Women Veterans Interactive

Women Veterans Interactive

November 25, 2013

    

 The state of Maryland values women veterans and appreciates your service to our nation.  

On Monday, November 25, 2013 from 5:45 pm to 7:30 pm, we will be collecting information about issues facing women veterans as they return to families, jobs, and communities.  The goal is to increase the quality and availability of health and support services for women who have served.

You are invited to participate in a focus group with other women veterans from Maryland and the nearby region.  

Your participation is completely voluntary and confidential.  Focus groups will involve 6-8 women and will last approximately 90 minutes.  To thank you for participating, you will receive $50 cash and refreshments.

To be eligible to participate, you must be a veteran of the post 9-11 era, or a current National Guard/Reserve member not on active duty.  We are especially interested in hearing from women who deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan.

The focus groups will include questions about your military experience and how you are adjusting to civilian life.  We will discuss such topics as the impact of your military service on family and work relationships, any health issues related to military service, your use of the VA or other health services, and resources and support systems that have been helpful since you separated from the military.  We are also interested in your views about how to improve the quality and accessibility of services for women veterans.  We will summarize information shared in the groups and use it to train health professionals and improve the quality of health and support services for women veterans.  

  

All information you share will be kept strictly confidential and anonymous.  Your name and any identifying information will not be used in any report.  You can answer the questions you want but do not have to answer questions that make you feel uncomfortable.  

  

If you would like to participate or want more information, please contact Ginger Miller at gmiller@john142vets.org, or Allison Schroeder at allisons@umd.edu (301) 405-7573.

MEMA Private Sector Program

The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is taking another step forward to include the private sector in state emergency management activities, including preparedness for and operations in response, recovery, mitigation, and prevention/protection.  We recognize the importance of fostering mutually beneficial relationships and we are creating a conduit for ongoing private sector engagement through our Private Sector Integration Program (PSIP).  I invite you to join us in this important program by registering at http://mema.maryland.gov/memacommunity/Pages/PSIPWelcome.aspx or by contacting us at psector@maryland.gov; more information on the PSIP is available at the webpage as well.

The PSIP will be continually active, with benefits to our private sector partners during “steady state” times (no active emergency), as well as when we are operational (during/after active emergencies).  Steady state involvement will include access to newsletters, participation on a distribution list for training programs and exercises, and notification for emergency operations activations and special events.

For emergency situations, we have established a Business Operations Center (BOC), which is the operational component of the PSIP.  The BOC is part of the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), which, when activated, monitors potential or developing incidents, supports the efforts of state and local jurisdictions, and provides statewide operational coordination.  Additional benefits and responsibilities of the PSIP include the following:

1.      Communicating, coordinating, and collaborating with state, local, and federal government organizations, as well as industries and retailers to support Maryland’s communities;

2.      Engaging private sector entities to build intellectual capital and a shared knowledge base related to emergency management;

3.      Increasing critical information sharing across public and private sectors;

4.      Providing opportunities for displaying the status of private sector facilities in impacted areas (e.g., grocery, banking, hotel/motel, pharmacy, etc.) for public consumption; and,

5.      Maintaining visibility of private sector requirements for continuity of operations, (e.g., hours of service waivers, road closures, emergency power, etc.).

We are excited to embark on this unique opportunity for MEMA, the State of Maryland, and all participating entities.  Community resilience is a shared responsibility, and increased collaboration will better equip the private sector, government agencies, and other partners to be more prepared for, effectively respond to, and resume a sense of normalcy after disasters.

 Private Sector Integration Program (PSIP)

The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is committed to incorporating the private sector into the emergency management framework to provide a voice to the business community during emergencies and increase information sharing between the private and public sectors. MEMA has built the Private Sector Integration Program (PSIP) to effectuate this goal. The PSIP will include a Business Operations Center (BOC) housed within the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to better facilitate communication, situational awareness, and information sharing.

As a PSIP Member You Get:

1. Receipt of information updates during SEOC activations.  

• Weather Forecasts
• Road Closures
• Power Outage Maps
• Unmet Needs Postings

2. Access to interactive mapping tool, OSPREY Business, for increased information sharing.

3. Streamlined communications with SEOC.

• Designated phone line
• Designated email address

4. Become part of a larger network supporting Maryland’s communities.

5. Opportunities for cross-sector engagement.

6. Better understanding of emergency preparedness principles for planning purposes.

We would like to invite your organization to help us build and refine our private sector integration program...

