Did anyone else watch the extremely tight Georgia runoff election for Senate?
I caught a bit of the returns and wow — it truly came down to the wire with Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock winning with 51.3% of the vote, compared to Republican Herschel Walker's 48.6%. The win gives Dems a 51-49 Senate majority. NPR
In lighter news, and much closer to home, I want to share an article we published earlier this week that explores the new home and future growth plans of a local business, Sandtown Furniture Co.
The reclaimed wood furniture maker last month moved into its new HQ inside an absolutely beautiful, 137-year-old industrial building. The design pairs unfinished walls and exposed ductwork with modern lighting and a massive glass wall for a stunning effect that allows visitors to experience the furniture and the making of it all at once. The new facility will also help
Sandtown Furniture Co.
grow its newest operation, an urban sawmill in the
Baltimore Peninsula
.
Now, for your daily news roundup.
- Maryland state government agencies are now banned from using the highly-popular video platform
TikTok
, and several other products, due to potential cybersecurity risks, Gov. Larry Hogan announced yesterday. TikTok is owned by a Chinese company that has been targeted by some American politicians over concerns that the Chinese government can access user data. Hogan's directive also bans the use of other companies and products including Tencent QQ, QQ Wallet, WeChat, AliPay and Kaspersky. In a statement, Hogan cited a "reasonable belief" of risks including cyber-espionage, government surveillance, collection of personal information and disinformation or misinformation campaigns. Governors in other states have recently made similar moves to block the app that FBI director Chris Wray has said could be a national security threat. Baltimore Sun
- Baltimore City will expand its anti-violence program into the Southwestern police district in early 2023, and go citywide by 2024. The Group Violence Reduction Strategy has been piloted over the past year in the city's Western police district and aims to address the underlying reasons for crime before it reaches a violent point. The program uses cohorts of community members to influence each other's behavior, specifically to reject violence. City police data shows there was a 33.8% drop in total monthly homicides between 2021 and 2022 in the Western district. Notably, Baltimore has once again exceeded 300 homicides across the city so far this year. WYPR
- It's been a long, long, long time coming but work has finally begun on
Under Armour
's new global headquarters campus in the Baltimore Peninsula development at Port Covington. The project was first unveiled way back in 2016, but now the new 280,000 square foot office, retail and fitness building is underway and expected to open by the end of next year. Teammate Building 2 will have a futuristic stadium look and will include a track and field facility. SouthBmore
- A new Harford County Councilman's position is being questioned because he also serves as a public county school teacher in his day job. Some on the council say the dual positions are a violation of the county charter, arguing Councilman Jacob Bennett cannot work for the superintendent and oversee budgeting and other decisions the council may make regarding the county school system. But Bennett — and the teacher's union that supports him — says it's all partisan politics and there's plenty of levels of removal between the two groups. Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly said that if the council's lawyers don't take Bennett to court over this, his lawyers will. WBAL-TV
- The maker of Juul e-cigarettes will pay Maryland $13 million as part of a resolution of a multistate investigation into the company's marketing and sales practices toward underage customers. Overall,
Juul Labs
will pay $434 million to 33 states and territories over the next five to nine years — $476 million if the company takes the full nine years to pay. Baltimore Sun
- A new Mexican cantina and tequila bar has opened in Anne Arundel County. Anejo Rose Cantina & Tequila Bar opened yesterday within
The Hotel at Arundel Preserve
Preserve. The restaurant will serve tacos, quesadillas, apps like guacamole and queso fundido and specialties including enchiladas and bowls with chicken or salmon. Instagram
- The Roland Park Community Foundation this month unveiled a sweeping vision for a new park. Hillside Park is expected to be built on land owned by the Baltimore County Club, which the foundation is working to purchase. Next, the group will need to raise money — about $3 million — hire a design team and continue meeting with community members to determine what the park will include. They hope to acquire the land by mid-2023. Baltimore Fishbowl
- If you're a Baltimore resident or frequent city visitor, you've likely seen by now one of our very cool, painted salt boxes. Well, the artist that started painting the salt boxes has now moved on to a new medium — old pay phones.
Juliet Ames
, who owns The Broken Plate Co., has started decorating the phones and has already done about 30 of them around the city. WBAL-TV
