Social justice

The early start times now mandated for Baltimore public school students can be a factor in poor performance and lead to detrimental health outcomes, say two Loyola college students who experienced early start times and long trips to school as Baltimore public school students.

Legislation in Congress would make internet access available to more people in Baltimore, throughout Maryland and elsewhere, Rep. Kweisi Mfume and the director of the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition say.

Bishop Donte Hickman, pastor of Southern Baptist Church in Baltimore, asks what purpose would a prison sentence for former State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby actually serve.

The Johns Hopkins University is nominating seven people to fill vacancies for students, faculty and staff seats on its police accountability board.

People in Baltimore can address an urgent need by becoming foster parents for refugee children, Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, president and CEO of Baltimore-based Global Refuge, says.

TurnAround Inc., a rape crisis center for Baltimore City and Baltimore County, has partnered with the YWCA of Annapolis & Anne Arundel County to open a safe house for children who are victims of human trafficking. The safe house will be based in Anne Arundel County and will serve kids from across the state.

Some areas of the Chesapeake Bay region and certain communities, including the Latino community, could be acutely impacted by flooding risks linked to climate change, Shanna Edberg, director of conservation programs at Hispanic Access Foundation, says.

The Maryland Senate on Thursday voted 44-0 to approve a bill that would add Harriet Tubman’s name to that of the 40-year-old Banneker-Douglass Museum in Annapolis. Under the measure, it would become the Banneker-Douglass-Tubman Museum.

The decision by cancer-diagnostics giant Exact Sciences to close its Baltimore office shouldn’t be seen as signaling any kind of broader tech collapse in this area, the former CEO and current CEO of the UpSurge say.

The change comes after a Baltimore Banner investigation revealed that DHS was shortchanging welfare theft victims for months, violating state law.

Someone who receives a long prison sentence as a child can still lead a productive life and help others in the same circumstances, says Eddie Ellis, a community leader and youth mentor who was sentenced to prison as a teenager.

Black leaders in Baltimore are praising Loyola University Maryland’s recent acknowledgement that the institution benefited from the slave trade, saying the announcement marks a step toward repair and reconciliation.

When the Kansas City Chiefs were in Baltimore for a game decades ago, Hall of Famer Willie Lanier, who played his college football at Morgan State, enjoyed some time with Chiefs teammates at the Baltimore City Fair.

Brian Delen is accused of shooting Meghan Lewis in December.

Anne Arundel County plans to give away 7,000 Chromebook laptops over the coming months as part of a program to help close the digital divide.

A three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals found Anne Arundel County could require gun dealers to distribute suicide prevention and conflict resolution literature. A gun rights group intends to appeal.

Trans teacher Billie Hoard experienced threats and harassment in the Anne Arundel County school district after some parents and students learned she had transitioned. She said she has found her Baltimore City school to be more inclusive and welcoming.

“We are spurring and leading change and a more just society in our work here in Annapolis every single day, as well as in our communities,” said Del. Jheanelle Wilkins of Prince George’s County, chair of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.

Twenty state lawmakers have created the Maryland Legislative Jewish Caucus, joining their voices to speak out against antisemitism and hate crimes, while also promoting Jewish culture and heritage.

Learning about Martin Luther King as a man and not only as an icon adds to our understanding of his contributions and legacy.