Eastern Shore watermen packed Chesapeake College on Monday to oppose draft striped bass rules that would trim total removals by 12 percent in 2026 and could add more closures. The public hearing was organized by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The proposed cuts aim to protect the striped bass population, but watermen argue the reductions would severely impact their livelihoods.
In other news, Smith Islanders are now fully connected after a $2 million effort brought high-speed internet and 5G cell service to the remote community. The project, completed Wednesday, ends years of isolation for one of Maryland's most remote areas.
Veterans and current military members will reap new benefits starting Oct. 1, when over 400 bills become law in Maryland. Among them, the Health Equality for Service Members Act alters Maryland Code to provide certain benefits or privileges to armed forces members. This package of laws specifically targets support for veterans and active-duty personnel.
Maryland's workforce continues to shed federal jobs at the fastest rate in the U.S., with a decline of 2,500 federal workers in August alone, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state is down more than 15,000 federal jobs since January, the largest decrease in the country. Economists are unsure if the data fully captures the impact of the Trump administration's campaign to slash the federal workforce.
Maryland's health secretary sought to reassure residents that COVID-19 vaccines should be widely available despite shifting federal guidance. Meanwhile, at the J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake, Governor Wes Moore touted endorsements from six local Republican mayors, including Jack Coburn of Lonaconing. Coburn noted that when the town's water treatment system failed in January 2023, Moore ensured access to clean drinking water.
The Baltimore City Council has failed to fund a bill to study why thousands of children frequently miss school, despite promising to investigate the issue. In addition, a change in safety labels on Tylenol and other acetaminophen products could affect lawsuits claiming links to autism, according to the law firm of the late Peter Angelos.
Science education is being neglected in some Baltimore County elementary schools, particularly for vulnerable populations, a district official reported. The Frederick County Board of Education is considering limits on free speech during public comment periods after incidents of profanity and disruption. Former Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby made a public appearance after home detention, advocating for police reform. Montgomery County canceled its Hispanic Heritage Festival citing concerns about community safety amid increased federal immigration enforcement.
