Climate & environment
TikTok waterman Luke McFadden bought his dream boat. Hours later, vandals destroyed it.
He shared details of the vandalism with his 1.7 million TikTok followers and has seen an outpouring of support.
Gas leaks in Baltimore are costing taxpayers millions
A 15-year study estimated the financial burden placed on first responders and emergency resources due to gas leaks incidents. When Baltimore firefighters respond, it’s costly.
Maryland consumer watchdog issues warning about forecasting power needs
David S. Lapp, the people’s counsel, wrote a letter voicing his worries about a proposed 70-mile power line to the managers of PJM Interconnection LLC, the utility that manages the power grid infrastructure in Maryland and 12 other states.
Drought watch expands to include western counties in Maryland
The Western Maryland drought watch is based on lower-than-normal stream flows and groundwater levels for this time of year, state officials said.
There are more parasites in oyster sanctuaries. Here’s why that’s a good sign.
Biologists with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center found evidence that sanctuaries in tributaries of the bay have higher populations of oysters and other marine life, including two common parasites.
Annapolis is one of Maryland’s most important cities. The Chesapeake doesn’t care.
As the climate warms and the oceans rise, the story of Annapolis is the story of many coastal places with proximity to the sea becoming more and more of a liability.
Clean energy projects stuck in yearslong queue as Maryland, neighboring states seek fix
Elected officials and advocates in Maryland fear a grid operator, PJM Interconnection, is in no hurry to comply with a federal order that aims to expedite clean energy projects.
Is there a pipe spewing water in your neighborhood? Here’s why.
The city says “flushing” the water onto the street helps keep clean water flowing to Baltimore homes while it works to revamp its underground water system.
Maryland records 3 more heat deaths, matching last year’s total
All of the people who died were white men, according to data published by the Maryland Department of Health for the week of July 7-13. Two of the deaths were in Baltimore City and one was in Kent County.
Angry residents push back against proposed 70-mile power line across Central Maryland
The Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project would bring a 70-mile energy transmission line to central Maryland. But the plan to slice through three counties to fuel data centers is worrying residents in Baltimore, Carroll and Frederick counties.
Excessive heat warning continues with temperature feeling as high as 110
The National Weather Service’s excessive heat warning is continuing into Tuesday for much of Maryland, with temperature indices estimated to reach 110 degrees in some places.
Baltimore judge tosses climate change case brought by city against oil companies
Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Videtta A. Brown said in a ruling the gas emissions that damaged Baltimore fall under the federal Clean Air Act.
Last major dam on Maryland’s Patapsco River targeted for removal
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in May awarded $1.8 million to the nonprofit group American Rivers to begin the planning and initial design phase for the removal of Daniels Dam.
Baltimore records first heat-related death of the year as state announces drought watch
As of Thursday morning, the Eastern Shore is under a drought watch, according to state officials.
Biden awards $1.7B to boost electric vehicle manufacturing in Maryland, other states
The Biden administration is awarding nearly $2 billion in grants to help restart or expand electric vehicle manufacturing and assembly sites in eight states, including Maryland, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
Maryland residents voice concerns about planned new transmission lines across counties
An environmentally-focused upgrade to Maryland’s electric grid will require more than 70 miles of overhead powerlines across several counties.
Chesapeake Bay health scores C+ for first time in decades
Of the 15 regions of the Chesapeake, 11 showed “improved” scores and five regions showed “significant improving trends,” officials said Tuesday.
Sweltering heat to continue with the temperature feeling as high as 108
Temperatures on Tuesday could feel as high as 105 to 108 degrees in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., metro areas.
With miles of shoreline, Annapolis is a waterfront city with few places to swim
Annapolis is developing a plan to make it easier to get into the water. But swimming? It’s not on anyone’s priority list.
Baltimore under heat advisory as global temperatures break records
The heat advisory in Maryland comes as large swaths of the country grapple with a heat wave.