Maryland
Changes coming to protect Maryland workers from dangerous heat
BALTIMORE, Md. — “DPW heroes work here.” That’s what a banner reads outside the DPW sanitation yard in Cherry Hill.
But some employees, and the people who represent them say they’re not always treated like heroes.
“No workers should be pushed to such a point of exhaustion that their body fails them,” Roderick Pickett, vice president of City Union of Baltimore, saidat a rally about DPW’s work environment on August 6.
In recent weeks, we’ve reported on the citywide calls for change after two inspector general’s reports exposed unsafe working conditionsat Baltimore’s DPW yards, including broken air conditioning units, and a lack of access to cold drinking water. Then, at the beginning of the month, an employee, Ronald Silver II, died from heat exhaustion while on duty, collecting trash.
“The circumstances that led to brother Silver’s death are deeply concerning because they are largely preventable,” Patrick Moran, president of the labor union of which Silver was a member, AFSCME Maryland Council 3, said at the same rally.
But change is already in the works to protect Maryland workers from dangerous heat. For years, labor groups have pushed for Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) to implement what’s called a “heat stress standard.” That standard would apply to all employers in the state, and basically require them to give workers breaks, and access to water and shade when temperatures are high.
There are only five states that have such standards right now – California, Colorado, Minnesota, Oregon, and Washington.
Scott Schneider is one of Maryland’s members of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (COSH). He says the push for heat stress standards in the workplace is happening on the federal level too. But the process of changing Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) regulations takes significantly longer. Schneider showed us the 33 steps it takes for OSHA to add a new rule.
“It’s gonna take probably another 2 or more years for the federal rule to get finalized. So we didn’t want to wait that long,” he told WMAR-2 News’ Elizabeth Worthington.
In Maryland, the state standard could be implemented as soon as next summer. Here’s what the draftlooks like right now.
In 2020, the General Assembly passed a bill that gave OSHA two and a half years to publish a heat stress standard. In 2022, the agency put out a draft.
“It was really inadequate. It didn’t provide the protections that workers really need. It kicked in at a much higher temperature, and one of the weird things about it was – it required that at this temperature, at 88 degrees, you had to have a program to protect workers from heat. But the program didn’t have to be written down. […] How do you enforce that?”
A month later, Wes Moore was elected governor. Schneider and other COSH members asked the legislature review committee to put a hold on the regulation. When Governor Moore appointed new heads of the labor department, COSH asked them to re-write the regulation, which they did. The draft came out in mid-July. Schneider said it’s “much better,” but he still sees room for improvements, such as factoring in radiant heat, or working in direct sunlight. The current draft standards only relies on the heat index, which takes into consideration the ambient temperature and the humidity.
There’s a virtual hearing on the proposed standards this Friday, August 16 at 1 p.m. A link to the hearing will be posted on the MOSH website. Public comment period lasts until August 26.
Under the proposed standard, when the thermometer hits 80 degrees, employers have to be ready with a written heat safety plan. At 90 degrees, workers need to be given a 10 minute break every two hours. At 100 degrees and above, it’s a 15 minute break every hour.
“These standards are not written for most employers. They’re written for the bad actors. Most employers are already doing this,” Schneider said.
Baltimore City Inspector General Isabel Cumming is relieved this issue is getting more attention, after her reports on the DPW.
“Heat stroke, heat exhaustion, it’s all very, very real. And people have jobs that are so difficult, yet they push themselves to keep working because they have families to support and everything else,” she told WMAR-2 News’ Elizabeth Worthington.,
After the death of Ronald Silver, the DPW held a mandatory heat safety training session for its employees. Under the proposed state standards, that would have already been required.
“If you knew that cramping hands, or something, was a real warning signal, then you know what to do to help yourself,” Cumming said.
She’s excited about the changes coming to Maryland’s workplaces, and hopes penalties are actually enforced.
“To really give anything teeth, you have to have consequences. This is just the world we live in.”
The City Council will be holding a hearing on “DPW Capacity in Extreme Heat” on Thursday, August 22.
See America’s most iconic hot dogs
Welcome to the United States of Hot Dogs! We’ve compiled a few of the best hot dogs eaten across the country.
Although Maryland is often celebrated for its seafood, one over-the-top creation has carved out its own loyal following among locals and visitors alike: The Baltimore-style hot dog.
Sausage is merely its first layer of meat. It’s wrapped in a thick slice of fried beef bologna and piled high with toppings.
It’s proof that while hot dogs are truly an All-American food, their real power lies in how they adapt to local tastes.
