MSDE updates free school meal income guidelines

BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) this week announced updates to the Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs) for free and reduced-price school meals, effective from August 28, 2024, through June 30, 2025. The guidelines, updated annually by the federal government, were adopted by MSDE through June 30, 2025. The eligibility for free and reduced-price meals is determined based on […]

Maryland State Police to boost Labor Day weekend DUI enforcement

BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland State Police have announced that they plan to increase enforcement during the Labor Day weekend in an effort to reduce drunk driving. From August 30 to September 2, Maryland State Police plan to conduct saturation patrols across the state. The initiative is part of the Maryland State Police’s Impaired Driving Reduction Effort team, which is trained to identify […]

Walmart recalls apple juice over high arsenic levels

BALTIMORE, MD—Walmart’s Great Value Apple Juice supplier has recalled more than 9,500 cases due to elevated levels of inorganic arsenic, exceeding the FDA limit of 10 ppb. The recall affects 8-ounce plastic bottles sold in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, […]

Additional arrests made during crackdown on illegal street racing in Maryland

BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland Car Rally Task Force has expanded its crackdown on illegal exhibition driving, resulting in several additional last weekend. Maryland State Police say 26-year-old Jose Manuel Zapata of Pennsylvania was charged with loaded handgun on person, handgun on person, handgun in vehicle, and loaded handgun in vehicle after he was stopped by police on August 25 in Baltimore. […]

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

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

Farmers in Maryland eligible for drought assistance

ANNAPOLIS, MD—Farmers in parts of Maryland who are facing drought conditions due to a lack of rain over the past summer are eligible for federal assistance. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the low-interest loans are available for farmers in Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, and Washington counties. “Maryland’s agricultural industry is one of our top economic drivers and […]

Maryland schools set to welcome back 890K students

BALTIMORE, MD—The beginning of the 2024-25 academic year just around the corner. School bells are ringing for students across Maryland starting Wednesday, August 21, as Frederick and St. Mary’s counties open their doors for the 2024-25 academic year. Through Tuesday, September 3, all 24 local school systems will welcome approximately 890,140 students overall for the first day of school and […]

Maryland Board of Public Works approves $6 million for land conservation

ANNAPOLIS, MD—To help preserve historical and natural resources, the Maryland Board of Public Works has approved $6 million in funding to local governments and land trusts to acquire easements on seven properties across the state. The funding will help to protect 975 acres of land, including 289 acres in the Agricultural Security Corridor in Cecil County, 195 acres of farmland […]