Smoke plume from New Jersey wildfire to approach I-95 corridor on Thursday afternoon

NOTTINGHAM, MD—Thursday afternoon and evening could become quite hazy along the I-95 corridor. The Maryland Department of the Environment says that winds have pushed a plume of dense smoke from a wildfire in New Jersey to the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Winds will shift the plume northward toward the I-95 corridor on Thursday afternoon and into the evening hours. Visible […]

Attorney General Brown sues 3M, Dupont, and other chemical manufacturers for PFAS contamination of Maryland’s waters

BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown on Tuesday announced two lawsuits, filed on behalf of the State of Maryland, the Maryland Department of Environment, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and the Maryland Department of Health, seeking to hold multiple chemical manufacturers accountable for widespread and continuing contamination of Maryland’s natural resources and harm to public health. The lawsuits […]

2023 Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey shows increase in adult crab population

BALTIMORE, MD—The Chesapeake Bay Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey, a cooperative effort between the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS), estimates 323 million blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay in 2023, an increase from last year’s low of 227 million crabs. The number of spawning age female crabs increased from 97 million crabs […]

Governor Moore signs executive order doubling Maryland’s energy conservation goal through state government greenhouse gas reductions

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Wes Moore this week signed an executive order doubling Maryland’s energy conservation goal for state-owned buildings from a 10% decrease by 2029 to a 20% decrease by 2031. The order will ensure that Maryland’s state government leads by example in addressing the harmful impacts of climate change while saving taxpayers money through reduced state utility costs. The order […]

NOW YOU KNOW: End-of-session review part II

The following is an op-ed piece from Delegates Kathy Szeliga and Ryan Nawrocki. Welcome back to the 2023 End of Session Review, a continuation of last week’s article! This article outlines additional measures that took place during the Annapolis legislative session – some good and others not so much. In March, Governor Moore announced that Maryland would move to electric […]

Code Orange Air Quality Alert issued for Friday in Baltimore area

BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Department of the Environment has issued a Code Orange Air Quality Alert for Friday in the Baltimore area. A Code Orange Air Quality Alert means that air pollution concentrations within the region may become unhealthy for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases and the elderly. The effects […]

NOW YOU KNOW: End-of-session review part I

The following is an op-ed piece from Delegates Kathy Szeliga and Ryan Nawrocki. UPDATE: Part II can now be viewed here. Original story below… The 2023 Legislative Session proved to be full of wins and losses, as with any season in life! As a member of the Health and Government Operations (HGO) Committee, Delegate Szeliga sponsors and cosponsors many bills. […]

Haze from Canadian wildfires makes its way to Maryland

BALTIMORE, MD—Seeing hazy skies this morning? The haze blanketing much of Maryland is being caused by smoke from wildfires in Canada that has made its to the Mid-Atlantic, Maryland Department of the Environment officials said on Wednesday morning. So far, more than 29,000 people have been evacuated from communities throughout Alberta as wildfires rage in Canada. The smoke is still […]