The 234 Apartment

As Towson University students prepare to head back to campus this week, university officials say complaints of loud, unruly gatherings near the campus are down by as much as 50 percent in some neighborhoods since the Baltimore County Council passed an ordinance to deter problem behavior . After numerous neighborhood complaints of public urination, property damage and excessive noise in residential neighborhoods, the council passed the Social Host–Unruly Social Gatherings ordinance in January 2016 to target problem landlords and renters through their pocketbooks. The two-year pilot, which was introduced by County Councilman David Marks , will expire in January. With a full school year having passed since the enactment of the ordinance, neighbors, Towson University officials and county police officials say it is working to curb problem behavior . Marks said he will seek reauthorization of the legislation. "I think it's having the effect we wanted and it's had, mor...

This incoming class of students at UConn's main campus is slightly smaller than last year's — 3,650 compared to 3,800 — but contains a record number of high school valedictorians and salutatorians and a higher percentage of students in the top 10 percent of their class. The class has a slightly lower percentage of minority students — down about one percentage point to 35.1 percent compared to last year's 36.3 percent — and more international students, up from 373 students to 510. "We're proud to welcome such an extraordinary group of students to our campuses," President Susan Herbst said. "The UConn Class of 2021 is defined by their exceptional talent, ambition, and diversity. Our combination of academic strength and economic value continues to make UConn a top choice for outstanding students from throughout the state, nation, and world." When classes begin on Monday, UConn expects about 23,850 undergraduates this year, with about 19,200 of those ...

The value of new construction starts in July advanced 6% from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $728.1 billion, it was reported by Dodge Data & Analytics. Leading the way was a 26% jump by the nonbuilding construction sector , which reflected an improved level for public works and the start of two massive power plants , located respectively in California and New York. Residential building in July increased 8 %, as multifamily housing rebounded after three consecutive monthly declines .  Running counter was a 7% slide for nonresidential building following its 14% hike in June, as both office buildings and hotels retreated from June’s elevated activity , outweighing a sharp rise for healthcare facilities in July.  During the first seven months of 2017, total construction starts on an unadjusted basis were $411.9 billion, down 1% from the same period a year ago.  Dampening the year-to-date performance for total construction was a steep 44% decline for t...

The value of new construction starts in July advanced 6 % from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $728.1 billion, according to the most recent report from Dodge Data & Analytics.   Leading the way was a 26% jump by the nonbuilding construction sector , which reflected an improved level for public works and the start of two massive power plants in California and New York.   Residential building in July increased 8 %, as multifamily housing rebounded after three consecutive monthly declines . Running counter was a 7% slide for nonresidential building , following its 14% hike in June, as both office buildings and hotels retreated from June’s elevated activity , outweighing a sharp rise for health care facilities in July.   During the first seven months of 2017, total construction starts on an unadjusted basis were $411.9 billion, down 1% from the same period a year ago. Dampening the year-to-date performance for total construction was a steep 44% declin...

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Administrators at Michigan State University are expecting 8,000 first-year students to arrive on campus next week.  The class of 2021 is considered one of the largest in the school's history. Overall, MSU received 36 ,000 applications from prospective students, but only 8,000 were admitted. They will move onto campus Monday, with classes scheduled to begin Wednesday.  Nearly 16,000 students will be living on the East Lansing campus this academic year in residence halls and on- campus apartments . As in past years, a number of volunteers will be pitching in to help with move in, including other students, faculty, staff, alumni and community volunteers, according to a news released from the university.  More than 72 percent of new students are from Michigan, which the university said reflects its long- standing land grant tradition . MSU enrolls the most Michigan students of any university in the state. According to the school, it will be enrolling the large...

The Los Angeles Dodgers recorded their 90th victory Aug . 24, the fastest any Dodger club has reached that important milestone. If they achieve the projected 116 wins in their 162- game regular season , they’ll go down as one of the greatest baseball teams of all time. Of course, I have two adult children who weren’t alive the last time the Dodgers were even in a World Series so anything short of a ring this time is, well, a loss. This has been a truly magical season, which makes it all the more disappointing that the Dodgers’ covetous ownership continues to snub its fans with its cockamamie cable TV contract scheme . With all these exciting, charismatic, budding and veteran all-stars and their unbelievable exploits, it’s hard to understand why they would willingly write off a generation of new fans. Frankrupt McCourt would approve. It is said that greed is good. The Dodgers are both, and what an unfortunate missed opportunity this year has been. Meanwhile, I told you in my last co...

Until Saturday, August 12th, Debra Godfrey liked to sit on her front porch in the afternoons. She’d smoke a Newport and watch what little traffic there was pass by. Godfrey, who is fifty-one, lives in Belmont, a quiet neighborhood on the southeast side of Charlottesville, Virginia. Kids would play together after they got off the school bus a couple of houses down. Neighbors would walk past with their dogs, waving hello, as they headed to a nearby park. These days, Godfrey mostly stays inside in the afternoons. The neighborhood is still quiet, she said. “But it’s more quiet. People are more alert.” August 12th was the day of an alt-right rally called “Unite the Right,” which devolved into violence as thousands of white supremacists and counter-protesters swarmed through the city’s downtown streets. The unrest made international headlines and left a thirty-two-year-old counter- protester named Heather Heyer dead , with dozens more injured. For Godfrey, who is black, the day’s chaos has...