Storm Warning + Flash Flood Watch + Laurel Unemployment Improved

Rise and shine, Laurel! Here's everything you need to know to get this Friday started off right.

First, today's weather: Humid and partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 87 Low: 68.

Here are the top five stories in Laurel today:

1. Minority businesses see opportunity in Maryland’s sports betting licenses. Maryland lawmakers and voters debated legalizing gambling on sports. An increasing number of states had legalized sports betting and the odds were good that Maryland would be next with voter approval on the 2020 ballot and state lawmakers poised to iron out the details. (Capital Gazette)
2. According to Gov. Larry Hogan, with the help of their $2 million vaccine lottery, 75% of adults in Maryland were vaccinated by the Fourth of July — outpacing the nation and many other states. (Maryland.gov)
3. According to Elizabeth Janney, Patch reporter, a profound nationwide drop in public school enrollment could have lasting effects in Maryland, some of which could extend far beyond the pandemic. A new analysis conducted by the Associated Press and Chalkbeat, a nonprofit news organization covering education, shows student enrollment last year dropped in nearly every U.S. state, including Maryland. (Patch)
4. According to Deb Belt, Patch reporter, A tropical storm warning and flash flood watch have been issued ahead of Hurricane Elsa's expected track over Maryland today. (Patch)
5. According to Rich Scinto, Patch reporter, the unemployment rate in the Laurel area has improved somewhat since the beginning of the pandemic, and there was some improvement from April to May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Patch)

Today's Laurel Daily is brought to you by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Laurel!

Today in Laurel

• Neighborhood Block Party at First Baptist of Savage! (6:00 p.m.)
• Island Breeze Duo at Laurel American Legion Post 60 — Celebrate summertime and enjoy your favorite tunes at the Legion! Attend this event for a great night of dancing, good food and fun! Bring your friends as Island Breeze plays your favorites. (7:00 p.m.)
• Laurel Dutch Country Farmers Market — Located on 9701 Fort Meade Road (9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.)
• Official Harley-Davidson Demo Fleet On-Site —The Official Harley-Davidson Truck will be on-site with the new Model Lineup! Signup ASAP online for your best chance to ride your 1st choice ride (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Letterfly Pinstriping at Old Glory Harley-Davidson – Enjoy watching the hand-painted designs come to life as the artist (Letterfly) plies his special skills as pinstripe, pictorial, and lettering artist on motorcycles and helmets for an increasing list of satisfied customers. No ticket or reservation needed. (9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
• Coach Deb's Basketball Camp — No matter what your skill or experience level, take your game to the next level at this camp! Through skill development, games, team competitions, and contests, Coach Deb Taylor and staff ensure that you have fun and improve your game. For more info, please contact Coach Deb at: triathlon32@yahoo.com. (9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
• Corrie Parks: Uncanny Bodies – Corrie Francis Parks searches for life among the inanimate, endowing tiny grains of sand with their own autonomy. (11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)

Laurel Patch Notebook

• City of Laurel - Government: "Radar showing some scattered pockets of rain as Elsa makes her way north and hearing some rumbles of thunder in the L..." (Facebook)

From our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• [Webinar] Roof Replacement 101: Everything You Need to Know (July 10)
• Parents Night Out: Pajama Painting Party (July 16)

Job listings:

• Dog Day Care Attendant (Details)

You're all caught up for today. I'll see you soon! If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Alexis Goring

About me: My name is Alexis A. Goring. I'm a Bowie area resident with a pulse for people, news and feature stories! I've worked as a freelance writer/editor/proofreader in the media industry for 15 years. I'm also a published author, experienced blogger, and founder of Writer at Heart Editorial Services. Visit my website for more details about me and my work. Here's the link: https://alexisagoring.jimdofree.com.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Laurel Daily? Reach out anytime to Laurel@Patch.com.