Morning Roundup

The Supreme Court issued a landmark decision yesterday that struck down affirmative action and left colleges across the nation searching for new ways to promote student diversity. For Maryland colleges, that means they must work harder to recruit students. (Associated Press/Baltimore Banner)

Business owners in Maryland now have six months to prepare for a coming jump in the state’s minimum wage to $15/hour. In Maryland, a single adult must earn $19.61 per hour to cover basic living expenses. Regionally, in western Maryland and the Eastern Shore, that living wage is about $4 less. All employers in Maryland, regardless of the number of employees, will be required to pay at least $15 per hour in January. (Maryland Matters)

The Montogomery County State’s Attorney announced yesterday that a woman who admitted to murdering her 92-year-old sculptor roommate and attempting to make it look like a natural death will spend decades behind bars. (Anne Arundel Daily Voice)

In Baltimore, a 40-year-old man died late Thursday afternoon after he shot at authorities who were pursuing him in near Patterson Park on an open warrant, prompting officers to return fire. (Baltimore Sun)

According to Baltimore Police, 38 cars were stolen in one day (6/27) in the city last week with Hyundais and Kias topping the list.

A new Great Wolf Lodge opened yesterday in Cecil County with a ceremony featuring Govenor Wes Moore, actor/producer Anna Faris, who was born in Maryland and celebrity chef Duff Goldman. The $750 million facility is located in Perryville and is the largest of 20 resorts operated by the company. The resort has 700 rooms and features a 128,000-square-foot indoor water park containing 22 slides. (Delaware Business Now)

Officials in Prince George’s County unveiled plans Thursday to fight crime this summer, focusing on boosting police presence in specific, high-crime areas and community programming to keep kids off the streets. (WTOP)

Having trouble securing a passport for international travel? Marylanders are seeking help amid a passport backlog…

An Ocean City restaurant has announced its closure after the building was reportedly struck by lightning during a storm earlier in the week, causing a significant fire. (WBOC)

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Baltimore have called for a national search for a new police commissioner. (WBAL 1090)

Nearly 1,000 first-year entrants reported for Induction Day at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis on Thursday for Plebe Summer, the first part of their nine-year tenure in the armed service…

Anne Arundel County Police have arrested three men in connection with a string of hate crimes and vandalism this month targeting several churches. (Baltimore Banner)

In Annapolis, an officer working the midnight shift is credited with helping police identify a suspect believed to have damaged two churches there. Four churches were targeted by vandals in recent weeks. (WMAR)

Nearly a third of the Baltimore City Fire Department’s engine and truck companies were out of service due to shortages of personnel on one day last weekend. (Baltimore Banner)

A ban on plastic bag begins tomorrow in Salisbury. (DelmarvaNow)

An Annapolis man was arrested after his former partner accused him of breaking into her home and sexually assaulting her last weekend. (Baltimore Sun)

Leroy L. “Larkin” Niemyer Jr., a Westinghouse Electric Corp. engineer who helped direct the building of the lunar camera that Apollo 11 astronauts took to the moon in 1969, died June 19 at his home in Ellicott City. He was 96. (Baltimore Sun)

The Maryland Board of Public Works approved 38 new Maryland Agricultural Preservation Foundation easements. They will permanently preserve 4,097 acres of prime farmland in Caroline, Carroll, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Kent, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester counties, for an investment of more than $19 million. (Dorchester Star)

Will Baltimore residents have to foot the bill for BGE’s controversial gas regulators? (WBFF)

Panama-based Copa Airlines launched new international service between BWI and Panama. (Maryland Daily Record)

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

The Orioles had the night off last night. They begin a weekend series at Camden Yards tonight hosting the Minnesota Twins.

In the AL East, the Rays defeated Arizona 6-1 to increase their lead in the division.

Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim topped Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman in the second phase of fan voting to be elected the American League’s starting backstop in next month’s All Star Game in Seattle. (Baltimore Sun)

New Alabama baseball coach Rob Vaughn is set to make at least $900,000 annually under his five-year deal. Vaughn spent five seasons as Maryland’s coach. (Baltimore Sun)

“The Civil War in Maryland: A Region Divided” – A 1990 documentary produced by Maryland Public Television: