The Daily Dose: Maryland Confronts COVID-19

As election day nears, Baltimore County elections officials say they'll add an additional day to count mail-in ballots, ahead of November 8.   While statewide Democrats enjoy commanding leads in their races, the race for the top job in Anne Arundel County is neck-and-neck.   Governor Hogan has announced 15-million dollars in federal aid will go toward hiring for infrastructure work and  a new study finds aircraft noise from BWI Airport may be doing more health damage than previously thought. We'll have those stories and more plus: we'll  hear from our executive editor of The Daily Dose and our general manager and CEO as they reflect on some of the highlights and bid a warm farewell to the podcast.  No…It's not going away forever…just taking a hiatus.  I'll have more details coming up.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adnan Syed is now a free man. The Maryland Department of Health is changing course on a multimillion dollar request. The Baltimore County Board of Elections is also doing a U-turn on early mail-in ballot counting. Immigrants and refugees in Baltimore will get some crucial help under a new initiative funded with ARPA funds and residents who live near  the blighted Security Square Mall will get a say in the 10-million dollar makeover plans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maryland's highest court has ruled that state election officials can begin counting mail-in ballots early.  President Biden was in our state today where he made a stop at a Hagerstown auto plant. A recently released report finds victims of violent crime in Baltimore need better support services. Drug affordability, especially for the city's seniors was the topic of a community forum with Mayor Scott and other lawmakers today. We'll have those stories and more from our news team, coming up in headlines. Plus… in the race for Baltimore County's top job, the candidates show just how opposite their approach to governing will be! and we'll take you to an inclusive arts exhibit for those with often unrecognized special gifts opening in Hampden.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baltimore's violence prevention programs will be getting some new funding. Maryland health officials say they are getting a handle on monkeypox. The state's  Republican and Democratic candidates for governor share vastly different views at a Marylanders With Disabilities forum. Governor Larry Hogan has been asked to testify in the trial of his former chief of staff. Baltimore has a new map for its police districts and October brings dozens of free arts events to Baltimore. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of the most important laws that went into effect Saturday aim to improve the health of Marylanders. Transportation for some kids to get to school will be improved this fall. Is Covid over? Dr. Leana Wen weighs in on President Biden's declaration of victory over the pandemic. Ballots are on their way to Marylanders who prefer to vote by mail and new public TV documentaries present surprising portraits of two Maryland heroes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maryland's highest court will hear Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox's appeal to block early vote counting. The Baltimore City Council received some preliminary answers about the recent E. Coli contamination. The City is making it easier to pay your water bill. The proposed Hopkins police force continues to attract controversy and Maryland lawmakers grill local elections officials about a shortage of polling places.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maryland is planning for an increased demand for abortion, as other states in the region make the procedure difficult or impossible to get. Baltimore County and its teachers finally have a deal for raises. Dan Cox and Wes Moore will debate October 12th, but some gubernatorial candidates will be missing. A Johns Hopkins professor wins a quarter million dollars for a simple idea that caught on big. Morgan State University may be losing track of some of its money, according to a new report. The city's juvenile justice center is facing some tough challenges and Maryland is running out of area codes so some counties will be getting a new one. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baltimore City Schools staff came to work on Sunday, trying to find students who aren't showing up to class. The EPA is making more than $140 million available to help solve the city's water woes. A meeting scheduled for this week on the new Johns Hopkins police force has been canceled. Morgan State is taking the lead in helping prepare traditionally under-represented students to study the environment. And with so many jobs to fill, one nonprofit is encouraging businesses to think outside the box.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A judge has ruled that Maryland officials can start counting mail-in ballots ahead of election day. A Baltimore county employee has been busted for using  the county's computer system to run a private business. A town hall meeting to discuss a private police force for Johns Hopkins University  was brought to an abrupt end by protestors last night. I'll have more headlines plus, the Republican running for Baltimore County Executive is promising a revolutionary change in government if he's elected. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A medical panel at the U.S Department of Health is recommending that everyone under age 65 get screened for anxiety. Our health reporter talked with the Director of  the Mental Health Association of Maryland about how  this pandemic has affected us all, and what help there is for Marylanders. The sanitation issues of the city's homeless encampments got a public hearing today. Most Marylanders condone recreational marijuana use according to a Goucher Poll with WYPR and the Baltimore Banner. We'll have more results from the poll, plus tomorrow is the 29th annual “Dining Out for Life,” I'll have a conversation with their director about this year's goal for supporting Maryland's chronically ill and food insecure.