The unique Good-Middleton Bridge (left) and the substitute span (proper) in August, as seen from a Maryland Transportation Authority flyover. The brand new bridge is about to open on Wednesday, with demolition of the previous span to happen inside hours. Screenshot.
A coalition of biking teams has fallen brief of their efforts to dam the state from dismantling the previous Good-Middleton Bridge in Charles County.
A federal decide in Baltimore mentioned late Tuesday that the organizations failed to fulfill the excessive authorized threshold for blocking demolition, which legal professionals for the state mentioned will start later this week.
Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and different dignitaries are scheduled to open the brand new span Wednesday morning.
Throughout a three-hour courtroom listening to, the lawyer employed by the biking coalition mentioned leaving the unique Good-Middleton Bridge in place would protect the chance to make use of it for recreation. When Hogan introduced plans to interchange the Nineteen Forties-era bridge, he pledged to incorporate a devoted bike/pedestrian lane on the brand new span. These plans had been later dropped in a cost-cutting transfer.
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In testimony earlier than U.S. District Court docket Choose Deborah Boardman, former Virginia state Del. David Brickley, a number one advocate for the teams, mentioned a restraining order would permit extra time for residents and native officers to pursue their choices.
“When the previous Good Bridge is destroyed, it’s destroyed perpetually,” he mentioned. “There isn’t any re-do when Maryland unexpectedly blows up the bridge two days from now.”
As lately as this week, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA), which owns and operates toll amenities within the state, listed “early 2023” because the opening date for the brand new bridge. On Tuesday, nevertheless, simply hours earlier than an emergency courtroom listening to, the authority introduced that the brand new bridge will open on Wednesday.
The Eleventh-hour announcement sparked hypothesis that the authority rushed completion of the substitute span to blunt the biking teams’ lawsuit. Brickley referred to as it “a quest to verify the bridge might be incapacitated.”
Brian Wolfe, the MDTA’s director of undertaking growth, testified that the authority knew in June that the brand new span could be prepared for visitors in late September or early October.
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Wolfe and attorneys for the state argued that the previous span is actually falling aside and shortly might pose a hazard to the general public. Additionally they maintained that teams wanting to reserve it have but to place ahead a reputable plan for financing its future wants and working prices.
A lot of the testimony targeted on “scouring,” the phenomenon that happens when two bridges in shut proximity trigger erosion of the soil on the base of the piers, resulting in potential structural issues. Wolfe mentioned preserving the previous bridge would finally trigger issues for the brand new span.
The Good-Middleton Bridge, named for former Gov. Harry W. Good and former state Sen. Thomas “Mac” Middleton, carries Route 301 visitors over the Potomac River between Newburg, Md., and King George County, Va. Maryland added Middleton’s identify to the bridge after he sponsored laws requiring {that a} substitute be constructed.
The previous senator, who has been invited to attend Wednesday’s ribbon-cutting, mentioned he’s not shocked the decide rejected the bike teams’ request for a short lived restraining order.
“The bridge is in horrible situation,” Middleton mentioned. “Simply journey underneath it and see the rusted beams and the concrete pilings which can be simply corroding.”
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He mentioned “it could have been good” if the brand new bridge had included the bike/pedestrian lane that was promised.
Legal professionals for the state mentioned demolition crews and gear are on web site and {that a} delay would have price $21,000 a day.
The MDTA issued a brief assertion praising the decide’s ruling.
“We admire the courtroom’s ruling at the moment recognizing the details of this case and denying the request for a short lived restraining order for the demolition of the present Good/Middleton Bridge,” the company mentioned. “We thank the courtroom for its time and consideration.”
It couldn’t be realized on Tuesday why the authority employed exterior counsel to defend itself in opposition to the biking teams or how a lot the regulation agency, Venable, will cost for its providers. Normally the Workplace of the Legal professional Basic represents state companies.
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Brickley mentioned the three teams that sought to protect the present span — the Potomac Heritage Path Affiliation, the Dahlgren Railroad Heritage Affiliation and the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Path Membership — wouldn’t have cash to file an attraction. He mentioned the failure to incorporate a motorbike/pedestrian lane on a bridge that’s forecast to final 100 years is “a blight on Maryland.”
“The shortage of transparency by the Maryland administration most likely disappoints me as a lot as anything,” he added. “That’s a tragic factor for all of us to take a look at.”
Editor’s word: This story was up to date to incorporate an announcement from the Maryland Transportation Authority.
Ensure that your prospective college offers globally recognized credentials if you plan to further your education or practice internationally.
Consider Your Future Goals
Considering your goals when choosing an online college helps you select a program that fits your current needs and prepares you for long-term success.
If you intend to work right after graduation, choose a program that aligns with your desired career path. Look for concentrations or specialized tracks that can provide in-depth knowledge in your field.
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However, if you plan to pursue further education such as a master’s or doctoral degree, ensure that credits from your online college are transferable to other schools. Also ensure that the college’s credentials are globally recognized, if you intend to work or study abroad.
Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options
Online colleges in Maryland (particularly private institutions), can be quite expensive, compared to other online schools. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average undergraduate tuition and required fees for four-year public schools is $9,750 per year; meanwhile, enrollees in four-year private colleges may pay north of $38,000 per year.
