Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Jane Delores White she was the cherished daughter of Harry and Dorris (Keller) Wright and beloved wife of Richard White. Jane’s journey of love began in 1959 when a blind date who kindly drove them to the Senator Theatre This serendipitous encounter marked the beginning of a beautiful 65-year partnership characterized by unwavering devotion and shared joy they remained each other's only love. Jane was a dedicated member and Eucharistic minister at St where her faith and kindness touched many lives She had a fulfilling career with the Harford County Government retiring as the Manager of the Collection Department for Water and Sewer units where her meticulous nature and strong work ethic made a lasting impact. creating cherished gifts for family and friends each stitch a reflection of her love and thoughtfulness. and the light she brought to those around her and community that will endure in the hearts of all who knew her. and her husband Stuart of GA; grandchildren Drew Daugherty and Kelsey White and 2 great grandchildren. Visitation will be held at Stella Maris Chapel Interment will take place in Bel Air Memorial Gardens Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Alex Parker is joined by Kaiser Permanente's Mid-Atlantic Regional President, Israel Rocha to discuss the opening of Kaiser's new Lutherville-Timonium Medical Center. With over 100 Exam Rooms, over 30 Physician Specialists, a Pharmacy, a Lab, and more, Kaiser is truly living out their mission by making healthcare easier. TIMONIUM, Md. — A new combination brewery and cafe/roastery is about to open near the State Fairgrounds in Timonium. It's the brainchild of Baltimore's Diamondback Brewing Co., and Towson's Aveley Farms Coffee - and it's expected to open within the next few weeks. They are teaming up to open a whole new business at 9490 Deereco Road, in an office park between I-83 and the light-rail tracks. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AveleyFarmsCoffee (@aveleyfarmscoffee) This will be the second location for both Diamondback and Aveley Farms Diamondback Brewing, which is currently in South Baltimore's Locust Point, is scheduled for a liquor-license hearing in Baltimore County on Monday. Aveley Farms opened nearly two years ago in downtown Towson, and has proved to be a popular destination on Chesapeake Avenue. View this post on Instagram A post shared by AveleyFarmsCoffee (@aveleyfarmscoffee) View this post on Instagram A post shared by AveleyFarmsCoffee (@aveleyfarmscoffee) The new facility is set to be a 3,000-square-foot indoor taproom and dog-friendly outdoor beer garden that will feature seasonally-rotating pizzas This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page BALTIMORE COUNTY — SONIC has permanently closed its Towson and Lutherville restaurants along with their Middle River store on Pulaski Highway signs were posted on the doors saying that the restaurants were closed for renovations and repairs The Rosedale restaurant has since reopened A map search lists the Towson and Lutherville stores as permanently closed A SONIC spokesperson issued the following statement: The future of the Pulaski Highway store is unclear Workers at neighboring businesses say the signs are still up saying the restaurant is being renovated The company did not respond to requests for more information about other stores 2025 at 11:47 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Wall Street Journal said Loyola University Maryland (Dan Hanscom/Shutterstock)MARYLAND — Seven Maryland institutions are among the 500 best public and private colleges and universities in the country according to the 2025 rankings from The Wall Street Journal Maryland's top school is Loyola University Maryland, a private institution in Baltimore, according to The WSJ/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. ranking The other colleges that made the ranking are listed below The Wall Street Journal noted that in the ranking half of the colleges in the top 50 are new to the list But the top-ranked school remained unchanged from the previous ranking a four-year Ivy League private school known for its rigorous academic standards and selectivity in admissions topped the ranking for the second year in a row “Our ranking measures how well each college sets graduates up for financial success We look at how much a school improves students’ chances of graduating and their future earnings balancing these outcomes with feedback from students on college life,” The Journal wrote The Maryland schools that made The Journal's top 500 are: The Journal said public schools are prominent among colleges that moved up in the rankings Two are in the top 10 — the University of California and the Georgia Institute of Technology at No there were no public schools in the top 10 The Journal developed the ranking in collaboration with research partners College Pulse and Statista Read more on the methodology and findings on The Wall Street Journal Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. Fruselva USA, a Miami-based company, issued a voluntary recall of 25,600 units of Good & Gather baby Pea which was sold in 4-ounce containers and distributed to Target stores nationwide the recalled products had lot numbers 4169 and 4167 The tubs bear the phrases "Distributed by Target Corporation The recalled baby food was marketed for babies 6 months and older meaning that "use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote," according to the agency While the FDA says there is no known safe level of exposure to lead in food, a 2019 study found heavy metal contamination in 95 percent of tested baby food Congressional subcommittee issued a report noting high levels of heavy metals these neurotoxins can delay and impair brain development in young children As concerns grew, the FDA launched its Closer to Zero project in 2021 The goal is to reduce exposure to contaminants in food eaten by babies and young children In a statement sent to ABC News We require our suppliers to comply with all applicable food safety standards and federal This recall involved a limited amount of product which we took immediate action to remove from our shelves." Customers who purchased them can call Target Guest Relations at 800-440-0680 or visit a Target store location for a refund Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 5:54 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Do you know what stores will be open on Easter in case you need to run a last-minute errand (Shutterstock)MARYLAND — Many major retailers in Maryland will be closed on Easter but several grocery stores and supermarkets will be open for at least part of the day so it’s a good idea to call ahead to verify your local store’s hours Here’s a look at retailers that will be open and closed on Easter: Aldi: All locations of the discount grocery chain will be closed Costco: All member warehouse stores will be closed Food Lion: Stores will be open regular hours GIANT: Stores will open at their normal posted time and close at 3 p.m Giant Food: Stores will open for regular hours on Easter Sunday Harris Teeter: Stores will be open regular hours Kroger: Most stores in the Kroger family will be open on Easter Sam’s Club: All member warehouse stores will be closed Trader Joe’s: Stores will be open regular hours Walmart: Stores will be open regular hours Wegman’s: Stores will be open regular hours Whole Foods: Most stores will open at their regular time on Easter, but will close by 6 p.m. local time, with few exceptions. Check your local store’s hours on Whole Foods’ store locator tool Sources: Parade, USA Today and Retail Wire 2025 at 4:42 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The partial solar eclipse will be visible between 6:13 and 7:17 a.m File)MARYLAND — It’s worth getting out of bed before sunrise Saturday to see the moon appear to take a bite out of the sun during a partial solar eclipse The eclipse will be visible between 6:13 and 7:17 a.m The eclipse begins will be underway at sunrise time Saturday The National Weather Service forecasts partly clear skies for early Saturday morning The solar eclipse will also be visible in parts of Canada and eastern North America The sun will shrink the most in the northeastern U.S. coastal areas and high elevations offer the best views because the eclipse takes place at sunrise The eclipse won’t be visible at all south of Virginia Beach and east of Buffalo The best views in North America are in Nuuk During a partial solar eclipse The moon casts a shadow on Earth and only partly blocks the sun “Eclipses are just a game of light and shadow that are played by the sun moon and Earth,” The Planetarium in Montréal’s Auriane Egal told The Associated Press Solar and lunar eclipses happen anywhere from four to seven times a year, according to NASA. Due to the moon's tilted orbit around Earth, they tend to come in pairs: A total lunar eclipse turned the moon red in mid-March the sun slowly slims to a crescent as the moon appears to cover it “It will feel like a particularly cloudy day,” Juan Carlos Muñoz-Mateos with the European Southern Observatory Viewers can also enjoy the spectacle through indirect ways such as making a pinhole projector using household materials Holding up a colander will produce a similar effect Peering at the ground under a shady tree can yield crescent shadows as the sunlight filters through branches and leaves Another total lunar eclipse and partial solar eclipse will return in September with the best solar eclipse views in Antarctica and New Zealand The Associated Press contributed reporting Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 3:41 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Do you have your REAL ID yet There's just one month left for Marylanders to obtain their updated identification so they do not experience travel disruptions (Shutterstock / Ivan Marc)MARYLAND — Do you have your REAL ID yet There's just one month left for Marylanders to obtain their updated identification so they do not experience travel disruptions Maryland residents who are 18 and older must show a REAL ID a passport or other federally approved identification to board domestic flights or certain federal buildings The anti-terrorism law requiring the “gold star ID,” as it’s sometimes called terrorist attacks and aims to heighten national security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards The law was originally supposed to take effect in 2008 but has been delayed multiple times state Department of Transportation officials said that 99 percent of Maryland residents are REAL ID compliant Average MVA branch appointment wait times are under five minutes as well as other relevant driver and vehicle information.” 2025 at 5:13 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Costas Inn announced Friday that it will open a second restaurant this spring The outpost will be located in Timonium at the Maryland State Fairgrounds’ horse track grandstand The new eatery will be in Timonium at the Maryland State Fairgrounds' horse track grandstand "When we were asked to explore this opportunity, we knew it was the perfect fit. The overwhelming support from our community so far has been tremendous, and we’re excited to bring our signature crabcakes and a variety of delicious dishes to this newly renovated space," Costas Inn said Friday on Facebook Costas Inn was opened in 1971 by husband-wife duo Costas N The crab house at 4100 Northpoint Blvd. has since hosted celebrities like Orioles legend Cal Ripken Jr. "Seinfeld" actor Jason Alexander and "Saturday Night Live" comedians Michael Che and Colin Jost "This next chapter wouldn’t be possible without our amazing team and the loyal Costas family who have supported us for over 50 years Thank you for being part of our journey—we can’t wait to welcome you to Timonium soon," the Costas Inn post said Maryland State Fair President Fran Burns congratulated and welcomed Costas "Costas Inn at Timonium will be another fantastic dining option during the Md. State Fair and our thoroughbred races! Welcome Pete Triantafilos and his wonderful Costas family," Burns said Friday on Facebook Customers can follow Costas Inn on Facebook or visit costasinn.com for opening updates Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 6:08 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A winter storm is predicted to develop along an incoming Arctic cold front this weekend bringing 2 to 4 inches of snow to the Baltimore-DC region MD — A winter storm is predicted to develop along an incoming Arctic cold front this weekend increasing Maryland's chances of seeing accumulating snow Estimates by the National Weather Service on Friday called for snowfall amounts of 4 inches in Westminster; 3 inches in Bel Air D.C.; with 2 inches of snow expected in Hagerstown and areas further west The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm watch from late Saturday night to Sunday evening for Carroll with total snow accumulations up to 5 inches possible giving Baltimore area residents a mild day of sunshine and temperatures in the lower to mid-40s before conditions change on Saturday According to the National Weather Service's latest forecast there's a chance of snow Saturday before 10 a.m Snow is expected to transition to rain showers by late morning and continue into the afternoon A relative lull is expected by late afternoon and evening Saturday as an Arctic cold front and low pressure system pushes to the east A second wave of low pressure will then take shape over the Tennessee Valley which forecasters said will become Sunday's winter storm forecasters said the Baltimore region could see as much as 3 inches of snow on Sunday "Computer models vary significantly in their predictions for how much snow will fall Sunday," the Capital Weather Gang said in its latest forecast "The more reliable models suggest about 1 to 3 inches in the region simulate anything from no snow to 10 inches." a polar vortex — a stormy ring that typically keeps the coldest air locked up near the North Pole — will settle over Maryland and bring bitter and dangerously cold temperatures to the Baltimore region Temperatures on Sunday will