The FTC’s law enforcement action against Amazon for unauthorized billing recently settled, leaving two key takeaways: 1) Consumers are eligible for more than $70 million in refunds; and 2) Businesses need to get customers’ express consent before placing charges on their credit or debit cards. Amazon.com, Inc. has begun offering refunds to consumers for...
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Traffic enforcement efforts by Maryland state troopers during the Memorial Day holiday period resulted in more than 7,800 traffic stops that led to 130 arrests and more than 100 arrests of impaired drivers. Maryland State Police patrol troopers began increased holiday traffic enforcement efforts on May 26, 2017 that continued through May 30, 2017....
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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced today that hunters reported harvesting 4,175 wild turkeys during the 2017 regular spring and junior hunt turkey seasons. This year’s harvest was 8 percent higher than 2016 (3,874) and marked the third consecutive record harvest in the state. It is also well above the 10-year average of 3,303. “The...
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In Maryland, about 5,000 wildfires start each and every year, and more than 300 volunteer fire departments across the state respond to these blazes. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now offering volunteer fire departments access to critical grant funding through its Volunteer Fire Assistance Program to help fortify and strengthen wildland firefighting capabilities. “Volunteer firefighters rely on...
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UPDATE 5/29/2017: A combined law enforcement effort led to the additional arrests of seven more residents believed to have been heavily involved in a large scale distribution of opioids in the region. The following seven individuals were indicted today: Troy Leonis Sommerville, 28, Worton, MD Roshana Sharnett Wright, 38, Middletown, DE Autumn Brittany Wiltbank,...
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The Memorial Day weekend is a time for remembrance of those that gave the supreme sacrifice in honor of our Country. Families across Maryland will venture outside to the beach, the mountains or maybe just to their backyards to spend quality time together. However, increased outdoor activities also result in an increase of outdoor...
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As the boating season gets underway this Memorial Day weekend, state enforcement officials and partners are urging Maryland residents and visitors to take simple, proven steps to keep safe. This week, Maryland Natural Resources Police and the U.S. Coast Guard held events in Ocean City and Annapolis to kick off the “Ride Inside” campaign...
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Governor Larry Hogan, along with Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller and Speaker of the House Mike Busch, today signed 210 bills into law during the eighth bill signing ceremony in the State House following the conclusion of the 2017 session of the Maryland General Assembly. The bills signed include legislation to strengthen the state’s...
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Wednesday’s Pet for 5/24/17 RUSTY Featured Pet: Rusty Rescue Group: Humane Society of Calvert County Breed: Pug/Beagle Mix Sex: Male Size: Small Adoption Fee: Contact group for fee Rusty is a 1-year-old Puggle. He is a loyal, loving, and curious boy. Rusty is a fun boy that gets along great with other dogs. He...
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The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MDOT MVA) will close all offices on Monday, May 29, 2017 in observance of the Memorial Day Holiday. All full-service Vehicle Emissions Inspection Program (VEIP) stations also will close. MVA’s ten self-service VEIP kiosks will remain open and are available 24/7. As part of Governor Hogan’s...
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Maryland’s Driver’s License (DL) and Identification Card (ID) has recently been named the recipient of a 2017 Élan Award for Card Manufacturing Excellence. The award honors innovative card manufacturers, personalizers, issuers, and suppliers who support a commitment to design quality, technical innovation, and the future of the global card industry. “Residents, businesses, and law...
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National Healthy and Safe Swimming Week runs May 22-28, 2017, the week leading up to Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer. The Secretaries of Maryland’s Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Environment and Natural Resources encourage all Marylanders to take note of swimming safety tips to ensure a safe and healthy swimming...
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Governor Larry Hogan today opened Maryland’s inaugural Governor’s Business Summit before a crowd of more than 700 business, education, and community leaders at the Hilton Baltimore. The day-long economic development conference hosted by the Maryland Marketing Partnership highlights the issues and industries driving Maryland’s economy, including developing workforce through innovation training, protecting businesses from...