JOIN THE PRIVATE SECTOR INTEGRATION PROGRAM NOW

MIKULSKI, CARDIN, SARBANES ANNOUNCE MORE THAN $11 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING FOR BWI IMPROVEMENTS

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin along with Congressman John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) today announced the Maryland Department of Transportation (DoT) and Maryland Aviation Administration have been awarded a $11,309,730 grant from the U.S. DoT for runway safety enhancements and upgrades at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. 

“This is a smart investment in jobs today and jobs tomorrow,” said Senator Mikulski, Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee which funds DOT. “It supports jobs today in construction by making needed improvements to BWI’s runway infrastructure. And it helps support jobs tomorrow by making sure BWI remains a safe, efficient travel center and an economic engine for Maryland.”

“This grant ensures that BWI Marshall continues to be a safe, dependable, and efficient hub for domestic and international travel,” said Senator Cardin.  “BWI Marshall is a regional, economic engine, bringing about $5.9 billion in revenue a year to our state that creates and sustains quality jobs.  This grant reflects our commitment to constant progress regarding BWI’s safety and efficiency and the health of our local economy.”

“BWI is one of the busiest transportation hubs in the country and it plays a vital role in Maryland’s economy,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “This critical investment will help upgrade runways to keep the airport safe for the millions of passengers who travel through each year.”

Federal grant funding awarded through the Airport Improvement Program will be used for the first phase of improvements to bring Runway 15R-33L up to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety standards, including a rehabilitation of the pavement, improved grading and stormwater management. The project is part of a multi-year, $350 million effort to bring all of BWI Marshall’s runways into compliance with federal safety standards by 2015.  This phase of the project is expected to cost $35.7 million and support more than 460 jobs.

Monday, March 4 Roundtable with Senator Cardin

*** SAVE THE DATE***

Monday, March 4 – 1 pm.

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) will host a roundtable discussion for Anne Arundel County and Ft. Meade-area businesses.  Many businesses in Maryland depend on the federal government for contracts.  The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has estimated that sequestration could result in cuts to procurement budgets of more than $49 billion over 10 years.  Such cuts could result in a loss of more than 282,400 jobs nationwide among suppliers and vendors who depend on DoD primary contractors.

On March 1, sequestration – automatic, across-the-board spending cuts – began to take effect.  Unless Congress acts, sequestration requires $42.7 billion in cuts to defense programs and another $42.7 billion in cuts to non-defense programs over the next year.  Cuts of this magnitude will have a profound effect on Maryland and our entire nation.   

·         WHAT: Senator Cardin to Hold Roundtable Discussion about  Sequestration with Anne Arundel County and Fort Meade-area Businesses

·         WHEN: Monday, March 4 at 1 p.m.

·         WHERE: Anne Arundel Community College at Arundel Mills

7009 Arundel Mills Circle,

Room AMIL 004-005, Lower Level

(across from the Cinemark Movie Theater)

Hanover, MD 21076

Space is limited - RSVP to SmallBusinessRSVP@cardin.senate.gov

Neuman had unusual path to Anne Arundel's top seat

Obstacles don’t deter Laura Neuman.

She earned a master’s of business administration from Loyola University of Maryland despite failing to finish high school. She got a GED but didn’t earn an undergraduate degree.

Neuman overcame that by thriving in the financial and technology industries and impressing Loyola recruiters. She was 35 when she earned her MBA.

Her drive isn’t limited to her career.

Nineteen years after she was raped in her Baltimore apartment, police re-opened her cold case at Neuman’s urging. The rapist, who had attacked other women, was arrested. Neuman went public with her story to raise awareness.

Along the way, she rescued a technology company from near bankruptcy, eventually selling it for several hundred million dollars. She later became CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority.

Read full article online at the CapitalGazette.com

Cardin Small Business Sequestration Roundtable on Monday, Feb. 25th

Please call and RSVP. Space is limited.

*** SAVE THE DATE***

Monday, February 25 – 1 pm.

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) will host a roundtable discussion for Maryland small businesses titled: Sequestration: What It Will Mean for Maryland’s Small Business Community.  Many small businesses in Maryland depend on the federal government for contracts and other business.  On March 1, sequestration – automatic, across-the-board spending cuts -- will begin to take effect.  Unless Congress acts, sequestration requires $42.7 billion in cuts to defense programs and another $42.7 billion in cuts to non-defense programs over the next year.   Cuts of this magnitude will have a profound effect on our entire nation.    