reach the 30s before falling into the mid-20s on Monday Lows will plunge into the single digits before the most frigid temperatures arrive Tuesday Tuesday will see a high of 21 degrees and a low of 8 Here's a look at the detailed Baltimore-area National Weather Service forecast through Tuesday: Saturday: A chance of snow showers before 10am then a chance of rain and snow showers between 10am and noon Saturday Night: A chance of rain before 4am Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph after midnight The 10 percent across-the-board tariff hike takes effect Saturday while the higher reciprocal tariffs imposed on virtually every U.S trading partner are scheduled to take effect Wednesday Trump announced the levies earlier this week as part of a goal to create more U.S manufacturing jobs and correct a trade deficit he views as a “national emergency.” There is always a chance Trump is using the tariffs as a bargaining chip to win concessions from nations placing duties on U.S Trump has said the tariffs “give us great power to negotiate.” At least one nation — China — has retaliated with an additional 35 percent tax on U.S The European Union has vowed to impose additional levies on U.S consumers are steeling for steep price increases from some of the country’s biggest trading partners Democratic Congressman Steny Hoyer of Maryland denounced the tariffs saying: "What he did was stand in the Rose Garden and proudly announce the largest tax increase on middle-class Americans in our nation’s history – one that will cost the average American family thousands of dollars each year his administration is fanning out to describe the impact of his tariffs as ‘short term pain,’ as if that pain were not both serious and literal for everyday Americans Americans are grappling with the reality of higher costs and job uncertainty as a direct result of President Trump’s tax increase.” Although the temptation is great to stock up on staples before stores have to replenish their inventories with imported goods facing higher tariffs experts say it’s important not to panic or hoard items Experts say it may make sense to go ahead and buy already planned purchases of big-ticket items like cars and appliances before inventories are replenished with goods imported with higher duties they advise against panic buying and hoarding The United States is the biggest importer in the world with $3.2 trillion in goods coming into the country in 2022, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative The tariffs are expected to have a wide effect on items in Americans’ pantries The increased costs will be seen on items directly imported from other countries and U.S companies that depend on trading partners for key ingredients or components of products Here are some things that could cost more: Trump’s sweeping executive order shuts down the de minimis trade loophole, an exemption that allowed shipments of less than $800 to enter the country duty-free, effective May 2, NBC News reported. That has allowed fast-fashion e-commerce companies such as Shein and Temu to offer low-cost clothing and others to flood the market with low-cost electronics and other items Customs and Protection processed more than 1.3 billion de minimis shipments in 2024 The goods that qualify for the exemption will be subject to a tariff equal to 30 percent of their value or $25 per item The White House said the flat fee will increase to $50 per item on June 1 Top-line iPhones could cost about $2,300 if Apple passes the full brunt of the tariffs on to consumers according to projections from Rosenblatt Securities Even the cheapest iPhone 16 model could increase to $1,142 Your wallet could feel a jolt with your morning cup of joe. Americans drink more than 200 times the amount of coffee that can be produced on the Hawaiian islands and the majority of it is imported from Brazil and Columbia Most of the tea Americans consume comes from countries with high tariffs China (54 percent) and Sri Lanka (44 percent) A significant amount of fruits and vegetables — especially tropical fruits and out-of-season produce — comes from trading partners is the largest of the trading partners for these foods including 88 percent of the avocados eaten in the United States The United States is also the top importer of bananas The cost of vanilla and spices commonly used by America’s cooks and bakers are expected to increase consumers can do to avoid the higher prices since the climate here doesn’t allow the plants they’re derived from to grow For example, CNBC reported Madagascar accounts for more than three-quarters of U.S already the second-most expensive spice in the world Exports from Madagascar will be subject to tariffs of 47 percent Mattel has warned that everything from its Barbie and American Girl dolls to Hot Wheels toys will cost more due to the 54 percent tariffs on China whose toys are popular with children and adults alike also expects to increase prices to absorb a 20 percent tariff on European Union member Denmark Cocktail hour could become more expensive with 25 percent tariffs on everything from Mexican tequila and Canadian whiskey to imported Mexican Corona, Dutch Heineken and Irish Guinness. Imported wine and spirits from Europe are also likely to become more expensive, NBC News reported Tins, vape hardware and specialized glass smoking devices used by cannabis consumers are largely supplied by Asia, especially China, and dispensaries and smoke shops are expected to pass increased costs on to their customers, Reuters reported “Those relying on exports from nations with tariffs will need to take a serious look at how they might absorb the extra costs or alter partnerships,’ Bryan Gerber the world's largest manufacturer of cones and combustibles Five years after America ran out of toilet paper due to COVID-19 pandemic supply chain issues, the tariffs on lumber could again pinch the toilet paper supply Bloomberg reported in March after the first round of Trump’s tariffs took effect Other major suppliers of toilet paper in the United States are China companies depend on Canada for the prized northern bleached softwood kraft pulp used to make toilet paper and paper towels Astronomical spring begins with the March equinox at 5:01 a.m Here’s how the private weather company sees spring shaping up in Maryland: The mid-Atlantic region should see normal temperatures in the rest of February and March although farmers and gardeners alike across the East need to be on guard against late frost which can lead to damage to sensitive plants Maryland generally sees its last frost between April 15 and May 1 Spring temperatures should hover around average from March through May in Maryland The first weeks of spring may feel more like winter across the northern half of the United States due to a turbulent transition between the seasons said one of the coldest Januarys in years caused more ice to form on the Great Lakes which will suppress the early spring warmup across the Midwest and parts of the Northeast a persistent pattern of stormy weather in the Pacific Northwest is expected to mean a colder start to spring “The storm track in the West can retreat quickly and center more over the Pacific Northwest and western Canada by March,” Pastelok said “The transition to spring will be near average or faster across the central Rockies.” Temperatures are expected to warm quickly in the southern U.S AccuWeather said the seesaw pattern between milder spring air and bursts of cooler air could trigger some late-season snow across the interior Northeast and the Midwest The severe weather season is expected to be similar to last year’s with the frequency of tornadoes and damaging storms increasing as spring progresses AccuWeather said there’s one major difference — the epicenter is expected to shift from traditional “tornado alley” to cities such as Chicago Memphis and others in the Mississippi and Tennessee valleys The cooler air around the Great Lakes should tamp down severe weather across most of the Midwest and Northeast until May Rain and thunderstorms are expected to be common across from the Plains through the Southeast Florida may miss the rainfall and see drought conditions by May The Southwest is expected to remain dry and heat up quickly which AccuWeather said will allow drought to expand and intensify from Southern California to the southwestern Plains The warmest temperatures of spring are expected to be found in Arizona 2025 at 11:19 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Several rounds of winter weather — what AccuWeather is calling a "parade of storms" — are expected over the weekend and into next week (Patch Graphics)MARYLAND — A winter storm that brought ice and freezing rain to the state is moving through the Baltimore region with precipitation expected to continue Thursday morning before stopping in the afternoon A winter weather advisory remained in effect for Cecil and Harford counties until noon Thursday as light to moderate rain continued to fall across the area Forecasters said as temperatures warm into the 40s any freezing rain will transition to rain before conditions dry out by midday Thursday several rounds of winter weather — what AccuWeather is calling a "parade of storms" — are expected over the weekend and into next week The National Weather Service said the next system will move in on Saturday into Saturday While specific impacts are still being monitored forecasters said a wintry mix could cause travel disruptions Another system could bring an "enhanced winter storm threat" to the region early next week likely late Monday night through Wednesday morning resulting in significant travel impacts and closures Next week's storm could bring accumulating snow to the region "From late Monday into Wednesday, a storm will originate in Texas and move to the mid-Atlantic coast, with a larger swath of snow and ice to the north of its path, and the potential of heavy rain and severe weather across the South into the Southeast," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg warned But next week's forecast is complicated, weather experts with the Capital Weather Gang said According to the Capital Weather Gang's forecast models show multiple storm systems tracking across the country but differ in their predictions for their timing and where they’re headed and about their timing “There are numerous waves that could give us wintry precipitation but not all the precipitation is likely to be snow and some threats could stay to our south or veer to the north,” said Wes Junker Capital Weather Gang’s winter weather expert “The bottom line is that there will likely be wintry weather events but it is way too early to get into specifics.” Here's a look at the detailed Baltimore area forecast through next Wednesday according to the National Weather Service: New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon Wednesday: A chance of snow and freezing rain 2025 at 2:15 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Cosimos Cendo during the first snowstorm of the 2025 winter season (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)MARYLAND — The first big winter storm of the year has brought anywhere from 2 inches to more than 10 inches of snow across Maryland While the snowfall has ended, the latest forecast from the National Weather Service has frigid temperatures lingering over the Baltimore-DC region for the rest of the week along with a chance of flurries Friday night and into Saturday The greatest amount of snow fell in Londontowne in Anne Arundel County Here are the latest Maryland snowfall totals from the National Weather Service: More than 400 flights were canceled Monday morning at Reagan National Airport; another 91 at Washington Dulles International Airport and 107 at Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport, The Washington Post reported 2025 at 8:42 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Baltimore County Fire Department Lt A Wednesday funeral will remember his nearly 12 years of service (Courtesy of the Baltimore County Fire Department)PERRY HALL MD — A Baltimore County firefighter who died from cancer last week will be remembered at a public funeral this week died Thursday after serving in the Baltimore County Fire Department since September 2013 He served at these fire stations: Eastview "Lieutenant Vargas dedicated his life to serving and protecting Baltimore County residents," the fire department said in a Friday press release announcing his death Ray built a reputation as a skilled firefighter Vargas' death is classified as a line-of-duty death State law recognizes that firefighters face an increased risk of certain cancers because of their repeated exposure to toxic substances encountered in the line of duty Maryland firefighters who have served for at least 10 years and are diagnosed with specific types of cancer — including those affecting the bladder kidneys and other vital organs — are presumed to have contracted the disease during their public safety service and dedication will continue to inspire us all We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our extended public safety family and the community," the fire department said in its press release Vargas' memorial will be held Wednesday at the Maryland State Fairgrounds Cow Palace A public burial will be held afterward at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens In lieu of flowers, relatives asked for donations in Vargas' honor to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network at firefightercancersupport.org More funeral details are available at sites.google.com/view/rayvargas "May we honor Lieutenant Vargas' memory by carrying forward the same passion and commitment he displayed daily," the fire department press release said he leaves behind his beloved nieces and nephews: Jaron Pichardo 2025 at 11:28 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Following the winter storm on Tuesday throughout Maryland here's how much snow fell in different parts of the state (Liam Griffin/Patch)MARYLAND — February's first major winter storm brought varying amounts of snow to parts of Maryland according to preliminary snowfall totals from the National Weather Service