It wasn’t a 40-point win like the Michigan Wolverines have been used to, but they put together a strong second half to take down the Maryland Terrapins, 101-83, on the road Saturday night.
Maryland
Commentary: Will Hogan's support help destigmatize nuclear energy? – Maryland Matters
By Jack Marino
The writer was raised in Chevy Chase and is a student at Dartmouth College. He is a member of the American Conservation Coalition Action, a group for conservative environmentalists. ACC Action has not endorsed a candidate in the Maryland Senate race.
Growing up in Montgomery County, I took the region’s natural beauty for granted. I didn’t see anything special in the cherry blossoms each spring, the ancient trees of Rock Creek Park, or the flourishing ecosystem along the Chesapeake Bay. However, as I grew older and spent more time away, I came to appreciate the natural beauty surrounding me at home.
When I drove home from the airport along Rock Creek Parkway, I would gaze out across the glimmering Potomac River before immersing myself in the forest of Rock Creek Park. Although experiences like this instilled within me an appreciation for Maryland’s natural beauty, I also noticed the impact of climate change on Maryland’s environment. From algae blooms on the Potomac River to changing weather patterns to smoke from forest fires, Maryland is unsurprisingly not immune from our failure to address climate issues.
In 2020, when then-Gov. Larry Hogan launched Maryland’s Clean and Renewable Energy Standard (CARES) plan along with a variety of initiatives aimed at Chesapeake Bay restoration, I grew optimistic about the future of Maryland’s climate. In Hogan’s proposed CARES plan, the state would subsidize nuclear energy companies by offering them clean energy credits to achieve the goal of 50% clean electricity generation by 2030. While Hogan’s plan was ultimately defeated in the Maryland Senate, it offered Maryland voters a pragmatic and achievable vision of a clean nuclear-energy-driven future.
Now that Hogan has launched a bid for one of Maryland’s U.S. Senate seats, he positions himself as an advocate for clean nuclear energy on a national level.
Hogan’s plan to promote nuclear energy as a complement to traditional renewable power offered a pragmatic solution to reducing the state’s reliance on fossil fuels. While the energy output of traditional renewable energy options — like wind and solar power — fluctuates with changes in weather conditions, nuclear reactors provide a constant source of energy.
In fact, although wind and solar power normally require supplemental power from natural gas, Maryland’s Calvert Cliffs nuclear power station provides consistent supplemental power for the state’s renewable energy sector when it is not running efficiently. As a result, Maryland has reduced its natural gas consumption such that it now ranks among the 10 states with the lowest per capita natural gas use. Not only is Maryland’s Calvert Cliffs nuclear reactor profitable, but it also supplies almost 40% of the state’s total energy production,demonstrating that nuclear energy can be economically viable in both Maryland and the wider United States.
Although nuclear energy has garnered the reputation of being unpopular and dangerous in American politics, nuclear energy ranks as the second safest method of energy production just above solar power in deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity. The same survey also ranked nuclear power, which produces nearly half as much carbon as wind power and almost a ninth of the carbon of solar power, as the cleanest method of energy production. This data is also supported by popular sentiment, as over 91% of residents who live near a nuclear power plant have a favorable impression of the energy source.
Young voters, especially young conservatives, are leading the charge to destigmatize, deregulate, and encourage the development of nuclear energy. A plurality of young conservatives want to see more action from Congress on climate change, suggesting that the next generation of Republican voters will push the party to search for pragmatic solutions to climate change. When asked about solutions to the climate challenge, young Republican voters listed nuclear and renewable energy sources as their two climate solutions, demonstrating that young conservatives embrace Hogan’s “all of the above” clean energy vision.
Larry Hogan’s U.S. Senate bid presents an opportunity to galvanize young conservative voters on pragmatic climate policy. Since many young Republicans embrace Hogan’s work on nuclear and renewable energy, Hogan’s candidacy paves the way for a new cohort of conservative leaders who are eager to tackle climate change with practical solutions.
By embracing Hogan’s approach to clean energy, young conservatives can bridge the partisan divide on climate issues and protect the environment for both Maryland and the nation as a whole.
Maryland
Frigid temperatures to start the week in Maryland
Maryland
4 takeaways from Michigan Basketball’s 101-83 win at Maryland
The Wolverines haven’t had a true road test in over a month, and it took 30 minutes to shake off the dust. While Maryland had a strong night from the three-point line to flirt with an upset, Michigan stuck to its game plan and went on a run in the final 10 minutes of the contest to win the game.
There is a lot to unpack, so here are four takeaways:
David “Diggi” Coit legacy first half
The Terrapins gave Michigan its first deficit going into halftime this season, and it can be largely thanks to point guard David “Diggi” Coit. The Northern Illinois and Kansas transfer was on another level in the first half, scoring 22 points on 7-for-13 shooting, including six makes from three.
Coit wasn’t just sitting in the corner either. He was creating his own shot from everywhere on the hardwood, going up against Michigan’s Elliot Cadeau, Yaxel Lendeborg, and even hitting one in the face of Morez Johnson Jr., all of whom are taller than the graduate transfer.
He continued his hot streak to start the second half, but eventually cooled off and finished with 31 points. It was a remarkable showing, and it should be a good sign for the Terrapins going forward if he can produce every night like Saturday.
As for Michigan, it was a good test to face a player who could not miss for a half, and learn how to adjust at halftime to take away the threat. It will happen again, and as Dusty May always says, it is better for it to happen now than in March.