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Parks & People Foundation’s paid internship program, Branches, received a grant for its work engaging low-income high school students in cleaning neighborhoods, creating green spaces and maintaining parks. The Maryland Environmental Trust has awarded 49 Keep Maryland Beautiful grants totaling over $160,000 to municipalities, nonprofits and schools for beautification projects, community cleanup activities and environmental education programs throughout the state....
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The Hogan-Rutherford administration today launched “Before It’s Too Late,” a new web portal designed to provide resources and raise public awareness of the rapid escalation of the evolving heroin, opioid, and fentanyl crisis in Maryland. “For nearly three years, our administration has been focused on combating the heroin and opioid crisis from every angle, including prevention,...
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Congressman Steny H. Hoyer released the following statement today after Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh joined with Attorneys General from more than a dozen states in moving to intervene in a lawsuit filed by House Republicans that undercuts the Affordable Care Act: “I am pleased that Attorney General Frosh joined with his fellow Attorneys...
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Governor Larry Hogan today announced that 49,200 Maryland students will receive scholarships totaling $82,764,420 through the Maryland Higher Education Commission. These scholarships represent the 2017-18 initial awarding of the Howard P. Rawlings Education Excellence Award Program, the state’s largest need-based student financial aid program. “Access to higher education is more important now than ever...
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A second victim involved in the Anne Arundel County fatal crash today has succumbed to his injuries after being hit head-on while traveling Route 50 earlier today. The second deceased victim is identified as Robert Skidmore, 66, of Cape St. Clair, Maryland. He was pronounced deceased by hospital personnel at Shock Trauma. Skidmore was...
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Wednesday’s Pet for 5/17/17 KRANK Featured Pet: Krank Rescue Group: Last Chance Animal Rescue Breed: Lab Mix Sex: Male Size: Puppy will get to about 50 lbs Vetted: Neutered and Up-to-date with routine shots Adoption Fee: Contact Rescue for fee Krank along with many other puppies, dogs, cats and kittens will be available in...
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Caleb Andrew Bailey, 31, of Waldorf, pleaded guilty in federal court Monday, May 15, 2017, to illegal possession of unregistered machine guns, unregistered short-barreled rifles, unregistered destructive devices, and possession of child pornography charges. At the time of his arrest, Caleb Andrew Bailey was a Maryland Delegate, selected by Donald Trump’s presidential campaign for...
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UPDATE 5/12/2017: Investigators from the Western District Detective Unit continued to work on this case throughout the day. As a result, Conner Prout, 19, and John Havermann, 19, both of Crofton, were identified as having involvement in this case. After reviewing the case with the State’s Attorney’s Office, the following criminal charges were applied...
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Governor Larry Hogan today was joined by District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe as featured speakers at the Regional Opioid and Substance Abuse Summit. The summit, organized by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, is an opportunity for hundreds of area policymakers and public health and safety professionals from...
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Wednesday’s Pet for 5/10/2017 is GODIVA Featured Pet: Godiva Rescue Group: Calvert Animal Welfare League (CAWL) Breed: Beagle Sex: Female Size: Medium Vetted: Spayed and Up-to-date with routine shots Adoption Fee: $200.00 Godiva was living in a barn, before that she found herself at a shelter in Virginia. She deserves a loving family...
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The overall health of Chesapeake Bay improved in 2016, a positive sign that recovery efforts are working. The largest estuary in the nation scored a C grade (54 percent) in the 2016 report card, one of the highest scores calculated by scientists at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. In addition, fish...
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National Arson Awareness Week will be in full swing from May 7th through May 13th this year. The theme for this year’s awareness campaign focuses on protecting houses of worship from intentional fires through prevention. The honorable Governor Larry Hogan has proclaimed May 7 – 13, 2017 as National Arson Awareness Week in Maryland....
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