EMS Funding Crunch: Maryland counties are scrambling to pay for EMTs and paramedics as rising costs and reduced state support push more expenses onto local budgets, with Harford County adding $10 million to education costs while emergency staffing strains continue. Disabilities Services Check-In: Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is seeking an update on how the Commission on Disabilities is implementing best practices after earlier findings on gaps in education, housing, transportation, and peer support. School Health Watch: Kindergarten vaccine coverage dipped again nationwide, with exemptions hitting a record 4.2%, raising concerns for outbreaks as MMR and other core shots fall slightly. Back-to-School Policy Tensions: Anne Arundel schools updated a regulation on chosen names for transgender students after federal threats tied to FERPA. Church Protections: A federal appeals court upheld an injunction limiting immigration enforcement at Cooperative Baptist Fellowship churches. Public Safety Peer Support: Queen Anne’s County is expanding its RISE program for confidential mental-health support across multiple first-responder agencies. Local Culture & Community: Baltimore’s Patterson Park Observatory and two historic churches are among properties winning $1M in Maryland Historical Trust grants, while the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse Project earned a national preservation award. Education Workforce Boost: Maryland awarded $14.7M in Grow Your Own Educators grants to help 845 educators become fully licensed. Arts & Nightlife: “Going Out” highlights Maryland-area events Aug. 20-28, including performances and community arts picks.