2026 Engineering Scholarship  from WSSC

WSSC Water Commissioners Now Accepting Applications for 2026 Engineering Scholarship Program 

WSSC Water Commissioners Now Accepting Applications for 2026 Engineering Scholarship Program 
Scholarships Support College Students Majoring in  Engineering Fields Vital to the Water Sector  Scholarship Winners Receive Priority Consideration for Paid Summer Internships 
Contact:  Luis Mayaluis.maya@wsscwater.com301-206-8100

Laurel, Md. – February 17, 2026 – Applications for the 2026 WSSC Water Commissioners’ Engineering Scholarship are now being accepted. The scholarship provides $3,000 annually, with a maximum of $12,000 over four consecutive years. Scholarship winners also receive priority consideration for paid summer internship opportunities at WSSC Water. 

The scholarship is open to undergraduate or graduate engineering students, as well as graduating high school seniors who have been accepted into an accredited college or university engineering program. 

“The Commissioners’ Engineering Scholarship was established by former Commissioners who understood that the water sector faces complex and growing challenges – from replacing aging infrastructure to strengthening public health protections,” said WSSC Water Commission Chair Mark J. Smith. “Today, we carry that vision forward by investing in the next generation of leaders who will bring innovation, energy and fresh solutions to this essential work.” 

Named in honor of former Commissioners Joyce Starks and Gene W. Counihan, the scholarship program aims to financially assist students from WSSC Water’s service district to further their engineering studies and encourage them to consider careers in the water and water resource recovery industry. 

Up to two $3,000 scholarships may be awarded, one to a Prince George’s County resident and one to a Montgomery County resident. Winners are eligible for additional awards of $3,000 each year for up to four consecutive years, as long as they meet the residency and grade-point-average requirements. Winners also receive priority consideration for paid summer internship opportunities at WSSC Water. 

“Workforce development remains a strategic priority for WSSC Water, and this scholarship program is a meaningful way to introduce talented students to the vital work we do every day,” said WSSC Water General Manager and CEO Kishia L. Powell. “By supporting students financially and offering hands-on internship opportunities, we benefit from their ideas and expertise to ensure our communities thrive by receiving safe, reliable and affordable water service.” 

Applicants must reside in WSSC Water’s service district and be enrolled full-time in an accredited college or university program leading to a degree in one of the following fields: Civil Engineering (including environmental, sanitary, structural, geotechnical, water resources, fire protection, transportation, project management or construction management), Electrical Engineering, Material Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Computer Science/Engineering. High school seniors accepted into a qualifying program are also eligible. 

Applicants must submit a 500- to 1,000-word essay on one of three topics: Water Affordability and Utility Costs Artificial Intelligence and Smart Technologies in Water Utilities Preparing the Future Water Workforce 
Additional application requirements include a video introduction (no longer than five minutes), two reference letters, an official transcript, and proof of permanent residency in Prince George’s or Montgomery County. 
The 2026 application period is now open and closes on Sunday, March 15, 2026. Applications may be submitted online via the Applicant Portal at https://www.wsscwater.com/scholarship or by U.S. Mail; mailed applications must be postmarked by March 15, 2026. 

For complete eligibility requirements, essay topics and submission instructions, visit https://www.wsscwater.com/scholarship. 
WSSC Water is the proud provider of safe, seamless and satisfying water services, makingthe essential possible every day for our neighbors in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.We work to deliver our best because it’s what our customers expect and deserve.

MD Energy, Power, Utility Price and Regulation Presentations

During 2026 Legislative Session, there are so many presentations, discussions and legislations related to energy, utility price, regulations. We are determined to fix the high utility cost issue facing our constitutes.

Hopefully the following presentations will help all to understand these issues better.

Maryland’s Energy Landscape – Part 1
MD_ Energy Landscape Part 2_Agenda_PresentationsDownload
MDs Energy Landscape Part 3_Briefing_Agenda and PresentationsDownload
MDs Energy Landscape Part 4_Briefing_Agenda and PresentationsDownload
MDs Energy Landscape Part 5_Briefing_Agenda and PresentationsDownload
ENT_Energy and Utility Regulation in Other States_Briefing_Agenda and PresentationsDownload

Up to $20000 Chime Scholars Foundation Applications

Up to $20000 Chime Scholars Foundation Applications

Delegate Wu,

My name is Kemi Giwa and I’m reaching out on behalf of Chime to share a scholarship opportunity we hope you’ll consider sharing with students and families in your district. 

The Chime Scholars Foundation recently announced the opening of applications for the 2026–2027 academic year, offering scholarships of up to $20,000 to students of all backgrounds pursuing college degrees, apprenticeships, trade schools, and technical or workforce certifications.

Since launching in 2022, the program has provided $7 million in funding to more than 1,000 scholars nationwide through Chime’s 1% pledge to expand access to education. The program is delivering strong results: 100% of surveyed graduates say the scholarship helped them complete their degree or certification, 87% are projected to graduate—nearly double the rate of Federal Pell Grant recipients—and 72% secure employment in their field within six months of graduation. 

Applications are open through March 31, 2026. We would welcome your help sharing this opportunity in your newsletter or other constituent-facing communications to ensure eligible students are aware and can apply. I’ve included a copy of the press release below, and additional information is available at: https://www.chime.com/about-us/chime-scholars-foundation/. Please feel free to reach out with any questions.

Best,

Kemi Giwa

Senior Manager, Policy Communications

Chime Financial, Inc.

Mobile: (510) 493-1766

Email: Kemiogiwa@gmail.com

Chime Scholars Foundation Applications for 2026-2027 Now Open

Offers scholarships up to $20,000 for students of all backgrounds pursuing various forms of higher education

Launched in 2022, program has helped more than 1,000 scholars achieve their educational goals

Scholarship recipients have made real financial progress, with 72% finding employment in their field of study within six months of graduation

Chime® (Nasdaq: CHYM), a leading consumer financial technology company, announced today that Chime Scholars Foundation (CSF) has opened applications for the 2026-2027 academic year. Aspiring scholars can now apply for scholarships of up to $20,000 to support their education, paving the way for greater career opportunities and higher earnings. The scholarship program is open to students of all backgrounds and stages of life, and it supports a wide range of educational pathways, including traditional college degrees, apprenticeships, trade schools, and technical certifications.

Since 2022, CSF has provided $7 million in scholarship funding to over 1,000 students. Last year alone, CSF welcomed its largest cohort of scholars to date, awarding more than $3 million in scholarships to 800 students for the 2025-2026 academic year. This work is supported by Chime’s 1% pledge, which commits 1% of its equity over a decade to fund the foundation.

“At Chime, we believe financial progress starts with access to opportunity,” said Chris Britt, CEO and Co-founder of Chime. “Through the Chime Scholars Foundation and our 1% pledge, we’re investing in ambitious students and helping remove financial barriers to education. We’re proud to have supported more than 1,000 scholars so far and excited to continue helping the next generation build brighter futures for themselves, their families, and their communities.”

The program has demonstrated strong outcomes for its scholars. According to a survey of graduates:

  • 100% credit the program with helping them complete their degree or certification
  • 87% projected graduation rate — nearly double that of Federal Pell Grant recipients¹
  • 72% of scholars secure jobs in their field within six months of graduation

Beyond these outcomes, scholars join a supportive network of fellow CSF scholars and Chime employees. Applications for the CSF scholarship program are now open through March 31, 2026. For more information and to apply, visit the Chime Scholars Foundation website at chime.com/about-us/chime-scholars-foundation.

How to do virtual/in-person/written testimony

How to do virtual/in-person/written testimony at Maryland General Assembly

  1. Go to https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/
  2. Click on the MyMGA button on the top right banner.
  3. Create an account or log in
  4. Scroll to the bottom to find the committee where the bills will be heard/ House or Senate
  5. Find the bill
  6. Add your name or organization in the first box.
  7. Select “Favorable”/Unforable/Informational in the Position drop-down
  8. Select “Written”/”Oral”, in person or virtual in the Testimony drop-down
  9. Upload your testimony as a PDF file.

Data and State Governance

Data and State Governance

As 2026 Legislative Session started on Wednesday 1/14/2026, I moved away from Ways and Means Committee to Government, Labor and Election Committee. I will put more efforts on the state agency operations.

I am starting a data and state governance series, using data to explain the issues and good governance. If you are interested in any areas in the state government, please let me know. I will cover those areas.

Energy Affordability- Problems and Solutions

Energy Affordability- Problems and Solutions

Brittany Baker Maryland Director, Chesapeake Climate Action Network

There is so much information to help us understand the high energy cost issue. Please read it.

HoCo Presentation CCANDownload

Some dive-in on the bill in the slide.