Numerous school districts and government offices are closed Wednesday due to the winter storm's impacts While snowfall has ended, the National Weather Service said patchy freezing drizzle or light flurries could continue through Wednesday morning Temperatures will gradually get above freezing with a high of 36 degrees forecast but slick areas remain possible on elevated and untreated surfaces In the afternoon, the Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang says a wintry mix is possible followed by rain through early Thursday Forecasters had predicted 3 to 8 inches of snow would fall in portions of Northern Virginia Snowfall totals were as low as 1.5 inches in the Pimlico area of Baltimore City and 1.6 inches in Forest Hill while the highest amount appears to be 8.7 inches in Charles County Here are snowfall totals reported by the National Weather Service as of Wednesday morning for portions of Maryland: Anne Arundel County Galesville: 4 inches Deale: 6.0 Highland Beach: 5.5 Crofton: 4.2 Cape St Claire: 4.0 BWI Airport: 3.8 Eastport: 3.8 Glen Burnie: 3.6 Baltimore County Edgemere: 4.2 inches Timonium: 3.4 Perry Hall: 2.7 Cockeysville: 2.5 Bentley Springs: 1.0 Baltimore City Arlington: 4.0 inches Pimlico: 1.5 Carroll County Sykesville: 3.3 inches Taneytown: 1.2 Linwood: 1.0 Harford County Aberdeen Proving Ground: 3.7 inches Churchville: 3.3 Bel Air: 3.0 Forest Hill: 1.6 Howard County Simpsonville: 5.0 inches Laurel: 4.0 Columbia: 3.7 Elkridge: 3.4 Sykesville: 2.5 Ellicott City: 2.2 Montgomery County Four Corners: 6.0 inches Wheaton: 5.1 Kensington: 5.0 Bethesda: 5.0 Rockville: 4.9 Rockville: 4.1 Silver Spring: 4.0 Takoma Park: 4.0 Montgomery Village: 3.4 Gaithersburg: 2.5 Andrews Air Force Base: 6.8 inches New Carrollton: 5.4 Greenbelt: 5.0 Hyattsville: 3.3 2025 at 2:22 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The Maryland Department of Health is "currently determining the full extent" of the federal cuts to public health funding The news comes as President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency (Jacob Baumgart/Patch)MARYLAND — The Trump Administration announced several cuts to federal and state health programs this week including $12 billion in funding to help states deal with emerging health crises and the elimination of 10,000 Department of Human Services employees The federal grants to Maryland and others were used to fund such things as infectious disease tracking addiction treatment and other emerging health needs State health departments began receiving notices Monday that funds allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic would stop immediately, according to the story first reported by NBC News The action cancels an $11.4 billion grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and around $1 billion from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration “No additional activities can be conducted as it relates to these funds,” the notices said Maryland is still evaluating the effects of the cuts “The Maryland Department of Health is aware of the reporting on COVID-19 grant cancellations and understands the potential for direct impact on the health of Marylanders The Department is currently determining the full extent of these federal actions and will provide updates as more information becomes available,” Health Department spokesperson Chase Cook told Patch in a Thursday email The cuts to states were a prelude to sweeping changes to the Department of Human Services the Trump administration said about 10,000 HHS employees would be laid off under Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr.’s planned agency reorganization a move which the administration said will save taxpayers $1.8 billion per year including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Kennedy said the 28 divisions within the 13 agencies overseen by HHS will be consolidated into 15 to eliminate duplications of work “We will eliminate an entire alphabet soup of departments while preserving their core functions by merging them into a new organization called the Administration for Healthy America or AHA,” Kennedy wrote on X About 2,400 CDC employees will be cut. Divisions that will be eliminated include those focused on global health, domestic HIV prevention, and prevention from injury, such as gun violence, NBC News reported When combined with HHS’ other efforts, the restructuring results in a total downsizing from 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees, according to a news release announcing the cuts The cuts are in addition to the 10,000 people who took buyout offers and left on their own after President Donald Trump took office “We aren't just reducing bureaucratic sprawl We are realigning the organization with its core mission and our new priorities in reversing the chronic disease epidemic,” Kennedy said “This Department will do more – a lot more – at a lower cost to the taxpayer.” A wave of public health staff layoffs is expected nationwide as federal grant funding is cut off “The reality is that, when we take funding away from public health systems, the systems just do not have the capacity, because they’re chronically underfunded over the decades,” said Dr. Umair Shah, who served as Washington State’s health secretary until January, told The New York Times 2025 at 10:06 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Daylight saving time is here This is what Marylanders can do to cope with the time change and avoid drowsy driving (Shutterstock)MARYLAND — Saturday night is the night — time to set the clocks ahead an hour and enjoy later sunsets in Maryland with the beginning of daylight saving time at 2 a.m Medical experts say daylight saving time disrupts the human body’s natural circadian rhythms Increases in the risk of heart attacks and strokes mood disturbances and traffic crashes due to decreased alertness are also associated with the time switch Parents say it throws off their kids’ bedtimes Those who argue for daylight saving time cite the economic benefit of more daylight in the evenings when people are out of school or work and can patronize more businesses and restaurants and participate in more outdoor community activities Others cite research that suggests permanent daylight saving time reduces crime will be much darker than what drivers have been accustomed to in the last few weeks,” said Ragina Ali AAA spokesperson for Maryland and Washington “It’s important for drivers to be alert and remember that children will be on their way to school and may be hard to see.” The AAA study estimates that drowsy driving is a factor in roughly ten times as many traffic fatalities as traditional crash data indicates Research found 18% of all traffic fatalities between 2017 and 2021 were estimated to involve a drowsy driver an estimated 6,725 lives were lost in drowsy driving crashes Common symptoms of drowsy driving include: In 2020, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine said it believed the United States should “eliminate seasonal time changes in favor of a national Year-round DST would mean that, in early January, the sun wouldn’t rise until well after 8 a.m. in many parts of the country, particularly in the northern U.S. And year-round standard time would push sunrises to as early as 4:30 a.m. in some areas If nothing happens at the federal level and DST takes effect as scheduled on Sunday 2 — again assuming nothing happens in Washington to stop it There’s a chance this could be the last time we “spring forward,” as the practice on the second Sunday in March has become known President Donald Trump said in a December post on his Truth Social platform that “the Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time “Making Daylight Saving Time permanent is OK with me!” It’s unclear if Trump and Republicans intend to prioritize the adoption of a year-round permanent time Ending the clock changes requires action by Congress Nearly every U.S. state has considered multiple time zone bills since 2015, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures and 20 are poised to take effect if Congress allows it Where they disagree is whether the permanent time should be standard or daylight saving An informal, nonscientific survey of Patch readers last fall mirrored the findings of those and other polls on whether to keep or ditch daylight saving time Stop changing the clocks!” a reader from Virginia told Patch “I literally have to take off the Monday and Tuesday after the spring forward 2025 at 2:12 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Rocky will appear in Sunday's Puppy Bowl XXI There are numerous dogs from shelters nationwide looking for homes in the Puppy Bowl the longest-running televised call-to-adoption event airing at 2 p.m (Shutterstock)MARYLAND — A special needs rescue pup from Maryland will be competing in Sunday’s Puppy Bowl XXI There are numerous dogs from shelters nationwide looking for homes in the Puppy Bowl, the longest-running televised call-to-adoption event airing at 2 p.m The three-hour television event features a record 142 rescue puppies from 60 shelters across 40 states and two countries This year’s Puppy Bowl will also bring back adoptables segments “featuring puppies — and a few kittens — that will be available for adoption during the game,” Warner Bros The Maryland pup and his sponsoring shelter is Rocky, Pets with Disabilities An update posted on the shelter's website shows that after Rocky was chosen for the Puppy Bowl His new family never paid attention to his deformed front legs when meeting Rocky and immediately made him a part of their family He waited almost a year until that perfect family came for him," the shelter stated on its website His family shared that Rocky goes everywhere with his new family and loves to take walks he continues on their walk by riding in his wagon Their children read to him and the family has been teaching him tricks is snuggling on the couch with all of his family members "He truly is the perfect addition to our family," his new family shared the only Pekingese to compete in the games a Chihuahua-German shepherd who traveled all the way from Nicaragua The two teams will go head-to-head on the gridiron in hopes of bringing home the “Lombarky” trophy and see which puppy player has what it takes to be named the MVP (Most Valuable Puppy) and win the Underdog Award an American Pit bull terrier-mix from Ohio competing in a wheelchair a blind and hearing-impaired Australian shepherd-mix from Connecticut Audiences can vote for their favorite pup to win the “Popularity Playoffs” by visiting PuppyBowl.com 2024 at 12:51 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Grocery Outlet will celebrate the grand opening of its new Cockeysville store MD — A new discount grocery store will celebrate its grand opening next week in Cockeysville continuing its growth in Baltimore County and beyond Grocery Outlet will cut the ribbon Thursday at 10 a.m This is the third Grocery Outlet in Baltimore County and the 10th in Maryland Grocery Outlet debuted in the Old Line State in June 2022 in Hagerstown Cockeysville will be the second Maryland location to open this year "We are so excited to be expanding Grocery Outlet’s footprint with our new location in Cockeysville," Layla Kasha Grocery Outlet chief new store growth officer "We couldn’t ask for better operators than Zully Gomez Melendez and Egberto Torres." The chain broke ground on a Randallstown location in July. Another store is planned at the Annapolis Mall in the current location of JCPenney The recent sale of the mall could complicate those plans The Cockeysville grand opening will feature plenty of festivities The store's independent operators will donate $1,000 to Cool Kids Campaign the first 100 customers will get a Bliss Buck gift card worth mystery amounts ranging from $5 to $500 shoppers will get one free reusable bag with their purchase during opening week Customers can also enter to win $1,000 in free groceries from Sept "If you’ve never been to a Grocery Outlet before we are looking forward to getting to know you and providing you and your family with new options for high-quality we can’t wait to surprise you with something new." This map shows the location of the new Cockeysville Grocery Outlet Flu cases were “high” or “very high” in 45 states and jurisdictions for the week ended Feb Nearly a third of the tests for flu were positive during the reporting period In Maryland, 11.6 percent of emergency department visits were because of influenza, the Maryland Department of Health said for the week ending Feb Of 3,156 residents hospitalized because of the flu there have been six adult deaths and one pediatric death Flu activity previously peaked in mid-December then started climbing again in mid-January This year’s flu season is the most intense in at least 15 years by one measure — the activity at doctors’ offices and clinics The data released Friday showed the number of people seeking medical treatment for acute illnesses was clearly higher than the peak of any winter flu season since 2009-2010 About 24 million people have gotten the flu this year Ten pediatric deaths were attributed to the flu during the reporting period bringing to 57 the number of children who have from the illness about 13,000 people have died of the flu this season The new data also showed that new cases of the flu are occurring at the same time people who were sick with the flu several weeks ago are seeking treatment for complications About a third of hospitalized flu patients develop bacterial pneumonia within a few weeks of bouts with the flu Of course, other viral infections can be mistaken for flu. But COVID-19 appears to be on the decline, according to hospital data and to CDC modeling projections. Available data also suggests another respiratory illness the flu season has been intense but not necessarily worse than at the peak of other years a pediatric emergency medicine doctor at the University of Rochester Medical Center but there’s also still a lot of RSV and a surprising number of babies with COVID-19 “All of the respiratory illnesses are around The CDC declined to let an Associated Press reporter speak to an agency flu expert about recent trends. The