Michigan hasn’t played a close game since Nov. 14. Its reserve players have seen a ton of action, but it came at the expense of the Wolverines having to put games away at a consistent rate. While Maryland put the pressure on Michigan for 30 minutes, the final 10 are what gives May confidence in a potential national championship for this team.
The Wolverines shot 8-for-10 from the field to balloon their lead from five to 15 in a matter of minutes. It was an uncomfortable, yet promising finish for the Wolverines.
When many top teams would start forcing shots, Michigan continue to attack the paint and get the ball in the hands of its go-to players, capitalizing on a Maryland cold streak to go from a deficit to a double-digit lead late in the game.
There are a lot of talented teams on Michigan’s schedule, and there will be a few more matchups with spunky teams like Maryland that will force the Wolverines to lock in. They passed this test and can rest easy as they face some lighter non-conference opponents before the New Year.
When Michigan has needed a spark since its tournament in Las Vegas, the Wolverines have turned to their top transfer portal get — Yaxel Lendeborg. He led Michigan scorers with 13 points in the first half, but coming out of halftime down seven points, he was on a whole other level. Lendeborg put the ball in his own hands with 20 minutes to go, scoring 10 straight points to start the second, bringing Michigan within one point.
As Maryland continued to keep pace, Lendeborg would not let up and put together seven more points to get to 29 points for the night and 16 for the half with 11 minutes still to go.
When Maryland started double-teaming Lendeborg, he started spreading the wealth and giving his teammates open-opportunities. Elliot Cadeau knocked down a couple of shots, L.J. Cason made back-to-back threes and Mara was putting on a show with reverse dunks and alley-oops. Before long, Michigan held a 15-point lead.
While it was tough-sledding for most of the team in College Park, Michigan showed it only needed a couple of guys to be in rhythm to keep pace and even lead opponents who were having their best shooting night.
Michigan continued dominance in the paint
You can try to beat Michigan with the three-ball, but it is going to be very hard to claim ultimate victory if you can’t stop it in the paint. The Terps shot 55 percent from behind the arc in the first half and 48 percent in the second half, but Michigan didn’t mess around down low in the paint.
The Wolverines dominated Maryland, 20-10, in the paint in the first half, and put on an even stronger showing in the second with 24 points down low. It didn’t help that Maryland best front court player, Pharrel Payne, went down with a knee injury in the first half. As a result, Michigan quietly continued to grow its lead when the Terps’ threes stopped falling.
Between Mara, Will Tschetter, Johnson and Lendeborg, the options are limitless for the Wolverines in the post.
After gritting it out to stay undefeated, Michigan heads back home and will get a week off before facing La Salle on Sunday, Dec. 21 (4 p.m., BTN).
Maryland
Maryland HOA holiday lights dispute highlights what homeowners can and can’t do
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A Maryland family’s ongoing battle with their homeowners’ association over a Christmas light display has reignited a broader conversation about how much control HOAs can legally exercise over holiday decorations.
7News has been following the case, in which the family continues to face fines from their HOA over their holiday lights.
To better under how homeowner associations operate and what options residents may have, 7News spoke with Alfredo Vásquez, a Washington, D.C.-based homeowner defense attorney.
RELATED COVERAGE | HOA vs. Christmas decorations: Maryland family facing hundreds in fines for lights
Why HOAs often cite holiday decorations
According to Vásquez, disputes over holiday decorations are common, but they usually center on timing rather than style.
“It may vary by community or HOA,” Vásquez said. “The most common reason would be that residents put decorations up too early or take them down too late.”
He explained that most HOA governing documents regulate how long decorations can remain on display, outlining specific start and end dates of holiday decor.
Are there rules on lights, music, or colors?
While many homeowners wonder whether HOAs can ban flashing lights, colored bulbs, or loud holiday music, Vásquez said those restrictions are less common.
“I haven’t seen any restrictions that are specific in that way,” he said. “Most governing documents I’ve reviewed focus on whether lights or music interfere with a neighbor’s lot.”
In other words, enforcement is often tied to nuisance complaints rather than aesthetics.
What if homeowners feel targeted?
Vásquez emphasized that HOA boards are legally required to enforce rules consistently.
“The Board of Directors has a duty to implement regulations in an equitable manner across the entire community,” he said.
If homeowners believe they are being unfairly singled out, the first step is reviewing the HOA’s governing documents to confirm whether the association actually has authority to regulate the issue at hand.
MORE COVERAGE | HOA still not specifying ‘nuisance’ in Germantown, Md. family’s Christmas decorations
Can issues be resolved without going to court?
Yes, and in most cases, that’s the recommended path.
HOAs must follow state condo and HOA laws, which typically require formal processes for enforcement, including notices of violations and opportunities for hearings.
“It would be ideal for homeowners to act quickly and request a hearing with the board,” Vásquez said. “They should present their case and allow the board to decide whether the violation and fines can withstand scrutiny.”
Do homeowners have any recourse after signing HOA bylaws?
Once a homeowner buys into an HOA-regulated community, they are generally bound by its bylaws, Vásquez said.
“As long as those bylaws comply with federal and state laws, homeowners’ hands may be tied,” he explained.
However, bylaws can be changed, usually through a supermajority vote of the community. Homeowners may also have stronger grounds to challenge newly adopted amendments, as long as they act promptly.
Vásquez added that staying engaged in HOA meetings and decisions is critical.
“Homeowners have to pay attention to what’s going on in their community so they can challenge changes in a timely manner,” he said.
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