Latest news with #AnneArundel
CBS News
07-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Flood watch for heavy storms across parts of Maryland Monday
Hot and muggy air will fuel numerous showers and thunderstorms later this morning through the afternoon hours, especially areas along and east of I-95. Any of these downpours could cause flash flooding with flood watches in effect. More numerous showers and strong to severe thunderstorms will impact more of our area Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon and evening bringing more possible travel disruptions. Flood watches for parts of central and eastern Maryland Today is a WJZ First Alert Weather Day for the possibility of heavy rain and flash flooding mainly for communities along and east of interstate 95. A Flood Watch has been issued for southeastern areas of Baltimore and Harford counties along with all of Anne Arundel, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, Caroline, and Talbot counties from late morning through this evening for the potential of flash flooding. If you see flood waters, turn around, don't drown. This air will be tropical and heavy today with with spotty hit or miss heavy rain showers through the morning commute. Rain showers and thunderstorms will become more numerous mid to late morning through the afternoon and evening hours. Rainfall rates in any of the heavier showers and storms could range from 2 to 3 inches per hour. Not every neighborhood will get one of these storms, but areas that do need to be aware of rapidly changing weather conditions. Areas that receive repetitive thunderstorms today could see upwards of 5" of rain. The greatest chance of rain remains east of I-95 between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Rain quickly diminishes and shifts out of our area by early evening with just a leftover thunderstorm possible north and west toward evening. Areas north and west of I-95 today will be much drier than areas along and east of it. Temperatures today will be warm and muggy with highs in the middle to upper 80s. Strong to severe storms possible Tuesday and Wednesday More heavy rain and strong thunderstorms are likely Tuesday afternoon and evening. Additional strong to severe storms are also possible Wednesday. Tuesday has been upgraded to a First Alert Weather Day for the potential of strong to severe storms from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. Given saturated grounds from recent showers and thunderstorms along with tropical humidity in place, the table is set for more potential flash flooding Tuesday afternoon and evening. Saturated grounds and strong thunderstorm wind gusts may also knock down some trees and powerlines. A similar scenario may play out on Wednesday, especially during the afternoon and evening. Scattered to numerous thunderstorms will develop during the afternoon and evening hours with an additional flash flood and wind damage threat. We will continue to monitor the latest day for Wednesday and may upgrade it to a First Alert Weather Day. Both days will be very hot and muggy with highs in the lower to middle 90s and feels like temperatures in the 100s. Summer heat, humidity, and storms into the weekend More showers and thunderstorms will be boiling up along a stalled frontal boundary across our area. While a shower or thunderstorm could pop-up at just about anytime, the best chances for showers and storms will be during the afternoon and evening hours. When it's not raining, expect variable clouds, warm, and tropical humidity. Highs in the middle to upper 80s with feels like temperatures in the lower 90s. Stay with the First Alert Weather Team for more updates on possible additional severe weather watches and warnings over the upcoming week.