·        WHAT: Senator Cardin’s Roundtable Discussion on Sequestration: What It Will Mean to Maryland’s Small Business Community

·        WHEN: Monday, February 25 at 1 p.m.

·        WHERE: Prince George’s County EDC

1100 Mercantile Lane

Suite 115A

Largo, MD 20774

Please RSVP to Carleton Atkinson

301-860-0414

or

smallbiz@cardin.senate.gov

Josh Kurtz: Like Moths to a Flame

Guess all that talk about this being a sleepy legislative session, with no divisive social issues consuming it, was a little premature.

Legislative leaders were hoping for a quiet session, free from the controversy that engulfed them last year. And most members of the legislature, on the heels of exhausting fights over gay marriage and the DREAM Act and gambling and budgetary chaos, wanted nothing more than a guarantee that they’d be able to go home on time come mid-April.

But Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) had other ideas. And now all of the legislature’s provocateurs and headline-seekers, on the left and on the right, are busying themselves cranking up the heat. The media are giving them plenty of attention.

We knew all along that O’Malley would make one last stab at repealing capital punishment. So we’ll give him that.

But in the wake of the massacre in Newtown, Conn., there’s been a rush, in certain state capitals, and of course, down at the White House, to push through all manner of gun control legislation. O’Malley, with an apparent eye on what New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) just impressively rammed through in Albany, has his own ambitious package of gun safety legislation

.Read the full article here.

State Highway Administration Announces I-95 Closures at Laurel

***TRAFFIC ALERT***

STATE HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION WARNS MOTORISTS

OF OVERNIGHT BRIEF CLOSURES ON I-95 IN LAUREL

Crews Will Close Multiple Lanes Overnight to Set Steel Beams Beginning January 13;

Drivers Should Expect Delays, Use Alternate Routes Such as US 1, US 29 or MD 295

 

(January 3, 2013) – Beginning Sunday night, January 13 (weather permitting), the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will briefly close I-95 once or twice nightly, Sunday through Thursday, between MD 198 (Sandy Spring Road) and MD 200 (Intercounty Connector) between midnight and 4 a.m. to set steel for the new Contee Road Bridge over I-95.

Crews will first install steel beams on the new bridge over southbound I-95, which is expected to take one month. SHA will close:

·         One lane at 7 p.m.

·         Two lanes at 11 p.m.

·         Three lanes at midnight

·         All lanes of traffic between midnight and 4 a.m. for up to two 15-30 minute periods

During the closures, SHA and Maryland State Police will temporarily stop all traffic on southbound I-95 for no more than two 15-30 minute intervals to secure steel bridge beams and allow large cranes to move safely in the work zone. Crews will open all lanes of traffic no later than 5 a.m. the next day. Additionally, SHA may temporarily close the ramps from MD 198 to I-95 during the southbound stoppages.

“The structural steel setting for the I-95/Contee Road interchange project is a significant milestone that requires brief intermittent road closures for the safety of travelers and workers,” said SHA Administrator Melinda B. Peters. “We urge drivers to use alternate routes including US 1, US 29 or MD 295 and stay alert for lane closure information on our overhead signs.”

Beginning mid-February, crews will install steel beams over northbound I-95, which is also expected to take one month. SHA will close:

·         One lane at 8 p.m.

·         Two lanes at 11p.m.

·         Three lanes at midnight

·         All lanes of traffic between midnight and 4 a.m. for up to two 15-30 minute periods

Maryland State Police will temporarily stop all traffic on northbound I-95 for no more than two 15-30 minute intervals to secure steel bridge beams and allow large cranes to move safely in the work zone. Crews will open all lanes of traffic no later than 6 a.m. the next day.

More than 185,000 vehicles use this section of I-95 daily. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and add extra time to their trips. Travelers should consider US 1, US 29 or MD 295 (except motor carrier trucks) as alternate routes.

The work is part of a $35.5 million I-95/Contee Road interchange construction project in Laurel. SHA’s contractor for the work is American Infrastructure of Fallston.

SHA will use electronic message boards, construction barrels and cones and arrow boards to guide motorists through the work zone. As crews work to keep work zones safe, each driver needs to actively modify his or her driving style to help prevent crashes. Stay alert – look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Slow down and don’t follow too closely. Safer Driving. Safer Work Zones. For Everyone!

Maryland now features FREE 511 traveler information! Call 511 or 1-855-GOMD511 or visit www.md511.org for current travel information. Sign up to personalize travel route information through MY511 on the Web site. Remember to use 511 safely - Maryland law prohibits hand-held mobile phone use and texting while driving.