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A judge orders convicted murderer Adnan Syed to be freed. A new poll conducted by Goucher College in partnership with WYPR and The Baltimore Banner shows democrats would sweep the midterm election if held today. There's some optimism about the economy too. We'll have those stories and some headlines coming up and talking about sexuality to children as young as 3½? An educator of human sexuality for half a century says, yes, we can!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The city's Department of Public Works was raked over the coals at a hearing last night on its handling of the E.Coli water crisis. Today Mayor Brandon Scott  addressed the fallout on WYPR's Midday.  A  trial delay for Baltimore's outgoing top prosecutor. A hearing Monday could mean freedom for convicted murderer Adnan Syed. The union representing thousands of University System of Maryland employees brought their grievances to College Park today.  Baltimore's health department lays out a comprehensive plan to fight Monkeypox and the dissension continues over how to give Baltimore County teachers a promised pay raise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marilyn Mosby's trial has been delayed just a day before jury selection was to begin. The murder conviction of the man at the heart of the podcast, “Serial” could be vacated. An extra two-billion dollars? That's how much more unexpected revenue Maryland ended the fiscal year with!  Our new health reporter says Baltimore is stepping up its response to Monkeypox with its vaccine availability. A community meeting of stakeholders and squeegee workers met to come up with solutions and we'll hear from two Johns Hopkins professors who say their home was appraised hundreds of thousands below market value because they are Black. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mayor Scott is trying to get the message out that the water in west Baltimore is safe to drink again. Maryland's Governor is joining other Republicans in calling on President Biden to rescind his student loan forgiveness plan. When it comes to colleges in the state there are some stand outs according to a Forbes list. Seniors living on a college campus? That's what Goucher College is planning and a new initiative aimed at building relationships between incarcerated parents in Baltimore and their kids is starting to take shape. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Residents in West Baltimore and parts of Baltimore County have been given the green light to consume their tap water again. Construction has begun on a multi-million dollar complex in the city  that aims to entice emergency responders to live where they work. A gun scare and a death  in city and county schools have left students grief stricken at one…and on edge at another. Johns Hopkins health system warns they may stop accepting plans from one of the nation's biggest insurers and what's the human and dollar cost of Baltimore's vacant housing? A new report has some data.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

E.Coli bacteria contamination has left West Baltimore residents boiling tap water since Monday, but we have an update from DPW. The Mervo High School community is coming together with mental and emotional support for those affected by last week's traffic and fatal student shooting. Baltimore county council members have voted themselves a pay boost, the first one since 2014. Thousands of roadways in the county will get a 3-D review to see where repairs are needed. I'll have those headlines and more, plus Dr. Lena Wen talks about the threat to public health officials and the COVID booster to fight omicron.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first week of school ended today with a deadly shooting outside of a Baltimore City high school this afternoon. A deadly shooting at an apartment complex near Morgan State University has left students and area residents shaken. New COVID booster shots will be available for Maryland residents as early as next week, now that the FDA and CDC have approved them. A program that gave thousands of needy Maryland students a free lunch during the pandemic has ended. A dire report from the National Center for Education Statistics shows how the pandemic eviscerated math and reading scores and we'll hear from a labor reporter about how millennial workers are a driving force for unionization.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A greenlight from the FDA today on two new COVID boosters to ward off the highly contagious omicron variant. The U.S. has its first death believed to be the result of Monkeypox. Baltimore County health officials are reaching out to residents considered high risk for contracting the virus. County Council members are eyeing a raise for themselves as well as the county executive who's raked in the dough, according to the latest campaign finance reports. I'll get a breakdown from our state government reporter on how much is in the coffers of Maryland's gubernatorial candidates and our education reporter has a conversation with a Johns Hopkins medical director about how the weight of the past two-and-a-half years will impact learning this school year, and beyond.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was back to school for thousands of students across Maryland today. I'll have a quick recap of the kickoff in the city and counties. Workers at a grocery chain in Baltimore have voted to unionize for better pay and job security and when it comes to American politics from national, down to our local elections, it seems we are more divided than at any other time in recent history. We'll share an excerpt from a Johns Hopkins political science professor who's co-authored a new book that speaks to the violence and danger of what she calls, “Radical American Partisanship.