Yesterday's snow has prompted plenty of schedule changes today. Schools in Baltimore City and Baltimore County are opening 2 hours late; many other systems are closed. Our complete list...
TWO HOUR DELAYS are in effect for schools in: Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Cecil County,and Harford County.
Schools are CLOSED in: Anne Arundel County, Caroline County, Carroll County, Frederick County, Howard County, Kent County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s County, Talbot County, Wicomico County, and Worcester County.
Many private schools, colleges, and universities are also changing their schedules; be sure to call ahead before you leave home.
DC Offices of the Federal Government are opening two hours late; employees have the option for unscheduled leave or unscheduled telework. But Social Security Administration offices in the Baltimore are are opening on their regular schedule.
A liberal leave policy is in effect for non-emergency essential state workers from 6am through 11am.
Due to the snow and the bitter cold, the Baltimore City Health Department has issued a Code Blue Alert through Wednesday.
Snow Delays MSA Testing In Many Districts: Yesterday’s snow has delayed the beginning of state testing in some districts. The annual Maryland School Assessments, or MSAs, are now set to begin tomorrow instead of today in Baltimore City. MSA testing could be delayed up to a week in Baltimore, Howard and Carroll counties. Anne Arundel County schools, which are closed today, have postponed MSA testing until Thursday.The Baltimore Sun has more here.
No Salt Shortages, But Local Governments Struggle To Keep Ample Supplies: If you do brave the icy roads today, be sure to drive cautiously. Travel times are up all around the listening area. And the Baltimore Sun reports that many local governments are scrambling to bring in new supplies of road salt. Some consumers are also having a hard time finding ice-melting materials at local hardware stores. Industry officials say there is not a shortage of salt supplies, but they say keeping up with demand has been quite a challenge. Baltimore City has spent some $3.2-million on road salt this year; last year, the city spent only about a tenth of that total.
Minimum Wage Bill Advances, But With Significant Changes: Legislation that would raise Maryland's minimum wage to $10.10 an hour moved forward in the House of Delegates last night. The Baltimore Sun reports that the House Economic Matters Committee voted 13 to 8 to send the bill to the full House – but it made several changes to the measure. One amendment would delay by six months the step increases that would raise the minimum wage – so they’d take place in January instead of July. Another change would eliminate a provision that would have indexed the minimum wage to inflation. A third change would keep the minimum wage for tipped workers, like waiters, at its current level. The committee also rejected a proposal that would allow a different minimum wage in Maryland’s rural areas. The Washington Post has more here.
Three Democratic Gubernatorial Candidates Agree To Debate Schedule: Three of Maryland's Democratic gubernatorial candidates have agreed to hold three debates leading up to the June 24th primary. In a joint statement by the campaigns, state Attorney General Doug Gansler and Montgomery County Delegate Heather Mizeur said they've accepted a proposal by Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown. The televised face-offs are scheduled for May 5th, May 19th and June 2nd in the DC area, the Baltimore area and one other site. The Washington Post has more.
