Md. legislators consider more funding for suicide prevention; Annapolis has a new running festival

Do I have any olive fans out there? I know, just what you want to think about while you read your morning news and sip on coffee.

For those who can't get enough of the briny little guys, I tried out a new recipe this weekend you'll want to save for your next party — Dirty Martini Dip.

I found this one through Instagram legend, Babs (@brunchwithbabs), and it involves cream cheese, sour cream, blue cheese crumbles, and of course, olives. Adding vodka or gin is optional.

I highly recommend enjoying it with something light, like veggies, for dipping.

For those who read our latest cover package over the weekend, "Local development projects to watch in 2023," I want to quickly zoom in on just one of those efforts — the redo of Baltimore's historic Penn Station.

The renovation and expansion are now underway and there are big plans to add a new entry to the station that will service a new high-speed rail line, plenty of nice, landscaped areas for pedestrians and travelers, plus new retail, restaurants and office space.

Developers in the area have taken notice, like Chasen Companies , which will redo an 18-unit apartment building in Station North near the station.

Here's a look at the latest design proposals for Baltimore Penn Station .

Here's the news you need to jumpstart your week.

• Legislators in Maryland's General Assembly are likely to consider a bill that would fund the 988 suicide and crisis prevention hotline by $12 million in 2025. State Sen. Malcolm Augustine , a Democrat representing part of PG County, is sponsoring the bill to allocate state money to the cause. Funds would go toward existing crisis call centers, mobile crisis teams, crisis stabilization centers and more. The push for more funding follows an influx of federal money for the cause nationwide, however, Augustine and others say many of the call centers need to increase their capacity due to a high volume of calls. WYPR
• Amid troubles within the Maryland Prepaid College Trust that have left families struggling to pay tuition bills, the chair of the Maryland 529 board has resigned. Board Chair Peter Tsirigotis stepped down Friday, one day after state legislators criticized him and other agency leaders for not communicating and quickly resolving the issues with the trust. Since last spring, hundreds of Maryland 529 account holders have reported problems, including an inability to access their money or that the account did not accrue the expected interest. Baltimore Sun
• What's that sweet smell in the air? Tax season. The IRS began accepting tax returns for 2022 earnings on Jan. 23, but be aware — your refund is likely to be smaller this year. According to financial experts, many Americans will see smaller refunds, or even owe the government money, because of a few factors including the end of what was known as the enhanced child credit. A halt on stimulus checks that padded many Americans' pockets amid the pandemic also plays a role. NPR
• Some residents in northwest Baltimore's Grove Park neighborhood are opposing plans to build a new skilled nursing facility that would replace a former elementary school. At a town hall meeting last week, residents shared concerns about traffic, property values and the loss of the school as a community space. CommuniCare Health Services , which was awarded a bid by the city for the former Grove Park Elementary School site, wants to build a 140-bed facility that would create 200 jobs. The sale of the school that closed in 2018 is not yet final. WBAL-TV
• Annapolis is getting its own running festival this year on March 11. The first-of-its-kind event organized by Corrigan Sports Enterprises will include three distances for runners: a 5K, 10K and half marathon. The races will start and finish at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, and the half marathon will pass through downtown Annapolis. Corrigan will now work with local nonprofits to raise funds for the event. Baltimore Sun
• There's a new cocktail bar in downtown Sykesville — The Local Motive. The bar was opened on Jan. 12 by three friends and residents of the Carroll County town, Colleen Wittig, her husband Tyler Wittig and his brother Michael Wittig. In addition to cocktails, the bar also serves snacks, salads, sandwiches and mocktails. The Local Motive takes the place of Market Tavern. Baltimore Sun
• Maryland and Virginia's annual winter dredge survey is underway, a research process that allows the states to develop harvest regulations for commercial crabbers. Crews from both states' natural resources departments have been out on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries dredging the muddy bottom because that's where crabs hibernate, deep beneath the mud. WYPR
• This a sad note to close out today's column. This morning my thoughts are with The Wichita Business Journal , which lost editor Bill Roy on Sunday to complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Roy, 61, was diagnosed with ALS in the fall of 2019. He had been the WBJ's editor since 2003, and I know he was a beloved editor and friend to many at the paper and across the American City Business Journals network. WBJ

This newsletter was compiled by Carley Milligan, Digital Editor at the Baltimore Business Journal. I can be reached at [email protected].