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wes Moore says he welcomes a debate with his republican opponent ahead of November's midterm election. President Joe Biden paid a visit to Maryland last night to rally Democrats. As schools open across Maryland Monday, the Baltimore County teachers union has put off a contract vote to boost salaries. At a City council hearing last night, public school leaders and local agency officials gathered to come up with solutions for tackling violent crime and we'll have a report on what city officials plan to do about the rising number of carjackings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A brazen afternoon shooting at a Baltimore intersection ends in one fatality and several injuries. Local city, state and federal officials gathered in Maryland today to promote new efforts to tackle violent crime. The city council has approved spending one-million dollars on new cell phone tracking technology. Time is running out for Marylanders to take advantage of the Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit Program. I'll have those stories in headlines, plus Baltimore County is scrambling to fill teacher vacancies before school starts next week and a giant indoor salmon farm on the Eastern Shore is raising the eyebrows of some environmentalists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maryland's covid positivity rate lingers in the double digits, just below 12-percent. Dr. Fauci says he's calling it quits at the end of this year. The FDA has greenlit the expansion of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine to kids as young as 12. Hundreds of thousands of kids across the country fell behind on routine vaccinations since the start of the pandemic and as schools across the state welcome back students next week, we'll hear from a local pediatrician who breaks down the myths vs. the wisdom of keeping kids current on routine vaccines.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's new movement in a legal case calling for more funding for Baltimore City schools. Anne Arundel county school officials are telling parents there are still hurdles in efforts to hire more bus drivers. Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is trying to rid parts of the Eastern shore of gang activity and drug trafficking and Baltimore County officials are trying harder to give away free bus rides on the Towson Loop.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COVID19 cases continue to stack up in Maryland. As the new school year approaches, Baltimore City public schools have a new COVID policy for those students planning to play sports. When Baltimore County students make their way back to class, the county's head nurse says many pandemic protocols will no longer be in place.The Baltimore City Council has approved a bill aimed at stopping street and stunt racing. And a newly formed coalition takes up the homelessness issue in Baltimore by setting up camp.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NAACP and the ACLU say the state board of education continues to fail Baltimore City students. Howard County police begin wearing body cameras this week. According to a ProPublica investigation, the Baltimore County police department is behind on processing thousands of rape cases DNA evidence and the CDC has new relaxed covid guidelines as thousands of students prepare to return to Maryland schools this month.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baltimore County's top watchdog is getting more support amid scrutiny from the county council. We'll take a deep dive into the job of the county's inspector general's office. As students return to school in the coming weeks there might not be enough teachers in the classroom so schools are looking to recruit thousands of substitutes. Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby faces a $1,500 fine after a judge ruled she violated a gag order and a new look is on the way for downtown Essex.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Surges of COVID19 continue across the US and the BA.5 variant remains the driving factor. Maryland universities examine what their COVID protocols will or won't be in the fall. Anne Arundel County has a new Superintendent of Public Schools and he's tackling the mammoth task of filling vacancies and a federal court has ruled in a discrimination case against Baltimore's Catholic Relief Services.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The family of Anton Black has reached a five million dollar settlement in his police custody death lawsuit that continues. A child playing with a loaded gun led to the tragic death of a 15-year old in Baltimore. City School officials plan to spend 25-million dollars on a tutoring program to help offset summer and remote learning loss. Maryland's COVID positivity rate still hovers over 12-percent and a report from Annie E. Casey Foundation takes a deep national dive into the mental health of young people.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 14-million dollars in ARPA funds will go toward an initiative to help clean up Baltimore neighborhoods.  Baltimore County school officials are hoping a new app will help ease the chaos created by the continuing school bus driver shortage. Parents have been notified that the free meal program in Baltimore County Public Schools is ending. A summer youth initiative is giving some inner-city students a taste of the aviation field and a plan by the The U.S. Naval Academy for a golf course across the Severn River is drawing criticism from some environmentalists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maryland health officials say they will press for more monkeypox vaccines, but for now will keep the limited supply for those most in need. The state's COVID-19 positivity rate is now above 12-percent. Baltimore's Mayor outlined his violence prevention plan for residents who participated in National Night Out. An indictment on a first degree murder charge means a 15-year old squeegee worker's case will remain in adult court, for now. I'll have those headlines and more,plus a look at the economic and social cost of those incarcerated in Maryland's state prison. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State health officials say the new COVID-19 vaccine is here. Two more primary races in Maryland are now settled.  Baltimore's mayor says he's ashamed, following another violent crime weekend in the city and we'll hear from Baltimore's new deputy mayor for public safety on how he'll work with the city's leaders to restore Baltimore to a place he's always loved. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're far from the November general election, but Baltimore City already has a new top prosecutor. Baltimore County's incumbent State's Attorney appears to have fended off his Democratic primary challenger. The race for Anne Arundel's county executive in the Republican primary still hasn't been called as elections officials were still counting ballots. Police in Middle River tried to calm nerves at a community meeting last night over a shooting involving a major drug dealer. Baltimore's Health Commissioner defends the city's Monkeypox vaccine supply and a new regional hotline aims to help those experiencing a mental health crisis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

