Baltimore Ranks Near Bottom of Safest Cities List 2024-10-09

Baltimore came in near the bottom of the list of the safest cities in America, ranking 177th out of 182 cities. The report by WalletHub compared more than 180 U.S. cities across 41 key metrics, including traffic fatalities per capita, assaults per capita, unemployment rate, and percentage of the population that is uninsured. South Burlington, VT was named the safest city in America, followed by Casper, WY at No. 2.

environmental crime

Baltimore Man Accused of Illegally Dumping Hazardous Waste 2024-10-09

Maryland officials accused a Baltimore man of illegally dumping containers of barium nitrate and flammable liquids throughout the city in February 2023 after the owner and employee of a shipping business paid him to dispose of the hazardous materials. The objective, prosecutors allege, was to free up space in the company's leased portion of an Eastern Avenue warehouse. The three defendants, including the business owner and his employee, are due in Baltimore Circuit Court on Nov. 8.

prison reform

Maryland Prisons Struggle with Staffing Shortages and Aging Facilities 2024-10-09

The staffing challenges facing Maryland's prison system, including a fence in disrepair and faulty radios, have led to a ripple effect of issues such as lockdowns, depleted programming, and shuttered recreation areas. Union officials have attributed spiking assaults on both staff and prisoners to the staffing shortages. State Sen. Mike McKay said potential prison closures are on the table as a solution to the problems.