Latest news with #StephanieSmith
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Baltimore officials announce new sheriff's office unit to crack down on ‘nuisance' liquor stores
From left: Del. Stephanie Smith, Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen, Senate President Bill Ferguson, Sen. Mary Washington and Del. Melissa Wells. (Photo by Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters) Lawmakers and Baltimore City officials announced a new unit within the Baltimore City Sheriff's Office Wednesday to crack down on 'nuisance' liquor stores and other venues where liquor is sold. 'We know the enforcement around liquor license establishments is something that has been a challenge for the city,' Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said Wednesday at the Baltimore City Board of Liquor License Commissioners' office. 'It's not really about reducing crime, but deterring crime before it happens.' Under a law approved in the 2025 legislative session, the Office of the Sheriff of Baltimore City will create the Neighborhood Services Unit to collaborate with liquor license officials to better enforce liquor laws throughout the city, specifically in high-traffic areas and entertainment districts such as Federal Hill and Fells Point. 'This is a commitment to strengthening our neighborhoods, enhancing public safety and holding accountable those who disregard our liquor laws and contribute to disorder in our community,' Ferguson said. 'This unit will focus on targeted enforcement during peak hours and in high-traffic areas.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Del. Stephanie Smith (D-Baltimore City), who sponsored House Bill 1293 to formally establish that collaboration, said that the presence of liquor stores can bring unanticipated 'woes' into neighborhoods and communities such as increased litter, unlawful actions and reckless behavior. 'Businesses can be partners, and they can be great neighbors, but this is about ensuring that they're not nuisances,' Smith said. There is already collaboration between the sheriff's office and the Board of License Commissioners for Baltimore City, according to Sen. Mary Washington (D-Baltimore City), the chair of the city delegation in the Senate. But the new law,which takes effect Oct. 1, will let the Board of License Commissioners enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Neighborhood Services Unit to better facilitate enforcement of Baltimore's liquor laws, and make sure 'the Liquor Board and the sheriff's office are working together hand-in-hand,' Washington said. 'They actually do work together, but this is actually providing a structure — where they do it, where there's clear roles, shared information and coordinated enforcement,' she said. Baltimore City Sheriff Sam Cogen said that some of the details will be worked out when his office sits down with the liquor board to write up the memorandum of understanding. 'You'll see underage alcohol enforcement,' he said. 'We would do some inspections that would be community driven … You'll see sheriff's deputies and sheriff cars working with liquor inspectors and working with the police department, going out and doing enforcement work.' 'We're talking about collaboration,' Cogen said. 'We're talking about using all the resources that the city has to make city residents feel safer and to be able to help the community.'
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How can we grow sustainably? 4 takeaways from Spotlight Tampa Bay event
Just a day before leaders in planning and development gathered to discuss how Tampa Bay can grow sustainably, emergency vehicles surrounded a 12-story Sand Key condominium complex. Residents were evacuated due to potential structural issues, calling to mind South Florida's Surfside condo collapse in 2021. That disaster, plus last year's storms, have made one thing clear: sustainable development can make the difference between life and death, between destruction and security. Thousands of Tampa Bay residents have been asked to rebuild their homes to be more resilient against hurricanes. At a Spotlight Tampa Bay event hosted by the Tampa Bay Times and sponsored by Tampa Electric Wednesday night, panelists discussed how the region can balance its breakneck growth with residents' quality of life and protection against storms. There are now more than 860,000 residences and homes in the region, and those numbers continue to grow, said Stephanie Smith, vice president of state and regional affairs at Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas. Roads, amenities and community resources must keep up with a surge of new residents and neighborhoods. Here's who participated in the panel: Moderator: Rebecca Liebson, real estate reporter Kartik Goyani, principal at Metro Development Group Melissa Zornitta, executive director of Plan Hillsborough Taylor Ralph, the president and founder of Real Building Consultants LLC Casey Ellison, CEO of Ellison Companies Abbye Feeley, administrator for development and economic opportunity with the city of Tampa Panelists weighed in on the future of Tampa Bay, particularly focusing on how to build more densely in a region defined by sprawl. Here are four takeaways from the event. People should be able to choose: do they want an urban, suburban or rural lifestyle while living in Tampa Bay? That's what Zornitta, the Hillsborough planner, emphasized. Hillsborough County is expanding its urban growth boundary, called an urban service area. But Zornitta said the county still wants to preserve a rural lifestyle for those who want it. In suburbs like Brandon and Town 'n Country, the goal is to introduce more mixed-use concepts and connectivity with the rest of the region, she said. That's true for growing suburbs in places like Plant City as well. Meanwhile, developers on the panel highlighted the need for more dense housing in urban Tampa, like the upcoming Gasworx project in Ybor City, for those who want true city living. 