Baltimore City employee admits to bribery, PPP fraud

BALTIMORE, MD—A former Baltimore City employee has admitted to taking bribes and defrauding the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Joseph Gillespie, 35, of Baltimore, was found to have stolen more than $250,000 in bribes and received more than $138,000 in fraudulent PPP loans. Gillespie pleaded guilty on Friday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bribery. He worked for the […]

Baltimore County offices to close on Monday, September 2 for Labor Day holiday

TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County government offices will be closed on Monday, September 2, 2024 in recognition of the Labor Day holiday. All branches of the Baltimore County Public Library will be closed, Baltimore County parking meters will be free, and CountyRide vans and the Towson Loop will not operate on the holiday. Additionally, trash, single stream recyclables, and yard materials will […]

Governor Moore issues statement on military service record after erroneously claiming to have received Bronze Star

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore has issued a statement in the wake of a newly-surfaced report that indicating that he falsely claimed to have received a Bronze Star for his service in Afghanistan. Moore had previously claimed he did receive the medal, but according to a new report from The New York Times, he never actually received it. The report cites […]

Maryland’s Rural Legacy Program celebrates 25 years of conservation success

ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Rural Legacy Program is celebrating 25 years of conservation success, preserving over 125,000 acres of land in Maryland. The program was created to encourage local governments and land trusts to work together to protect ecologically valuable properties, farms, and forests. The Maryland General Assembly approved the program in 1997, and it’s credited with saving taxpayers $405 million. The […]

Maryland invests $20 million in education programs, online educational tool to be deployed in Baltimore County

ANNAPOLIS, MD—The State of Maryland has announced a $20 million investment in education by funding a partnership between Arnold Ventures and the Maryland State Department of Education to scale and expand successful programs that provide students with support in math. The initiative, Maryland Partnership for Proven Programs, will use matching funds from both parties to support selected programs that are […]

Governor Moore announces second round of Maryland’s Build Our Future grants

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore has announced that new applications are being accepted for the Build Our Future grant prog​​ram, a financial resource for innovation infrastructure projects to support eligible technology sectors. Funded at $7 million, the program will provide matching grants of up to $2 million to projects that demonstrate a transformative impact in accelerating growth and innovation in the […]

Councilman Marks to block townhome rezoning in Perry Hall, lighten Philadelphia Road growth

NOTTINGHAM, MD—Baltimore County Councilman David Marks on Tuesday announced that he will oppose a rezoning request that would have allowed townhomes on Gerst Avenue in Perry Hall (Issue 5-004). The zoning will remain one house per acre (DR 1). On the Philadelphia Road corridor, he will recommend downzoning the site of the Evans Funeral Chapel to CB (Issue 5-063) and […]

U.S. Court of Appeals upholds Maryland’s Handgun Qualification License law

BALTIMORE, MD—The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit on Friday upheld Maryland’s law requiring most residents to obtain a license before purchasing a handgun. In a 14-2 decision, the court in Maryland Shall Issue v. Wes Moore rejected a Second Amendment challenge to a state law requiring a Handgun Qualification License to purchase a handgun. Applicants for […]