According to Melissa Nash, Garrett and Allegany Project Manager for the Maryland Forest Service, “We are now seeing mostly yellow tones of maples and hickories mixed with still green oaks, but there are still some vibrant colors to be found. It seems we may now see more of a rolling peak this year, with waves of color rather than one sharper peak.”

In Allegany County, the far western region is experiencing color changes, while central and eastern parts of the county remain predominantly green. Yellow is the most common color emerging, with some trees already turning brown due to the dry conditions.

The Maryland Forest Service invites the public to submit their fall foliage photos for inclusion in their weekly reports. Photos may be featured in future reports, with credit given to the photographer.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

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Leaders from across Maryland gathered Tuesday for the second annual iMPACT MARYLAND conference at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall in Baltimore. The day’s events included four panelists from Johns Hopkins University —President Ron Daniels, Director of Sustainability Julian Goresko, School of Nursing Dean Sarah L. Szanton, and physician-entrepreneur Therese Canares, assistant professor of pediatrics at the School of Medicine and founder of CurieDx, which is developing an AI-powered home test for strep throat. Maryland governor and JHU alum Wes Moore, A&S ’01, also spoke.

iMPACT MARYLAND is an annual conference hosted by The Baltimore Banner and co-sponsored by Johns Hopkins University and Medicine. The event brings together top leaders and thinkers to discuss Maryland’s successes, struggles, and future. Topics at this year’s conference included working toward net zero emissions, utilizing artificial intelligence, addressing the shortage of health care workers, fighting the opioid epidemic, and rebuilding after the Key Bridge collapse.

Daniels participated in the day’s first panel, titled “Leadership in a time of uncertainty.” The panel also included Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman and University of Maryland Medical System President and CEO Mohan Suntha, and was moderated David M. Rubenstein, owner of the Baltimore Orioles and co-founder of the Carlyle Group.

Rubenstein asked Daniels about the university’s efforts to revitalize East Baltimore, home to the university’s medical campus, which includes Johns Hopkins Hospital as well as the schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Public Health.

“It’s been challenging at times, but there’s been a lot that’s been accomplished,” Daniels said. “There’s a fabulous new school that’s been built in East Baltimore that we operate with the school system. There’s a hotel. There’s a large urban park. There’s new housing, commercial activity. I think that is one very direct way … in which we’ve been able to impact the neighborhoods.”

Daniels also spoke about HopkinsLocal, the university’s commitment to bolster economic growth, investment, and employment in Baltimore by leveraging the institution’s spending and hiring practices. From 2020 to 2023 alone, Johns Hopkins spent $575.6 million at Baltimore City businesses and hired 2,762 employees from local neighborhoods, boosting the city’s economy.

“The real challenges for Baltimore reside in its growth rate, both in population and of course economically, and this is where [we are] becoming more intentional and thoughtful about how we do our mission,” Daniels said. “We have really sought to use our procurement, our construction, and our hiring abilities to strengthen the city.”

In the afternoon, Goresko participated a panel titled “Getting to Net Zero: The difficult path to sustainability.” He was joined by Meghan Conklin, chief sustainability officer for the Governor’s Office; Carim Khouzami, president and CEO of Baltimore Gas and Electric; and Ava Richardson, Baltimore’s sustainability director.

Goresko discussed the university’s efforts to reduce its environmental impact.

Image caption: Julian Goresko

Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University

“We were able to make a commitment in 2019 to the largest renewable energy agreement in the state of Maryland. We’ve reduced greenhouse gas emissions at the university by 57%. We purchase over 60% of our electricity from renewable sources. We’re making a Climate Action and Sustainability Plan with a commitment to reaching net zero by 2040 and purchasing all renewables for our electricity sources by 2030,” he said. “There are many things that we thought we couldn’t do that we’re doing today, … and so I think optimism, collaboration—these are critical across sectors as we work together.”

Goresko also touched on JHU’s unique environmental responsibilities as a research university.

“One of the narratives that really emerged in our planning work at Hopkins was around not just our role as stewards of the environment and how we operate around campuses and in buildings, but … research, development, and our role as an academic institution,” he said. “[We need to pursue] training the next generation of sustainability leaders in tandem with the operational things we’re talking about today.”