'In our urban markets, the more density, the better,' Ellison said. Tampa's Riverwalk and other pedestrian amenities are some of the most important advancements the city has made in recent decades, Ralph said. The market craves more urban housing stock than developers are currently supplying, driving prices up in the region's downtowns, he said. Goyani added that suburbs fulfill an important role: they can offer cheaper rents than the urban core. And they can be walkable, too, he said. Panelists said it's not just a local government problem: developers have a responsibility to help protect residents against storms, too. The city of Tampa is preparing permanent and temporary water pumps, and placing generators high up, to ease flooding and power problems the next time a big one strikes, Feeley said. It will take private-sector redevelopment in places like the University area, where flooding was widespread after Hurricane Milton, to fortify the area, Zornitta said. Building regulations are stronger than ever in terms of protecting structures against flooding, Ralph said. And developers are getting creative about the features they install. At The Central in St. Petersburg, a 2.1-acre project that will include a hotel, office building, retail space and workforce housing, Ellison is putting greenery on the top floor of the parking garage and roofs to prevent stormwater runoffs. Ralph, at the Gasworx redevelopment project, is putting utilities underground so they don't get swamped with floodwaters. New development will help make the region stronger against storms, Ralph said. 'New development and redevelopment should not be a bad word,' he said. 'Bad development should be a bad word.' Panelists shied away from saying there are parts of Tampa Bay, like its vulnerable barrier islands, where future development should be discouraged due to hazards from hurricanes. 'I don't know that there are places that are too risky to develop,' Zornitta said. But local governments discourage adding more density in the first places to evacuate, known as the 'coastal high hazard area,' she said. Insurance companies help inform consumers about the risks where they live, Ralph said. 'It's one of the first questions we get from our builders,' Koyani said. ''Hey, will our future homeowners have to pay a flood insurance premium, or did you raise the home high enough?'' One audience member asked about how old development factors in to all the buzz about new development. Zornitta said planners are updating the code so builders have more requirements to balance the look of new homes with the rest of the neighborhood. 'There's nothing wrong with old neighborhoods,' Feeley said. 'They're great. Protecting what is there is important.' Feeley recounted a small business's struggle to bring an old Ybor City house up to code in order to open a bookstore there. She suggested local leaders should put more thought into how to find new uses for places that are no longer livable. At Gasworx, residents can walk into an apartment building and read about historic Ybor City, Ralph said. He's also fought to preserve old buildings near the development, he said. 'That sense of place and those historic designations bring value to the community,' he said. 'What do you protect and what do you not protect?' --- Find more information about our Spotlight Tampa Bay series, including video recording of Wednesday's event here.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Home Depot (NYSE:HD) Promotes Key Leaders Including New EVP Of Pro And HR As CEO Of Canadian Division
Last week saw important leadership changes at Home Depot, reflecting the company's emphasis on developing strategic growth with professional customers and enhancing internal culture. In a competitive market scenario where major stock indexes, including the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, faced volatility amid tariff discussions and mixed economic data, Home Depot's share price experienced a 3% decline. The appointment of Michael Rowe as Executive Vice President of Pro and Stephanie Smith's promotion to EVP of Human Resources signal a focused investment in talent development and strategic customer engagement. Meanwhile, the broader market experienced an overall drop of 3%, largely driven by economic concerns and tariff impacts on global businesses. Despite the challenging external environment influencing investor sentiment, Home Depot's leadership adjustments signal an intention to further strengthen its operational foundation, though they did not prevent the downturn in share price over the observed period. Click here and access our complete analysis report to understand the dynamics of Home Depot. The past five years have seen Home Depot achieve a total shareholder return of 90.76%, a notable performance that underscores its resilience and growth. Despite facing challenges in recent times, such as a slight decline in net income reported in its latest full-year earnings ending February 2025, the company's strategic initiatives have helped sustain its long-term growth. The launch of new partnerships with DoorDash and Uber Eats earlier this year, aimed at expanding same-day delivery services, illustrates Home Depot's adaptability in meeting consumer demands. Furthermore, ongoing financial maneuvers, including the completion of a significant share buyback program valued at US$3.6 billion in late 2024, have played an integral role in enhancing shareholder value. While Home Depot's one-year return has fallen short of the US Specialty Retail industry and broader market averages, its continued payment of a healthy dividend and strategic business expansions have provided a foundation for its solid five-year total return performance. Unlock the insights behind Home Depot's valuation and discover its true investment potential Assess the downside scenarios for Home Depot with our risk evaluation. Hold shares in Home Depot? Setup your portfolio in Simply Wall St to seamlessly track your investments and receive personalized updates on your portfolio's performance. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include NYSE:HD. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Maryland lawmakers consider task force to address ‘deeper systemic issues' in chronic absenteeism