Trump administration ordered a temporary “pause” on health agency communications and has continued to refuse interview requests that were routinely granted in the past a CDC spokesperson acknowledged that the new data shows “the highest absolute value” of flu-like illness when compared with other seasons but added that the statistic is complicated: That value references a baseline estimate for doctor’s office visits but the baseline is recalculated every year the CDC was describing the season as “moderate” in severity U.S. health officials recommend that everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccination. Only about 44 percent of adults got flu shots this winter, which is about normal, but vaccine coverage among children is way down around 50 percent of the nation’s children get a flu shot The space rock slinging toward Earth from the outer reaches of the solar system made its closest approach to our planet on Saturday and it should continue to be bright for a few days You’ll be able to see it through the end of October but it will move higher in the sky and farther away from the sun as the month progresses and become more difficult to see The comet should be visible to the naked eye in the coming days but binoculars or a telescope give a better view the skies should be mostly clear for viewing in the coming days Clear or mostly clear and sunny skies are predicted in the Baltimore region through the weekend you may see a rare phenomenon known as anti “anti-tail” as Earth crosses through the comet’s orbital plane It’s an optical illusion: dust particles left behind by the comet appear to point toward the sun opposite the direction of the comet’s normal tail look to the western horizon about 45 minutes after sunset The comet will be located along an imaginary line between the bright planet Venus and the bright star Arcturus the comet will remain visible for about an hour and 20 minutes the comet will be visible for several minutes longer The comet will again be visible Wednesday in the same approximate location and will set within two hours The comet will remain in the sky longer as the month goes on By Halloween, the comet will no longer be visible with the naked eye, according to Sky & Telescope but comet watchers may be able to see it through binoculars until early November As Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS made its closest approach to the sun in September As the view shifted to the evening sky as it came within 44 million miles of Earth on Saturday Comets are frozen leftovers in what’s known as an Oort Cloud a vast spherical region at the edge of our solar system from its formation billions of years ago releasing their characteristic streaming tails Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was picked up last year by the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System at the Tsuchinshan Chinese Observatory in Purple Mountain Scientists estimate the long-period comet has been making its way toward the inner solar system for about 80,000 Earth years at a speed of about 180,610 miles per hour The last humans to have seen the comet would have been the Neanderthals Related: As Sun Nears Solar Maximum Peak, More Northern Lights Displays Likely 2025 at 8:38 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center and The Farmers’ Almanac share predictions for summer weather in Maryland (Shutterstock)MARYLAND — Spring just began in Maryland and the first of the summer forecasts are already out — and they all predict broiling hot and humid weather for our part of the country A three-month outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center calls for above-average temperatures across the country from June through August with pockets of extreme heat in the desert Southwest and parts of the Northeast Areas from southern Mississippi through the Mid-Atlantic could see above normal rainfall while the Upper Midwest and Northwest could see below normal rainfall Forecasters think the Great Plains will be especially dry forecasters say there is a 40 to 50 percent chance that summer temperatures could be above normal across the state The state also has a 50 to 60 percent chance of experiencing above normal precipitation Government data is used by private companies that issue their own seasonal forecasts Competing almanac publications have both released their outlooks The forecasts suggest the potential for long-standing temperature records to fall in blistering heat waves in July and August They differ on how much rain different parts of the country will receive this coming summer The Farmers’ Almanac calls for "broiling" temperatures with average precipitation Maryland has experienced abnormally wet summers While there are occasionally heavy downpours predicted this summer the Almanac's long-range forecast points to a more typical amount of summer precipitation in these regions The forecast includes predictions for the two major summer holidays — the July 4-7 Fourth of July weekend and the Sept which also includes the states of Pennsylvania the forecast says widely scattered showers and thunderstorms could hinder July 4th activities The Farmer’s Almanac forecast suggests thunderstorms are likely on Labor Day Meanwhile, The Old Farmer’s Almanac calls for hot and dry conditions across Maryland and neighboring states this summer see both almanacs’ predictions for the country The Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts a gradual buildup to record-breaking heat June temperatures will be near normal in most regions of the country Last year saw one of the hottest summers on record, with a nationwide average temperature of 73.8 degrees Fahrenheit, or 2.5 degrees above normal. It was also Earth’s hottest summer since global records began in 1880 This year is shaping up to be just as intense almost everywhere except the northwest and southern Florida according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac forecast Kansas and Iowa could see temperatures as high as 4 degrees above normal and the Deep South and Southwest could also see significantly hotter temperatures warning of the potential for long-lasting heat waves The publication doesn’t expect extreme rainfall events this summer Precipitation will be near- or slightly below normal in most of the country while the driest conditions are expected in Texas Hawaii and southern Alaska all could see higher-than-normal rainfall The Farmers’ Almanac expects that by the time the summer solstice rolls around on June 20 much of the country east of the Atlantic Coast and Florida peninsula could experience unsettled stormy conditions July is expected to be sweltering almost everywhere with above-normal temperatures that could break long-standing records Hurricane season could start on the Florida Gulf Coast in the second week of August and a similar threat is expected along the Atlantic Seaboard the second week of September Rainfall is expected to be near normal for most of the country including in New England and the Northeast which have seen abnormally wet summers in recent years which is expected to be drier than it usually is potentially increasing the risk for wildfires Wetter-than-usual conditions are expected across the Southern Plains and the Gulf Coast through Florida 2025 at 11:39 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}On Saturday Vara Juice will celebrate the grand opening of its Towson smoothie shop MD — A smoothie shop will celebrate the grand opening of its first Maryland location this Saturday in Towson With recipes inspired by the founders' Middle Eastern heritage Vara Juice uses fresh and locally sourced ingredients our vision is to redefine the smoothie experience by delivering fresh and flavor rich beverages," Co-Founder and President Ali Albadani told Patch in a Wednesday statement we are building a brand that stands for more than just great smoothies—it stands for great quality." The chain has 12 other shops spread between Illinois Our goal is to make Vara Juice® a household name across the nation—one that represents authenticity and exceptional taste," Albadani said the Towson location currently has four employees Additional details on the grand opening celebration are posted here. Customers can visit varajuice.com to learn more about the business 2024 at 10:03 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A mix of snow and freezing rain on Christmas Eve has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a winter weather advisory for Maryland Little snow accumulation is expected but the morning drive is likely to be icy (Peggy Bayard/Patch)MARYLAND — A mix of snow and freezing rain on Tuesday morning has prompted the National Weather Service to issue a winter weather advisory for Maryland Little snow accumulation is expected on Christmas Eve "Light freezing rain accumulations are expected with temps in the 20s which will lead to treacherous travel conditions during the Tuesday morning commute," the NWS office for Baltimore-Washington The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory for the District of Columbia Total ice accumulation of a light glaze to a few hundredths of an inch is expected A dusting to one-tenth of an inch of snow is possible in parts of DC The hazardous conditions could impact the Tuesday morning commute Related: Holiday Travel Expected To Set Record: When To Get Out Of MD This Year Precipitation will begin as light freezing rain early Tuesday morning along and west of US-15 then begins along the Interstate 95 corridor around or just before sunrise though that is most likely along and north of Interstate 70 Precipitation transitions to a mix of rain and freezing rain late Tuesday morning Here's the Maryland weather forecast from the National Weather Service: then a chance of rain between 11am and 4pm New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible 2025 at 12:10 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}President Donald Trump has said he may take control of the U.S which has operated independently of the federal government since 1970 in a move that could change how Maryland residents get their mail (Renee Schiavone/Patch)MARYLAND — President Donald Trump has said he may take control of the U.S “We want to have a post office that works well and doesn’t lose massive amounts of money,” Trump said Trump made the remarks at the swearing-in of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick He called the move a way to stop losses at the $78 billion-a-year agency which has struggled to balance the books with the decline of first-class mail and we think we can turn it around,” Trump said of Lutnick “It’s been just a tremendous loser for this country tremendous amounts of money that they’ve lost.” The Postal Service operated as a political organ of the White House from its founding until the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970, passed by Congress in response to a crippling nationwide mail strike. Congress acted purposely to untie the Postal Service from the executive branch, freeing it from political tinkering, according to The Washington Post which has been reporting on Trump’s conversations with the administration’s new commerce secretary since December presidents often appointed their political allies and campaign leaders as postmaster general and to other key leadership positions However, it’s unlikely Trump can privatize the Postal Service without the approval of Congress. The Postal Service is authorized by the Constitution In a letter late last week House Democrats urged Trump to abandon plans to bring the Postal Service under the Commerce Department “Congress prescribed a clear and critical mandate for the Postal Service: to deliver efficient and universal service to all Americans,” Rep the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee “Your reported efforts to dismantle the Postal Service as an independent agency would directly undermine the affordability and reliability of the U.S We urge you to abandon immediately any plans that would either privatize the Postal Service or undermine the independence of the Postal Service.” Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) accused Trump of “playing games” with the Postal Service during his first term that negatively impacted mail delivery for Maryland families and businesses “USPS serves an absolutely vital function for our country and our economy delivering everything from medications to paychecks to ballots – if Trump and Musk try to get in the way of its critical work we’ll fight them every step of the way,” Van Hollen said The Postal Service is one of the most popular parts of the federal government among Americans, according to a Pew Research Center survey The survey of 9,400 Americans last showed a 72 percent approval rating (the approval rating was 76 percent among Democrats and 68 percent among Republicans) the USPS finished second behind the National Park Service and just ahead of NASA The Washington Post’s Jacob Bogage, who broke the story, told PBS News Hour that stripping the Postal Service of its independence and making it political removes its obligation to serve all people equally and reach everyone’s address with the same service and the same pricing It’s unclear if the Postal Service would still be bound by the requirements for universal delivery “A privatized Postal Service or one in which mail delivery becomes political will not have those same motivations,” Bogage said About 91 percent of postal workers are covered by union contracts. One of the unions representing workers, the American Postal Workers Union, blasted the idea of privatization in a statement Thursday unlawful attack on a storied national treasure enshrined in the Constitution and created by Congress to serve every American home and business equally,” the statement from the 200-member union read “Any attack on the Postal Service would be part of the billionaire oligarch coup directed not just at the postal workers our union represents but the millions of Americans who rely on the critical public service our members provide every single day.” Other unions are also nervous about possible changes “We remain very concerned,” Brian Renfroe, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, which has 200,000 active employees of the service, told CNN Friday “The destruction of any part of the public service we provide any path towards privatization is going to have one bottom line result for the customers and it’s going to take longer to get there.” 