State health officials say Maryland's COVID positivity rate remains dismal. Baltimore's Health Commissioner defends the city's handling of the Monkeypox vaccine. The City Council held a hearing today on what to do about the number of squeegee workers at busy intersections. Two races still undecided in Baltimore County's democratic primary. We'll have those headlines and more, plus climate change and environmental equity in Black and brown communities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Baltimore has a new democratic nominee for City State's attorney who also promised to crack down on violent crime. Violence over the weekend pushed Baltimore to another grim milestone in its homicide rate. Two settled, one to go in Baltimore County's three democratic primary races. Wes Moore, Maryland's democratic nominee for Governor says voters have a choice between “unity” and “division.” Governor Larry Hogan says Trump backed nominee Dan Cox does not stand a chance in the general election and Maryland's COVID positivity rate continues to climb amidst the looming BA.5 variant and concerns about the spread of Monkeypox. I have a conversation with an epidemiologist who breaks down the latest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well the sun has set on night three after Maryland's primary and many races are still up in the air but several news outlets are projecting non-profit exec and Rhodes Scholar, Wes Moore as the winner of the Democratic contest, but that's not official. Elections boards across Maryland are busily counting hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots received, so it'll be a few more days, at least before final outcomes are known. Maryland's GOP establishment is left wondering what to make of  Dan Cox's near certain primary victory. If you didn't notice, there's a heat wave gripping Maryland and much of the country.  Some city parents are already turning their attention to the upcoming school year and the headaches they'll face with new start times and we'll get a check in with Dr. Leana Wen on Monkey Pox and the BA.5 COVID variant.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well folks, it's the day after the primary, but despite a low voter turnout there were some big surprises… and some cliffhangers even in big races that may not be decided for another week or so. In this special election edition…we'll have a roundup from our reporters of what happened and what's next.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Primary day in Maryland is upon us!  But between redistricting, the delayed elections, and a late counting of mail-in ballots, elections officials warn we may not know the winners in tomorrow's key races for a while.  Baltimore's incumbent State's Attorney says she is the right person for reducing the city's violent homicide rate…despite facing a federal trial on perjury charges.  Maryland's COVID positivity rate is continuing with grim numbers.  A 15-year old city squeegee worker has been denied bail. And we'll get out on the Chesapeake Bay where our oyster population is making a comeback.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The DOJ has opened an investigation into the Maryland State Police over allegations of racial discrimination in its hiring and promotion policies. An arrest made this week in a homicide involving a motorist and a squeegee worker in Baltimore…The attorney for the 15 year old says it was in self-defense.  The widows of two Baltimore firefighters gave emotional testimony at a  city council public hearing on what to do with the city's abandoned dwellings. An audit of Maryland's Social Services agency finds kids in foster care are not getting all the care they need.  We'll have all those stories plus…Midges! What they do and why they are hurting some eastern Baltimore County businesses.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Maryland, the number of COVID hospitalizations are down, but only slightly, and the CDC warns of a new fast spreading variant. A city council meeting this week brought heated discussion about Baltimore's squeegee workers and a recent homicide and Mayor Brandon Scott says while violence and harassment can not be tolerated, there can't be a one-step solution to clear the city of panhandlers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maryland's COVID positivity rate remains above nine-percent. Testing for monkeypox began today at Mayo Clinic laboratories. Early voting underway in Maryland is so far…underwhelming. And, what are called the “lungs” of Maryland's Chesapeake Bay get a close examination by Smithsonian researchers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

City officials speak out on yesterday's shooting in downtown Baltimore that left one man dead. COVID 19 cases are still on an uptick. The latest on Baltimore County School's chief auditor and will a soccer stadium be in Baltimore's future?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maryland's COVID positivity rate is back on a high, a dismal look for where Baltimore's homicide number is heading..Baltimore's school chief is being celebrated while at the same time her office faces a lawsuit. In Baltimore County, the school's chief auditor has a lawsuit of her own. What inspired a 17 yr old in Howard County to run in an election and we'll tell you about a summer program designed to teach area youth life and work skills. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.