Latest news with #HowardCounty
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Maryland residents call on MDE to withdraw permit for proposed plastic recycling plant
Residents in Howard County are set to rally in support of a recent Howard County Hearing Examiner's decision to overturn the project's zoning approval. The update comes as residents fight to stop W.R. Grace and Co. from building a pilot plastic recycling plant for research in Columbia. A group called Stop the Grace Project has led much of the opposition against the project. Residents have shared concerns that the plant could bring pollution and increase health risks. Some worry about toxic leaks, fires, and long-term damage to air and water quality. In June, the Maryland Department of the Environment approved a permit to construct the facility. But neighbors appealed that decision and won, overturning the Department of Planning and Zoning's (DPZ) determination that the facility does not violate zoning conditions. The county hearing examiner found that DPZ's investigation into the proposed plant was insufficient, as it relied on W.R. Grace's self-classification of permitted zoning uses. Due to the appeal, the matter was sent back to DPZ for further review, and use of the building where the plant would be is paused until the review is complete. Howard County Council Member Deb Jung commended the decision. "The Hearing Examiner issued a scathing decision and order (D&O) on the W.R. Grace zoning complaint appeal," Jung said. "The D&O stated that the Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) failed to investigate, document, and apply the law. This is such a big win for the community after so many disappointments." Work for the Stop Grace Coalition is not complete. The group wants the MDE to fully rescind the air permit that is currently under review. "The Stop Grace Coalition is calling on MDE to withdraw the air permit that lacks zoning approval and ignores residents' concerns," the group said in a statement. They are also asking for a full "local environmental and community impact review" before any more permits are granted. Residents of Columbia's Cedar Creek community and the Stop Grace Coalition are preparing for another Howard County Board of Appeals hearing. According to W.R. Grace, the facility will not burn plastic – but focus on developing safer and more effective recycling methods. On its website, the company says it has developed "a new plastic recycling solution that has the potential to reduce emissions, save energy, and lower costs compared to other options."
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Howard County's Head Start program to expand to children as young as infants
A $12.6 million federal grant is helping expand the early childhood program Head Start in Howard County. The Community Action Council of Howard County, the county's Head Start program provider, emphasized that this expansion will benefit more families beyond childcare. Lola Tanimowo knows how much Head Start can make a difference. WJZ first met the mom of two in September 2024, when CAC celebrated the reopening of its Children's Learning Center, or CLC. "My daughter got therapy [through Head Start]. She has a speech delay," Tanimowo said. "She got [in the program] when she was three, [and now] she is going to kindergarten without any delays at all." Tanimowo was outside CAC's Dasher Green Early Childhood Education Center on Wednesday to celebrate the new federal grant. The grant runs for five years and will help provide infants, toddlers, and two-year-olds with year-round, full-day classes starting next school year. These children will be served in the Bauder Education Center and CLC. "It has a lifelong impact on children and their families. It is the promise of a better future," said Tracy Broccolino, CAC's president. Tanimowo said without Head Start, she wouldn't have been able to further her education at Howard Community College. "There's no end to learning, I tell my kids every day," Tanimowo said. "I'm so happy that I'm given this opportunity." This Head Start expansion comes just months after Howard County Executive Calvin Ball put in $1 million to nearly 30 childcare providers to increase the number of children those providers can serve. This expansion is part of Ball's efforts to support federal workers in Howard County who may have lost their jobs under President Trump's workforce reductions. For families in Head Start, enrolling in the program goes beyond childcare. Since CAC is the Head Start provider, families enrolled get access to CAC's range of services -- which includes access to the Howard County Food Bank. "When a child enters a program, a family enters our program. Enrollment in our program opens the door to a broad range of services that help our families build stability and opportunity," said Erin Adelsberger, CAC's director of education. CAC is currently taking applications from families to enroll in its Head Start program, as well as applications for educators and staff for the expansion. You can learn more here.
CBS News
18-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Howard County schools superintendent says special education audit affirms progress
A highly anticipated audit on special education in Howard County public schools highlighted some longstanding issues staff and parents have raised for years. Ahead of a presentation on the audit on Thursday at a Board of Education meeting, Howard County Public School System Superintendent Bill Barnes called the audit affirming. Barnes said the audit shows the school district is working toward fixing the right issues in special education. Some Board of Education members, though, felt the audit wasn't productive. For Barnes, undertaking this audit means the school district is responding to the concerns raised for some time. "We're not sitting still. We're moving. We're moving forward now with them," Barnes said. Barnes said the audit gives HCPSS a good picture. It was conducted by the nonprofit Research Triangle Institute, or RTI, from December 2024 to June 2025. The audit highlighted some longstanding concerns, including increasing caseloads with fewer staff and providers, not enough professional learning for staff, a lack of supports for students and their IEPs, and families feeling they can't effectively communicate concerns. One parent who was surveyed for the audit said, "It's always a fight. Every single time." "We know that we have to do better in helping families," Barnes said. "It's our goal to ensure that families feel as if they are true partners in the process. Not every family is feeling that, so we have work to do." Some of RTI's recommendations include developing supports to better monitor students' progress, including families more in the process, and reviewing staffing formulas. At the Board of Education meeting, board members questioned how actionable the recommendations are. Some board members went as far as to question the whole audit process, feeling it didn't go far enough. "I was hoping that the report would actually include a recommendation for what Howard County should use. This is a summary of things we already know," said Board of Education member Antonia Watts. Earlier this month, HCPSS unveiled dozens of new and repurposed special education positions to ease teachers' workloads. Barnes said moving forward, the audit will be influencing the creation of a strategic plan that's set to be released early August. "There are no quick fixes; we didn't get here in one day," Barnes said. "We're not gonna get out of here in one day. The improvements are gonna take some time."