Below is a clear, regulator-accurate breakdown of which parts of your Washington Gas bill are avoidable vs. unavoidable, and what actions (if any) actually reduce each charge.

1. UNAVOIDABLE CHARGES

You pay these no matter what supplier you choose and even if gas prices fall.

🟥 Distribution Charge ($15.98)

  • Pays for pipes, meters, maintenance, emergency response
  • Set by Maryland PSC
  • Cannot be avoided
  • Reduced only by using less gas

🟥 STRIDE Surcharge (~$1.90)

  • Funds pipeline replacement & safety upgrades
  • Automatically approved cost recovery
  • Unavoidable
  • Continues even if you switch suppliers

🟥 System Charge ($11.85)

  • Covers system-wide reliability & balancing
  • Infrastructure-based
  • Unavoidable

🟥 EmPower MD Surcharge ($1.80)

  • State-mandated energy efficiency programs
  • Required by law
  • Unavoidable

🟥 Taxes ($2.99 total)

  • Montgomery County energy tax
  • MD Gross Receipts tax
  • Unavoidable

🔴 Bottom line (Unavoidable)

~$34–36 of your $47.98 bill is unavoidable

No supplier switch, negotiation, or timing can remove these.

2. PARTIALLY AVOIDABLE CHARGES

Can be reduced only by using less gas

🟨 All per-therm charges

These scale with usage:

  • Distribution charge
  • STRIDE
  • System charge
  • EmPower MD
  • Taxes

How to reduce them:

  • Insulation
  • Heat pump hybrid systems
  • Lower thermostat setpoints
  • Efficient water heater

⚠️ But note:

Even cutting usage 30% usually lowers the bill only ~15–20%.

3. AVOIDABLE / CHOOSABLE CHARGES

These are the only charges you can change via supplier choice

🟩 Natural Gas Supply (PGC – $13.46)

  • This is the commodity gas price
  • You may:
    • stay with Washington Gas default
    • switch to a retail supplier
  • This is the ONLY line item you can shop for

Reality check:

  • Typical savings from switching: $1–3/month
  • Many third-party suppliers:
    • raise rates after teaser periods
    • add early termination fees
    • lock you into higher fixed prices

📌 Most people save little or nothing long-term.

4. What Is Truly Avoidable?

Charge TypeAvoidable?How
Distribution❌ NoNone
STRIDE❌ NoNone
System charge❌ NoNone
EmPower MD❌ NoNone
Taxes❌ NoNone
Gas supply (PGC)✅ YesSwitch supplier
All charges⚠️ PartiallyUse less gas

5. Hard Truth (Important)

Washington Gas is essentially a fixed-cost utility disguised as a usage bill.

  • 70–75% of your bill is policy + infrastructure
  • Efficiency helps, but only modestly
  • Electrification (heat pumps) is the only real escape, but costly upfront

If you want next:

  • a side-by-side bill before/after heat pump
  • a supplier switch risk table
  • how Maryland PSC approved STRIDE and why bills rose
  • comparison with BGE / Pepco gas customers

Just say the word.

2025 NAIC Health Insurance Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Survey Results

2025 NAIC Health Insurance Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Survey Results

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Health Insurance Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Survey Results report aims to provide a
comprehensive understanding of the use of AI/ML by health insurers, the role of third-party
components, AI governance frameworks, and the alignment with NAIC AI Principles. The survey,
conducted by 16 states, gathered responses from 93 companies, indicating that 84% of health insurers use AI/ML across various product lines, including Individual Major Medical, Group Major Medical, and Student Health Plans.


Companies selling individual major medical health insurance are currently using or exploring the use of AI/ML primarily for utilization management practices (71%), disease management programs (61%), prior authorization for approval processes (68%), claims fraud detection (50%), for medical provider fraud detection (51%), and sales and marketing solutions (45%) for enhancing online sales, quoting, or
shopping experiences. Only about 4% of health insurers are using AI/ML to detect smoking and even
fewer insurers use facial recognition or behavior models to detect fraud. 12% of companies use AI for
denying prior authorizations and 14% of companies use AI to infer sensitive data, such as race or other
data values. 55% of health insurers use third-party components in their AI/ML Systems, 15% rely entirely on third-party AI/ML solutions, 13% use a combination of internal and third-party data and/or AI/ML components, and 10% develop AI/ML solutions internally.


