Intense Weather + Spy Suspects: Anne Arundel's Top News Of 2021

Annapolis MD

27 December, 2021

5:11 PM

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ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Mother Nature tested Anne Arundel County this year. Residents withstood a tornado and a historic flood. These disasters renewed local conversations about climate change. Annapolis elected a progressive mayor and City Council to lead this environmental movement. A like-minded Democrat filed for re-election as Anne Arundel County executive. He hopes to improve local traffic. Anne Arundel County Public Schools made some changes this year, voting for later start times and renaming a building that honored a racist official. The school system continues to battle a nationwide bus driver shortage, however. Air travel is starting to rebound, but the coronavirus pandemic is not. The new omicron variant has driven a surge in infections and hospitalizations. Residents may hear about this news on an Annapolis radio station that was recently sold by a local game show host. This year also saw an Anne Arundel County couple accused of espionage and a Naval Academy mother fatally shot during her son's induction weekend. Plus, the Capital Gazette shooter was sentenced to life in prison three years after his attack. The community rallied around the newspaper, which was sold this spring for $633 million, by opening a memorial to the victims. Here are the county's 15 biggest stories of 2021: Climate Tornado Can Shake Store, But Not Determination Of Business Owner A tornado upended dozens of Anne Arundel County homes and businesses this September. In this Patch exclusive, an entrepreneur explained what he lost in the twister and how he plans to recover. Annapolis Flood Was 4th-Worst In City's Recorded History The intense weather continued in late October when 4.9 feet of flooding rocked coastal Anne Arundel County. This was the worst storm surge since Tropical Storm Isabel in 2003. Annapolis Gives Update On Noah Hillman Garage Redevelopment Low-lying Annapolis is battling these rising tides. The state capital will demolish then rebuild a parking garage and revamp City Dock in a $56 million effort to floodproof downtown. Politics Annapolis Mayor, 8 Aldermen Sworn In + Battle Climate Change Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley won a second term, and eight other Democrats were elected to the City Council. The group vowed to battle climate change over the next four years. Pittman Files For Re-Election As Anne Arundel County Executive Elsewhere in Anne Arundel, County Executive Steuart Pittman filed for re-election. He hopes to support small businesses and expand public services if he wins another term. Anne Arundel Announces $2.6M Plan To Improve MD Routes 2, 3, 214 Another priority for Pittman would be fixing traffic bottlenecks around the county. Anne Arundel announced plans to improve Maryland Routes 2, 3 and 214 after residents started a petition. Schools Classes To Start Later In Day Beginning Next Year In Anne Arundel Classes will start later in the day beginning next school year in Anne Arundel County. Officials think the new start times will be healthier for students. School Removes Racist Honoree, Adopts New Name: AACPS A Pasadena school changed its name after racial justice protests swept the nation. The previous honoree opposed equal pay for Black teachers. Anne Arundel Bus Drivers Unionize Despite Recent Bonuses: Report Some Anne Arundel bus drivers unionized even though the county gave them bonuses. A nationwide driver shortage has caused unreliable school transportation all semester. Community BWI Opens Upgraded Concourse; Passenger Traffic Hits Record High Though the coronavirus pandemic has stymied bus transit, air travel is booming. BWI upgraded its concourse, opened an urgent care center and broke pandemic-era passenger records. 100K At-Home COVID-19 Test Kits Available In Anne Arundel County COVID-19 looked like it was improving, but then the omicron variant struck. County officials urged vaccines, booster shots and tests as infections soared. 'Wheel Of Fortune's' Pat Sajak To Sell MD Radio Station For $1K "Wheel Of Fortune" host and Anne Arundel County resident Pat Sajak sold his Annapolis radio station for $1,000. The new owners said they would have to trim the staff. Crime MD Spy Suspects Didn't Discuss Fleeing US To Evade Arrest: Report An Annapolis couple was accused of espionage this fall. Lawyers said the partners talked about fleeing the country because they disliked then-President Donald Trump. Naval Academy Mom's Death Leads To Arrest: Police A mother was fatally shot by a stray bullet when she was dropping her son off for his induction to the U.S. Naval Academy. Officers arrested the suspect after offering $57,000 in rewards. Capital Gazette Shooter Gets 5 Life Sentences: Report Three years after the Capital Gazette attack, the shooter was sentenced to five life terms. The community remembered the victims with a memorial shortly after the newspaper was sold to a contentious hedge fund. RELATED: Annapolis Olympian + Dog Bar: Anne Arundel's Best News Of 2021Have a story idea? Please contact me at [email protected] with any pitches, tips or questions. Follow me on Twitter @JacobBaumgart and on Facebook @JacobBaumgartJournalist to stay up-to-date with the latest Anne Arundel County news.