Latest news with #Elrich
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Montgomery College recieves grant for program helping displaced federal workers transition to teaching
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. () – The Maryland Higher Education Commission is providing $1 million to 11 colleges and universities across the state. Montgomery College is one of the grantees and will receive $100,000 for its newly expanded 'Feds to Eds' teaching program. Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced the funding Tuesday at Montgomery College's Rockville Campus. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, who was also in attendance, said the goal is 'pretty straightforward and pretty smart.' LOOK: Caps off to the 2025 grads! Check out our viewers' proud accomplishments 'Take people who have been displaced by recent federal job cuts, including employees, contractors, NGO staff and vendors, and help them become teachers,' Elrich explained. In addition to helping federal workers, the grant is meant to address an issue in Maryland classrooms. 'Like most jurisdictions, Montgomery County is facing a teacher shortage, and the governor made a compelling case that we need to move faster to get qualified people into our classrooms, and I agree,' he said. Montgomery College will put the $100,000 it's receiving toward the Alternative Certification for Effective Teachers (ACET), its Feds to Eds program. The funding will support the effort to transition people with professional experience into the classroom, where students can benefit from that experience. Elrich sees it as a win for displaced workers and children. 'I know the people coming from federal agencies, nonprofits and tech fields have a lot to offer,' he said. 'They understand systems, communication and they understand real-world problem-solving. These skills can absolutely enrich the learning experience for our students.' Montgomery College says the funding will help support as many as 18 people who are looking to transition into full-time teaching. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Montgomery County officials visit businesses for ‘National Small Business Week'
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) – Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and members of the Montgomery County Business Center met with three people who own small businesses in Eastern Montgomery County. Elrich thanked them for their hard work and their commitment to continue helping the county grow. The first business on the tour was K. Hill Orthodontics in Silver Spring. Owner Dr. Karlene-Anne Hill opened her business in 2002. She says what she enjoys most about practicing in Montgomery County is the people she helps every day. 'I love seeing patients,' Hill said, 'especially the kids who come in. You know, they're shy, they don't want to smile, they don't like how their teeth look. We're able to give them a nice, beautiful smile.' From there, the group traveled a mile-and-a-half down New Hampshire Avenue to Yeneta Language & Culture Academy. The space is used to teach children and adults about Ethiopian customs and traditions. The academy is a recipient of the MOVE Grant, which helps businesses with their lease, as well as cover expenses. 'We had issues because all of the payments,' Yeneta Language & Culture Academy owner Rakeb Zeleke said, 'We were able to pay the rent and other stuff, so the grant was very helpful to us.' The last stop on the tour was the new location for Isaac's Poultry Market in Burtonsville. Head chef and owner Rob Gresham says he chose to open a second location in Montgomery County because of the support they receive from the community. 'We're in the people business,' Gresham said, 'we just happen to sell chicken. So, taking care of the customers and seeing their excitement and their joy eating our food, it's really awesome.' Elrich says successful small businesses are what make Montgomery County continue to thrive. 'It feels really good when you can go out and look at the things that have been done and say, 'Yeah, this is actually making a difference,'' he said. 'So, I'm happy about this.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Montgomery, Howard counties reach partnership to extend transit service along US-29
HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) – Two Maryland counties are joining forces to improve things for commuters. Leaders from Montgomery and Howard Counties said there's a new transit partnership that will begin early next year. Four new bus stops in Howard County will become part of Montgomery County's Flash Bus Rapid Transit Service. Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said this will help reduce traffic on U.S. Route 29 and create new opportunities for people living in both counties. Ride On celebrates 50th anniversary, honors driver who died in Montgomery County Elrich said he's been working to get a transit partnership deal done for a long time. 'It's about 14 years in the making,' he said. 'I was working on bus rapid transit when I was a councilmember down there, and it was my office that actually developed the plan.' He took the plan to then-Howard County Executive Ken Ulman to talk about the benefits it could have for both counties. 'Because it would make it easier for people to go both ways in terms of finding opportunities,' Elrich said. 'But the big thing is 29. A lot of residents from Howard County come down 29, and we wanted to alleviate that.' Freeze being placed on Maryland's Child Care Scholarship program The U.S. Route 29 Flash Bus began in 2020 with service between Silver Spring and Burtonsville. The partnership will add four stations north of Burtonsville. 'We've got the Flash buses on 29,' Elrich said. 'They're going to wind up in dedicated lanes and it's going to be the kind of thing that's going to make a difference in moving people.' Elrich said this partnership will allow more convenient access to larger transit hubs like Metro, MARC Train and the future Purple Line. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Montgomery County residents push back on proposed income tax hike