Many companies have adopted principles focusing on accountability, transparency, security, and
privacy. The survey shows that many companies employ various methods to test for drift, bias, and
unfair discrimination in AI to include cross validation for accuracy, exploratory data analysis (EDA), to
analyze data for completeness and consistency, tracking performance metrics such as AUC, F-score,
confusion matrix, conducting equity audits, compliance audits, performance audits, and human
intervention in AI-driven decisions. Overall, while health insurers are taking steps to govern AI usage,
further analysis of this survey may provide insight into the next steps for regulatory frameworks and
industry practices to ensure that AI/ML technologies are used responsibly and ethically.

Health Survey Report – FINAL 5.9.25Download

Infrastructure Spending on Life Support: National Infrastructure Bank to the Rescue!

Infrastructure Spending  on Life Support: National Infrastructure Bank  to the Rescue!

Please join us through the link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/L2zAqjQZR-uJypIeK-XhAg#/registration

Please join Maryland Delegate Chao Wu, New York Congressman Paul Tonko, and Ohio State Senator Catherine Ingram for a national Zoom mobilization event, “Infrastructure Spending on Life Support: National Infrastructure Bank to the Rescue!” on December 30 at 8pm ET/5PM PT.

As 2025 “happily” comes to an end, the crisis in the US economy and infrastructure is roaring. Unemployment is growing and is the highest since 2020. Job creation has stalled, and a recession is either here or in the offing.

The Biden Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), set to expire this year. It must be renewed or die. The battleground is the US House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure (T and I) which is debating its fate. The $1.2 Trillion BIL contains $650 billion for surface transportation and $550 billion for “other areas”, i.e. water, broadband, power transmission, schools, etc. Deliberations have begun.

The problem is that the federal budget is running an annual $1.5 trillion shortfall. The debt is over $38 Trillion (!) So short of Voodoo Economics, where is the $1.2 trillion going to come from? The T and I Committee has no clue. There is not enough money to reauthorize even surface transportation spending, and the committee is not even going to address the “infrastructure” components!

$1.2 trillion is not enough! The country needs to spend at least $5 trillion to address the deep infrastructure shortfall. 

There is only one solution: The $5 trillion National Infrastructure Bank (NIB), as spelled out in H.R.5356 in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

The NIB is off the budget! It will require no new federal spending or taxes. It has been done before, but not for decades. Much of the US infrastructure is over 100 years old and was built by the last institution, the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Without a world-class infrastructure, all the talk of reshoring American industry or “expanding our manufacturing” is just BS. 

Support for H.R.5356 is growing. 49 members of Congress are sponsoring the bill. Resolutions are being filed in legislatures and city councils around the country in support of H.R.5356.

Even before the webinar on December 30, please ask your congressional representative or other elected officials to support H.R.5356. They are at home!

Level-Funded Health Benefits

Level-Funded Health Benefits

by: David C. Smith JD, REBC, CHVA
National Association of Benefit & Insurance Professionals

NABIP MIA LF PresentationDownload

The Maryland Insurance Administration will be holding a virtual, open meeting to gather feedback from industry stakeholders, consumers, and others on level-funded health plans, especially for small employers, focusing on how plans are marketed, benefits and potential pitfalls for small employers, and necessary regulatory oversight, to inform potential new regulations. 

An agenda, including a list of questions for discussion, will be released prior to the meeting. Feedback will be accepted in advance of, during, and following the meeting.

Friday, November 21, 2025, 10:00 a.m.  – 11:00 a.m.
This meeting is virtual through the Zoom platform.
AGENDA
Click HERE to view video of meeting.

Presen​ta​tion​

NABIP MD Comments​ – November 20, 2025

Written comments will be accepted through EOD Friday, December 5, 2025. Those can be submitted via email to: mary.kwei@maryland.gov

If you would like to present or offer public comments during the virtual public hearing, please notify the MIA in advance of the meeting by submitting your request to mary.kwei@maryland.gov. Because of the nature of the ZOOM Events platform, a special invitation is required to be seen and/or be heard via the platform. For that reason, the MIA can only assure the opportunity to speak during the virtual public hearing to those interested parties who have signed up by Wednesday, November 19, 2025, and provided an e-mail address to which an invitational link to the virtual meeting can be sent.

A public access link that allows individuals to view the virtual public hearing will be posted on the MIA’s website. To the extent that time and technology permit, the MIA will hear from unregistered participants who access the Zoom Event platform.