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CBS News
6 hours ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Dangerous heat prompts Code Red Extreme Heat Alert in Baltimore, open cooling centers
Baltimore City has issued a Code Red Extreme Heat Alert with extreme heat expected across Maryland through Tuesday, July 29. The blast of heat could make the temperatures feel like they're at least 105 degrees. The Code Red Extreme Heat Alert will allow Baltimore City to enhance safety protocols to protect city employees, particularly frontline and outdoor employees, including sanitation crews, public works staff, emergency responders, and others working in high-exposure environments. "With dangerous heat in the forefront, our top priority is protecting the health and well-being of our residents," Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said. "Extreme heat can be life-threatening, especially for our older adults, children, pets, and our police officers, firefighters, EMTs, Sanitation workers, and all city employees who work tirelessly outdoors to keep our community clean and safe." The alert also allows Baltimore to open several cooling centers throughout the city. According to the Baltimore City Health Department, Code Red Extreme Heat Alerts are prompted when temperatures are considered to be dangerous. "As we head into what will be an extremely hot weekend, I am issuing a Code Red Extreme Heat alert to protect the health and safety of our community," said Interim Health Commissioner Mary Beth Haller. "I urge everyone to take precautions – stay hydrated, avoid strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest parts of the day, and check in on neighbors and loved ones." The WJZ First Alert Team issued Alert Days for Friday through Sunday due to the risk of dangerous heat, particularly for those who are working outdoors. Friday will be one of the toughest days of the heatwave. High temperatures are forecast to reach the upper 90s to near 100 degrees, but topical levels of humidity will make the heat feel dangerously hot. It will easily feel hotter than 100 degrees. A few neighborhoods could feel as hot as 110 degrees on Friday afternoon. Saturday and Sunday will feature more brutal heat and humidity. Several cooling centers will be open throughout Baltimore. Friday, July 25 Saturday, July 26 Monday, July 28 Tuesday, July 29 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says these tips can help prevent heat-related illnesses:
CBS News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Maryland Cycling Classic adds women's race for first time in September
The 2025 Maryland Cycling Classic is returning to Baltimore with some exciting new changes. For the first time, the race will have both men's and women's competitions and take place entirely within Baltimore city limits. The professional cycling race will take place Saturday, Sept. 6, on a new 17.9-mile circuit course. The women's race will start at 8:30 a.m. and cover 71.6 miles over four laps. The men's race begins at 12:30 p.m. and spans 107.4 miles across six laps. Both races will start at Harbor Point District's Central Plaza and finish on East Pratt Street along Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The annual race puts Baltimore City and County in the international spotlight. The race, which places Baltimore City in an international spotlight, will happen entirely within city limits for the first time. In 2023 the classic brought 112 professional cyclists from 21 countries together to compete. In 2024, the race was cancelled due to complications from the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Race director Jim Birrell said organizers wanted to showcase Baltimore's scenery and highlight historic landmarks with the 2025 classic. "Baltimore is a city of great neighborhoods. We wanted to highlight Baltimore's famous and beautiful waterfront while telling the story of the city's rich history." The race route passes several historic landmarks and neighborhoods throughout the city. Riders will encounter 18th-century granite cobblestones in Fells Point within the first mile. The course travels through Patterson Park, one of Baltimore's oldest parks, dating to the War of 1812. At mile 5, cyclists pass the Washington Monument, completed in 1829, and ride through Mount Vernon's 19th-century architecture. The route continues through Hampden, a neighborhood with blue-collar roots dating to 1802. The King and Queen of the Mountain climb takes place at St. Mary's Seminary, America's first Catholic seminary, established in 1791. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott praised the event's return to the city and the addition of the women's competition. "We're excited to welcome the Maryland Cycling Classic back to our city this September," Scott said." The technical course features 28 turns, 550 yards of cobblestones, two climbs and a flat final stretch of 1,000 yards. The men's race will feature 5,682 feet of total climbing, while the women's race includes 3,868 feet of elevation gain. Points will be awarded for intermediate sprints after the first lap of each race and at the finish line. King and Queen of the Mountain points will be awarded at the top of Northern Parkway on each lap. Fan zones will be located at Harbor Point, Thames Street cobblestones, Patterson Park, Mt. Vernon and the finish line stretch. Some zones will provide free cowbells and thunder sticks, plus live race coverage on large screens.
