people having access to mobile internet. Common activities are now taking place online, such as playing at a casino, communicating with friends, watching movies as an alternative to TV, watching live sports and shopping as a few examples. People are searching for online alternatives that can deliver to their door.

Image by Bruno /Germany from Pixabay

Reasons Why People are Shopping Online

There is no doubt that huge numbers of consumers shop online for something every month with significant increases over 2020. People are turning to delivery services to help with everything from medication to groceries, toys, gardening equipment, clothes and accessories. There are many reasons for this.

Mainly, it is all down to convenience. Think about how many times you have to go to the grocery store every week when you have a family. You can do this all online and you do not have to leave your home. You can shop at any time of the day and you can do it all from the comfort of your own sofa. In particular, if you have a busy schedule with work, online shopping is the convenience you need to get errands done. Companies like Amazon offer next-day and same-day delivery for very quick services for urgent items.

Let’s not forget about the variety online. When you go into stores, they can be sold out of your favorite items. There is nothing more disappointing than making that trip to not come home with what you wanted. The good thing about shopping online is that there is a huge variety. Even if an online store is sold out, there are alternatives or you can shop somewhere else. What’s more, a lot of products and services that are offered on the internet boast better pricing. You can often find a deal that saves you money.

The post Amazon Offers Job Boost for 4,400 in Maryland appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

Donnell Johnson Charged In Murder Of Kenneth Bivens In North Baltimore

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 13:24:49 +0000

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A 28-year-old Baltimore man was taken into custody Thursday by the Warrant Apprehension Task Force and US Marshals and charged in the murder of 27-year-old Kenneth Bivens.

Police learned Bivens was arguing with an unknown man when he was shot.

Donnell Johnson

They later identified Donnell Johnson as the suspect.

Johnson was taken to Central Booking Intake facility where he was charged with first-degree murder.

Fifty people were shot last week, 15 people fatally, in a surge of violence. Police Commissioner Michael Harrison said some of the shootings were linked to illegal dice games.

2 Good Samaritans Help Carroll County Deputy Arrest Driver Who Reportedly Assaulted Him

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 13:09:45 +0000

KEYMAR, Md. (WJZ) — Two Good Samaritans are being praised for helping a Carroll County Sheriff’s deputy arrest a man who allegedly assaulted the deputy during an arrest.

Anthony Russo

Etzler got to the side of the road to avoid a crash, then turned on his sirens and made a u-turn to pull the driver over.

The driver stopped and got out of the Honda Civic and approached the deputy.

Two passing motorists stopped to assist the deputy. They held the driver while he was placed in handcuffs and helped put the driver in the back to the deputy’s patrol car.

Additional units responded to the scene from both the sheriff’s office and Taneytown Police.

Etzler was transported to Carroll Hospital Center for treatment of his injuries. He has since been released and is recovering.

“We are thankful to the two individuals who took action when they saw a deputy in need,” the sheriff’s department said.

State Roundup: Baltimore County stuns with Nov. phased return to schools

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:32:00 +0000

STRUGGLING WITH DIGITAL DIVIDE IN EDUCATION: Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) emphasized his support for legislation that would provide at least $4 billion in funding in the next coronavirus relief package to address the digital divide in K-12 education, Bryan Renbaum reports for Maryland Reporter.

BALT CO SURPRISES WITH PHASED EDUCATION PLAN BRINGING STUDENTS BACK TO CLASSROOMS: Baltimore County announced plans Thursday for limited in-person instruction by Nov. 13, a transition from the all virtual model, Lillian Reed and Liz Bowie report for the Sun. In-person instruction would start with the youngest learners in preschool and kindergarten and for students with disabilities.