Hot dogs were “invented” in the U.S. after German sausages were served in buns. They’re a staple of baseball games — the all-American pastime. And they are truly a democratic food: nearly anyone can afford to enjoy them.
But even more, hot dogs are American because of their adaptability, reflecting the ingenuity and diversity that gives our country such a rich culinary tapestry.
“You can tell the story of America through hot dogs. There are probably other things you could use, other objects or icons, but I think hot dog is a really good one,” said Bruce Kraig, a Ph.D. food historian and author of “Hot Dog: A Global History’ and ‘Man Bites Dog: Hot Dog Culture in America.”
Regional hot dog toppings, from chili in Cincinnati to celery salt in Chicago to jalapeños in the Southwest, tell distinct stories of place.
Here in Baltimore, Maryland, our contribution to the United States of Hot Dogs is the Baltimore-style hot dog.
What is a Baltimore-style hot dog?
At its core, the Baltimore dog is a meat-on-meat masterpiece. It starts with a kosher all-beef sausage that is split, fried and wrapped alongside thick, charred bologna slices.
It’s traditionally topped with raw onions and yellow mustard, with a pickle spear on top or on the side. Some variations include the addition of sweet relish, ketchup or cheese.
“In this creation, grease from the bologna mixes with the grease from the hot dog, and both find their way into the bread to form an unforgettable aroma, taste and aftertaste — and 200 points on your cholesterol count,” Baltimore historian Gilbert Sandler told The Baltimore Sun in a 2019 story.
Where did the Baltimore-style hot dog come from?
Its origins are often somewhat unclear, but it’s believed to have originated during the Great Depression when, according to TasteAtlas.com, “people added bologna slices to the hot dog in order to make it a fuller, heartier meal.”
Jewish delis along Baltimore’s historic “Corned Beef Row” were looking for ways to offer working-class customers a filling, calorie-dense meal for a small chunk of change, leading to the birth of the Baltimore-style hot dog.
First becoming popular in the early 1940s at Mandell and Ballow deli, the bologna-wrapped hot dog spread throughout Baltimore, The Sun reported.
“Despite being a nutritionally questionable combo of two of the world’s least-healthful meats, the bologna dog continues to be a local favorite, enjoyed without apology,” FoodRepublic.com wrote in 2023.
Four best places to try a Baltimore-style hot dog
Attman’s Delicatessen: A Baltimore institution since 1915, Attman’s version of the Baltimore-style hot dog sits at the top of its menu. Its dog — for $7.99 — comes with your choice of mustard, relish, chopped onions and ketchup. Details: 1019 East Lombard St., Baltimore; 410-563-2666, attmansdeli.com.
Weiss Deli: Another Baltimore staple, Weiss serves speciality sandwiches and, of course, the Baltimore-style hot dog. You can customize the $7.49 dog with up to eight toppings, but its most popular version comes with just deli mustard and raw onions on top of the bologna-wrapped sausage. Details: 1127 East Lombard St., Baltimore; 410-276-7910, baltimoreweissdeli.com
The Dog House Carryout: A legendary landmark in Baltimore, The Dog House Carryout has been slinging its classic comfort food for more than 75 years. You can get a quarter-pound all-beef hot dog for $6.95, with bologna added for an extra $1.25. The dog comes with your choice of mustard, relish, onions and ketchup. Details: 617 Fallsway, Baltimore; 410-685-7269, thedoghousebaltimore.com
Killa Dogz: Killa Dogz, one of the more modern hot dog spots in the city, offers a wide variety of options, including what it calls the “Bmore” dog. At $7, its version is deep fried, wrapped in bologna and “served on a squishy bun with mustard.” Chili and cheese are among the top ways to customize its dog. Details: 6106 Belair Rd, Baltimore; 443-438-7822. killadogz.com.
Jennifer Borresen contributed the interactive graphic to this story. She is a graphic journalist at USA TODAY, specializing in explanatory graphics and illustrations in various fields, including politics, science, weather and entertainment.
BALTIMORE, MD. – A Hanover man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by lifetime supervised release on Wednesday for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, federal prosecutors announced.
Michael Sam Teekaye, Jr., 22, pleaded guilty in January 2026 after unknowingly revealing a plot to travel abroad and fight for the designated foreign terrorist organization to an undercover law enforcement officer, prosecutors said.
What we know:
Court documents reveal that between March and October 2024, Teekaye coordinated travel arrangements with a Somali ISIS fighter. His itinerary detailed a flight departing from Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) to Turkey, with subsequent travel through Ethiopia to cross into Somalia.
