Latest news with #WesMoore
CBS News
10 hours ago
- Health
- CBS News
Growing population of older adults in Maryland, cuts to federal programs prompt creation of support plan
Maryland launched a 10-year plan Wednesday to support older adults, as officials said the population of aging residents is growing and some federal resources are facing cuts. The Longevity Ready Maryland plan aims to transform the state's care system to be more accommodating and accessible for older residents. According to Gov. Wes Moore's office, Maryland is currently home to nearly 1.4 million residents over the age of 60. That number is growing faster than the national average and is expected to surpass a quarter of the state's population within the next five years. The plan comes as some federal programs are facing budget and workforce cuts directed by the Trump administration. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have all been subject to changes as the White House aims to reduce government spending and increase efficiency. "While some in Washington threaten to pull the rug out from under our residents, placing greater strain on state resources, Maryland is stepping forward with urgency and a clear plan to put the well-being of older Marylanders front and center," Gov. Moore said in a statement. According to the governor's office, cuts to some low-income home energy assistance programs and housing initiatives in the state will disproportionately impact older residents, many of whom are on fixed incomes. "Reductions or eliminations of these social care programs will have a cascading effect, placing increased pressure on older, low-income Marylanders' ability to remain healthy, safely housed, and living in the community," the governor said. More than 127,000 older adults in Maryland rely on SNAP benefits for their nutritional needs, and more than 109,000 rely on Medicaid for their health services, the governor's office said. Growing dementia rates, a lack of affordable housing, and increasing health care costs are posing urgent challenges in the state, according to Gov. Moore. Maryland's long-term plan to support aging residents involves coordinating services and policies that will help the population. State leaders hope to consolidate resources and coordinate between government agencies, businesses and communities to ensure residents get the care they need. The Maryland Department of Aging will help by improving access to home- and community-based services and coordinating initiatives between state agencies, according to the governor's office. Under the plan, the state will also launch a new dementia navigation program that will provide funding for local resources through Area Agencies on Aging offices. "Born from a two-year, ground-up effort, this plan reflects the voices of older adults, caregivers, and community leaders from every corner of our state. Longevity Ready Maryland is our commitment to action—a roadmap to ensure all Marylanders can live healthy, financially secure, socially connected, and purposeful lives," said state Department of Aging Secretary Carmel Roques.
The Guardian
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Fema denies grants to three Kentucky counties hit by devastating storms
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) denied requests for three Kentucky counties affected by severe storms last spring, and deemed the state ineligible for hazard mitigation grants that would help prepare for future disasters . Fema officials claimed the areas did not suffer enough damage to merit federal support, in a letter issued to the governor on Tuesday. But the move is just the latest in a series of denials from the agency, as the Trump administration seeks to shift the burden of responding to and recovering from disasters on to states. Last week, Fema also rejected Maryland's request for disaster assistance after near-record-level flooding in May destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses and tore into roads and public infrastructure, leaving close to $16m in damages. 'Our communities need help recovering from a massive storm,' Maryland's governor, Wes Moore, said in a video about the denial of his disaster assistance request, adding that he 'saw the devastation up close'. He acknowledged that there were specific criteria to qualify for the designations that were met. 'It is an insult to Marylanders and the communities still suffering in the aftermath of this storm.' Fema, which is responsible for an on-the-ground response during large-scale emergencies along with coordinating resource deployment, funding recovery and supporting efforts to mitigate risks, has been left critically under-resourced and unprepared for the escalating and compounding catastrophes wreaking havoc across the US with greater intensity and frequency. Trump has called for dismantling the agency, part of the US Department of Homeland Security, and has already begun to cut funding in key areas. 'We want to wean off of Fema, and we want to bring it back to the state level,' the president said, speaking from the Oval Office in June, noting his plans to promptly 'give out less money' to states in recovery. Fema has also terminated a multibillion-dollar grant program funding infrastructure upgrades that build resiliency, a move challenged in court by a group of 20 states earlier this month. Many of these states also filed lawsuits against the administration in May over directives that would link funding for emergency preparedness to immigration enforcement cooperation. 