Follow SHA on Twitter @MDSHA and “like” our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MarylandStateHighwayAdministration.

Senator Mikulski Expected to become Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee

U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) today announced that she is expected to become Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. She would be the Committee’s first woman chair, succeeding Senator Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), who sadly passed away on Monday. 
 

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be expected to follow the great leadership of Senator Inouye, one of my most treasured mentors, and become the Chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee,”Senator Mikulski said. “It is especially gratifying to be the first woman to lead this powerful Committee. I am grateful for this opportunity to fight for the day to day needs of the American people and the long range needs of the nation.”

Senator Mikulski is expected to be ratified as Appropriations Chairwoman by her colleagues at tomorrow’s Democratic Caucus meeting.

The Senate Appropriations Committee’s role is defined by the U.S. Constitution, which requires "appropriations made by law" prior to the expenditure of any money from the Federal treasury. The Committee writes the legislation that allocates federal funds to the numerous government agencies, departments and organizations on an annual basis.

Franchot to Seek Re-election, Won’t Run for Governor

Peter Franchot (D), whose evolution from liberal bomb thrower in the legislature to fiscal watchdog as state comptroller remains one of the most unlikely success stories in recent Maryland political history, is announcing today that he will seek re-election in 2014 rather than run for governor. 

In a letter to supporters that’s being emailed this morning, Franchot, 65, calls being comptroller his “dream job.” 

Franchot’s move transforms a still developing election to replace term-limited Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) and also solidifies his position as an Annapolis power broker for the long term. 

While Franchot will inevitably lose some sizzle now that he’s no longer a potential candidate for governor, he will be almost impossible to dislodge in 2014 and will continue to accumulate power as a counter-balance to whoever is elected to replace O’Malley. He’ll also be liberated politically inasmuch as his moves will no longer be seen as those of an ambitious candidate for higher office.

Read the full article online at Center Maryland.

Mikulski, Cardin, Kirk Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Deny Navy Plan To Relocate Electronic Attack Squadron From Joint Base Andrews

Navy Move Could Leave East Coast Vulnerable to Electronic Attack; Would Cut Hundreds of Maryland Jobs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) along with Senator Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) today announced that they have introduced legislation that would prevent the Navy from implementing its plan to transfer the VAQ-209 Navy Reserve Electronic Attack Squadron from Joint Base Andrews in Prince George’s County, Maryland to Washington State. The Navy’s relocation proposal has not received Congressional oversight or approval and could leave the National Capital Region vulnerable to an electronic warfare attack.

“I am strongly opposed to the Navy’s plan to relocate the electronic attack squadron from Joint Base Andrews,” Senator Mikulski said. “Keeping this unique squadron home-based here in Maryland is critical to the safety and security of the United States. Maryland is uniquely qualified to support this elite squadron as a national cyber leader with a top-notch talent pool. I will continue to do all I can to ensure this cutting-edge squadron stays here in Maryland.”

“Moving critical resources out of the National Capital Region and clear across country makes little sense at a time when we are trying to maximize resources while increasing our ability to defend against electronic warfare,” said Senator Cardin.  “Taxpayers should not be asked to pay millions of dollars for a move that would harm national security, harm our local community, and put our national security at risk.”

“VAQ-209 is one of the most unique squadrons in American history, fusing the best and brightest of Naval aviation and electronic warfare research and development to save lives and defend our country,” Senator Kirk said.  “While an active duty squadron could operate elsewhere, a combat-deployable reserve electronic attack force squadron cannot survive outside the Capitol Beltway region.  Over the past decade, VAQ-209 members developed missions and techniques never-before applied to Prowlers – mission sets that saved American lives.  As we transition from Prowlers to Growlers, it’s critical we promote VAQ-209’s record of electronic warfare innovation by keeping the squadron where it is.”

The VAQ-209 squadron is an offensive weapon in the U.S. cyber arsenal and can protect our country from electronic attacks. It maintains an East Coast capability to jam enemy radar, gather radio intelligence, jam IEDs, destroy enemy radar sites and test new electronic technology capabilities. Named ‘Reserve Squadron of the Year’ in 2008 and awarded the Battle Efficiency Ribbon in five of the last seven years, VAQ-209 has deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq five times since 2006. With 233 personnel stationed less than 10 miles from Washington, D.C., the Squadron is important to the safety and defense of the National Capital Region, and a unique capability to test and development new capabilities for the Navy’s Electronic Attack fleet.