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. - The Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is receiving pushback on his idea to raise income taxes. It comes as local governments across our region are proposing bigger budgets, more spending and more taxes — all at a time when economists say the DMV's economy could be headed for a fall. Similar concerns are widespread across the area. The Trump administration's efforts to slash the federal jobs hits the DMV hard but at a time, residents are fearful about the future. Increased spending and bigger budgets by local governments are triggering new taxes and new worries by some who are afraid they can't afford them. RELATED:Washington Council of Governments warns Trump administration cutbacks could hit DMV hard What they're saying Montgomery County Executive Elrich canceled his idea to increase property taxes and now wants to raise the county income taxes to 3.3%. Already, some council members like Andrew Friendsen say they are opposed to the idea, saying not the time to raise taxes. "The idea that we would swap one tax increase with another is really not a responsible approach to this and its retroactive tax increase in particular is extremely harmful," Montgomery County councilmember Andrew Friedson said. Elrich says increased school costs are to blame but also told FOX 5 the council has been too generous with tax breaks for developers. "You can't give away money to developers and then complain about raising taxes. That kind of contributes to why we have to raise taxes," Elrich said. RELATED:Income tax for Montgomery County residents could increase next year Big picture view Montgomery County is hardly alone when it comes to the blowback over taxes. In Fairfax County, a $300 million budget shortfall could mean a slew of new taxes. Lawmakers there are looking at a 7.5% property tax increase, a 2% hotel tax and $60 million in cuts. "We're trying to find a middle ground where we're adequately funding the services we need but that you only need at a time where resources are scarce," Fairfax Board of Supervisors' Democratic Chairman Jeff McKay said. Fed-up residents have packed budget hearings as county leaders say they must close the gap. "The decision by the county to raise property taxes will only put homeownership out of the reach of more people," one meeting attendee said. Prince George's County isn't immune from tax hikes either. The acting county executive described her own nearly $6 billion as "difficult" and it calls for property to increase $65 million or 6.5% over the next year.
CNN
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
Oscar-winning director reveals the secret lives of pangolins
Pangolins have two claims to fame: first, that they are the world's only scaly mammal, and second, they are one of the most trafficked animals globally. Beyond that, most people know very little about them. But the new Netflix documentary 'Pangolin: Kulu's Journey,' hopes to change that. The 90-minute film follows the story of a three-month-old ground pangolin, Kulu, who is rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, and the slow, intensive process to return him to the wild in South Africa. 'Kulu's got an incredible personality, he's very much his own pangolin,' says director Pippa Elrich, best known for the Oscar-winning documentary 'My Octopus Teacher.' 'He's incredibly stubborn, determined to go where he wants to go, not that keen to have this strange two-legged creature following him around everywhere he goes,' she adds. The two-legged creature in question is Gareth Thomas, a conservation volunteer who took part in the sting operation that rescued Kulu. Rehabilitating rescued pangolins is an 'incredibly intensive process,' says Elrich: they rarely eat in captivity so they require daily walks, sometimes up to six hours a day, to feed on ants and termites. These daily walks aren't just for feeding: they are also getting the pangolin ready for the sights, sounds, and smells of its new habitat, and helping it overcome the trauma of captivity. 'The rehabilitation team asked (Gareth) if he would take Kulu into the wild and set him free. And I don't know if he realized that that was going to be the next 18 months of his life,' says Elrich. The film follows the duo into the wild savanna of Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, a four-hour drive from Johannesburg, immersing the viewer in the world of pangolins. 'They've got a magical quality; they are a mammal but they're covered in scales,' says Elrich. 'You just don't want pangolins to be seen only as the world's most trafficked mammal. You want them to be seen as these joyful, unique, special little creatures.' The ground pangolin, also known as Temminck's pangolin or the Cape pangolin, is one of eight species found globally, and the most widely distributed of the four species in Africa, with a territory ranging from South Africa to Sudan. When Kulu arrived at the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital, staff called him Gijima, which means 'to run' in Zulu, as the severely underweight yet feisty pangolin was constantly trying to run away during his feeding walks. It was during the six-month stint in the savanna that Thomas nicknamed the pangolin Kulu, a variant of the word for 'easy' in Zulu, to try to soothe him. Thomas grew up spending summers in the wilderness in South Africa and Zimbabwe, where he was born; but after school, he became 'detached' from nature, instead spending most of his time in the city. 