CBS News
a day ago
- Business
- CBS News
Demolition for Baltimore's revamped Pimlico Race Course set to begin
Demolition at Baltimore's historic Pimlico Race Course will begin on Thursday, July 24, with the complete redevelopment expected to be finished in time for the 2027 Preakness Stakes. The Maryland Stadium Authority (MSA) says barns and outbuildings will be the first to be torn down. "Through this multi-year transformational project, the Pimlico Race Course will become a year-round racing facility bringing in economic benefits to the surrounding communities and further elevating Maryland, home of the Preakness Stakes, as a premier sports tourism destination," said Craig Thompson, the Chair of the Maryland Stadium Authority. In 2024, the Maryland Stadium Authority authorized $400 million in bonds to reconstruct Pimlico Race Course and build a new training facility at Shamrock Farms in Carroll County. When construction of the track and a portion of the Park Heights neighborhood is complete, Pimlico will be the permanent home of Maryland thoroughbred racing. The facility will be allowed to host more than 100 racing days each year. Aside from making Pimlico a world-class race track, there will be a hotel, event space, and other amenities. The renovated horse track should also support about 500 jobs, according to state leaders. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has said the revitalization will be a big boost to the Park Heights neighborhood. "I think the community is excited about the potential and opportunities in the future," Scott said. In May, the MSA shared the concept design for the new Pimlico Race Course during a Board of Public Works meeting. Pimlico Race Course hosted its 150th Preakness Stakes in May, with heavy-favorite Journalism coming from behind down the stretch to defeat a field of eight other horses. It was the final race at the historic track before demolition. In June, the operator and all horses moved out of Pimlico, according to the MSA. The Maryland State Archives removed and secured existing artifacts from the property, and the MSA and its project partners began securing the Pimlico site by installing temporary fencing, performing pest control, preparing utilities, and conducting abatement for the demolition process. During the demolition and construction process, all racing and training will occur at Laurel Park The 151st Preakness Stakes will take place at Laurel Park in 2026. The 152nd Preakness Stakes is expected to return to Pimlico Race Course in 2027.
CBS News
a day ago
- CBS News
Baltimore's Group Violence Reduction Strategy expands in effort to reduce city's crime
Baltimore's Group Violence Reduction Strategy (GVRS) is being expanded to South Baltimore in an effort to reduce crime throughout the city, Mayor Brandon Scott announced. Jaylen remembers being in the hospital with a bullet in his stomach. "And yet, my life has made a 360 turnaround, and Mr. Sean helped me become a man. A year ago, I had just turned 18, recovering from a gunshot wound to the stomach," said Jaylen, a Youth Advocacy Program participant. The now 20-year-old is a part of the Youth Advocacy Program (YAP) – a key part of the city's growing Group Violence Reduction Strategy. "Expanding to this area allows us to begin investigations here that will help reduce violence, not just in South Baltimore, but citywide," said Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. "I grew up here. I grew up in Pigtown, and I lived in Brooklyn for about 14 years, so it's special to me. This is a continuation of our focus," added Baltimore City Police Commissioner Richard Worley. According to city officials, between January 2022 and July 15, 2025, 256 individuals identified as being at the highest risk of involvement in gun violence have received services through YAP and Roca across the Western, Southwestern, Central, and Eastern Baltimore police districts. South Baltimore is now the fifth district in the city to be a part of the GVRS. City leaders, law enforcement agencies, and community partners made the joint announcement on Wednesday morning in South Baltimore. Mayor Scott credited the GVRS program for the decrease in crime across the city. "We're seeing the impact of that," Mayor Scott said. "As you all know, in 2020, there were 335 homicides. In Baltimore last year, there were 201, and through the first six months of 2025, we've had the fewest homicides ever recorded on record through that period." City leaders explained that the gun violence strategy is based on data over five years. It focuses on reducing homicides, nonfatal shootings, and building community trust. "We are here together, because we work together on not just gvrs, but every single gun case, every murder case in the city," said Mayor Scott. Another key part of the GVRS approach is direct, consistent engagement with a small number of group-involved people who are likely to be the victim or perpetrator of violence, according to the city. According to city officials, all shootings and homicides that happen in districts where GVRS is active are reviewed, and individuals at the highest risk of violence, victimization, and retaliation are identified as prospective participants. Once identified, eligible individuals are offered rehabilitation services to help them step away from behaviors associated with violence. Those who are identified are also offered mentors or a clear mandate from community moral voice partners, such as residents and faith leaders who leverage their credibility. For those who refuse to