The announcement surprised the teachers’ union, school board members and the county executive, says John Lee for WYPR, who reports that teachers were “flabbergasted” by the news.
Parents were also startled, reports Rielle Creighton for WBFF, interviewing one mother of a special needs 2nd grader who said students need to be face-to-face with teachers.
Carroll County’s COVID-19 numbers are trending down but Carroll’s top health officials says they would need to keep dropping before schools could reopen for in-person learning, Bob Blubaugh reports for the Carroll County Times.
In Garrett County, school officials are hopeful they can get all students back into the classroom four days a week by Nov. 9, Joseph Hauger reports for the Garrett County Republican.
Many private schools have remained in-person and Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn will be temporarily returning to virtual learning Thursday and Friday after two students tested positive for the coronavirus, Jenny Fulginiti reports for WBAL TV.
At the higher education level, Salisbury University intends to remain open despite more than 400 positive COVID-19 cases, Richard Pollitt reports for the Salisbury Daily Times.

STATE PREPARING NEW UNEMPLOYMENT PORTAL, UNCOVER MASSIVE FRAUD SCHEME: State officials plan to test a new website for unemployment benefits before releasing it this weekend, after learning from April when a portal debuted and promptly crashed, Jean Marbella reports for the Sun. The agency has faced criticism that those filing for benefits can’t get through.

Even lawmakers who have been advocating on behalf of constituents seeking unemployment benefits are complaining that their calls to top aides aren’t being returned, Bryan Sears reports for The Daily Record.
Maryland officials have completed an investigation into a “massive and sophisticated criminal enterprise” that filed fraudulent unemployment claims totaling over $501 million, Madeleine O’Neill reports for USA Today.

STATE’S ATTORNEYS ON POLICE REFORM: Local prosecutors believe authority to prosecute police misconduct should remain with them as the legislature considers police reform proposals in the wake of national outcry at the death of George Floyd, Pamela Wood reports for the Sun. Elected state’s attorneys spoke to a workgroup on reform.

There were a few crossover suggestions between what prosecutors propose for police reform and what lawmakers are considering, including the creation of a police misconduct database, not unlike legislation proposed by Sen. Charles E. Sydnor III (D-Baltimore County), Hannah Gaskill reports for Maryland Matters. Sydnor’s bill is set to be heard at a rare interim bill hearing next week.

CITY SA WITHOUT BUDGET OVERSIGHT: City auditors don’t perform audits on the Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, Joy Lepola reports for WBFF. The office has a $48 million budget.

CONTRACTORS SUE OVER PURPLE LINE: The companies overseeing construction of Maryland’s Purple Line have sued the state for breach of contract, Katherine Shaver reports for the Post. The firms are seeking more than $100 million for the Maryland Transit Administration’s refusal to pay for delays and allegedly requiring the firms to “mask” delays in some project schedules.

CEO SENTENCED FOR GLENN BRIBE: “A Baltimore businessman and CEO was sentenced Thursday to 18 months in federal prison for paying about $40,000 in cash bribes to now-imprisoned state Del. Cheryl Glenn,” Tim Prudente reports for the Sun.

STANDING BEHIND THEIR HEALTH OFFICER: Montgomery County leaders are denouncing racist, derogatory and homophobic messages sent to the county’s health officer as he grapples with the COVID-19 crisis, Briana Adhikusuma reports for Bethesda Beat. “Hate has no place in our inclusive community,” the county executive and council stated after the Beat reported on the comments.

Montgomery County is seeing a slight surge in COVID-19 cases, with 107 new cases overnight and one new confirmed death in the county, the staff of Bethesda Beat report.

CASES RISE IN CECIL: COVID-19 cases and deaths are on the rise in Cecil County, Jane Mellmyer reports in the Cecil Whig. The uptick comes after a quiet period.

STATE WON’T EASE CAPACITY RESTRICTIONS: Despite a letter from Washington County’s lawmakers and commissioners, the state will keep capacity limits on The Maryland Theatre in downtown Hagerstown, Mike Lewis reports for the Herald-Mail. The venue that can normally seat more than 1,200 people is limited to 100 people under coronavirus restrictions.

HELP FOR RENTERS: Anne Arundel County is launching “Operation Eviction Protection,” to help renters who need assistance taking advantage of new laws and programs intended to keep them in their homes through the coronavirus crisis, Sarah Kim reports for WYPR.

