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Community Corner

MD Sports Wagering Now Authorized + Statewide Eviction Concerns

Here's a five-minute guide to everything happening today in town.

Alexis Goring, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Happy Wednesday, Laurel! Here's everything you need to know about what's happening locallytoday.

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First, today's weather:

Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High: 90 Low: 69.

Here are the top four stories today in Laurel:

  1. According to a recent study by WalletHub, Maryland is well ahead of most of the states in the nation in terms of vaccinating its residents. The study said that Maryland is the sixth most vaccinated state in the nation. Maryland ranked fourth in terms of vaccinating children against the flu and fifth in terms of vaccinating teenagers against the HPV. (MarylandReporter.com)
  2. WSSC customers in Maryland will be directly affected by COVID-19 moratoriums related to utilities that are starting to lift. Over $65 million are due on over 90,000 WSSC accounts. Montgomery and Prince George's County residents who owe money on residential accounts have a number of ways to address the issue. (Our Community Now at Colorado)
  3. Thanks to a 2020 ballot initiative and a new 2021 law, sports wagering in Maryland is now authorized. However, it may be until 2022 that gamblers get to make their bets on games. Some sports gambling proponents had hoped to get the industry operating for the NFL and college football seasons. Now it could happen before those seasons end. (CBS Baltimore)
  4. More than 100,000 Marylanders are behind on rent. Therefore, housing advocates are urging members of the General Assembly and Gov. Larry Hogan to extend eviction protections to prevent a looming crisis. Maryland's safeguards ended in August. Matthew Losak, executive director of the Montgomery County Renters Alliance, said federal rental funds have been slow to get to tenants, and only about 40% of residents in need have received it. He thinks if the rest don't get immediate support, the impact on communities will be devastating. (Public News Service)

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Today in Laurel:

  • High School Staff Meeting — CMIT Academy North - Elementary Public Charter (3:00 p.m.)
  • Hispanic Heritage Month 2021 — Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by singing and dancing in this FREE interactive outdoor performance for the whole family! (6:30 p.m.)
  • Free Acupuncture with Community Health Initiative (CHI) — Master's level acupuncture students, under supervision by licensed and experienced faculty, are providing safe and effective auricular treatments. (6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.)
  • Wednesday Bible Study —Every week at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, one of the pastors of Our Savior Lutheran Church will lead a study. (7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)
  • NextNOW Fest 2021 (nearby Laurel) — The Clarice's NextNOW Fest is an inspiring arts experience that celebrates imagination, creativity and community. By amplifying the voices of intriguing, inventive artists from around campus and our community, NextNOW Fest creates a forward-looking microcosm where art transforms our future and (re)connects us all. NextNOW Fest will take place Sept. 13 through Sept. 19. (1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Laurel Patch Notebook

  • PGCPS: High school football series PG13 returns as players prepare for the season after last year's cancellation. (Instagram)
  • City of Laurel Department of Economic and Community Development: Happy National Small Business Week to all the Laurel, Prince George's County, and Maryland small business owners and entrepreneurs! Give a shout out to your favorite #LocalBusiness. (Facebook)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with your next update! If you're into these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Alexis Goring

About me: My name is Alexis A. Goring. I'm a Bowie area resident with a pulse for people, news and feature stories! I've worked as a freelance writer/editor/proofreader in the media industry for 15 years. I'm also a published author, experienced blogger, and founder of Writer at Heart Editorial Services. Visit my website for more details about me and my work. Here's the link: https://alexisagoring.jimdofree.com.

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The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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