'This administration is abandoning states and local communities that rely on federal funding to protect their residents and, in the event of disaster, save lives,' said the Massachusetts attorney general, Andrea Campbell, in a statement about the elimination of Fema's building resilient infrastructure and communities program, which was approved and funded by Congress. But even amid growing criticism and demands for increases in federal funding, the Trump administration has continued pushing for less reliance on federal support. As the climate crisis fuels an increasing number of more costly catastrophes and creates overlapping layers of risk, concerns are rising that states and counties will not be able to prepare or respond. Greater reliance on local resources could also leave severe recovery gaps. Many emergency management departments are small and their structures are highly variable from agency to agency, according to a new study from the Department of Energy that surveyed local preparedness. Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration after newsletter promotion The study, which surveyed more than 1,600 directors of state and local emergency management agencies between August 2024 and March 2025, found the understaffed and overworked offices were debilitated by funding shortages and lacking in a clear mission. With the future of the agency in question, for now, the governors in states that were denied designations are appealing and hoping for a different outcome. Kentucky's governor, Andy Beshear, said he was 'disappointed in the decision', but added that the state appreciates the assistance provided to some counties more devastated by the historic flooding, landslides and a major tornado outbreak in April and May. The harm in the three counties left out of the designations, the agency said, was not severe enough to merit inclusion. 'We are actively comparing damage assessments,' Beshear said, 'and we plan to appeal.'
The Guardian
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Fema denies grants to three Kentucky counties hit by storms that caused widespread devastation
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) denied requests for three Kentucky counties affected by severe storms last spring, and deemed the state ineligible for hazard mitigation grants that would help prepare for future disasters . Fema officials claimed the areas did not suffer enough damage to merit federal support, in a letter issued to the governor on Tuesday. But the move is just the latest in a series of denials from the agency, as the Trump administration seeks to shift the burden of responding to and recovering from disasters on to states. Last week, Fema also rejected Maryland's request for disaster assistance after near-record level flooding in May destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses and tore into roads and public infrastructure, leaving close to $16m in damages. 'Our communities need help recovering from a massive storm,' Maryland's governor, Wes Moore, said in a video about the denial of his disaster assistance request, adding that he 'saw the devastation up close'. He acknowledged that there are specific criteria to qualify for the designations that were met. 'It is an insult to Marylanders and the communities still suffering in the aftermath of this storm.' Fema, which is responsible for an on-the-ground response during large-scale emergencies along with coordinating resource deployment, funding recovery and supporting efforts to mitigate risks, has been left critically under-resourced and unprepared for the escalating and compounding catastrophes wreaking havoc across the US with greater intensity and frequency. Trump has called for dismantling the agency, now part of the US Department of Homeland Security, and has already begun to cut funding in key areas. 'We want to wean off of Fema, and we want to bring it back to the state level,' the president said, speaking from the Oval Office in June, noting his plans to promptly 'give out less money' to states in recovery. Fema has also terminated a multibillion-dollar grant program funding infrastructure upgrades that build resiliency, a move challenged in court by a group of 20 states earlier this month. Many of these states also filed lawsuits against the administration in May over directives that would link funding for emergency preparedness to immigration enforcement cooperation. 'This administration is abandoning states and local communities that rely on federal funding to protect their residents and, in the event of disaster, save lives,' said the Massachusetts attorney general, Andrea Campbell, in a statement about the elimination of Fema's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, which was approved and funded by Congress. But even amid growing criticism and demands for increases in federal funding, the Trump administration has continued pushing for less reliance on federal support. As the climate crisis fuels an increasing number of more costly catastrophes and creates overlapping layers of risk, concerns are rising that states and counties won't be able to prepare or respond. Greater reliance on local resources could also leave severe recovery gaps. Many emergency management departments are small and their structures are highly variable from agency to agency, according to a new study from the Department of Energy that surveyed local preparedness. Sign up to This Week in Trumpland A deep dive into the policies, controversies and oddities surrounding the Trump administration after newsletter promotion The study, which surveyed more than 1,600 directors of state and local emergency management agencies between August 2024 and March 2025, found the understaffed and overworked offices were debilitated by funding shortages and lacking in a clear mission. With the future of the agency in question, for now, the governors in states that were denied designations are appealing and hoping for a different outcome. Kentucky's governor, Andy Beshear, said he was 'disappointed in the decision', but added that the state appreciates the assistance provided to some counties more devastated by the historic flooding, landslides and a major tornado outbreak in April and May. The harm in the three counties left out of the designations, the agency said, was not severe enough to merit inclusion. 'We are actively comparing damage assessments,' Beshear said, 'and we plan to appeal.'