DEL. NICK MOSBY ON COVID: As the COVID-19 outbreak happened in April, State Del. Nick Mosby and members of the Legislative Black Caucus pressed the Hogan administration for data regarding the scourge of the pandemic broken down specifically along racial lines, as it became clear it was disproportionately infecting and killing Black and Brown people, Sean Yoes reports for the AFRO. Six months later, Mosby said Baltimore has fared better in the battle than expected.

SNIPER RIFLE PURCHASE BEING REVIEWED: Baltimore Brew delved into a proposed Baltimore City contract and found out it would cost nearly $10,000 each for the city to purchase new sniper rifles used in high-risk situations and practice preparing for those situations, Mark Reutter reports for the Brew. The contract has been withdrawn and the mayor plans to review it.

IMPROVEMENTS TO U.S. 15 SOUGHT: Highway improvements to U.S. 15 between Interstate 70 and Md. 26 remains Frederick County’s top transportation priority, County Executive Jan Gardner told Transportation Secretary Greg Slater and other state transportation officials, Ryan Marshall reports for the Frederick News-Post.

WICOMICO APPOINTMENT EXPECTED: The Wicomico County Council plans to meet in a special legislative session Friday to select its next county executive, after a previous appointment faced scrutiny and the applicant withdrew his name, Kelly Powers reports for the Salisbury Times. Del. Carl Anderton, R-38B, and Wicomico General Services Supervisor Lawrence Pate Matthews are up for the job.

Wicomico’s recent travails raise a broader question, writes Lou Peck in Maryland Matters: What are the lessons or takeaways for other counties in the state with the county executive form of charter government? It’s a situation that already has confronted two other charter counties – Anne Arundel and Baltimore – who have had to fill vacant executive posts during the past decade.

The post State Roundup: Baltimore County stuns with Nov. phased return to schools appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

The Orioles' first wave of young starting pitchers has arrived. Few things matter more to their rebuild.

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0000

The Orioles are getting a look at a group of pitchers who could help stabilize their rotation and provide the kind of foundation they’ll need to start competing at the highest level.

Baltimore man killed two women living a few doors down, then called 911, confessed and waited for police to come get him, records show

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Court documents obtained by The Baltimore Sun say that Dandre Woods-Bethel stepped out onto his front porch after telling his son and a woman to go into the basement of his home and shot Julie Rice and Michelle Green four houses away.

Baltimore man killed two women sitting on a porch on his block, then called 911 and confessed, records show

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0000

How to Free Up Disc Space on Your Mac: 8 Clever Hacks

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 11:45:36 +0000

You’ve been trying to get some work done on your Mac but it’s taking forever to boot up. It can’t even open a simple word document. Guess it’s time to take it to a repair shop.

Before you start to pack it up, try cleaning it a little. Overusing your disk space will cause your computer to run a lot slower. Emptying your trash or hunting down and deleting unused large files can do wonders.

These aren’t the only tricks you can use to speed up your Mac. Check out this guide to learn how to clean up your hard drive.

Find and Delete Old Files

The first step to fix startup disk full problem is to go file hunting. Click on the Apple at the top corner of your screen and select “About this Mac”. It will give you a color-coded break down on the things that are taking up the most room on your computer.

If you click on “Manage”, you can get a more detailed description of each category. All you have to do is click on them to see the largest file that they contain.

Right-click on these files to delete them or move them to an external memory source like the Cloud. If you choose to delete them don’t forget to empty your trash or they’ll continue to take up space.

Use CleanMyMac

If you don’t want to have to fish through your Mac for hours looking for old files, you can use an app called CleanMyMac to do the job for you. It’s important to note before you run this application that you should back up any of your important files because they may accidentally get deleted in the process.

Once you start the app, it will go to work locating large files, cleaning up clutter, uninstalling applications, and getting rid of any big email attachments that you haven’t done away with yet. The only thing CleanMyMac doesn’t do is tackle duplicate files. You’ll have to do that by yourself or download a separate app.

Hunt Down Duplicate Files

If you’ve had your Mac for a long time, you’ve probably got a lot of duplicate files resting on your hard drive. The fastest way to get rid of them is by downloading an app called Gemini 2. The license is expensive but you should be able to use all the features the trial has to offer to get the job done.