In September 2011, Senators Mikulski, Cardin and Kirk sent a letter to the Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Jonathan Greenert urging him to keep the VAQ-209 Squadron at Joint Base Andrews. A copy of that letter is available here.

 

State facing $638 million structural deficit in 2014, analysts say

Maryland is expected to face a structural deficit of more than $630 million in fiscal 2014 and will have projected budget shortfall of $247 million as lawmakers craft a spending plan for the coming year, state officials said Wednesday.

Budget analysts from the Department of Legislative Services briefed lawmakers from the Joint Spending Affordability Committee, as well as the House and Senate committees that oversee the budget, on the state’s overall fiscal situation.

Revenues are expected to increase, but “it appears we’re losing a little ground in our effort to resolve our structural deficit,” said Warren G. Deschenaux, director of policy analysts for DLS.

Overall, the state’s budget is expected to grow about 4 percent over fiscal 2013, with total expenditures topping out at $37.1 billion, according to DLS.

The $638 million structural deficit was a bit more than analysts had been expecting, Deschenaux said. Eliminating that deficit in fiscal 2014 would require limiting the increase in general fund growth to 1.3 percent, he said.

Senator Edward J. Kasemeyer (D-Dist. 12) of Columbia, who chairs the Budget & Taxation Committee, told reporters after the briefing that a substantial portion of the structural deficit was related to paying the state’s bond obligations, raising the difficult question of whether the state’s property tax needed to be increased.

Kasemeyer said he did not anticipate lawmakers would increase taxes in the coming year.


Read the full article at Gazette.Net

Unemployment Insurance Taxes Going Down in 2013

Governor Martin O'Malley and the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) announced a significant drop in the state’s unemployment insurance tax for 2013.

State law requires DLLR to review the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund each September 30. Employers pay unemployment insurance tax on the first $8,500 of each worker’s wages. Rates are based on six tax tables, ranging rom the lowest (A) to the highest (F), and the rate is adjusted annually based on the balance of the Trust Fund. In 2013, Maryland will shift from Table F to Table C. That it a significant decrease for Maryland employers.

Minimum rated employers, those who have not laid off employees in recent years, will see their rate fall from $187 per employee to $85 per employee, a 55 percent decrease. Maximum rated employers, those who have experienced sizable layoffs, will see their rate drop 22 percent, from $1,147.50 per employee to $892.50. Around half of all Maryland employers are minimum rated.

Maryland employers will receive their unemployment tax rate notices from DLLR in December. Read DLLR's complete announcement here.

This good news is a result of the work done during the 2010 General Assembly session to ensure the long-term health and stability of the unemployment insurance trust fund. Thank you to Ron Adler of Laurdan Associates who is the Maryland Chamber's point man on unemployment insurance issues. Thanks also to Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mac Middleton, House Economic Matters Committee Chairman Dereck Davis and Julie Ellen Squire, assistant secretary for DLLR's Division of Unemployment Insurance, for working with the business community to reach a compromise that strengthened Maryland's unemployment insurance system.

Leonard Howie, III Takes Reins as Maryland’s DLLR Secretary

Leonard J. Howie III was appointed Secretary of the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (DLLR) by Governor Martin O'Malley in October 2012. He brings over 25 years of management experience to DLLR whose mission is to protect and empower Marylanders. He has oversight responsibility for an agency that employs more than 2,000 workers and has an operating budget of more than $325 million. Secretary Howie previously served as the Deputy Secretary of Operations for the Maryland Department of Human Resources (DHR). In that role, he managed administrative operations, budget and finance, technology, human resources and other core functions for the agency. He was a driving force in moving the agency toward improved service delivery and results-oriented accountability.

Prior to joining DHR in 2011, he was the Deputy Secretary of DLLR from 2007-2011 where he implemented critical departmental initiatives. During that time he worked with DLLR's core programs and was instrumental in the incorporation of adult learning programs into DLLR's existing workforce development division.

He also spearheaded the DLLR Academy which fostered a work culture based on teamwork through staff development activities focused on effective communication and positive conflict resolution. He was promoted to Deputy Secretary after a brief tenure as DLLR's Commissioner of the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing in 2007.

From 2004-2007, Secretary Howie was an Attorney Advisor with the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education where he represented student populations facing discrimination and promoted solutions to civil rights violations. He spent three years as the Program Evaluations Director for the Maryland Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO) and was a Senior Consultant with the Ethics Resource Center, Inc. which provided business ethics training and consulting for Fortune 500 corporations and governmental agencies. Secretary Howie also held positions as adjunct faculty and program advisor at the University of the District of Columbia.