FBI agents arrested Teekaye at BWI on October 14, 2024, after he cleared airport security, according to previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting.
READ MORE: Maryland man arrested for allegedly attempting to join ISIS
Leading up to his arrest, court documents say that Teekaye prepared for his departure by practicing at a Maryland shooting range and attempting to purchase an assault rifle, which was blocked due to an existing state probation status.
Days before his arrest, Teekaye sent the undercover officer a photograph of himself wearing a mask and wielding a large machete, declaring a choice of “victory or martyrdom.”
Following his arrest, prosecutors say Teekaye made multiple unprovoked statements to law enforcement vowing to resume his violent efforts upon his eventual release from custody and threatening the lives of prison guards.
Dig deeper:
Federal authorities noted that Teekaye established a secondary plan to execute domestic terrorist attacks targeting Jewish individuals and institutions supporting Israel within Maryland if his international travel failed. A digital forensic search of his phone uncovered specific search histories focused on Jewish organizations and community members in Howard County, alongside queries regarding home break-ins and escaping murder charges.
A local rabbi impacted by the surveillance spoke during the sentencing hearing regarding the threat’s toll on the community.
The Source: Information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting.
Maryland
Governor Moore Announces Awardees for $1.23 Million Investment to Help Maryland Workers Thrive in a Changing Economy
Updated:
ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Moore today announced the awardees for the Maryland Lighthouse Industries Upskilling and Reskilling Program, a $1.23M investment that will help Marylanders build skills for careers in high-growth industries increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies. The awards, which will support nearly 600 individuals, will go to organizations across Maryland that are expanding workforce training opportunities in the state’s critical lighthouse industries, including life sciences, technology, aerospace, defense, and manufacturing.
“We are setting up Maryland to lead the nation in this rapidly changing economy, and leaving no one behind in the process,” said Gov. Moore. “By investing in lighthouse industries we are empowering and strengthening our workforce to build the necessary skills for jobs of the future shaped by emerging technologies. This program will ensure that pathways to work, wages, and wealth continue to grow across our state.”
Governor Wes Moore announced the Maryland Lighthouse Industries Upskilling and Reskilling Program earlier this year. Funded through the Talent Innovation Fund, this program is part of a $4 million investment that gives Marylanders experience in rapidly-growing sectors increasingly shaped by emerging technologies. This investment funds hands-on learning for workers, supports the state’s long‑term economic competitiveness, expands the talent pipeline for Maryland employers, and positions the state as a destination for companies looking to grow and innovate.
“Maryland is uniquely poised to lead the AI economy because we have a highly-skilled workforce and innovative companies,” said Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu. “Helping more workers to develop leading-edge technology skills will prepare them for the jobs of tomorrow and help shape the future of these industries right here in Maryland.”
Through industry-driven partnerships, this program will help Maryland workers gain in-demand technical and transferable skills and ensure Maryland employers have the talent they need to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.
Awardees and focus areas include:
- BioBuzz Networks, Inc.: Life Sciences (Statewide)
- Davis Unlimited Information Technologies, Inc.: Cybersecurity (Capital Region, Central Maryland)
- HUBZone Council, Inc.: Quantum/AI (Capital Region, Central Maryland, Western Maryland)
- Maryland MEP, Inc.: Manufacturing (Statewide)
- Technology Advancement Center, Inc.: Cybersecurity (Statewide)
- Technology Growth Initiative Inc. dba Fearless Institute: Cybersecurity (Statewide)
- University of Maryland, College Park: Aerospace and Defense (Southern Maryland)
“Maryland MEP is excited and honored to be a part of the lighthouse upskilling program,” said Mike Kelleher, CEO of Maryland MEP, one of the awardees. “This funding will enable manufacturers and manufacturing workers throughout Maryland to receive training in the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and the application of these skills in the manufacturing environment to compete at the global level.”
The Maryland Department of Labor developed this program in consultation with the Governor’s Workforce Development Board—the governor’s chief policy-making body for workforce development.
For more information, visit the Maryland Lighthouse Industries Upskilling and Reskilling Program webpage.
The Moore-Miller administration continues to directly invest in workforce development to prepare for and lead in the new AI economy, reinforcing the administration’s dedication to Maryland’s workforce. In February, Governor Moore announced the Lighthouse Industries and AI Internship program to expand training and experiential learning opportunities in life sciences, technology, aerospace and defense, and manufacturing for college seniors and recent graduates.
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