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New Maryland laws include ending Noah’s Law loophole, protecting children online

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New Maryland laws include ending Noah’s Law loophole, protecting children online


At the stroke of midnight, new laws took effect in Maryland on Tuesday, October 1st. Those laws stretch from increasing safety for everyone on the roadways to making it safer for children online.  

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One new law, in particular, ends the Noah’s Law loophole. The loophole essentially lets those caught driving drunk off the hook from being required to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle if they received probation before judgment. 

That ends on Tuesday.  

Noah’s law first passed in 2016 in memory of Montgomery County Police Officer Noah Leotta, who was killed by a drunk driver the year before. Advocates, including Noah’s father, Rich Leotta, have been fighting to close the loophole for nearly a decade. 

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“This is not just for Noah,” said Rich Leotta on Monday,” what always bothers me is … it took a public face to put in front to make smart decisions. I mean this tool basically just changes behavior and saves lives. It’s bene a long journey. Nine years for me, from first Noah’s Law to now. But we’re finally closing the loophole and making sure everyone that is arrested for impaired driving will get an interlock. 

The ignition interlock device works like a breathalyzer test in your car that has to be blown into before the driver is allowed to start their vehicle. Rich Leotta says he and advocates don’t know how many lives the device will save, but do know that about 70% of the time, when an ignition interlock device is required, those using the device do not repeat it. 

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READ MORE: Driver who struck, killed Officer Noah Leotta sentenced to 10 years in prison

There’s another big change now in place that seeks to protect children while online. It’s referred to as the “Maryland Kids Code.” 

Part of the measure will now prohibit big tech companies like Amazon, Meta, and Google from collecting certain data on kids and teens under 18-years-old.

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An advocate for the bill previously told FOX 5, in 2022, social media sold $11 billion-worth of ads targeted at children. 

“I think it’s much needed. There’s too much going on and kids don’t know what to do with that kind of information, that kind of access, it’s just too much,” said Alexandra Brown in Silver Spring on Tuesday morning. 

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READ MORE: Maryland lawmakers pass bill aimed at protecting kids online

Debra Etsy both agreed and disagreed. “Parents deal with so much and [there’s] so many avenues where children can get involved in things that they shouldn’t. And a little control is a good thing. But then again, I see the other option that it could be a bad thing. So, I’m kind of mixed to be honest with you – I’m really mixed about it, but parents need to have a little bit more control of what their children watch,” Etsy told FOX 5. 

Here’s the full list of laws taking effect October 1st from the Maryland General Assembly. 

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Severn scratch-off makes player a millionaire as Maryland Lottery pays $31.8M in prizes

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Severn scratch-off makes player a millionaire as Maryland Lottery pays .8M in prizes


A scratch-off ticket sold in Severn turned one Maryland Lottery player into a millionaire, leading a week in which the Lottery paid out more than $31.8 million in prizes statewide.

Maryland Lottery and Gaming said it paid more than $31.8 million in prizes from Feb. 23 through March 1, including 36 tickets worth $10,000 or more.

The top scratch-off prize claimed during that period was a $1 million winning $1,000,000 Crossword ticket sold at the Walmart at 407 George Clauss Boulevard in Severn. Another top winner was a $100,000 Red 5’s Doubler ticket sold at the Carroll Motor Fuel station at 2535 Cleanleigh Drive in Parkville.

Other scratch-off prizes claimed Feb. 23 through March 1 included two $50,000 winners: a 200X the Cash ticket sold at the Wawa at 7501 Pulaski Highway in Rosedale, and a $5,000,000 Luxe ticket sold at the Spring Hill Lake Mini Market at 9240 Spring Hill Lane in Greenbelt. A $30,000 Diamond Bingo 6th Edition ticket was sold at Tempo Lounge at 402 Back River Neck Road in Essex.

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ALSO READ | SUN | Maryland GOP unveils energy plan it says saves customers up to $40 a month

The Lottery also reported three $20,000 scratch-off winners, all on $1,000,000 Crossword tickets sold at Geresbeck’s Food Market at 8489 Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena; Hillandale Beer and Wine at 10117 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring; and Paddock Wine and Spirits at 7627 Woodbine Road in Woodbine.

The Lottery reminded players to sign the backs of tickets and keep winning tickets in a safe location.

The Lottery said the last dates to claim scratch-off tickets are posted on the scratch-offs page at mdlottery.com.

More information is available at mdlottery.com.

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SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned

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SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned


Advocacy groups are raising concerns over a warehouse in Washington County that is slated to become an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility after dozens of black SUVs were moved to the warehouse’s parking lot on Sunday.

“When federal enforcement vehicles begin lining the warehouse lot, it sends a clear message about what’s taking shape in our community,” said the organizer of Hagerstown Rapid Response, Claire Connor. “We refuse to let ICE quietly plant roots in Washington County without transparency, accountability and community consent.”

The 825,620-square-foot warehouse is located at 16220 Wright Road in Williamsport. Access to the facility was blocked by orange traffic barriers and signs outlining regulations and “governing conduct on federal property” with the Department of Homeland Security emblem at the top of the page.

In late January, Washington County issued a news release stating that on Jan. 14, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to the county’s historic district commission and department of planning and zoning regarding the property.

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Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun’s website.



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Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia

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Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia


An adult man was killed in a police-involved shooting in Columbia early Sunday, prompting an investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division.

Howard County police said officers were called on March 1, at about 12:09 a.m., to an apartment building in the 6400 block of Freetown Road for a report that involved an adult male threatening to harm himself.

According to police, at about 12:22 a.m., officers encountered the man outside the building. The man approached officers while holding a knife and ignored commands to drop the weapon, police said. Officers then shot the man.

ALSO READ | Gas leak explosion, fire in Prince George’s County leaves 1 injured

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Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officersrecovered a knife near the man.

No officers were injured, and the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras.

The Independent Investigations Division is investigating.

Anyone with information about this incident, including cell phone or private surveillance video, is asked to contact the IID at (410) 576–7070 or by email atIID@oag.maryland.gov.

The IID willgenerally releasethe name of the decedent and any involved officers within two business days of the incident, although that period may be extended, if necessary,pursuant toIID protocol.

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TheIID willgenerally releasebody-worn camera footage within 20 business days of an incident. There may be situations where more than 20 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to shield the identities of civilian witnesses, or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public.



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