2024 at 5:55 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A new analysis of safety across the United States ranks Maryland as the 16th safest state in the nation (Shutterstock / Steve Rosenbach)MARYLAND — A new analysis of safety across the United States ranks Maryland as the 16th safest state in the nation Personal finance company WalletHub evaluated statistics on crime rates the number of active firefighters and police officers and more for their 2024 "Safest States in America" study The analysis also includes data on health and safety infrastructure the analysis included 52 safety indicators grouped into five categories: Personal and Residential Safety Here's how WalletHub ranked Maryland on those five key categories: (1=Safest; 25=Avg.): Virginia was among states that scored highest in workplace and road safety The state also ranked in the top five for the fewest number of fatal occupational injuries per total workers WalletHub analyst Chris Lupo said that while state agencies and organizations are responsible for keeping communities and roadways safe individual residents also make a difference by stepping up in their local neighborhoods "The safest states in America protect their residents from harm in a multitude of different ways from keeping crime rates low and maintaining safe roadways to having strong economies and job markets that prevent people from falling into dangerous financial situations," Lupo said "They have high levels of occupational safety and disaster preparedness states are made safer by efforts that individual residents take such as forming a neighborhood watch or working in firefighting and EMT jobs at high rates.” These are the 10 safest states in the U.S. Check out the entire study here. 2024 at 12:13 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A storm approaching this week could bring snow to the mountains in Maryland and cold statewide (Shutterstock)MARYLAND — A storm could bring snow to higher elevations in Maryland along with a cold blast and gusty winds to the rest of Maryland during a frigid first week of December The last month of the year is kicking off with below seasonal temperatures while a storm system from the Great Lakes is poised to hit the region Wednesday night "The work week ahead will bring continued below normal temperatures across the region," the National Weather Service office for the Baltimore-DC region said a strong cold front tracks through early Thursday bringing snow showers to the Alleghenies and very gusty winds to the area." Highs will be in the 40s for most of the state this week with overnight lows in the mid- to low 20s The storm coming will be quick-moving and light in moisture AccuWeather forecasters said that there could be pockets of snow reaching to the Atlantic coast depending on how cold the air is "The amount and precise locations of that snow will depend on the track and intensity of the moisture-starved storm," AccuWeather said Meteorologists are tracking the possibility of a stronger storm during the second week of the month While it is far out enough that specifics are not available such a track typically allows the storm to capture much more moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic which can potentially then unload heavier precipitation What that could mean for Maryland as the storm nears the coast range from it growing into a nor'easter with significant travel disruptions to a weaker storm that heads out to sea with few travel problems Here's the latest Maryland forecast from the National Weather Service: Light west wind becoming south 8 to 13 mph in the morning 2025 at 9:16 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}If you’ve been weighing the costs of having a baby or getting a dog see how much either option is going to cost you in Maryland (Shutterstock)MARYLAND — If you’ve been weighing the costs of having a baby or getting a dog and it could break people who decide to do both That’s according to an analysis from Consumer Affairs that looked at the availability of child care and other costs of raising a child and the amount of money Americans are spending to heap luxury on their dogs The analysis showed Maryland is the 12th most expensive state to raise a child and the 16th most expensive to raise a dog It costs about $18,773 a year in Maryland to raise a child and about $2,589 a year to raise a dog While a new pet will set consumers back less than having a baby either could push them to the point they have to borrow money the analysis showed the expenses associated with owning a dog are less than one-sixth the cost of raising a child Among other factors used in the research are costs of food and child care and dog day care in each of the 50 states Consumer Affairs said its analysis showed the expenses associated with owning a dog nationally are less than one-sixth the cost of the annual expenses related to raising a child Massachusetts is the most expensive state to raise a child while South Carolina is the most affordable state Massachusetts also had the largest difference in costs between raising a child and a dog for the cost of raising one child for a year a Massachusetts resident could raise 10 dogs The most expensive state to raise a dog is Alaska the annual cost of raising a child is $15,752 while the cost of having a dog is $2,491 — a 532 percent difference meaning that for every dollar it costs to have a dog which on average costs parents nearly $12,000 a year is the greatest of the expenses associated with raising a child Expenses for an occasional pet sitter or boarding at a kennel are just 3.1 percent of that amount annually adding that housing and transportation are other significant cost differences between children and dogs 2024 at 4:11 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Honeygrow celebrated the grand opening of its new Timonium stir-fry restaurant on July 12 The ribbon-cutting ceremony is pictured above celebrated the grand opening of its Timonium location on July 12 The eatery is located at 1800 York Road in the Yorkridge Shopping Center Its shopping center neighbors include Mom's Organic This is the third Baltimore County location for Honeygrow a Philadelphia-based fast-casual chain that's also stylized as "honeygrow." Honeygrow is expanding in the Old Line State. The Columbia restaurant also debuted this summer and an Annapolis location is expected to open later this year wholesome food to the Timonium community,” Honeygrow Founder and CEO Justin Rosenberg said in a press release “Thanks to our incredible team and loyal fans our presence in Maryland has continued to grow rapidly over the past seven years and we are excited to further our expansion.” While each restaurant has the same menu offering fresh and made-to-order stir-fry the restaurants all have their own special mural designed by their team Honeygrow features a menu of five year-round stir-fries (all under 800 calories) and six healthy salads (under 700 calories) The create-your-own (CYO) versions mean there is a dish for everyone add-ins and garnishes with an endless variety of options ranging from veggies fruits and cheeses to chili crisps and roasted garlic There are six main sauces or six dressings to choose from as the last step The customized program meets every dietary need The restaurant also offers its signature honeybars three kinds of flavored honey and various garnishes all honeybars can be customized with a base of either cheesecake filling or vanilla yogurt grapes or roasted apples are the healthier options or splurge with coconut shavings More details and online ordering are available at honeygrow.com 2024 at 8:27 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative to draw people outdoors on New Year's Day 2025 (Shutterstock)MARYLAND — Take a break from a house full of relatives work off the Christmas cookies and hit Maryland's trails New Year's Day as part of the nationwide initiative First Day Hike The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has put together a list of where you can go Dec Maryland State Parks will offer more than 60 hikes across 40 state parks there will be three types of hikes available: “There is no better way to start the New Year right than spending time with family and friends in the great outdoors,” said Ranger Mark Spurrier Maryland Park Service South Central Region manager “Begin a new tradition by visiting one of your Maryland state parks and participating in a First Day Hike near you.” First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks that encourages all 50 states to offer outdoor hiking opportunities on the first day of the new year.Here are parks taking part in the First Day Hikes: First Day Hike “I Hiked” stickers will be available at select locations while supplies last The DNR said residents are welcome to take a First Day Hike on any trail or at any state park during this weekend event After your hike, you can fill out this form to let others know about your hike and how many miles you covered 2025 at 12:27 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Maryland clocks will spring forward for daylight saving time starting on Sunday (Shutterstock)MARYLAND — It’s almost time to set the clocks ahead an hour and enjoy later sunsets in Maryland with the beginning of daylight saving time on Sunday There’s a chance it could be the last time we “spring forward,” as the practice on the second Sunday in March has become known “Making Daylight Saving Time permanent is OK with me!” “Looks like people want to abolish the annoying time changes!” Elon Musk, Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency adviser, said in a November post on X which the billionaire technology entrepreneur now owns 2025 at 6:20 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}U.S Chris Van Hollen speaks Monday outside the Woodlawn office of the Social Security Administration Maryland Democrats protested President Donald Trump's cuts and data sharing with the Department of Government Efficiency (Sue Dorfman/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)WOODLAWN MD — Maryland lawmakers rallied Monday outside the Baltimore County Social Security office protesting President Donald Trump's cuts to federal agencies and information sharing with his allies "After the Department of Education, where they've been, after NOAA, after CMS or Medicare, is going to be the Social Security Administration. And we say 'No.' Keep your hands off of our Social Security," Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D) said in a clip aired on WUSA9 to identify areas where the federal government can save money That has led to a slew of agency job cuts and proposals to slash governmental spending on aid Federal employees were also given a buyout offer if they vacated their positions immediately Lawsuits have tried to block many of these actions taken by Musk's Department of Government Efficiency A federal judge last Thursday ordered that two Musk allies have "read only" access to the Treasury Department payment systems, the Associated Press reported AP said nobody else will get access for now The Treasury Department handles Social Security payments which is not an official government agency to access sensitive social security files is a privacy violation "Over the last 21 days, we have seen Elon Musk conducting illegal raids on federal agencies. With his DOGE crew, they have accessed highly sensitive personal information on Americans at the Department of Treasury, including social security numbers, bank accounts, and other very sensitive information," Van Hollen said, according to WJZ will file a lawsuit to stop DOGE from accessing federal payment systems "I want to invite the President and Mr. Musk to come back to my American government classes, learn a thing or two about how democracy is supposed to work," former civics teacher and current U.S. Rep. Johnny Olszewski (D-District 2) said, according to WBAL-TV 11 News Lawmakers also challenged Trump's cuts to the federal workforce "These are men and women who come to work every day, and these are not Democratic jobs or Republican jobs. These are American jobs," Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D) said in a recording of the press conference posted on Van Hollen's X account The protest featured representatives of the American Federation of Government Employees, the union representing 800,000 federal workers "They get up every morning, they put on their clothes and they come to buildings like this all over the country to do a simple non-partisan job, and that is to serve the people of America," U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-District 7) said, according to WBAL NewsRadio 1090 Sarah Elfreth (D-District 3) also attended The rally was held at the Woodlawn Social Security office 2024 at 7:49 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}President Joe Biden visited the Port of Baltimore on Tuesday to discuss $147 million in Maryland port upgrades and the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild MD — President Joe Biden visited the Port of Baltimore on Tuesday afternoon to unveil $147 million in eco-friendly port upgrades in Maryland as part of a multi-billion dollar plan to revamp ports nationwide The pro-union program comes weeks after dockworkers went on a temporary strike seeking better pay and job security from port operators and shipping companies Biden said modernizing ports with green technology operated by humans "The middle class built this country, and unions built the middle class. Period," Biden said in his speech The president also reaffirmed his commitment to a speedy rebuild of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge Biden urged Congress to fully fund the bridge's replacement though out-of-state legislators want Maryland to cover 10% of the rebuild we won't stop until the new bridge is finished completely," Biden said "I'm calling on Congress to fully fund it this