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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Maryland must tackle interconnected land use, housing, transportation, economic challenges
Traffic on the Capital Beltway near the American Legion Bridge. Surveys show Marylanders want housing near jobs, but state policy doesn't always make that easy. (Photo by Dave Dildine/WTOP) Maryland is well-known for innovative state policies and reforms, including smart growth, but the state missed key opportunities this year to build on that legacy. While approving a half-billion-dollar package to close a major transportation funding gap, the legislature (primarily the Senate) failed to adopt bills that would ensure the funds shift the state in a new direction toward abundant and affordable housing and transportation choices. Maryland's land use, high housing costs, transportation challenges and economic doldrums are interconnected. They require new approaches, not just patching budget holes to fix. Homes are expensive in part because Maryland communities allow too little housing near transit, services and jobs. This contributes to sprawling, car-dependent development, further fueled by too much public spending on oversized roads and highways. The result is long commutes, more driving to reach stores and services, and higher transportation costs for families. The average new car in the U.S. costs almost $50,000, and last year 17% of American drivers said they had to take on a second job to help pay for their car. Instead of funding more of this status quo, Maryland needs to help families stay here, with affordable access to opportunity. Fostering walkable, vibrant activity centers with good transit and a range of housing types and prices near jobs will help current residents and also attract the next generation of skilled workers and industries. Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@ We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. The House of Delegates passed several valuable smart growth bills: Transit-oriented development (House Bill 80) to remove obstacles to building housing and mixed-use development near rail stations; Transportation and Climate Alignment Act (House Bill 84), ensuring the state's transportation investments support its climate change goals while giving residents more travel options; Metro Funding Modification Act (House Bill 467), fixing dedicated state capital funding for the D.C.-area Metro system to account for inflation; and Gov. Wes Moore's Housing for Jobs Act (House Bill 503), which would have required the state's job centers to address housing needs, although it was watered down into largely a study bill. Unfortunately, the Maryland Senate did not advance any of these bills to a vote. The Senate, to its credit, did pass: Split-rate property tax enabling legislation (Senate Bill 472) that would allow local governments to create tax structures that capture the value of land near assets like rail stations while incentivizing new development, though the House did not pass it; and Accessory dwelling unit bill (House Bill 1466) that will require local governments to allow construction of a smaller independent home on a lot with a single-family detached house. The House concurred with the final bill and the governor signed it. We know that legislators had a lot on their plates, with a sizable budget gap and chaotic federal backdrop. However, most of the smart-growth bills that didn't pass would have cost little or nothing to government coffers – and would actually save the state money over time through reduced infrastructure and service costs. Realizing this vision provides interconnected benefits. For example: Smart growth has been key to attracting and retaining Fortune 500 firms like Marriott and Choice Hotels in transit-oriented locations. Maryland families on average would save over $3,000 per year in transportation costs if the state provided more opportunities for transit, walking, biking and accessible living. State-owned transit-oriented development sites could support 5,000 new housing units in the Baltimore region and 2,600 new housing units along the MARC Penn Line. These Penn Line sites could generate $800 million in new state and local revenue. Marylanders want these opportunities; 76% support more homes in job-rich areas. Before the next General Assembly session, the Moore administration can make progress: The Maryland Department of Transportation can adopt changes to its Chapter 30 project prioritization process to better maintain existing infrastructure, recognize good land use planning as a transportation solution, and ensure affordable and sustainable travel choices for residents. The Department of Housing and Community Development can provide further analysis on the state's housing shortage and the benefits of new homes in accessible locations. It could also work with local governments to improve land use review to reduce time and complexity, allowing more new homes to be built faster in transit-accessible locations. During the 2026 session, the General Assembly will have the opportunity to pass legacy-making legislation ahead of the elections. Gov. Moore, with the support of state senators and delegates, can help Marylanders address the everyday needs of housing and transportation in lasting ways, which also help the state's finances, climate resilience, and economic opportunity.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Annual Salvadoran festival in Montgomery County canceled over ICE raid concerns
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in a file photo from 2019. (Photo courtesy Immigration and Customs Enforcement) By Jose Umaña The D.C. region's largest Salvadoran festival — and one of the area's largest Latino heritage events — has been canceled due to fears surrounding immigration policies put on by the Trump administration. Organizers for Salvadoreñisimo Festival told WTOP the annual event, which was set to take place at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, has been canceled for this year. It normally takes place in September around the time of Independence Day in El Salvador, Sept. 15, and Hispanic Heritage Month. Organizers told WTOP they did not want to put those in the audience in danger of possible raids from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The event welcomes thousands of people for musical performances, comedic skits and food. The festival was set to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. The D.C. region is home to one of the largest Salvadoran populations in the country. The U.S. Census reports Salvadorans represents more than a quarter of the Latino population in Maryland and D.C. Local outlet Telemundo 44 was the first to report the event's cancellation. Concerts and events around the country have been affected because of immigration policies being pushed by the Trump administration. In April, Michelada Fest — a two-day music festival in Chicago — was canceled after performers experienced issues with visas. – As part of Maryland Matters' content sharing agreement with WTOP, we feature this article from Jose Umaña. Click here for the WTOP News website.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
24-Year-Old Runner Reunites with First Responders Who Saved Her Life During Race
