Before the pandemic, motorists traveling eastbound through Anne Arundel County toward the Bay Bridge endured tedious backups, particularly during beach season when commuters, contractors and vacationers mingled unhappily.People who live in communities that straddle U.S. 50 — on the Broadneck Peninsula and on Kent Island — complained of being virtual prisoners, unable to leave their neighborhoods from Thursday through Sunday each week.A proposal to add a third crossing alongside the existing twin spans would bring greater mobility to both “through” traffic and area residents alike, according...…Before the pandemic, motorists traveling eastbound through Anne Arundel County toward the Bay Bridge endured tedious backups, particularly during beach season when commuters, contractors and vacationers mingled unhappily.People who live in communities that straddle U.S. 50 — on the Broadneck Peninsula and on Kent Island — complained of being virtual prisoners, unable to leave their neighborhoods from Thursday through Sunday each week.A proposal to add a third crossing alongside the existing twin spans would bring greater mobility to both “through” traffic and area residents alike, according...WW…

A high-ranking critic of the Hogan administration’s plan to widen two Montgomery County highways is urging the federal government to tap the brakes on the controversial project.In an April 2 letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Rep. Anthony G. Brown (D-Md.) said the project has numerous flaws, and he urged the federal government to “reevaluate” its role in it.“These deficiencies include a lack of consideration of transit options and investment, a dated and inequitable approach to improving infrastructure that is out of step with the Biden/Harris administration’s modern...…A high-ranking critic of the Hogan administration’s plan to widen two Montgomery County highways is urging the federal government to tap the brakes on the controversial project.In an April 2 letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Rep. Anthony G. Brown (D-Md.) said the project has numerous flaws, and he urged the federal government to “reevaluate” its role in it.“These deficiencies include a lack of consideration of transit options and investment, a dated and inequitable approach to improving infrastructure that is out of step with the Biden/Harris administration’s modern...WW…

House and Senate negotiators have reached agreement on a measure to determine how Maryland implements legalized sports wagering.The agreement represents a compromise between the version of that cleared the House of Delegates a month ago and that a Senate committee crafted earlier this week.The House version set limits on the number of gambling licenses the state would issue. Amendments added by the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee set no limits on either “bricks and mortar” or mobile licenses.Under the compromise, reached between lawmakers from the two chambers, the state would issue...…House and Senate negotiators have reached agreement on a measure to determine how Maryland implements legalized sports wagering.The agreement represents a compromise between the version of that cleared the House of Delegates a month ago and that a Senate committee crafted earlier this week.The House version set limits on the number of gambling licenses the state would issue. Amendments added by the Senate Budget & Taxation Committee set no limits on either “bricks and mortar” or mobile licenses.Under the compromise, reached between lawmakers from the two chambers, the state would issue...WW…

Greenbelt Mayor Colin A. Byrd, who berated Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) at the opening of a mass vaccination site in the Prince George’s County municipality earlier this month, was formally censured by his colleagues on the city council.Byrd’s nine-minute attack on Hogan’s handling of the pandemic on April 8 generated considerable media attention.He accused the governor and other state leaders of “scapegoating people of color” by suggesting that some Black and Brown persons don’t want the COVID-19 vaccine. He also said Hogan’s decision to lift restrictions on business activity and social...…Greenbelt Mayor Colin A. Byrd, who berated Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) at the opening of a mass vaccination site in the Prince George’s County municipality earlier this month, was formally censured by his colleagues on the city council.Byrd’s nine-minute attack on Hogan’s handling of the pandemic on April 8 generated considerable media attention.He accused the governor and other state leaders of “scapegoating people of color” by suggesting that some Black and Brown persons don’t want the COVID-19 vaccine. He also said Hogan’s decision to lift restrictions on business activity and social...WW…

Bruce DePuyt spent nearly three decades on local television, including 14 years as executive producer and host of News Talk on NewsChannel 8 in the Washington, D.C., area. He has served as reporter, anchor and producer/host of 21 This Week in Montgomery County and as reporter/anchor at NBC affiliate WVIR-TV in Charlottesville, Va. He’s a regular contributor to WTOP (103.5 FM) and frequently moderates community and political events.Visit the SUBSCRIBE page to sign up for our morning newsletter.As the application process got underway this week for business owners to enter the mobile sports...…Bruce DePuyt spent nearly three decades on local television, including 14 years as executive producer and host of News Talk on NewsChannel 8 in the Washington, D.C., area. He has served as reporter, anchor and producer/host of 21 This Week in Montgomery County and as reporter/anchor at NBC affiliate WVIR-TV in Charlottesville, Va. He’s a regular contributor to WTOP (103.5 FM) and frequently moderates community and political events.Visit the SUBSCRIBE page to sign up for our morning newsletter.As the application process got underway this week for business owners to enter the mobile sports...WW…

A year ago, Maryland’s Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles pledged that the Hogan administration was committed to “bold and achievable solutions” that help the environment and fight climate change, including joining a nascent coalition of states “looking to apply the proven ‘carbon cap-and-invest’ model to transportation emissions.“We will promote decarbonization through the widespread use of vehicles that run off of increasingly clean energy,” in a Baltimore Sun op-ed last October.“We’ll deploy those vehicles through the Maryland Clean Cars program in conjunction with the Transportation and...…A year ago, Maryland’s Environment Secretary Ben Grumbles pledged that the Hogan administration was committed to “bold and achievable solutions” that help the environment and fight climate change, including joining a nascent coalition of states “looking to apply the proven ‘carbon cap-and-invest’ model to transportation emissions.“We will promote decarbonization through the widespread use of vehicles that run off of increasingly clean energy,” in a Baltimore Sun op-ed last October.“We’ll deploy those vehicles through the Maryland Clean Cars program in conjunction with the Transportation and...WW…

Matthew Sherring, a former top official at the Maryland Environmental Service, refused to answer more than 170 questions during an appearance before a legislative committee on Thursday.His refusal to tell the committee about the service’s financial and employment practices — particularly its decision to give a lucrative severance to a former chief of staff to Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) — infuriated members of the Joint Committee on Fair Practices and State Personnel Oversight.They accused him of stonewalling the committee’s investigation and they vowed to press ahead for...…Matthew Sherring, a former top official at the Maryland Environmental Service, refused to answer more than 170 questions during an appearance before a legislative committee on Thursday.His refusal to tell the committee about the service’s financial and employment practices — particularly its decision to give a lucrative severance to a former chief of staff to Gov. Lawrence J. Hogan Jr. (R) — infuriated members of the Joint Committee on Fair Practices and State Personnel Oversight.They accused him of stonewalling the committee’s investigation and they vowed to press ahead for...WW…

Maryland has already committed to joining with other states in the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), but the states have yet to formally agree on a path forward.recently announced plans to substantially reduce service and eliminate thousands of positions.Bruce DePuyt spent nearly three decades on local television, including 14 years as executive producer and host of News Talk on NewsChannel 8 in the Washington, D.C., area. He has served as reporter, anchor and producer/host of 21 This Week in Montgomery County and as reporter/anchor at NBC affiliate WVIR-TV in Charlottesville,...…Maryland has already committed to joining with other states in the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI), but the states have yet to formally agree on a path forward.recently announced plans to substantially reduce service and eliminate thousands of positions.Bruce DePuyt spent nearly three decades on local television, including 14 years as executive producer and host of News Talk on NewsChannel 8 in the Washington, D.C., area. He has served as reporter, anchor and producer/host of 21 This Week in Montgomery County and as reporter/anchor at NBC affiliate WVIR-TV in Charlottesville,...WW…