year." which carried Interstate 695 over the Patapsco River was destroyed this March when the cargo ship Dali crashed into a bridge support column Related: Photos Of President Biden Visit To Baltimore Port, Key Bridge Update The Port of Baltimore will buy zero-emission cargo handling equipment with the investment announced Tuesday Wes Moore (D) called the port an "economic growth engine" that "continues to rev." "This is the port for the future," Moore told reporters after the event "We can focus on clean energy [while also] supporting long-term economic growth." shipping terminals nationwide will get a slice of $3 billion through the Environmental Protection Agency Clean Ports grants "[The funding] will cut ports' opening costs make America's businesses more competitive and keep consumer prices down while slashing cargo pollution," Biden said $145 million will go toward the environmentally friendly cargo handling equipment and drayage trucks Another $2 million grant will help the port plan for future emissions reductions "Addressing the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue but it's an issue of justice and fairness for our most vulnerable communities," EPA Administrator Michael Regan said "It's an opportunity to rebuild and revitalize our nation's infrastructure and it's an opportunity to grow the American economy Baltimore County's largest historically Black community is one of the areas most affected by port pollution Turner Station Conservation Teams President Gloria Nelson said her neighborhood has "a legacy of many environmental injustice issues." our community has suffered and died from high rates of cancer and respiratory diseases We are the next-door neighbors to the Port of Baltimore," Nelson said noting that her team has partnered with the port since 2003 to restore local health The White House said Baltimore's port improvements will support over 2,000 local jobs Those dockworkers went on a brief strike earlier this month as they fought for higher wages and less robotic automation in ports Maryland longshoremen were among the 45,000 nationwide who stopped work on Oct The International Longshoremen's Association accused the United States Maritime Alliance which represents terminal operators and shipping lines Biden urged the sides to get a deal done quickly to prevent supply chain snags and shortages in stores The ILA and USMX reached an agreement, and longshoremen returned to work on Oct the linchpin to America's supply chain," Biden said keep the economy strong and employ over 100,000 union workers Biden expects the nationwide port enhancements to support "an estimated 40,000 new good-paying jobs at the ports in clean energy "President Biden's administration is the most pro-union and supportive of workers rights in this country's history," Williamson said "President Biden signed the infrastructure legislation that made sure we had the support to do our jobs." The recent strike was the second work stoppage for Baltimore longshoremen this year The Key Bridge collapse snarled commercial shipping traffic through the Port of Baltimore for months before the channel fully reopened in June Rush-hour traffic is still nasty around Baltimore as drivers are funneled into the over-capacity tunnels of Interstates 95 and 895 Drivers avoiding traffic and truckers carrying hazardous materials prohibited in the tunnels now snake through once-quieter neighborhoods like Turner Station "There are more trucks on the road in and near our community That adds to the pollution we have experienced for decades," Nelson said the port has demonstrated its commitments to improve air quality in the Baltimore region and [to be] sensitive to community concerns about diesel emissions." The owner and manager of the cargo ship that caused the Key Bridge collapse agreed to pay more than $100 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the Justice Department This will recover money the government spent clearing underwater debris and reopening the port The Justice Department alleged that the electrical and mechanical systems on the Dali were improperly maintained causing it to lose power and veer off course before striking the bridge The ship was leaving Baltimore for Sri Lanka when its steering failed because of the power loss The settlement does not include any damages for rebuilding the bridge The construction project could cost close to $2 billion The State of Maryland filed its own claim seeking those damages Biden visited the bridge collapse site in April and vowed that the federal government would pay for the entire bridge rebuild Maryland's Congressional delegation is pushing to make that goal a reality but some Capitol Hill colleagues only want to foot 90% of the bill "We're going to work together as a delegation .. the whole team to get 100% funding commitment from the federal government before the end of this year to rebuild the Key Bridge," U.S The new bridge is expected to open by autumn 2028 Biden said the new bridge would be "built with American steel and union labor." "It's not enough just to rebuild America," the president said "We have to build it back better and stronger than before." 2025 at 6:36 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Overall nearly 20 percent of Americans have upper-class incomes 28 percent have lower-class incomes and the vast majority fall into the middle class (Shutterstock)MARYLAND — About half of Americans are part of the middle class but what it takes to be considered middle class isn’t the same in Maryland as it is in other places “Middle class” is an inherently nebulous definition. The Pew Research Center defines people in the middle class as those whose incomes are between two-thirds and double the national median household income Because cost of living and average incomes vary so widely from state to state, the income needed to be “middle class” also greatly varies. Using Pew’s definition of the middle class, online banking company GOBanking.com analyzed the most recent American Community Survey data to determine middle-class income for every state in 2025 where the median household income is $98,461 middle-class incomes range from $65,640 to $196,922 That’s more than you need in neighboring Virginia and Pennsylvania where middle-class incomes range from $58,165 to $174,498 and $48,780 to $146,340 The Pew Research Center’s middle-class income calculator shows differences by metro area and by race or ethnicity It shows that 50.6 percent of Baltimore metro residents have middle-class incomes 2024 at 2:39 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}No one claimed Tuesday's $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot; Friday's drawing should be worth $1.15 billion MD — No one landed the $1 billion Mega Millions jackpot on Christmas Eve but a ticket for the game worth $1 million sold Dec Tuesday's lucky numbers were five white balls of 11, 14, 38, 45, and 46, according to the Mega Millions website A $30,000-winning ticket for Tuesday's drawing was purchased in Dundalk and three $10,000 third-tier winners sold in Bethesda, Glen Burnie and Lexington Park, the Maryland Lottery said The $30,000 winner purchased their ticket at the Dundalk Royal Farms at 7701 German Hill Road in Baltimore County The $10,000 winning tickets were sold in Bethesda at the Montgomery Mall Shell at 10211 Westlake Drive in Montgomery County; the Glen Burnie winner was sold at Aquahart Liquors at 14 Aquahart Road in Anne Arundel County; and the Lexington Park winner was sold at the Pegg Road Shell at 22141 Three Notch Road in St The $1 million second-tier winning ticket from the Dec That ticket was purchase at Wawa at 709 Belair Road in Bel Air 106 tickets matched four white balls plus the Mega Ball to win the third-tier prize Thirteen of those were worth $30,000 each because they included the optional Megaplier Since no one snagged the big prize Tuesday Friday's jackpot swells to an estimated $1.15 billion with an estimated cash option of $516.1 million This jackpot is the fifth-largest in the game’s history Players can add the Megaplier for $1 to multiply their non-jackpot prizes 2025 at 1:20 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Residents of Maryland who didn’t receive COVID stimulus payments in 2021 will automatically receive up to $1,400 from the IRS in the coming weeks (Shutterstock)MARYLAND — Residents of Maryland who didn’t receive COVID stimulus payments in 2021 will automatically receive up to $1,400 from the IRS in the coming weeks The IRS said last month that it is distributing about $2.4 billion to about 1 million taxpayers who failed to claim a Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns People who missed one of the COVID stimulus payments or had received less than the full amount were able to claim the credit we realized that one million taxpayers overlooked claiming this complex credit when they were actually eligible,” IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a statement Eligible Maryland residents don’t have to do anything to claim the money — unless they’re among a small group who didn’t make enough money to file a 2021 return. Those individuals may still get a payment but will have to file a return. The IRS addresses eligibility for the 2021 stimulus check on a dedicated web page Here’s what Maryland taxpayers need to know: Most taxpayers eligible for Recovery Impact Payments The special payments announced by the IRS are being sent to those taxpayers who filed a 2021 tax return but left the data field for the Recovery Rebate Credit blank or they filled it out as $0 when they were actually eligible for the credit The IRS payments should start landing in people’s bank accounts and mailboxes in late January Payments will be sent to the bank account listed on the taxpayer’s 2023 income tax return or to the address on file with the IRS Payments will vary, but the maximum amount will be $1,400 per individual. The IRS has posted information online about eligibility and how the payment was calculated The agency also is notifying taxpayers if they qualify You still might be able to receive the money taxpayers need to file a tax return and claim the Recovery Rebate Credit by the April 15 Those who don’t normally file income tax returns or who received no or minimal income from a job More than $814 billion in pandemic aid was distributed in three rounds based on the amounts that taxpayers received on their income tax filing status and number of children or qualifying dependents eligible individuals received up to $1,200 per income tax filer and $500 per child under the CARES Act eligible individuals received up to $600 per income tax filer and $600 per child under the Consolidated Appropriations Act eligible individuals received up to $1,400 per income tax filer and $1,400 per child under the American Rescue Plan Act 2025 at 6:42 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Maryland business news includes the closing of an historic crab house a beloved French bistro will reopen and native son and Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian wants to buy TikTok (Jacob Baumgart/Patch)MARYLAND — Recent business news in Maryland includes the abrupt closure of a popular crab house and bar after 54 years A beloved French bistro is about to reopen with more space and an expanded brunch menu plus a new restaurant has opened that offers Naija-style (Nigerian) cuisine a popular sunglasses store reopened recently in downtown Annapolis and a brewing company is remodeling one of its locations a graduate of Howard High School and co-founder of popular forum website Reddit has joined a group of people hoping to purchase TikTok and rebuild the platform following its brief ban in the United States but the restaurant transitioned leadership after the founder's death in June 2023 a closure message was posted on social media; workers reported that they were given no notice and new lunch and brunch offerings on the menu Laid-off federal contractors were among the hundreds of job-seekers who packed into a career fair Thursday all seeking positions within Baltimore County's government from police and fire to libraries and parks all pitched their departments to prospective employees amid the mass layoffs in the federal government A pizzeria that started as a food truck opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Anne Arundel County an eatery serving up Naija-style (Nigerian) cuisine The eatery at Solaire Social features items including shawarma A downtown Annapolis sunglasses shop reopened recently under new ownership Renovations have begun at the Rockville-area location of Silver Branch Brewing Company Work at the new Rockville Beerworks location should be done later in March or April 2025 at 7:58 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The gourmet burger chain Red Robin plans to close around 70 underperforming locations potentially including restaurants in Maryland (Shutterstock)MARYLAND — The gourmet burger chain Red Robin plans to close around 70 underperforming locations The chain’s revenues were down about $1.25 billion in 2024, a decrease of $54.5 million from 2023, according to a February earnings release Red Robin posted a $77.5 million loss last year compared to a net loss of $21.2 million the year prior Red Robin said it is “evaluating alternatives for approximately 70 underperforming restaurant locations upon expiration for the current lease term.” Between 10 and 15 Red Robin locations could close in 2025 The chain closed one restaurant last year when the building lease expired The rest of the unprofitable restaurants are expected to close within five years there were 498 Red Robin restaurants nationwide 407 were company-owned and 91 were operated by franchisees “While financial results for 2024 fell well below our original expectations we’ve made substantial improvements to the guest experience and believe we still have a significant opportunity ahead of us to reach the full potential of our iconic brand,” Red Robin President and CEO G.J 2025 at 1:49 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Annette Lerner sits with her late husband Among the family's holdings is the Washington Nationals baseball team (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)MARYLAND — Five billionaires from Maryland is part of a $16 trillion club — the estimated net worth of the ultra-wealthy named Forbes’ 39th annual World’s Billionaires list released Tuesday Musk divides his time between the Department of Government Efficiency which he merged with his social media giant X last week Musk added $147 billion to his fortune over the past year Rounding out the top five richest people in the world are three others from the United States Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg (estimated net worth $216 billion) Amazon’s Jeff Bezos ($215 billion) and Oracle’s Larry Ellison ($192 billion); and French luxury goods kingpin Bernard Arnault ($178 billion) The richest people from Maryland on the list are: Forbes used stock price and exchange rates from March 7, 2025, but monitors the real-time wealth of billionaires which can result in shifts in rankings over time Forbes said the billionaire bonanza extends beyond the United States A record 3,028 people around the globe made the list and more than the GDP of every country in the world besides the United States and China The average fortune now stands at $5.3 billion The United States has a record 902 billionaires also a record among other nations with billionaires newcomers are Marilyn Simons (estimated net worth $31 billion) the widow of quantitative hedge fund manager Jim Simons the daughter of oil and gas tycoon Autry Stephens Simons and Stephens are two of just 406 women among the World’s Billionaires Nearly three-quarters inherited their fortunes who has overtaken French L’Oreal heir Francoise Bettencourt Meyers ($81.6 billion) for the top spot among women Only 15 percent of the new billionaires on the 2025 list are women and nearly two-thirds of them inherited their wealth The richest exception: 71-year-old Barbara Banke (estimated net worth $2.6 billion) known for its Kendall-Jackson wines from Sonoma Celebrity newcomers include rock star Bruce Springsteen movie star and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger ($1.1 billion) and comedian Jerry Seinfeld ($1.1 billion) Few billionaires have had a better year than President Donald Trump—and not just because he retook the U.S he padded his cash pile with a very lucrative move into crypto Between that and his Trump Media & Technology Group going public just after Forbes locked in its 2024 rankings the president’s net worth has more than doubled from an estimated $2.3 billion to an estimated $5.1 billion For comparison, the average net worth of American households is about $1.06 million, while the median net worth is $192,900 according to the Federal Reserve’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances 2025 at 9:53 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The ongoing avian influenza outbreak has caused a 37 percent increase in the cost of a dozen Grade A eggs including a jump of 85 cents a dozen from November to December 2024 according to the latest Labor Department inflation report (Peggy Bayard/Patch)MARYLAND — Bird flu is a primary driver of the higher prices Maryland consumers have been paying for eggs and The Labor Department’s December inflation report showed the price of a dozen Grade A eggs rose to $4.15 in December a dozen eggs can cost a buck each — if consumers can find them December egg prices were 37 percent higher than they were during the same period in 2023 the overall annual grocery inflation rate for December was 1.8 percent If projections from the Agriculture Department prove out egg prices could increase another 20 percent by the end of 2025 because of a resurgence of bird flu “Not to be the bearer of bad news, but we’re in this for a while,” Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, told CNN Business. “Until we have time without a detection, unfortunately, this very, very tight egg supply is going to continue.” We found Grade A large eggs for about $4.17 a dozen at Walmart stores and $4.19 a dozen at Target stores in Maryland Harris Teeter was charging $5.19 a dozen for Eggland's Best eggs; Safeway was charging $5.99 a dozen for Lucerne eggs Organic or specialty eggs can cost even more particularly for organic or specialty eggs and experts warn that prices could climb even higher in the coming weeks as the supply chain remains strained while Happy Egg's free range organic eggs are $7.49 here is what you need to know about “eggflation”: Active investigations of avian flu outbreaks are ongoing in about two dozen states covering everything from commercial operations to backyard flocks Maryland had four commercial flocks and a total of 627,500 birds affected in a Jan One outbreak that affected 108,400 birds was at a commercial broiler operation in Caroline County Since the current outbreak began in 2022, about 135 million egg-laying hens have been destroyed. About 13 million have been euthanized since December resulting in “record high” prices as producers “struggled to provide a consistent supply to consumers,” according to the latest USDA Egg Markets Overview Some independent grocery stores are holding the line on egg prices as a way to build customer loyalty and push back against the perception that absent mass buying power was selling Egglands Best eggs for $3.99 a dozen earlier this month the president and CEO of the four-store chain told Grocery Dive the lower prices underscore the store’s commitment to affordable groceries So the last thing you want to do is confirm that by being overly aggressive on trying to get margins on items that are sensitive,” LaBonne told the digital grocery news site The USDA said many grocery stores are putting limits on how many eggs a consumer can buy per shopping trip to stretch limited supplies and dissuade customers from panic-buying Unlike the 2015 outbreak of avian influenza spread by wild birds during migration that lasted for only a season, this one has been persistent and has spread beyond birds to dairy cattle, to cats and to people, where mutations have sparked pandemic worries “By any metric, you look at animal epizootics, basically animal-based-pandemics, this is the largest one we’ve ever had,” Maurice Pitesky, an associate professor at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine who focuses on highly pathogenic avian influenza and disease modeling, told Business Insider That means chickens can get bird flu from different sources and there’s not much egg farmers can do to stop its spread Surveillance and tracking of the virus help producers harden husbandry practices and biosecurity measures but doing so can be expensive and drive egg prices even higher “We’re all in uncharted territory,” Brian Moscogiuri a global trade strategist at Eggs Unlimited “The producers don’t really have a recourse.” According to guidance from the Food and Drug Administration the chances of contaminated eggshells making it to a grocery store shelf is “low” and proper storage and preparation further reduce the risk There is no evidence the bird flu virus can be transmitted to humans through properly prepared food Eggs should be refrigerated immediately after purchase and eggs should “until both the yolk and the white are firm,” the agency says should be cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit 2025 at 5:19 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Harbor Freight opened this Middle River tool store at 140 Carroll Island Road on Dec MD — Harbor Freight recently opened a tool store in Middle River continuing its Maryland expansion with further growth planned Located in the Carroll Island Shopping Center 19 and celebrated its grand opening this Saturday This is the sixth Harbor Freight in Baltimore County, and it's also one of 22 locations open or planned in the Old Line State Harbor Freight is expanding in Harford County, where a store opened on July 19, 2024, in Havre de Grace at 1000 Pulaski Highway. Another is coming this April to Bel Air at 540 W. Macphail Road The Middle River, Havre de Grace and Bel Air stores are all hiring associates. More information is posted here The other Harbor Freight locations are in: Eric Smidt and his father, Allan Smidt, founded Harbor Freight in 1977 as a small mail-order tool business in North Hollywood The chain said it now averages two store openings per week bringing it to more than 1,550 locations and 29,000 associates nationwide Harbor Freight sells over 7,500 tools and products drawing over 75 million customers in its 48 years of business The Middle River store is located at 140 Carroll Island Road next to Dollar Tree Customers can visit harborfreight.com or call (443) 868-1212 for more information 2024 at 9:35 am ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The 2024 Maryland General Election is on Tuesday Here is Patch's Baltimore County voter guide MD — The county executive's run for Congress and the push to expand the County Council are headlines in Tuesday's Baltimore County general election Senate pits a prominent Democrat against a former Republican governor competing to replace a retiring congressman The presidential race tops the ballot nationwide and judges are up for election in Baltimore County There's also a ballot question on abortion Click any candidate's name to learn more about them Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Residents must vote at their assigned polling place on Election Day Residents can request a mail-in ballot from the State Board of Elections or their local board The deadline to request a mail-in ballot in person is Election Day Please visit your local board of elections' website for hours of operation Mail-in ballots must be mailed and postmarked, placed in one of these dropboxes or taken to a polling place or local board of elections by 8 p.m Marylanders can update their address or register to vote at their newly assigned polling place on Election Day Residents must bring their MVA-issued license A government document with the voter's name and new address will also suffice Residents can use this tool to check their: More details on how to vote are posted here Maryland will elect a successor to retiring Sen Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) defeated U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-MD District 6) in the primary Alsobrooks will face former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan who entered the Republican primary late in the game he would be Maryland's first Republican U.S Hogan did not vote for Donald Trump in either 2016 or 2020 5 he will not vote for either Trump or Democrat Kamala Harris Alsobrooks was elected as Prince George’s county executive in 2018 after serving as the jurisdiction’s state’s attorney for seven years Alsobrooks has campaigned on curbing gun violence and reducing the cost of groceries Alsobrooks has also repeatedly voiced her pro-choice abortion stance as a referendum will ask Marylanders if the right to an abortion should be enshrined in the state Constitution Democrats allege that Hogan can’t be trusted with abortion though Hogan says he supports pro-choice legislation and opposes a national abortion ban Nearly all polls have shown Alsobrooks with a 5 to 17 percentage point lead over Hogan. A single AARP poll had them tied in August The winner will serve a six-year term in Congress Libertarian Mike Scott is also running. Write-in candidates include Patrick J. Burke of the American Solidarity Party, unaffiliated Billy Bridges and unaffiliated Christy Renee Helmondollar Related: Hogan, Alsobrooks Spar Over Abortion, Ethics Before MD's Senate Race Congressional District 2 will have a new representative, as 78-year-old C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D) is retiring after serving the district for over 21 years District 2 covers most of Baltimore and Carroll counties Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski (D) is vying for the open seat. He will take on Republican Kim Klacik, a repeat candidate previously endorsed by then-President Donald Trump (R). Libertarian Jasen Joseph Wunder is also running U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D) is running for another term in Congressional District 7, which covers parts of southwest and southeast Baltimore County along with most of the city. He'll face Republican Scott M. Collier and Libertarian Ronald M. Owens-Bey Voters along the northeast border of Baltimore County will vote in the District 1 race. Incumbent Andy Harris, the state's lone Congressional Republican, will meet Democrat Blane H. Miller III and Libertarian Joshua W. O'Brien Voters can check their Congressional district at this link Related: MD House Elections: Olszewski's Payments, Parrott's Push To Flip Seat There is one Constitutional Amendment question that will appear statewide on the Nov 245 of the 2023 Legislative Session) Declaration of Rights - Right To Reproductive Freedom "The proposed amendment confirms an individual's fundamental right to reproductive freedom including but not limited to the ability to make and effectuate decisions to prevent continue or end the individual's pregnancy burden or abridge the right unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means." Related: MD Voters To Decide Amendment Guaranteeing Reproductive Freedom There are also 12 ballot questions pertaining to Baltimore County specifically Question ACharter AmendmentIncrease County Council to 9 Members(Bill 47-24) and 1201 of the Baltimore County Charter are amended to: increase from 7 to 9 the number of Councilmembers and Council Districts; make membership on the County Council a full-time position for purposes of determining compensation; provide for an equal number of Board of Appeals members as the number of Councilmembers and that no more than two-thirds of the Board of Appeals members may belong to the same political party; increase from 7 to 9 the number of Council appointments to the Planning Board; provide for an equal number of members of a councilmanic redistricting commission as the number of Councilmembers with each Councilmember nominating one member and subject to Council confirmation; provide that redistricting of Council Districts may only occur: before October 1 or during the year after ratification of a Charter