His distinguished career began as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps from 1984-1989. He continued his military service as a member of the Reserves from 1989 to 1992 while pursuing a career in law.

Secretary Howie is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He obtained both his Master of Business Administration and his Juris Doctorate at Georgetown University and is a member of the Maryland Bar. He serves on the Advisory Board for the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO) and was a member of the Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area Board of Directors from 2004-2008.

A native of Dayton, OH, he currently resides in College Park, MD with his wife Robynn and has three children: Lauren, Jordan and Jillian.

Maryland officials warn of private-sector impact if U.S. steps over fiscal cliff

An article in The Washington Post shares details of a memo prepared by the administration of Governor Martin O'Malley regarding the potentially detrimental impact of spending cuts on Maryland's economy. The article states:

The memo goes on to warn, however, that Maryland’s economy is “especially vulnerable to the retrenchment of federal spending” because 5.6 percent of Maryland jobs are federal, compared to an average of 2.2 percent nationally. Many additional Maryland jobs in the defense and other industries exist because of the federal presence in the region.

Read the full article online at The Washington Post.

Maryland’s high court considers rewriting rules for assessing fault

The assistant soccer coach was horsing around during warm-ups, taking a few shots on goal. Then, as the assistant, James Coleman, jumped up to hang from the metal crossbar, the unanchored goal tipped over, crushing the 20-year-old’s face.

Coleman sued the soccer club in Howard County that he claims was responsible for the goal, and that suit reached Maryland’s highest court on Monday in a case that has far-reaching implications for the state’s consumers and businesses. It also has prompted a power struggle between the courts and General Assembly.

Read the full article online at The Washington Post.

10 Maryland Schools Among Top 650 Colleges in America

Ten schools led by the U.S. Naval Academy were ranked among the nation’s top 650 colleges by Forbes magazine.

The U.S. Naval Academy was ranked 43rd on the list, followed by Johns Hopkins University at 67th spot.

Following are the Maryland schools on the list. Read under rank, name, annual college fees, student population.

43. United States Naval Academy, N/A; 4,576

67. Johns Hopkins University, $57,442; 20,996

143. St. John's College, $55,618; 447

146. Washington College, $50,520; 1,553

153. St Mary's College of Maryland, $40,937, 1,992

159. Goucher College, $50,279; 2,173

164. Loyola University Maryland, $54,700, 6,080

168. University of Maryland-College Park, $40,003, 37,631

345. Hood College, $44,970; 2,435

384. Towson University, $33,540; 21,464

Read the full article here.

Maryland wins 'gold medal' for tech jobs in the U.S.

If technology job growth were an Olympic race, Maryland would be Usain Bolt.

“Maryland has the gold medal right now for tech jobs in the country,” said Alice Hill, managing director of Dice.com, a career website focused on the technology industry.

Maryland is leading technology job growth so far this year, with 5.9 percent employment growth in computer systems design and related services since December 2011, according to Dice’s analysis of data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state has added 3,800 jobs in the industry since December.

Read the full story online at the Baltimore Business Journal.

Lt. Governor Brown, County Executive Baker, Health Care Coalition Announce Progress Towards New Regional Medical Center

Release New Prince George's County Public Health Impact Study Conducted by University of Maryland School of Public Health

CHEVERLY, Md. (July 25, 2012) – Today, Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown and Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker were joined by leadership from the University of Maryland Medical System, Dimensions Health Care, University of Maryland School of Public Health and other state and county health officials to provide an update on the partnership agreement signed in 2011 to develop a comprehensive plan for strengthening health care in Prince George’s County.

Over the past year, the coalition has worked to identify the scope of need for a plan to construct a new regional medical center by 2017, improve existing health services, increase access to primary care, enhance the County's overall health infrastructure, and ensure a stable and reliable health care system for Prince George's County and Southern Maryland. Today, the coalition announced that they have completed step one of the agreement signed last year and are proceeding to step two: determining a final financial analysis, financing, and site selection for a new regional medical center.  The coalition also released the Prince George’s County Public Health Impact Study, a first of its kind analysis of health care in the county conducted by the University of Maryland School of Public Health.

Read the full release here.

2012 Minority Business Enterprise Program Reauthorization Legislation

Attention BWCC Business Owners: Please click the link to read the attached letter regarding the 2012 MBE Program Reauthorization Legislation.