8 things to know: Howard County starts process to revamp business park

Good morning, Greater Baltimore.

It's Thursday, January 11 and it's certainly much dryer than it was the past 24 hours.

I've been pretty busy this week so I don't have some sort of anecdote about how I went to some brand new French-Italian fusion restaurant that opened up or how I had a drink with some Maryland native that everyone knows about and likes. Being on Baltimore Twitter for as long as I have been, I'm not even sure who would qualify as being universally liked here. Ed Reed?

Anyway, let's get to the news, fully and properly linked for all the nice people.

Amazon cuts hundreds of jobs

Amazon cut hundreds of jobs Wednesday across several of its business divisions, including on popular streaming service Twitch. CNN reports that the tech giant it is laying off 500 people as part of cost-cutting measures across the company.

Walmart experimenting with AI

Walmart is experimenting with AI technology and drones in an attempt to improve the shopping experience. NPR reports that the company announced during a keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that it will be expanding its use of drone delivery to 1.8 million additional households in Texas later this year. In addition, the company also announced new AI technology geared toward the consumer experience, including "InHome Replenishment," which looks to use AI to learn shopping habits and help keep things like groceries fully stocked at home.

Amtrak files more eminent domain suits in Baltimore for tunnel project

Hey! I wrote this one. The Baltimore Business Journal's own Phil Davis (that's me!) reports that Amtrak is looking to seize four more properties in Baltimore's Midtown-Edmondson neighborhood as part of its Frederick Douglass Tunnel project. The latest federal lawsuits now bring the number of eminent domain attempts by the transportation company up to at least eight, with Amtrak having also spent a little more than $1 million to purchase properties in the area.

Baltimore-area restaurant weeks start Friday

Are you ready for restaurant week(s) in Greater Baltimore? No?! Well, thankfully, we employ a reporter by the name of Morgan Simpson, who has all of the details of what deals and events to expect during the next few weeks throughout the area. This article will pair nicely with either an aged pinot grigio or a tall boy Natty Boh.

Baltimore Homecoming names new executive director

Baltimore Homecoming announced Wednesday that Mandy Snyder, the previous leader of the development team at Junior Achievement of Central Maryland, will become the organization's new executive director. In a release, the organization said Snyder was chosen following a search by Baltimore Homecoming's board of directors. Snyder will "manage all of the organization's operations with a strong focus on fundraising and cultivating an impact-driven network of high-profile Baltimore alumni," according to the release. Baltimore Homecoming, which shifted its model last year, is focused on strengthening relationships with high-profile Baltimore ex-pats and encouraging more investment in Baltimore City.

SEC signs off on rule changes for bitcoin ETFs

In a ruling where I understand all of the words being used, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved rule changes late Wednesday to allow the creation of bitcoin exchange-traded funds in the United States. CNBC reports that the creation of bitcoin ETFs "is widely expected to bring more legitimacy and investor interest to an industry marred by the recent collapse of prominent cryptocurrency exchanges." I'm sure the blockchain will also become more fortified or something.

Howard County launches Gateway Master Plan effort to retool business park

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball on Tuesday kicked off the process to create a "Gateway Master Plan," which would guide efforts to transform the 1,000+ acre Gateway Business Park into a "new innovation district." In a release, the county executive's office said that the plan "will address multiple elements, including innovation, economic development, housing, development phasing, environment and energy independence, urban design and architecture, and land use and public facilities." The master planning process will last until early 2025 before the plan goes before the Howard County Planning Board and Howard County Council for approval.

Bosses want to work from home as much as employees do

Ah yes, the now seemingly eternal debate over whether companies should require workers to report to the office on a regular basis ever since the Covid-19 pandemic forced many industries to allow employees to do their jobs from home. Bosses all over the country have started requiring workers to come back into the office several days a week but... Hey, wait a minute! They don't want to necessarily come to the office either, according to a new survey of 3,000 American workers and managers from software firm Checkr. According to CNBC, 68% of middle managers, executives and business owners who participated in the survey would like remote work to continue in 2024. Perhaps we can all unite (over Zoom while wearing sweatpants) and settle our differences if we all have similar feelings about mandatory in-office work hours.