Angel Barr met with first responders who saved her life The 24-year-old nurse suffered sudden cardiac arrest while running a marathon last month Barr hugged those who saved her life, and spoke out about the experience on Tuesday, May 20With hugs and smiles, Angel Barr and the first responders who saved her life reunited for the first time since she suffered sudden cardiac arrest during a marathon last month. 'Last time I saw Angel, she was battling for her life and was lifeless,' Fire Sgt. John Wilkinson told WTOP, one of the Washington, D.C., news outlets there to cover the emotional meeting. 'Now to see her walking, talking, and no neurological deficits is phenomenal.' By all accounts, Barr, a 24-year-old nurse, was one of the most unexpected patients Wilkinson and other first responders had ever come across. Although she had never run a marathon before, Barr was young, athletic, and 'very into fitness.' Barr recently took up running to improve her mental and physical health, she said. 'I felt physically and mentally fine that day; I was looking forward to running. It was something I liked doing,' Barr told DC News Now. 'They told me I was a miracle, they told me a lot of people don't survive what I went through, and hearing the story, I'm shocked.' Barr told the news outlets she remembered everything about the routine morning before the April 6 'Cherry Blossom Ten Miler' race in East Potomac Park. But she doesn't remember much from the race itself. The nurse suddenly collapsed while running near Hains Point, the first responders told her on Tuesday, May 20, recounting the incident. Luckily, one bystander was a physician from George Washington University who quickly began CPR, according to WTOP. Minutes later, multiple fire boats arrived with a defibrillator, using the device on Barr before paramedics rushed her to the nearby hospital. Barr remained in the hospital for about a week and told WTOP she's recovered enough to be able to go back to work in the next few days. 'Do not take life for granted,' Barr told the outlet. 'Keep working, striving to be the person that you are today and never stop growing. Life comes with a lot of challenges and obstacles, but those obstacles are meant to be overcome and not stop you up.' The emergency responders gave Barr flowers and handed out hugs. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'They told me that I was a miracle,' Barr told DC News Now, and added, 'This was a gift from God.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Maryland man lost $40K to ‘evil geniuses' in ‘polished' scam — here are the patterns you need to watch out for
In just the first four months of 2025, people in Prince George's County, Maryland, have lost at least $1 million to scams, according to police. One person lost $700,000. Another area resident lost $40,000 after being tricked by fraudsters who posed variously as a Microsoft tech support agent, a rep from his bank and even a federal agent. 'I was dealing with people I would call evil geniuses,' he told WTOP, asking not to be named. 'At the time, I thought I was actually safeguarding the money.' Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) While he may not get his $40,000 back, he's sharing his story in the hope that he can protect other people from falling for the same con. It started when the man saw a pop-up on his computer saying his computer had been hacked. The pop-up message included a phone number to call for tech support. He called the number and was soon speaking with someone he thought was a Microsoft employee. He was then transferred to a woman who claimed to be from his bank. Then he was connected with another person impersonating a federal official. Despite his skepticism, each of the imposters had rehearsed responses and fake credentials. He recalled actually saying to one of them, 'This is exactly what a scammer would do.' 'But something about her polished rhetoric came back and convinced me otherwise,' he said. Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees — here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis The scammers warned him not to use his phone, laptop, or email, claiming that all his devices were compromised. He was told not to speak to friends or even Google the word 'scams'— as that could be a red flag. Believing his accounts were at risk, he handed over $40,000 to someone he thought was a legitimate carrier. That's when the Prince George's County Police Department stepped in. So when Gyoung Lee, 47, of Flushing, New York, arrived at the victim's home expecting more cash, officers with the Financial Crimes Unit (FCU) arrested him on the scene. Officers also arrested Parmveer Parmveer, 25, of Grove City, Ohio, in connection with the case involving a $700,000 loss. Sgt. John Quarless of the Prince George's County FCU said it's important for victims not to be embarrassed because these kinds of tech scams are so common. 'What I encourage, no matter how much information you have, is to call the police and report it,' he told WTOP. 'Let us do our due diligence.' According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), Americans lost $1.4 billion to tech support scams in 2024, with more than 36,000 reported incidents. While most victims of such scams are over 60, scammers target people of all backgrounds: young and old, rich and poor, highly educated or not. What is consistent is the con artists' approach. 'They're going to create a sense of urgency, a sense of privacy and don't want you to talk to anybody about it,' Sgt. Quarless said. It's how scammers gain control. Don't let them. Here are red flags to watch out for. Scammers often claim your money is in immediate danger or your account has been compromised. They'll push you to act fast, hoping you don't slow down and think it through. Don't fall for it. Instead, hang up the phone and talk to someone you trust. Visit the bank in person if you're worried about calling in. Victims are frequently told not to talk to anyone — not friends, not family, not even their bank. That's a major red flag. They're worried that if you ask for help, someone will stop their scam in its tracks. Instead, make sure you ask for help. Talk to a trusted friend, financial advisor, or bank employee. Any request for money through cash couriers, wire transfers, crypto or gift cards is a giveaway. Real businesses and agencies don't work this way. Never send money to someone you don't know through these methods. Federal regulations already protect most bank accounts. Pulling the money from your account won't protect it in most cases. If someone offers to protect your money from a scam, there's an excellent chance they are the scammers. They'll say you're moving the money to a 'safe account,' but that account belongs to them. If you're being scammed, officials recommend slowing down, hanging up the phone and calling your bank. Look on the back of your debit or credit card for the legitimate customer service number; don't trust online pop-up ads. Many victims stay silent, feeling ashamed that they were fooled. But speaking up like this victim did helps law enforcement track down suspects and potentially warn others before they're targeted. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Home listings in Northern Virginia jump almost 26% and more state headlines
The state Capitol. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury) • 'Home listings in Northern Virginia jump almost 26%.' — WTOP • 'New Amazon facility in Virginia Beach officially opens.' — WAVY • '16-year-old boy in hospital after shooting involving Virginia State Police.' — WSET • 'DC takes Maryland and Virginia drivers to court.' — Washingtonian • 'After Hurricane Helene, Virginia couple welcomes new home built by volunteers.' — Fox News SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
