Maryland

Public employees and the private job market: Where will fired federal workers in Maryland find jobs? – WTOP News

Published

1 year ago

March 8, 2025

Public employees and the private job market: Where will fired federal workers in Maryland find jobs? – WTOP News

Fired federal workers are looking at what their futures hold. One question that’s come up: Can they find similar salaries and benefits in the private sector?

Across the D.C. area, fired federal workers are looking at what their futures hold. One question that’s come up: Can they find similar salaries and benefits in the private sector?

During Thursday’s presentation by Maryland’s Board of Revenue Estimates, Robert Rehrman, director of the Bureau of Revenue Estimates, noted the comparatively high salaries that many of the state’s 161,000 federal workers earn.

“In recent years, the federal government has been employing a lot of folks,” Rehrman said. And in many cases, he continued, “Federal wages and employment has outpaced our private sector.”

“There are six counties where the average wage is $124,000 or higher,” Rehrman said. The highest earners, he said, are in Montgomery County, where the incomes are roughly $146,000.

“This is being driven by HHS, specifically, the FDA and the NIH,” he said. Many of those positions belong to employees who are in the medical and STEM fields with advanced degrees, he explained.

There are also seven counties where the government wages are double or greater than those in existing private sector jobs, Rehrman said.

Among the questions being asked, according to Rehrman, is, “How quickly can these individuals be reemployed, and can they gain wages similar to what they had as a federal employee?”

While trying to determine just how many people could be losing their jobs, Rehrman said they’ve analyzed announcements from each federal agency targeted for job reductions.

“Of the more than 100,000 job reductions that we think are in process, we think a little more than 11,000 will occur in Maryland,” he said.

Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman asked, “Will these federal workers stay in Maryland and find new jobs in the private sector? Can the private sector absorb them?”

On Thursday, Republican Senate Minority Leader Stephen Hershey issued a statement calling for “economic diversification.”

“No matter who has been in the White House, economists have warned for at least 20 years that our economy is too dependent on federal jobs,” Hershey wrote.

Hershey added that Maryland’s continued reliance on federal jobs makes “budget planning challenging when federal spending fluctuates.”

In an interview with WTOP, Senate Majority Whip Justin Ready, a Republican whose district includes Carroll County and part of Frederick County, said, “We have a lot of improving to do, and raising taxes on job creators and the so-called high earners, many of whom are job creators and investors themselves, is not the way to go.”

Ready was referring to bills in the General Assembly that would boost taxes and fees and Gov. Wes Moore’s plan to create two new tax brackets that target high earners — those earning $500,000 at 6.25% and those earning over $1 million at 6.5%.

Democratic lawmakers also proposed a business-to-business tax that’s intended to generate $1 billion, another measure designed to help shore up the state’s finances.

Ready said there’s a real urgency to improve the business climate in the state, and said the fiscal woes of the state “are entirely a self-inflicted problem.” He called for “common sense spending reforms and changes.”

“We’ve got to make our state more friendly and attractive to job creators of all kinds,” Ready said.

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Maryland

Celebrating America 250, July 4 in Maryland | Here’s what you need to know

Published

4 hours ago

June 28, 2026

Press Room

Celebrating America 250, July 4 in Maryland | Here’s what you need to know

MARYLAND (WBFF) — Marylanders won’t have to wait until July 4 to celebrate Independence Day.

Communities across the state are hosting fireworks displays, festivals, concerts and family-friendly events leading up to the Fourth of July, with many continuing through the holiday weekend as the nation marks America’s 250th anniversary.

Here’s a look at some of the celebrations happening around Maryland.

Send us your photos here!

Baltimore Metro: Sunday, June 28

Hereford Independence Day Parade & Fireworks

Time: Parade at 6 p.m.; festival at 7:30 p.m.; fireworks at dusk
Where: Parade begins on Mount Carmel Road, heads north on York Road and ends at Bunker Hill Road. Fireworks at Hereford High School.
Rain date: June 29

Baltimore Metro: Friday, July 3

Glen Burnie Fireworks

Time: 9 p.m.
Where: Saw Mill Park

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Star-Spangled 250

Time: Evening performance
Where: Oregon Ridge
Details: Patriotic concert featuring the “1812 Overture” with a fireworks finale. Tickets required.

Baltimore Metro: Saturday, July 4

92nd annual Dundalk Parade

Time: Begins at 8:15 a.m.
Where: The parade starts at the Logan Village Shopping Center.
Details: It’s the longest continually running parade in Maryland!

Baltimore Inner Harbor Celebration

Time: Live entertainment from 4-9:30 p.m.; fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
Where: Waterfront Promenade
Details: Performances by the Navy Band Commodores, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Wordsmith.

Cherry Hill Arts & Music Waterfront Festival

Time: 1-10 p.m.
Where: Middle Branch Park
Details: Free festival featuring live music, children’s activities, art experiences and waterfront views of the city’s fireworks.

Park & Relax at the Baltimore Museum of Industry

Time: 6-10 p.m.
Details: Waterfront viewing party with live jazz, face painting and fireworks. Tickets required.

Catonsville Independence Day Celebration

Time: Parade at 3 p.m.; Family Fun Fest at 6:30 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
Where: Parade on Frederick Road; fireworks at Catonsville High School.
Rain date: July 5

Dundalk Fireworks Spectacular

Time: Festivities begin in the evening; fireworks around 9:15 p.m.
Where: North Point Government Center
Details: Live music, carnival rides, food vendors and family activities.
Rain date: July 5

Fullerton Fireworks Celebration & Music Festival

Time: Food and music begin at 2 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
Where: Fullerton Park
Details: Free admission.
Rain date: July 11

Middle River Fireworks Extravaganza

Time: 9 p.m.
Where: Fireworks launched from the Middle River 6-knot zone.

Towson Fireworks

Time: Dusk (approximately 9:10-9:30 p.m.)
Where: Loch Raven Technical Academy

Baltimore Metro: Sunday, July 5

Kingsville Fireworks

Time: Parking opens at 5:30 p.m.; festivities begin at 6 p.m.; fireworks around 9-9:15 p.m.
Where: Mount Vista Park

Havre de Grace Celebration

Time: Parade at 2 p.m.; concert at 7:30 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
Where: Concord Point Park and Susquehanna River waterfront.

Central Maryland: Wednesday, July 1

Queen Anne’s County Fireworks & Family Fun Celebration

Time: 6 p.m.
Where: Chesapeake Heritage & Visitors Center, Kent Narrows
Details: Kids zone, live music and fireworks.
Rain date: July 2

Central Maryland: Friday, July 3

Mount Airy Fireworks

Time: Gates open at 4 p.m.; festivities begin at 5 p.m.; fireworks around 9:30 p.m.
Where: Mount Airy Fireman’s Carnival Grounds

Taneytown Fireworks

Time: 6-10 p.m.
Where: Taneytown Memorial Park

Central Maryland: Saturday, July 4

Frederick’s 4th

Time: Noon until dusk
Where: Baker Park
Details: Entertainment, rides, food vendors and fireworks.

Carroll County Farm Museum

Time: Gates open at 4 p.m.; fireworks at sundown.
Where: Westminster
Details: Live music, food and the county’s largest fireworks display.

Sykesville Let Freedom Ring Parade

Time: 10 a.m.
*Where: Historic Main Street

Capital Region: Saturday, July 4

Annapolis Independence Day Celebration

Time: Parade at 6:30 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
Where: Downtown Annapolis and Spa Creek

Howard County Celebration

Time: 5-10 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
Where: Columbia Lakefront

Rockville Independence Day Celebration

Time: 7-10 p.m.
Where: Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park

Upper Montgomery County Fireworks

Time: Gates open at 4 p.m.
Where: Poolesville Soccer Fields

Eastern Shore: Friday, July 3

Rock Hall Fireworks Over the Harbor

Where: Rock Hall Harbor
Details: Parade, midway games and fireworks.

Berlin Fireworks

Time: Dusk
Where: Heron Park

Eastern Shore: Saturday, July 4

Ocean City Fireworks

Where: Downtown Beach and Northside Park
Details: Music and fireworks at two locations.

Red, White & BOOM

*Time: Activities begin at 5 p.m.; fireworks around 9 p.m.
*Where: Salisbury

Southern Maryland: Friday, July 3

Chesapeake Beach Fireworks

Time: Dusk
Where: Waterfront and Fishing Creek Bridge

St. Mary’s Freedom Fest

Where: St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds
Details: Free event featuring live entertainment, vendors, kids activities and fireworks.

Southern Maryland: Saturday, July 4

Charles County Fairgrounds Celebration

Time: 3-10 p.m.
Where: La Plata
Details: Live music, food, family activities and fireworks.

More Fourth of July Celebrations (No Fireworks)

Bel Air Independence Day Parade – July 4 at 6 p.m.
B&O Railroad Museum’s 250th All-American Bash – July 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Cape St. Claire Parade – July 4 at 10 a.m.
Eastport Parade – July 4 at 9 a.m.
Galesville July Fourth Parade – July 4 from 1-4 p.m.
Severna Park Parade – July 4 at 10 a.m.
West Annapolis Bike Parade – July 4 at 10:30 a.m.
River Hill Independence Day Parade – July 4 at 9 a.m.

Planning to attend?

Many communities expect large crowds and limited parking. Organizers encourage attendees to arrive early, allow extra travel time and check individual event websites or social media pages for weather updates, parking information and any last-minute schedule changes.

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Maryland

Parents of former Maryland athlete killed in 2024 car crash start foundation in his honor

Published

14 hours ago

June 27, 2026

Press Room

Parents of former Maryland athlete killed in 2024 car crash start foundation in his honor

A Minnesota Vikings player Khyree Jackson (left), 24, and two of his former Wise High School football teammates Isaiah Hazel (middle), 23, and Anthony Lytton, Jr., 24 (right), died after a three-car crash in Prince George’s County, Md. on July 6, 2024. (AP Images, University of Maryland, and Penn State)

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Maryland

Off-and-on weekend showers before intense heat builds in Maryland

Published

1 day ago

June 27, 2026

Press Room

Off-and-on weekend showers before intense heat builds in Maryland

Happy Saturday, Maryland!

A muggy weekend is ahead with some wet weather. High levels of heat and humidity come into play around midweek.

Weekend showers

A stationary front has made it’s way to the mid-Atlantic for this weekend. Due to the lack of movement with this front, it’ll keep cloud cover in our forecast. We’ll also be seeing a little bit of rain from this.

Showers will be off-and-on through the day. There will be many periods across the state where we see just clouds at some points of the day. While a washout isn’t expected, we could still see a few bouts of heavy rain. The atmosphere is so humid this weekend (and beyond) so that increases the likelihood of heavier rain with the stationary front nearby. The overall risk for thunderstorms is low and severe weather is not expected.

Sunday’s forecast is trending a little drier. A few spot showers are still possible. Again, it won’t be a washout of a day to close the weekend.

Highs on Saturday hover closer to 80° while Sunday warms into the low to mid-80s.

Dangerous heat incoming

Monday and Tuesday feature afternoons with near-normal temperatures closer to 90°. Those two days also bring dry conditions.

Once we get into the middle of the week, we’ll be battling very high – and dangerous – levels of heat and humidity.

Wednesday is forecast to get into the upper 90s, close to 100°. Thursday and Friday could see high temperatures that surpass 100° in a number of areas in the state. Here we are talking about *air temperatures*, which is before you factor in any humidity. With humidity included, “feels-like” temperatures or heat index values could pass 105°. Due to the combination of heat and humidity, the First Alert Weather team has issued four Possible Alert Days starting Wednesday into the Fourth of July holiday on Saturday.

It’s not just the daytime temperatures, either.

Overnight, we won’t feel much relief. Overnight lows in the mid to upper 70s – and even low 80s – will be rough for those who don’t have adequate air conditioning or another way to keep cool.

We could see the heat begin to break next weekend with a chance for storms Saturday.

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