CBS News
15-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Howard County flood protection progress celebrated after another round of heavy rain
Some flooding may have crept close to streets in Historic Ellicott City over the last few days, but it was nothing compared to the devastation Main Street has had in the past. Howard County's Ellicott City Safe and Sound Plan has been in the works since 2018, and it's credited with helping keep flooding away. A business owner along Main Street agrees there are positive impacts that show how valuable the plan has been. When it rains like it did Monday and Sunday, a wave of fear comes over business owner Cindi Ryland. "What we go through here every time it rains, we all just hold our breath," Ryland said. "It's frightening, but we're here and we're resilient." Ryland has been a business owner on Main Street for decades -- as owner of vintage and antique store Retropolitan, and selling out of the Stone House Collective -- so she's lived through the catastrophic floods of 2011, 2016, and 2018. Altogether, according to Howard County Executive Calvin Ball's office, around 1.5 inches of rain fell in less than an hour on Monday. On Sunday, nearly 3.5 inches of rain fell in three hours. That's close to the amount of rainfall from the last catastrophic event in 2018. The EC Safe and Sound Plan includes a series of projects meant to redirect and keep water away from Historic Ellicott City. The projects include five retention ponds, two of which are complete, and two water conveyance projects. Those include a series of culverts under Maryland Avenue and the North Tunnel project. The third retention pond is expected to be up and running this fall. The North Tunnel is expected to be complete by fall 2027, while the culverts are in their final design stage. There are also a number of measures that have been put in place to complement those projects, and some are done ahead of big rain events. Crews from the Department of Public Works inspect streams and clear debris in the watershed to ensure water can keep flowing. There's also now some signage posted around Historic Ellicott City to show where to get to high ground. A tone alert system has also been installed and used several times to alert of potential flooding. Howard County Police have been helping as well. During Monday's rain event, officers enacted parking restrictions to keep drivers away from any floodwater. Police also towed 13 cars from closed-off streets and parking lots to higher ground at no cost to the drivers. Ball said he's proud of the progress made. "No longer is Ellicott City going to be known as the place that flooded," Ball said. "It's the place that came back. It's the place that's resilient. It's the place where the community comes together." Ball knows more needs to be done, especially to finish all of the projects under the plan. However, Ryland said she's happy to have seen some positive impact already. "It has just been so close every time," Ryland said. "We've survived every time without any flooding on Main Street."
CBS News
14-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Parking restrictions implemented in Ellicott City as severe weather in Maryland brings flood risk
Parking restrictions are in effect for parts of Ellicott City Monday evening as severe weather could cause flooding in Maryland. The restrictions for the flood-prone area come as about 2 to 3 inches of rain are predicted to fall in the county during Monday evening. A Flood Watch is in effect for parts of Howard County through midnight. Parking restrictions in Ellicott City Starting at 1:30 p.m., parking is prohibited along Main Street from Ellicott Mills Drive to the Patapsco River Bridge and along Maryland Avenue. Parking Lot D, behind the Howard County Welcome Center, and Parking Lot E off of Court Avenue are closed, county leaders said. Drivers have until 3 p.m. to move their cars. Leaders recommend that vehicles be relocated to the Historic Circuit Courthouse parking lot. Vehicles that are not moved by 3 p.m. will be towed to the courthouse parking lot with no cost to the owner. County leaders said Department of Public Works crews are also securing county-owned outdoor furniture. Residents and business owners are urged to do the same. Ellicott City flood prevention Ellicott City has been impacted by deadly flooding on several occasions in recent years, including in 2011, 2016, and 2018. The historic city is prone to severe flooding. This has prompted county leaders to launch the Ellicott City Safe and Sound Plan, which aims to mitigate flooding by removing debris from waterways after heavy rain. Under the flood mitigation plan, the county has worked on seven flood control projects, including two completed retention ponds. The North Tunnel project, which is still under construction, will be able to collect 26,000 gallons of water per second and divert it away from Ellicott City's Main Street. The project is expected to be complete in fall 2027. Severe weather in Maryland Severe storms are expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds to Maryland on Monday in the afternoon and evening, according to WJZ's First Alert Weather Team. Thunderstorms are expected to become more widespread during the evening hours and could be capable of torrential rainfall and flash flooding. Maryland has experienced several days of heavy rains in the past week, meaning today's rainfall could quickly lead to flooding on roads during the evening commute.
