Purple Line decision day?
His press staff won’t confirm whether Gov. Larry Hogan’s Thursday afternoon press conference is about the Purple Line, but many suspect the major announcement about “transportation infrastructure” is just that. [Washington Post]
The announcement could include news about the Baltimore Red Line, another state light-rail project that many see as intertwined with the Purple Line. [Baltimore Sun]
Hogan’s press conference will reportedly cover “a range of transportation issues.” [Montgomery Community Media]
Call it P-Day? [Bill Turque via Twitter]
Rockville named a “Playful City”
The City of Rockville was given the designation for the second year in a row from KaBOOM!, the nonprofit that helps build playgrounds for children. [City of Rockville]
Website says Bethesda improving from “culinary mediocrity”
Eater DC says the Bethesda restaurant scene isn’t that bad anymore, citing new arrivals in Woodmont Triangle and Westfield Montgomery mall, plus the Kapnos Kouzina planned for Bethesda Row. [Eater DC]
Delaney “encouraged” by new hostage policy
Rep. John Delaney (D-Md.) announced Wednesday he’s pleased with President Obama’s new executive order designed to streamline the process of finding and rescuing American hostages. The congressman called for hostage reform after Warren Weinstein, a Rockville government contractor who had been kidnapped in Pakistan, was killed in an American drone strike earlier this year. [Congressman John Delaney]
The region’s approach to low-wage workers
With Montgomery County’s approval of one of the nation’s strongest paid sick leave laws, WAMU reporters examined how the law and other laws like it are playing out on a regional level. [WAMU]
Lieutenant governor takes over at Board of Public Works
Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford replaced Hogan on the Board of Public Works Tuesday for the first time since Hogan’s cancer announcement and promptly told some government officials they’re spending too much. [Maryland Reporter]
Weinstein unlikely to return to D.C. area
Montgomery County native and former ESPN anchor Bram Weinstein, who left the sports network voluntarily in April, says he probably won’t be coming back to the area where he got his start in sports broadcasting. [Washington Post]
Group says teen driving deaths are down
The Maryland Teen Driving Coalition says the number of 15- to 17-year-old drivers killed annually in Maryland car crashes has gone from 14 a year to seven a year since 2011. [MCDOT]
In case you missed it…
Silver Spring’s A.G. Kitchen plans to open Monday
Valerie Ervin asking for donations, poised to officially enter 8th District Congressional race
MCPS lays out four options for reducing testing, including getting rid of some final exams