'I had a bit of a yearning to be out there again,' he recalls. So in 2019, after picking up wildlife photography, he started volunteering with the African Pangolin Working Group and the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital. Thomas' self-shot footage of the pangolins was pivotal to the film, says Elrich: Pangolins are incredibly sensitive creatures, so Elrich says the production team had limited shooting days and relied heavily on Thomas for videos of the rehabilitation process and close-ups of Kulu. 'I realized, he has a very deep bond with these animals, and he understands them,' says Elrich. 'He understands how to get this very intimate footage, which almost makes you feel like you're seeing the world through the eyes of a pangolin.' While viewers will likely observe thematic similarities between 'My Octopus Teacher' and 'Kulu's Journey' — both explore human-wildlife relationships and our emotional connection with nature— Elrich says the drastically different ecosystems changed her approach to the film. 'One of the things that was so compelling about (My Octopus Teacher) is that you're going underwater, and that immediately takes you into this other universe,' she explains. 'Being in the terrestrial world, even if you don't know the bush, it is way more relatable.' The biggest threat to the pangolins is poaching for the $20-billion illegal wildlife trade, where their scales, meat and body parts are sold for traditional medicine, and their skins used for leather products. According to NGO Traffic, pangolins are largely trafficked to China and the US. With three of the four Asian species critically endangered, and difficulty breeding pangolins in captivity, poaching has increased in Africa: between 2017 and 2019, more than half of illegal pangolin seizures in Asia were from African pangolin species, accounting for 244,600 kilograms of scales and 10,971 individual animals. Ray Jansen, the co-founder of the African Pangolin Working Group, who features in the documentary, has witnessed the scale of this threat firsthand: the zoologist-turned-sting operative helped rescue 301 live pangolins, including Kulu, between 2016 and 2024, leading to the arrest of nearly 700 wildlife traffickers. Prior to 2017, Jansen says arrests in South Africa were met with meager fines, rather than jail time. But in recent years, conservationists like Jansen began providing expert witness testimony in court, resulting in sentences of up to 10 years. 'It sent out a huge warning message to these traffickers about pangolins,' Jansen says, adding that while he's observed a decrease in 'opportunistic' poaching in the country, 'sophisticated' organized crime networks continue to traffic for the international trade. Pangolins rescued from the wildlife trade are incredibly difficult to treat and rehabilitate, says Dr. Karin Lourens, the co-founder and head veterinarian of the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital, the first hospital in South Africa to treat pangolins (all pangolins are kept off-site in an undisclosed location). 'Because they haven't eaten, they don't have enough protein,' says Lourens, adding that this then causes a build-up of fluid in their lungs. 'Then, their pancreas stops working, so they can't digest food either.' 'It was a steep learning curve in the beginning,' says Lourens, adding she had no medical guidelines for the first ground pangolins in the hospital, but over the years, the survival rate has soared from 40% to 80%. The film crew also worked with Lapalala Wilderness, the 48,000-hectare reserve where Kulu was ultimately released, to secure filming permits and coordinate with the on-site anti-poaching unit to ensure safety for the pangolins and those transporting them. While poachers are an unavoidable topic when talking about pangolins, Elrich made the deliberate choice to highlight the emotional side of the little-known creatures. 'You've got to be careful about anthropomorphism, and I'm sure that's the criticism that we're going to get,' Elrich says. Lourens said she would have preferred for the documentary to focus on Africa's pangolin trade, something she says is 'sorely needed.' She also expressed concern about Kulu's overexposure to people during filming. Elrich says Thomas was 'incredibly strict' about when the additional videographers could film; 'I think I only did two shoots with Kulu, most of the time it was just Gareth and him,' she adds. Initially, Jansen too wanted the film to focus on the wildlife trade, a subject close to his heart — but after viewing the documentary, he changed his mind. 'It's a much, much better angle to focus on,' he says. 'I'm hoping that it spreads a huge awareness, and the world can fall in love with these incredible creatures.' While poaching remains a major threat for pangolins globally, Jansen says electric fences in game reserves are now 'responsible for the large majority of Temminck's pangolin deaths' in South Africa, illustrated in one terrifying scene when Kulu nearly runs straight into one, saved at the last minute by Thomas. Together with Thomas and Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, Jansen is working on a large-scale electric fence study and exploring new designs that could save wildlife. And a new 'pangolarium,' operated by the African Pangolin Working Group at Lapalala Wilderness, opened earlier this year — a kind of halfway house for pangolins between hospital and release, and a networking hub for conservationists. While it can house multiple pangolins, each one will still need its own dedicated walker for its daily mealtime. Despite global conservation efforts, pangolin numbers are in decline, with all eight species considered vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered by the IUCN. 'Pangolins really are a symbol of the fragility that we see in one another and in nature all around us,' says Elrich. She hopes audiences will connect with Kulu's story, and be moved to protect them and their environment: 'There is just nothing else like a pangolin.'