amendment changing the number of Council Districts; and increase from 6 to 8 the number of affirmative votes required for the Council to approve a legislative act that proposes a ballot question to terminate the Charter and return the County to a county commissioner form of government Related: Baltimore County Council Expansion Referendum Would Add 2 Seats Charter AmendmentOffice of the Inspector General(Bill 83-23) and 1014 of the Baltimore County Charter are amended to: establish the Office of the Inspector General the purpose of which is to provide increased accountability and oversight in the operations of county government; provide the Inspector General with subpoena power; set qualifications for the Inspector General; and provide for the Office of the Inspector General to be funded as a separate budget entity Charter AmendmentPlanning Board Term Limits(Bill 33-24) Section 522 of the Baltimore County Charter is amended to create a term limit for Planning Board members of three consecutive terms and to make all appointments to the Planning Board subject to confirmation by the County Council County OrdinanceRefuse Disposal Borrowing(Bill 22-24) AN ORDINANCE to authorize and empower Baltimore County Maryland to borrow $5,000,000 for refuse disposal projects including but not limited to: construction and modernization of county refuse disposal facilities to be undertaken pursuant to Sections 705(a) and 718 of the Baltimore County Charter Question ECounty OrdinanceCommunity College Borrowing(Bill 23-24) Maryland to borrow $18,500,000 for community college projects and development of buildings and other improvements for community colleges; the architectural and other services incident thereto; and the acquisition of land County OrdinancePublic Works Borrowing(Bill 24-24) Maryland to borrow $55,440,000 for public works projects including but not limited to: streets and highways Preservation and Greenways Borrowing(Bill 25-24) Maryland to borrow $8,000,000 for the purpose of parks and recreational facilities; related engineering and other services; and the acquisition and maintenance of equipment Question HCounty OrdinanceSchool Borrowing(Bill 26-24) Maryland to borrow $331,140,000 for school buildings and site projects including but not limited to: the acquisition and modernization of buildings and sites for school purposes; architectural and engineering services; and recreation and pedagogical equipment for such buildings and sites County OrdinanceAgricultural and Rural Land Preservation Borrowing(Bill 27-24) Maryland to borrow $6,000,000 for agricultural and rural land preservation projects including but not limited to the purchase of land conservation easements and other real property approved by the County Council pursuant to the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program and the Rural Legacy Program or other similar federal or state programs Question JCounty OrdinanceCommunity Improvement Project Borrowing(Bill 28-24) Maryland to borrow $4,000,000 for community improvement projects repair or modernization of: street curbs; gutters; water; sewer and other utilities; sidewalk improvements; interior and rear access improvements; landscaping and lighting improvements; building and other structural improvements; and sidewalk and pedestrian system improvements Question KCounty OrdinanceWaterway Improvement Program Borrowing(Bill 29-24) Maryland to borrow $20,000,000 for the acquisition repair and modernization of waterway improvement and stormwater-related projects including but not limited to: shoreline stabilization; shore erosion control; wetland restoration; streambank and riverbank restoration; stabilization and reconstruction; control and monitoring of nonpoint pollutants; landscaping; dredging; planting of trees and similar waterway improvement projects in residential rural and commercial areas; and engineering and other services incident thereto Question LCounty OrdinanceOperational Buildings Borrowing(Bill 30-24) Maryland to borrow $130,500,000 for public operational buildings Maryland Circuit Court judges hear major civil cases and serious criminal cases like those requiring a jury trial Circuit Courts can decide appeals from the District Court A nominating commission recommends several names to fill vacancies and the governor decides which person gets the position Newly appointed judges must run for election in the first election that's at least one year after the vacancy occurred Attorneys who are members of the Maryland Bar can run against a newly-appointed or sitting judge Circuit Court judges serve 15-year terms before they must seek re-election Circuit court judges must retire at 70 years old Candidates ran on both parties' primary ballots These are the General Election candidates for Judicial Circuit 3 in Baltimore County Justice Angela M. Eaves of the Supreme Court of Maryland Circuit 2 is up for a continuance in office vote The Appellate Court of Maryland now consists of 15 active judges at least one of whom comes from each of the state’s seven geographic appellate circuits All of the judges are appointed by the governor confirmed by the Maryland Senate and then must stand for a retention election by the voters every 10 years Senior Judges who have been authorized by the Supreme Court of Maryland to continue to serve may also hear and decide cases alongside the active judges The Supreme Court of Maryland also has the same appointment process and a 10-year term before a continuance in office election President Joe Biden won the Democratic primary election, but he declined the nomination and dropped out in July. Biden passed his campaign over to Vice President Kamala Harris (D) Harris will face former President Donald Trump (R) who's seeking his second and final four-year term Unaffiliated Robert F. Kennedy Jr., flanked by vice presidential nominee Nicole Shanahan, in August suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump Kennedy secured enough signatures and will still appear on Maryland's ballot Jill Stein and Rudolph Ware are running for the Green Party Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat are on the Libertarian presidential ticket whose names must be written in the blank space closing all remaining stores in Maryland and elsewhere ending its 40-year reign as the go-to party supplier in the country according to CNN reporters who viewed a meeting of the company’s corporate employees Friday CEO Barry Litwin told corporate employees the company is “winding down” operations and Friday was their last day of employment “That is without question the most difficult message that I’ve ever had to deliver,” Litwin said at the meeting Party City’s “very best efforts have not been enough to overcome” its financial challenges Party City has 20 stores in Maryland at these locations: It was not immediately clear when the stores would close Several news outlets have reported the company was on the verge of collapse and had plans for its second bankruptcy filing in two years The Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey-based party supply and craft retailer emerged from its first bankruptcy in September 2023 with $800 million in debt on the balance sheets that it cannot overcome The chain was hit hard when people stopped having parties during the COVID-19 pandemic and has struggled since with supply chain issues and inflation The company also has said a helium shortage hurt its business The retailer also faces growing competition from big-box retailers such as Walmart and Target and holiday pop-up stores such as Spirit Halloween As part of Party City’s 2023 bankruptcy filing its debt was reduced by $1 billion and equity shares were turned over to the retailer’s lenders were closed as part of the 2023 bankruptcy strategy Correction: An earlier version of this story had an incorrect total for the number of stores in Maryland 2025 at 5:01 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A stray kitten tested positive for rabies and the Harford County Health Department is warning residents their pets may have been exposed MD — A kitten in the Pylesville area has tested positive for the rabies virus Local officials received confirmation Wednesday of the case from the Maryland Department of Health Although this stray kitten was found near the 3900 block of Ady Road in Pylesville it may have exposed other persons and pets in the area If you or your pets have had contact with a stray kitten in this area contact the Harford County Health Department at 410-877-2300 for followup Rabies is spread by the bite or scratch of an infected animal It is also spread when an infected animal’s saliva comes in contact with the eyes mouth or open cut of a person or another animal Preventive treatment might be required for anyone who handled fed or was attacked by the infected animal and preventive treatment (injections) must be started as soon as possible Health officials shared tips for residents to protect themselves and their pets: Notify Harford County Animal Control at 410-638-3505 if you see a stray animal showing abnormal behaviors such as excessive affection Animals that appear sick or injured that have had no human or pet contact can be reported to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources at 877-463-6497 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m or the Maryland Natural Resources Police at 410-260-8888 after hours 2025 at 12:51 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}To get a REAL ID in Maryland residents must bring their documents in person to a Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration branch Appointments at an MVA branch can be made online (Renee Schiavone/Patch)MARYLAND — As the law stands Maryland residents who are 18 and older must show a Real ID a passport or other federally approved identification to board domestic flights or certain federal buildings beginning May 7 The anti-terrorism law requiring the “gold star ID,” as it’s sometimes called, was originally supposed to take effect in 2008, but has been delayed so often that it has become a running joke. Will the Real ID Act really take effect this year with progressive enforcement ending in 2027 But that doesn’t mean you should wait until then to make an application A REAL ID is distinguishable from a regular Maryland license because it has a black circle in the upper right corner with a white star in the middle of the circle That indicates that a person’s citizenship and legal residence status have been verified "Marylanders who received a new license or ID card with the 'star' symbol – but did not file required documents – need to bring those documents to the Maryland Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Administration to complete the process," MDOT MVA said on a frequently asked questions page The only surefire way to know if you already have a Real ID is to enter your driver's license number into this state-operated lookup tool. Currently, BWI Airport does accept digital IDs Here’s what you need to know about getting a Real ID or compliant identification card in Maryland: Marylanders must show proof of age and identity via: To get a REAL ID in Maryland, residents must bring their documents in person to a Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration branch. Appointments at an MVA branch can be made online by clicking "Collect my Real ID documents" at this link "If you already have the new REAL ID driver's license or identification card with the star and only need to submit documents you will not have to pay," the MDOT MVA website said "If you have the older style Maryland driver’s license or identification card you will pay a $20 fee for a duplicate driver’s license There are no additional fees when renewing your driver’s license to obtain a REAL ID This MDOT MVA webpage has all the state's information on Real ID requirements and processes The Department of Homeland Security estimates that only about 70 percent of state-issued identifications would be Real ID-complaint by the deadline TSA agents screen about 2.5 million passengers a day and if just 1 percent of them were to present non-Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses 25,000 passengers could be turned away in a single day 175,000 passengers would be prohibited from flying 750,000 would be stopped in a month and 2.25 million would be denied in three months people are strongly encouraged to get their Real IDs by the May 7 enforcement date and they may face delays at airport security checkpoints if they don’t have it Instead of stopping them from boarding aircraft non-compliant travelers would be issued warnings to get their paperwork in order by May 5 “TSA is engaging with the public, licensing jurisdictions and states to facilitate a smooth transition to REAL ID enforcement beginning May 7, 2025,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske said in a statement “REAL ID provides an important security enhancement and this rule allows us to plan for a range of scenarios to help minimize the potential impact to travelers industry stakeholders and states during implementation.” Plans for the gradual rollout are still in progress warning travelers multiple times to acquire their Real IDs before turning them away strengthens national security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards Marylanders without a REAL ID will need a valid passport or other federally accepted document, such as a Global Entry Card, to board domestic flights or enter nuclear power plants and certain federal buildings. (The Transportation Safety Administration has a list of federally accepted documents online.) Those who don’t plan to fly domestically or visit a federal office don’t need to do anything A REAL ID is not required to get a driver's license the TSA won’t require children under 18 to provide identification when they’re traveling with an adult companion within the United States but the companion must have acceptable identification The REAL ID is not a substitute for a passport required for international travel and it also does not affect the ability to vote or register to vote enter federal facilities that don’t require identification or participate in police proceedings or investigations