October 13, 2021 | Daily News Brief | FEMA Request Denied. Federal Espionage. Bus Driver Pay Raise. Compost Program.

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Today…FEMA has denied the state’s request that a major disaster declaration be made, after Hurricane Ida. Pittman is now calling on Gov. Hogan to declare a state of emergency in order to provide state assistance to business and residents still affected. Annapolis couple Jonathan Toebbe and Diana Toebbe appeared in federal court in Martinsburg, West Virginia after being charged with federal espionage. Anne Arundel County school bus drivers are one step away from a pay raise. The City of Annapolis is expanding the program with Annapolis Compost and other partners to include a six-month pilot composting project.

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TRANSCRIPT:

Good morning, it is Wednesday, October 13th, 2021 this is Liz Frenaye and THIS is your Eye On Annapolis Daily News Brief.

Yeah it is hump day and I can almost taste the weekend! But before we get to the weekend, we need to get to the news…so shall we?

Over a month has past since Hurricane Ida and the accompanying tornadoes passed through Annapolis and Edgewater with 125 mile per hour winds, and FEMA has now denied the state’s request that a major disaster declaration be made, which would have allowed access to federal funds to help rebuild. FEMA did not believe that the storm was of such severity and magnitude as to be beyond the capabilities of the state and effected local government. Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman is now calling on Gov. Larry Hogan to declare a state of emergency in order to provide state assistance to business and residents still affected.

Yesterday morning, Annapolis couple Jonathan Toebbe and Diana Toebbe appeared in federal court in Martinsburg, West Virginia after being charged with federal espionage. Prosecutors feel the couple represents a risk to flee and to obstruct justice. Under the Atomic Energy Act, the prosecutors believe the Toebbe’s crime involves an “offense for which the maximum sentence is life imprisonment or death.” Magistrate Judge Robert Trumble remanded them to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until at least Friday, when they’re set to appear in court again.

The bus driver story continues..Anne Arundel County school bus drivers are one step away from a pay raise. Officials are hoping hire wages will solve the ongoing driver shortage. On Monday, the Board of Education approved a plan to compensate school bus drivers and their attendants $5 more per hour. Board members also endorsed bonuses for these workers, and officials are considering paying the staffers for full eight-hour workdays.

Superintendent Arlotto has asked for a budget of an extra $7.4 million to allow for these changes. County Executive Steuart Pittman can immediately authorize some parts of the strategy because they use American Rescue Plan money sent to the Anne Arundel government.

The portions ready for Pittman’s signature include:

$150,000 for $2,000 signing bonuses to attract new bus drivers and attendants AND
$2 million for $2,000 retention bonuses for current drivers and attendants to be paid in three installments throughout the school year

Pittman is expected to sign.

Annapolis is feeling green! Following a successful 2020 City of Annapolis and Annapolis Green pumpkin composting partnership at Truxtun Park, where more than 10,000 pounds of pumpkins were collected, the City is expanding the program with Annapolis Compost and other partners to include a six-month pilot composting project. The City will kick-off two six-month pilot programs to collect kitchen scraps and other compostables from City residents: one is a curbside collection program in the Hunt Meadow neighborhood, which is free to residents who sign up; the second is a compost drop-off site at Truxtun Park.

And hey- if the weather looks nice, Only a few more weeks to sail on the Wilma Lee, the Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park’s skipjack–one of only a dozen or so still in use–tickets at amaritime.org

OK, that’s it for the news, but first a quick thank you our four sponsors for this Daily News Brief– Solar Energy Services , the Kristi Neidhardt Team of Northrop Realty, a Long and Foster Company, Rehab 2 Perform, and Scott Gibson for Alderman in Ward 2.

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So now, hang tight, we have George Young from DCMDVA Weather standing by with your locally forecast weather report, coming up, in a few seconds.