CBS News
07-07-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Demolition work to begin on final remnants of Baltimore's collapsed Key Bridge this week
A major milestone in the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is expected start this week. The Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) says the demolition of what's left of the collapsed bridge could begin as early as Monday, weather permitting. The demolition efforts in the Patapsco River will take several months with the use of heavy machinery, the state warned. There won't be any controlled detonations during this phase of the demolition, and the remaining sections of the bridge will be taken down piece by piece. The demolition is the first step to getting an economic engine and transportation connector back in Baltimore. It was also an anchor in the city's skyline, with an unmatched view Residents are ready for a new Key Bridge Residents in Anne Arundel County say they are looking forward to the construction process of the new cable-stay bridge, which will serve as the new gateway to Baltimore. "I'm hoping to be wowed by the new bridge," said Severn resident Lee Stringham. "I'm hoping they stay on schedule for one thing. I use that bridge almost twice a month to go to Essex for golfing." Others are hoping for a safer bridge that will reconnect Anne Arundel and Baltimore counties. "It is a tragedy that the bridge fell, but also it's much better…we are going to have a new bridge, something safer to ride over and cut down on the traffic," said Glen Burnie resident Linda Tisdale. "I think for people who live on this side… the Key Bridge was like a shortcut." What will the demolition look like? Work will start with the removal of the bridge deck over the river, then demolition of sections over Hawkins Point and Sollers Point. Crews will initially remove parts of the collapsed bridge that stand in the way of the alignment of the Key Bridge rebuild, which is expected to be completed in 2028. What should nearby residents expect? There will be tug and barge operations on the river, with heavy equipment and trucks seen on the remaining bridge structure. MDTA says boats and those in the waterways should avoid the collapse site near the demolition process. Demolition crews will use excavators, concrete saws, vacuums, cranes, and trucks. Heavy and loud construction work will be from 7 a.m. through 7 p.m. What's next for the Key Bridge rebuild? The Key Bridge reconstruction project will cost about $2 billion, and it will take about four years to complete. Pre-construction activities began in January 2025, which included inspections of nearby properties, riverbed scanning, and soil sample collection. In February, the MDTA authorized three contracts worth $20 million each for construction management and inspection services. A new cable-stay design revealed in February shows that the new structure will visually resemble the original bridge while implementing structural improvements. The new Key Bridge will be taller to better accommodate ship traffic, with the federal shipping channel expanding from 700 to 1,000 feet wide and the base raised by 45 feet to a height of 230 feet. The bridge roadway will still be two lanes wide going in each direction. Other pier support structures will be implemented to secure the structure. According to the MDTA, other bridge features include: Two 12-foot lanes in each direction, 10-foot-wide outside shoulders and 4-foot-wide inside shoulders per direction of travel Total Bridge length more than 2 miles Two bridge towers more than 600 feet tall Distance between main span pylons exceeding 1,600 feet Total length of cable-stayed main span exceeding 3,300 feet Expected life span of 100 years "Our new bridge will also be constructed in accordance with the most advanced industry standards and the very best in infrastructure design," Maryland Gov. Moore said. "We are going to use the best materials available and employ many Marylanders to build it." Who is paying for the new Key Bridge? In December 2024, Congress passed a deal on a federal spending package, which allocated $100 billion for disaster relief, including the entire cost of a new Key Bridge. At the time, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the efforts to complete the work on a new Key Bridge were "on time and on budget." "The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a national crisis, and meeting the moment would require an act of national unity," Moore said. "Now, we must bring our work to completion by rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge." How did Baltimore's Key Bridge collapse? On March 26, 2024, the cargo ship DALI, a 948-foot vessel managed by Singapore-based company Synergy Marine Group, lost power before crashing into the Key Bridge, according to investigators. Six construction workers performing road work on the bridge died after falling into the Patapsco River. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the ship lost power four times in 12 hours before the collision. The NTSB blamed MDTA for not conducting a critical vulnerability assessment on the Key Bridge, which it said could have identified the structure's risk of collapse. The NTSB review found the level of risk for a catastrophic collapse for the Key Bridge was nearly 30 times higher than acceptable risk levels. "The MDTA would've had information to proactively identify strategies to reduce the risk of a collapse and loss of lives associated with a vessel collision with the bridge," NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said.
CBS News
24-06-2025
- CBS News
Maryland parents post pink signs to protest teacher's sexual abuse not guilty verdict
Parents planted pink signs in an Anne Arundel County town on Tuesday in the aftermath of an elementary school teacher being found not guilty of child sex abuse. Matthew Schlegel, a 45-year-old math teacher at Severna Park Elementary School, was released on his own recognizance after he was cleared of 18 counts of abuse of students at the school. Parents made roughly 2,000 pink signs in support of he young students who testified against their teacher during a weeks-long trial. The signs across town read, "We stand with our girls" and "We believe them." "They know that these are houses where they can feel safe," said Severna Park parent Hannah Warzoah. "They know that they're believed and they're cared about." Students testify against Schlegel Five 10-year-old girls testified that Schlegel touched them inappropriately in class and withstood hours of cross-examination. In 2024, Schlegel was arrested and was accused of sexually abusing eight students during class time between 2022 and 2024. He denied every allegation. On June 18, a jury returned with a partial verdict, which found Schlegel not guilty. Jurors were unable to agree on the three remaining charges. The parents of the children who testified left the courtroom devastated. Schlegel was released the day after the verdict. In the meantime, the mother of one of the alleged victims told WJZ the signs are a "lifeline" and "Paint the Park Pink" is a call for justice, accountability, and healing. "Even though we all felt universally hurt and horrified last week, coming out of it is a movement that hopefully will prevent this from happening again," Warzoah said. Petition calls for Schlegel's firing Parents started a petition demanding that Anne Arundel County Public Schools immediately fire Schlegel, who had been suspended after his arrest. He became a teacher at Severna Park Elementary School in 2016. A spokesperson for AACPS told WJZ the district will finalize its review regarding Schlegel's job status and employment assignment, "by our obligations under state law." Parents were holding a community meeting at Hatton Beach on Tuesday to organize and shape their response.
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Anne Arundel's Steuart Pittman elected new chair of Maryland Democratic Party
BALTIMORE — The Maryland Democratic Party unanimously elected Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman as its new party chair Saturday, according to a news release. Pittman was the preferred choice of Gov. Wes Moore and outgoing party chair Ken Ulman, who left June 13 after less than two years on the job. The new leader will be tasked with shaping Maryland Democrats' strategy after perhaps the toughest state legislative session in recent memory and ahead of critical elections next year. 'Steuart Pittman's success, experience, and leadership in Anne Arundel County is a significant asset for Democrats across the state,' Moore said in the release. 'He has a track record of winning tough races and knows how to get things done.' Pittman, who has served as county executive since 2018, presided over crime reductions in Anne Arundel and led the county to earn the first two AAA bond ratings in its history. He worked as a community organizer at the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now before holding elected office, according to the release. 'I hope to utilize my background and experience to elect as many Democrats as possible and continue to move Maryland forward,' Pittman said in the release. Pittman told The Baltimore Sun last month that the actions of President Donald Trump, which have greatly impacted the large base of federal workers in Maryland, give the Democratic Party a 'huge opportunity to grow.' 'People who voted for Trump voted for a lot of reasons,' Pittman said. 'And most of them didn't know that they were electing somebody who was going to threaten the economic well-being of the state.' According to the release, Pittman will close out his personal campaign account to legally assume the party chair position by the end of June. Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party is an unpaid position. As Pittman is term-limited as Anne Arundel County executive, three Democrats have already jumped into the race to replace him: County Council members Allison Pickard and Pete Smith, as well as James Kitchin, a special assistant to Pittman who was previously a teacher and public policy researcher.
CBS News
15-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Personal health data potentially compromised after cyber incident in Anne Arundel County
Patient health data may be compromised after a cyber incident impacting Anne Arundel County. The attack happened between Jan. 28 and Feb. 22. On Thursday, the county said issued a statement saying the incident potentially impacted personal information of people who received treatment at the county's Health Department. "The ongoing investigation subsequently determined that there was unauthorized access to a limited subset of the county's network between January 28, 2025 and February 22, 2025, and that certain files within the network were accessed or downloaded without authorization during that time," the county said. What information was affected? Personal information that could have been impacted in the breach, includes names, addresses and medical conditions, according to the county. Officials say they don't believe financial information was compromised. "The county is working with technical consultants to figure out what information was in the affected files and who it belongs to," officials said Thursday. The county is currently notifying individuals through news releases, and the Anne Arundel County government website. The county will contact individuals directly once identified. How did the cyber incident unfold? The data breach announcement comes nearly three months after the initial cyber problems disrupted county services. County buildings closed temporarily on Feb. 24, reopening the next day with limited services. Officials restricted internet access as a precaution while working to restore systems. Other Maryland agencies face similar incidents Baltimore City Public Schools experienced a cyberattack in February that exposed personal information of employees, volunteers, contractors, and some students. That breach potentially revealed social security numbers, driver's license numbers, and passport information. Baltimore schools notified affected people by mail on April 22 and offered free credit monitoring for two years.