If private university tuition is out of your budget, consider enrolling in a state-owned online school such as the University of Maryland Global Campus, which only requires about $8,000 in annual tuition and fees.
Aside from seeking affordable online programs, here are other ways to fund your college education:
Complete the FAFSA®
Apply for institutional scholarships
Take a private student loan
Enroll in a work-study program
Ask your employer about a tuition reimbursement program
BALTIMORE – With a little more than two months until election day, the majority of Marylanders surveyed in the new Gonzales Poll would vote for Vice President Kamala Harris over Donald Trump for president.
A total of 820 registered voters in Maryland who indicated they are likely to vote in the 2024 general election were queried for the poll by live telephone interviews, utilizing both landline and cellphone numbers between August 24 and August 30.
A cross-section of interviews was conducted throughout the state, reflecting Maryland’s general election voting patterns, the pollster said.
The Gonzales Poll stated that “the margin of error, per accepted statistical standards, is a range of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points and if the entire population was surveyed, there is a 95% probability that the true numbers would fall within this range.”
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Presidential survey
According to the latest Gonzales Poll, 56% of Marylanders surveyed said they would vote for Harris over Trump for president.
According to the latest Gonzales Poll, 56% of Marylanders say they would vote for Kamala Harris over Trump for president.
Gonzales Poll
The poll says 84% of Democrats support the Harris/Tim Walz ticket and 80% of Republicans support the Trump/JD Vance ticket. Also, 83% of Black voters polled would vote for Harris/Walz.
Among the independents, 38% favor Harris/Walz and 36% prefer Trump/Vance, according to the poll.
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Gov. Moore’s approval gets a bump
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who led the state’s response to the deadly Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in March, has the approval of 64% of Marylanders surveyed. Moore has a 35% “mostly soft approval” among Republicans who were surveyed (7% strongly approve, 28% somewhat approve),” the poll shows.
His approval rating increased by 33% since the last Gonzales Poll in the winter.
His approval rating increased by 33% since the last Gonzalez poll in the winter.
Gonzales Poll
Last month, the governor spoke at the Democratic National Convention in support of Harris, who was nominated as the party’s presidential candidate.
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He framed Harris’ candidacy as “the story of a prosecutor who defended our freedoms and had Maryland’s back when we needed it most. And now MVP: We’ve got yours.”
President Biden’s approval
The Gonzales Poll shows that 53% of Maryland voters surveyed approve of the job President Joe Biden is doing, while 45% disapprove. Seventy-six percent of the Democrats believe Biden is doing a good job in office, and 84% of Republicans disagree.
Gonzales Poll
State transportation and juvenile reform
According to the poll, 95% of Marylanders think it is “important for the State to invest in improving its transportation infrastructure.”
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And, when it comes to juvenile crime, voters were asked, “What type of laws, in your opinion, ultimately better help our children under 18 who commit crimes – Laws that are strict, which include things such as juvenile detention and boot camps. This hold individuals responsible and accountable for their behavior; or Laws that are lenient, which include social programs and counseling. This recognizes that society is responsible for much of this behavior?”
The poll showed that 58% of Marylanders are in favor of strict laws, which hold juveniles responsible and accountable for their behavior, and only 34% desire laws that are lenient.
Gonzales Poll
The poll shows that 58% of Marylanders are in favor of strict laws, which holds juveniles responsible and accountable for their behavior, and only 34% desire laws that are lenient.
“A majority of nearly every demographic group backs strict laws to inspire a sense of personal responsibility and to best assist our juvenile offenders ultimately realize at least a chance at a successful, happy life,” the poll said.
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Is the country going in the right direction?
Fifty percent of Marylanders polled say the country is headed in the right direction, while 45% say the country is headed in the wrong direction.
According to the poll, 93% of Maryland voters who think the country is moving in the right direction are voting for Harris/Walz, and 70% of Maryland voters who think the country is moving in the wrong direction are voting for Trump/Vance.
Fifty percent of Marylanders polled say the country is headed in the right direction, while 45% say the country is headed in the wrong direction.
Gonzales Poll
In the previous poll, 41% of voters said the country was headed in the right direction.
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“The mood of voters in Maryland vis-à-vis how they perceive things overall going in the country is a tad less grumpy than it was in winter,” the Gonzales Poll said.
Adam Thompson
Adam Thompson is a digital content producer for CBS Baltimore.
Proud Montgomery County, MD resident Gavriella Kaufmann (Potomac) won her episode of FOX’s game show “Name that Tune”, which aired last week.
Kaufmann, who was born and raised in Potomac and graduated from Churchill High School in 2015, stated in an interview with FOX 5, that she has always been into music and referred to herself as a music and game show savant. When she saw an ad on LinkedIn about being on season 4 of the game show, she immediately knew she had to do it.
“I’ve loved game shows for as long as I can remember, and music has always been a huge part of my life. Being on Name That Tune was the perfect combination of both passions—it was like a dream come true.” Kaufmann told us.
The episode had a happy ending, with Kaufmann winning a whopping $85,000! She added, “When I was on Name That Tune, I was so focused on doing my best and naming as many songs as possible that I completely lost track of the score. It wasn’t until Jane, the host, told me my total. I was in complete shock, but it was such an incredible moment!”
