The Daily Dose

Baltimore mayoral candidates square off in a debate. Voting rights advocates say former felons might be denied their right to vote in this election. And four Baltimore County schools prepare to reopen their doors.

School superintendents say it’ll take millions in state aid to resume in-person learning. Governor Hogan promises 250 million in state aid to Maryland business owners. Voting rights advocates worry some former felons may be denied their right to vote. And the Maryland Board of elections says the volume of mail in ballots received already far exceeds 2016 numbers.

Baltimore County ballot drop boxes in traditional Republican corridors are seeing less traffic than their counterparts in Democratic zones. An immunologist critiques the governor’s vaccination plan. And Baltimore City Schools shares details on a plan to reopen 25 schools next month for in-person learning.

With a slashed budget and low ridership, the MTA struggles to keep public transportation a viable and safe service for those who need it. And the City Council passes a major tax sales bill and eyes more taxes on e-cigarettes.

Baltimore County elections officials tally thousands of mail-in ballots and sort through voter errors. Goats are unleashed on a city park. And demonstrators in Baltimore march in solidarity with others nationwide for voting and women’s rights.

In a virtual town hall, parents and teachers grill Baltimore City Schools officials on their plan to return some students to classrooms in November. And a Maryland House of Delegates workgroup votes to revamp state policing laws.

If you haven’t applied yet for a mail-in ballot, the clock is ticking. And if you haven’t responded yet to the 2020 Census, well, you’re about to miss the deadline. Plus, a teacher’s-eye view of the upcoming return to classrooms in Baltimore.

The city’s health commissioner says daily COVID cases are on the rise as flu season is upon us. Some parents of special needs students crash a meeting of Baltimore County teachers to make their voices heard. And today, an announcement from the C-E-O of Baltimore Schools about a return to the classrooms this fall.

An exclusive poll shows Brandon Scott with a runaway lead in Baltimore’s mayoral race. A Goucher Poll shows Marylanders have little faith in taking a Covid-19 vaccine. Baltimore’s Indigenous community members rally for the renaming of Columbus Day. And residents of a historically Black neighborhood in East Towson push back against the county’s affordable housing plan.

A new Goucher College poll shows a vast majority of Marylanders in favor of police reform. We remember a Baltimore advocate for racial justice. And a Green Party candidate gives an establishment Democrat some serious competition in a City Council race.

Public health expert Leana Wen puzzles through the COVID-19 diagnosis timeline, medical treatment, and recovery status of President Trump. And psychiatrist Asha Patton-Smith gives advice on preserving our mental health during the ongoing pandemic.

Saturday is World Mental Health Day in what has been a particularly difficult year for many Americans. 

Dr. Asha Patton-Smith, a psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente, said that the pandemic has been especially stressful for young people. 

“Social isolation and family stress has affected children and adolescents really more than any other demographic in this country,” she said on WYPR’s podcast The Daily Dose. 

The top headlines of the day, plus a reporter’s guide through the long list of proposed charter amendments facing Baltimore voters on this fall’s ballot

An update on Maryland’s health insurance market, a report on changes in Baltimore’s water billing, and advice from an immunologist on how to safely celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving during a pandemic

After long debate, the Baltimore County Council finally approves police reform legislation. And the Baltimore City Council has a busy night, passing bills on labor rights and the observance of Christopher Columbus, and considering bills to protect renters and prevent water shut-offs.

A new ballot question gives voters a say on how much control the governor gets over state budget dollars. And as Baltimore County renters remain vulnerable to evictions during the pandemic, County Council will take up a vote to protect them from rent hikes.

Baltimore County voters are already submitting ballots in certified drop boxes. State restrictions loosen on daycares and nursing homes. Maryland police reform proves divisive along party lines. And some city schools open as ‘student learning centers’ for vulnerable students.

Changes were announced today in rules governing Maryland’s child care and nursing home facilities. More rent relief may be on the way for Baltimore tenants. And city teachers demand to remain online for the rest of the school year.

Baltimore’s mayor announces some financial relief for small businesses. City Council debates proposal to rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. And the Baltimore County Council wrangles over a controversial police reform bill.

Marylanders behind on utility bills will start getting warning notices this week, as a moratorium on shut-offs is set to expire in November. And in advance of the first presidential debate, Baltimore Democrats rally the party faithful to vote blue across the ticket.

If you’ve applied for a mail-ballot, time to check your mailbox. And there’s some help on the way for working parents of school-age children.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny O sounds off on communication problems with the governor. Nursing home inspectors aren’t required to be tested for COVID-19. And there’s more heated debate on day 3 of the MD Senate Police Reform hearings.

The governor's former chief of staff is called to testify on a self-dealing scandal. Police reform hearings continue in the MD Senate. Baltimore students call on Comcast to close the city’s digital divide. And in Baltimore County, teachers are anxious about their upcoming return to the classroom.

Emotions run high as Maryland Senate hearings on police reform continue. Studies show that recovering from COVID-19 can leave some patients with long-term heart damage, a medical expert will explain why. And as the city’s budget strains under this pandemic, Baltimore will sever a lucrative contract tied to the city’s disgraced ex-mayor.

Baltimore City Council heard more than 30 new bills at its most recent meeting, including labor bills to protect the right-of-return of laid-off employees. And the debate over police reform in Maryland takes front and center in a marathon three day hearing in the State Senate.

The Baltimore County teachers’ union pushes back against a call to return to classrooms in October. Meanwhile, virtual instruction poses a unique challenge for art and music teachers. And Governor Hogan encourages Marylanders to go out to eat, as indoor dining capacities expand to 75 percent.

There’s an outbreak of COVID-19 at University of Maryland College Park. 30,000 Marylanders are still waiting for their unemployment claims to be processed. A new bill could provide job security for Baltimore hospitality workers. And critics buck at Baltimore County Schools' decision to send students back to classrooms.

Baltimore County’s virtual return to school has been a technologically bumpy road, and now the district looks at the next challenge – planning an eventual return to the classroom. Plus, Baltimore’s Department of Public Works tries to explain why trash continues to pile up in the city.