change their behaviors, GVRS has produced 414 arrests. "Anyone who refused the rehabilitation offer from the Mayor would also be captured in that number right now," said Angela Galeano, the chief of staff for the Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office. "That number pulled out is 201 in terms of GVRS prosecution." By focusing on those responsible for driving the majority of violence in Baltimore, GVRS has helped produce record reductions in homicides and nonfatal shootings across Baltimore. Compared to this time last year, the city has recorded a 24.3% decrease in homicides and an 18.4% decline in non-fatal shootings. Through June, Baltimore saw 68 homicides — the fewest in over 50 years — compared to 88 homicides in the first six months of 2024 "Since 2023, we've prosecuted more than 2,000 firearm-related violent offenders, leading to an annual average of more than 1,000 trigger pullers removed from our streets. And these aren't just statistics," Galeano said. "These are lives protected." Officials said that they hope that South Baltimore knows that GVRS is just one of many steps to invest in their neighborhoods and the next generation. "I know how to deal with conflict, and I have a better relationship with my family," Jaylen said. "Of course, taking me back, my goal is to pick up where I left off." The GVRS began in January 2022 in Baltimore's Western District. According to city data, the pilot program resulted in a significant decline in homicides and non-fatal shootings in Baltimore's most historically violent district within the first year of implementation. An external analysis by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania's Crime and Justice Policy Lab of the first 18 months of GVRS implementation in the Western District found that GVRS was associated with a 25% reduction in homicides and nonfatal shootings, as well as a 33% decrease in carjackings, with no comparable increase in arrests or displacement of crime to other districts. You can learn more about GVRS and its programs by visiting this website.
CBS News
18-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Baltimore leaders discuss plan to combat opioid crisis near city's mass overdose site
Baltimore leaders discussed strategies for tackling the city's opioid crisis with residents in the same community where 27 people were hospitalized on July 10 in a mass overdose. Inside the Gethsamane Baptist Church, in the North Penn community, the Mayor's Office of Overdose Response presented its strategic overdose plan focusing on prevention, treatment, and recovery. On Thursday, scientists with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) said drug samples collected from the overdose site revealed a mix of drugs, including N-Methylclonazepam, an ingredient the NIST had not encountered before in street drugs. It can cause intense sedative and hypnotic side effects. A part of the mayor's plan calls for ramping up naloxone distribution (Narcan), possibly mobile treatment centers, and providing 24/7 access to treatment and support services. City leaders are asking for community input and suggestions on ways to eliminate drug overdoses. "It is a plan that is for the entire city, so getting feedback from community members about what the plan looks like and how it's going to show up in their community is really important for us to make sure we're getting it right," said Sara Whaley, executive director of the Mayor's Office of Overdose Response. With $400 million in settlement money from pharmaceutical companies now available to the city, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and his administration are looking to pour that money back into the community by funding resources to curb addiction. "If we want people to get help, we have to have that help there right there on the spot," Mayor Scott said. "This isn't a cookie-cutter thing. When someone is ready to get help or hits rock bottom or goes to something that makes them want to change, what is happening with them, we have to have people there to support that person in that moment, we cannot wait." Donald Young shared his story about fentanyl abuse. He said his mother died from an overdose in 2016. "I lost my mother in 2016 to a fentanyl overdose, and I suffered from substance use until I got clean," Young said. Young was one of dozens of residents in West Baltimore looking for solutions to end the opioid crisis. "We need to see more efforts like this at the prevention and not wait until there's a mass overdose," Young said. As the investigation is still ongoing, residents say they want to make sure mass overdoses don't happen again. "If it's constantly in our environment, then what else are we going to see? But we have to get more involved," resident Terrell Carpenter said. "We can't just talk and not do things. That's one of the reasons why I'm here." WJZ got a tour of the Tuerk House in West Baltimore, where some of the survivors of the mass overdose went for treatment. The survivors were referred to the Tuerk House by local hospitals in the immediate aftermath of the mass overdose. Their rooms are quiet and clinical, yet full of support, with 24-hour nursing staff and access to individual counseling. "One is downstairs and one is right here in this room," said Dr. Pierre Thomas. "We have a 50-year-old male patient who came here from the hospital. He's getting his detox. He has a full shower, we have providers, and peer support." Two additional listening sessions will be held in July: Read the Overdose Strategic Plan here.
