Montgomery County Isn't Processing Care for Kids or Senior Dental Applications, Council Staff Say

Montgomery County is not currently processing applications for two county-funded health programs for low-income, uninsured residents, Care for Kids and Senior Dental, because there are no staff to process them, according to a Montgomery County Council staff report prepared for the council’s Oct. 20 meeting. “Applications are not currently beingContinue Reading

Trump administration drops appeal over loan forgiveness rule

The Trump administration has dropped its appeal of a June 2026 federal court decision that vacated a U.S. Department of Education rule on Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced October 23. The rule would have let the administration strip PSLF eligibility from employees ofContinue Reading

Maryland Attorney General Joins Coalition Opposing Federal Suit to Stop Count of 20,000 California Ballots

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general opposing the Trump administration’s lawsuit against California, which seeks to stop California election officials from counting the ballots of more than 20,000 people the administration has labeled “likely” noncitizens, according to a release from Brown’s office.Continue Reading

MCPS Board Approves Halving the GPA Boost for Honors Courses, Starting Fall 2027

The Montgomery County Board of Education on Thursday unanimously approved a plan that cuts the extra grade-point weight for honors courses in half, from 1.0 to 0.5, beginning in fall 2027. Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) and dual enrollment courses keep their full 1.0 weight. Superintendent Thomas W. Taylor’sContinue Reading

Strathmore and MCPS Celebrate a Decade of Bringing the Blues to Fifth Graders

Strathmore and Montgomery County Public Schools are celebrating 10 years of The Blues, an original concert bringing music history to life for fifth graders. Running October 20–23, this year’s program welcomes 12,500 students for live performances exploring the blues and its influence on American music, with admission and transportation fully funded.Continue Reading

Moderately MOCO cover: WSSC lists $155 million in electrical fixes for the Potomac plant that lost power Sept. 29

WSSC Water estimates it needs $155 million in electrical upgrades at its Potomac Water Filtration Plant, the plant that lost power on September 29 and left the utility asking all 1.9 million of its customers to use water only for essential purposes. Three projects account for $130 million of that,Continue Reading

Moderately MOCO cover: People’s Counsel questions BGE’s conduit surcharge plan

Maryland People’s Counsel David S. Lapp said BGE’s proposal to charge only Baltimore City customers for the cost of using the city’s underground conduit system is “highly unusual” and “must be carefully evaluated,” in a statement from the Office of People’s Counsel, the state agency that represents residential utility customers.Continue Reading