BALTIMORE — Maryland lawmakers are seeking solutions for how to keep kids in school, as thousands of students are reported absent from the classroom for significant portions of the year. A bill sponsored by Baltimore City Democratic Del. Stephanie Smith would launch a task force to address the issue, with responsibilities including defining chronic absenteeism, identifying strategies and publishing a 'tool kit' by June 20 of next year. The Maryland State Department of Education defines chronic absenteeism as a student missing at least 10% of enrolled school days. A Baltimore Sun series last year revealed that thousands of Baltimore City students are far beyond that threshold – reporting absent for a third or more of the school year. Statewide chronic absenteeism rates shot up during the COVID-19 pandemic, from 19.5% in 2019 to 29.8% in the 2023 school year, dropping slightly in 2024, to 26.7%. Baltimore City had a far higher rate than the state average — reaching nearly 49%. Education leaders aim to reduce the statewide chronic absenteeism rate to 15% by the 2025-2026 school year. The task force bill is listed among the 2025 priorities for the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland. The causes of chronic absenteeism often involve 'deeper systemic issues,' including 'lack of access of health care, bullying in schools, lack of transportation, family care responsibilities,' said Mary Gable, assistant state superintendent at MSDE. In addition, students living in poverty are up to three times more likely to be chronically absent, she said. The negative impacts of chronic absenteeism can show up early on, she added. 'Those who are chronically absent in kindergarten and first grade are less likely to read proficiently by the end of third grade.' Absenteeism also is 'a predictor of high school dropouts' and is 'more predictive of post-secondary success than student standard test scores,' Gable said. The MSDE already has a task force in place to examine chronic absenteeism, involving superintendents, teachers, school counselors and directors of student services, Gable said. The most recent meeting took place Monday and included participation from Attendance Works, a nonprofit initiative that works on solutions to student absences. The current task force is preparing to release a tool kit examining students on the 'cusp' of chronic absenteeism, Gable said. Del. Joseph Vogel, a Baltimore County Democrat, suggested that student representation should be included in the task force. 'It's really an excellent recommendation,' Gable replied, noting that 'we have a student in our office who was just out of high school,' who provides a student perspective. 'I think it's a good recommendation to get out and talk more,' Gable said. 'We do have to do outreach.' Vogel, along with Republican Del. April Miller of Frederick County, is proposing a separate bill this session that would require local boards of education to establish virtual school options. This could help students who are less likely to attend school due to chronic illnesses or bullying, Miller previously told The Sun. Aubrey Edwards-Luce, executive director of the Center for Families, Children and Courts at the University of Baltimore School of Law, is also in favor of the bill, with suggested amendments. Luce suggested the task force gather a variety of perspectives, including those of the Maryland Transit Authority, students with disabilities, and students and parents from both rural and urban communities. -----------
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Alabama legislature may take up gaming again, conservative think tank says it's a bad bet
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) — Members of the Alabama legislature begin their second week of the 2025 session today. Gambling expansion is one topic lawmakers may move forward this year but a conservative group says gaming is the wrong bet for the state. Recently members of the conservative think tank, the Alabama Policy Institute, released their study that says no matter how the chips fall this year, any expansion of gambling is a loss. Whether it's a lottery, casinos, online gambling, or sports betting, gambling seems to come up in the legislature every year. The API Report titled 'Gambling is the wrong way for Alabama' says any gaming expansion will have a short-lived economic boost with long-lasting impacts to society–increasing poverty and drug use among other ills. 'We are pro-free market, pro-family and pro limited government. And expanding gambling actually is against every single one of those three tenets,' said Alabama Policy Institute President and CEO Stephanie Smith. 'We believe that gambling revenue is regressive and actually is predatory and looks for places and people who are vulnerable.' Some lawmakers argue Alabama is losing out to other states and to do nothing would be irresponsible. 'We have gaming in Alabama it is alive and well in Alabama, the state has a moral obligation to grab control of this industry,' said Alabama State Senator Greg Albritton. 'We're missing out on protecting the public from this industry. Those who are young, those who are troubled, those that get caught up in it, we have no means to assist, help, or control that. Albritton says legislators were taking bets on the Super Bowl on the floor last week. He says lawmakers have to do something to get a handle on an unregulated industry that's already seeped into the state. Gaming legislation is often put off until the final weeks of the session and usually fails. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