When you run the app, it will do a quick scan to look for duplicates. When it’s done, click on the drop-down arrow next to each file to inspect it.

If you’re using the paid version, the app will delete everything automatically. The trial makes you do it one by one which is tedious but not a bad thing. You don’t want to get rid of something that you need, after all.

Take Out the Trash

Just because you’ve deleted a file, doesn’t mean that it’s off your computer for good. All its components are still there taking up room in your recycle bin.

Click on the little trash desktop icon and select “empty trash”. You’ll hear a crumpling paper sound and the files will be gone but you’re not done yet.

A few apps such as iPhoto have their own unique trash bins that you have to empty out. All you have to do is open the app and you’ll see a little trash bin icon off to the side. Right-click on it and choose “empty trash”.

Uninstall Things You’re Not Using

Chances are that you have one or two large applications that you’re not using anymore. Instead of letting them sit on your Mac, go ahead and uninstall them.

Open up Finder and click on “Applications” in the sidebar. Scroll through and drag anything you don’t need into the trash bin. Keep in mind that you’ll have to empty the trash in order to get rid of the applications for good.

Take Advantage of the Cloud

So, you’re going through the files on your computer and while you don’t need many of them at the second, they are important for later use. Instead of deleting them, move them over to the Cloud so they aren’t taking up space on your computer anymore.

You can store up to 5GB of stuff in the Cloud. If you need any more space than that, you can upgrade to the paid version. It can hold messages, pictures, videos, word documents, and more.

Remove Caches

Certain apps like Safari save little pieces of information known as Caches. You can delete these caches but it will only be a temporary fix to your problem. As soon as you start using your computer heavily again, the caches will fill up.

At most, emptying the cache will give you a few days of computer speed before it gets bogged down again. The easiest way to clear up your cache is by using CCleaner. It will scan your computer for temporary files and get rid of them.

Pick Up an External Hard Drive

If you’ve tried all the steps above and still have an issue with space on your Mac, the last alternative is to grab an external hard drive. They can be a bit expensive but you can use one to house any big files that are too much for your computer.

Keep in mind that there are some external hard drives that work better for the Mac than others. Make sure to do your research before committing to a purchase.

Free Up More Than Enough Disk Space on Your Mac

Are you having problems with a slow Mac? Instead of taking it to a repair shop or throwing it out, take strides to clear up a bit of disk space.

You’ll be surprised at the number of duplicate files and applications that are bogging your computer down. Delete them or move them over to the Cloud to get your Mac working like new again.

Looking for more ways to upgrade your Mac? Check out our blog daily for more articles like this one.

The post How to Free Up Disc Space on Your Mac: 8 Clever Hacks appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

Financial woes at Strong City Baltimore are creating big problems for vital community programs it is supposed to support

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 11:14:35 +0000

Dozens of grassroots organizations in Baltimore say Strong City’s accounting of their finances is hopelessly in disarray and upending their important community involving at-risk and mostly Black children.

Ravens vs. Texans staff picks: Who will win Sunday’s game in Houston?

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 11:00:00 +0000

Here’s how The Baltimore Sun sports staff views the outcome of Sunday’s game between the Ravens and Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

Requesting your Maryland ballot was the first step. Now, don’t make a mistake that could cause it to be thrown out.

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In Maryland, there are several ways your ballot can get tossed without being tallied, and it isn’t just a freak occurrence. Nearly 35,000 ballots were not counted during the June primary.

UMBC maintains a low COVID-19 positivity rate as the fall semester continues with a mix of online and in-person classes

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 10:00:00 +0000

While some other colleges and universities have struggled with COVID-19 outbreaks, UMBC has kept its positivity rate low.

An Ohio State junior thought he was getting tips for his English class from his peers. It was actually a U. of Maryland group chat.

Fri, 18 Sep 2020 10:00:00 +0000

Only in 2020 could an Ohio State University student find out that since the start of the semester the class tips he’d been gleaning through a group messaging app were actually coming from nearly 800 miles away in Maryland.