Szanton spoke on a panel exploring the shortage of health care workers in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, spotlight a pilot program she developed called Neighborhood Nursing, which brings health care to Baltimore neighborhoods—and reduces disparities—by linking every resident to a nurse and community health worker.

Canares discussed her digital health venture, CurieDX, on a panel that examined the far-reaching impact of artificial intelligence on our daily lives, with a focus on how AI-powered technology is transforming industries and revolutionizing the consumer experience.

Image credit: Will Kirk / Johns Hopkins University

No. 5 Maryland comprehensively beat No. 10 Iowa, 5-0, on the road Sunday, heavily leaning on its young core.

Missy Meharg said Thursday that her team was nearly there and just needed the final pieces to click offensively. The Terps responded to their coach’s challenge in style.

Maryland got off to a strong start, sustaining offensive pressure and refusing Iowa the opportunity to advance the ball. For a moment, it appeared it had found a breakthrough: Maci Bradford looped a ball in toward goalkeeper Mia Magnotta, where Fleur Knopert arrived out of nowhere to turn it home. A whistle from the referee pulled back the chance, though, leaving the Terps frustrated.

After a long review, the Hawkeyes won a penalty corner with just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter. The ball fell to Iowa’s Dionne van Aalsum, last season’s top goal scorer in the nation, but a strong knee from Alyssa Klebasko kept the ball away from goal.

At first, it appeared the game would be a defensive slugfest — each team had just one penalty corner, with one shot on goal coming from the penalty corner. It was unclear where the quality chances would come from, if they would come at all.

But early in the second quarter, the Terps found paydirt. Maryland won its second penalty corner of the game, which Deberdine slid in to Hope Rose. Rose took a quick shot on net, but before it could reach Magnotta, freshman Ella Gaitan shot out her stick. The sound of the ball crashing against the back of the net rang.

After the goal, the Terps slowed their game down considerably. Maryland allowed itself the time to be methodical, winning four penalty corners in quick succession. Shots from Josie Hollamon gave the Terps chances, but Iowa’s defense smothered those opportunities.

The Iowa offense, on the other hand, had trouble its their way through the Terps’ midfield, only making occasional forays toward the net throughout the first half. It only mustered one shot in the first half.

Then the Terps suddenly doubled their lead. Maryland won the ball high up the field, forcing a turnover more than 4 minutes into the third quarter. The ball was sent into Annemijn Klijnhout just inches from the gaping goalmouth, and the Dutch freshman made no mistake scoring her first goal for Maryland.

Iowa searched for a response on offense but did not find one, although van Aalsum came close, having picked up the ball with her back to the net just five feet away from Klebasko. van Aalsum spun and pump faked, sending the goalkeeper to the ground and unsettling the sticks of two defenders before rifling in a low drive that Klebasko reached out for and stopped with her glove.

The Terps continued to fully control of the game, highlighted late in the third quarter.

Maryland won its sixth penalty corner of the game, as Deberdine sent the ball in for Hollamon, who stopped it and sized up a shot before surprising the Iowa defense by sending the ball left to an unmarked Gaitan. Gaitan took the shot, lifting the ball into the top corner and pushing the Maryland lead to three.

As Maryland’s fourth consecutive win over Iowa looked all but confirmed, the Terps scored their fourth goal. Leah Horwitz sent in a low cross from along the baseline, and Bradford redirected it into the far corner for her second goal of the season.

And with the game all but over, Rose provided the cherry on top. With a smooth spin in the penalty circle, she set up a laser that sliced right between the legs of Magnotta and into the back of the net for the fifth and final goal of the game.

Three things to know

1. Maryland defense reigns supreme. In what all involved thought would be a defensive battle, Maryland came out comprehensively on top. Iowa spent nearly its entire offensive time possessing the ball in its own half. The Terps only allowed two shots on goal, all of which cam from van Aalsum.

2. Offensive explosion. The Terps scored nine goals over two games this weekend, the most they’ve managed over a single two-game weekend since September 2022. The last time they managed as many in a weekend without giving up a single goal was in October of 2019 — coincidentally, in games against Iowa and Indiana.

3. Big Ten play continues next week. The Terps will play their fifth conference game on Friday against Michigan State, with the game kicking off in East Lansing, Michigan, at 3 p.m. The Spartans have yet to win a conference game this year.