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Demolition begins on last pieces of Baltimore's collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge
Demolition crews are using giant saws, backhoes and other heavy equipment to remove large sections of the remaining pieces of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed last year after a container ship lost power and veered off course, killing six people. Its replacement, which is expected to open in 2028, can be built nearby during demolition the work, officials said. Gov. Wes Moore praised the efforts and noted the magnitude of the project during a visit to the worksite Wednesday. He also mourned those who died in the collapse. 'We wanted to move as quickly as possible. We wanted to move as safely as possible, and we wanted to make sure we were being good stewards of taxpayer dollars,' he told reporters. The March 26 collapse killed six construction workers who were filling potholes when the roadway crumbled beneath them. Baltimore's port was closed for months, and increased traffic congestion remains a problem across the region. The longstanding Baltimore landmark was a vital piece of transportation infrastructure that allowed drivers to easily bypass downtown. The original 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer) steel span took five years to construct and opened to traffic in 1977. It was particularly important for the city's port operations. Earlier this year, officials unveiled designs for the state's first cable-stayed bridge. The replacement span will be taller and better protected than the original Key Bridge, which was particularly vulnerable to ship strikes. Crews working to remove its skeletal remains are cutting the concrete deck into 6-foot (1.83-meter) sections and carting them away to be recycled during the construction process, said Brian Wolfe, director of project development for the Maryland Transportation Authority. He said this phase of the demolition should take about nine months. Meanwhile, crews will also start conducting tests to confirm the foundation design of the replacement bridge. Officials said they're reevaluating a $1.7 billion price tag for the project to factor in supply chain issues, tariffs and other costs. They said the completion date could also change.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Demolition begins on last pieces of Baltimore's collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge
BALTIMORE (AP) — Demolition crews are using giant saws, backhoes and other heavy equipment to remove large sections of the remaining pieces of Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed last year after a container ship lost power and veered off course, killing six people. Its replacement, which is expected to open in 2028, can be built nearby during demolition the work, officials said. Gov. Wes Moore praised the efforts and noted the magnitude of the project during a visit to the worksite Wednesday. He also mourned those who died in the collapse. 'We wanted to move as quickly as possible. We wanted to move as safely as possible, and we wanted to make sure we were being good stewards of taxpayer dollars,' he told reporters. The March 26 collapse killed six construction workers who were filling potholes when the roadway crumbled beneath them. Baltimore's port was closed for months, and increased traffic congestion remains a problem across the region. The longstanding Baltimore landmark was a vital piece of transportation infrastructure that allowed drivers to easily bypass downtown. The original 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer) steel span took five years to construct and opened to traffic in 1977. It was particularly important for the city's port operations. Earlier this year, officials unveiled designs for the state's first cable-stayed bridge. The replacement span will be taller and better protected than the original Key Bridge, which was particularly vulnerable to ship strikes. Crews working to remove its skeletal remains are cutting the concrete deck into 6-foot (1.83-meter) sections and carting them away to be recycled during the construction process, said Brian Wolfe, director of project development for the Maryland Transportation Authority. He said this phase of the demolition should take about nine months. Meanwhile, crews will also start conducting tests to confirm the foundation design of the replacement bridge. Officials said they're reevaluating a $1.7 billion price tag for the project to factor in supply chain issues, tariffs and other costs. They said the completion date could also change.
