"State circle" is made by MPT to serve all of Our diverse communities And is made possible by the Generous support of our members.

Thank you.

CONNECTING MARYLANDERS TO THEIR GOVERNMENT, THIS IS "STATE CIRCLE".

>> Jeff: WELL CAN >> Jeff: WELCOME TO "STATE CIRCLE" WILL COLLEGE ENROLLMENT BOUNCE BACK?

AND VETERANS TURNING PAIN TO PROFIT THAT IS AHEAD.

FIRST THIS WEEK, A ONE TRACK STATE OF MIND FOR THE MARYLAND HORSERACING INDUSTRY.

IT WAS THREE YEARS AGO THAT THE STATE ALLOCATED NEARLY $400 MILLION TO RENOVATE BOTH PIMCO AND LAUREL PARK.

THAT DEAL HAS COLLAPSED DUE TO RISING COSTS.

NOW THE INDUSTRY IS BETTING ON A ONE TRACK SOLUTION AT PIMCO.

WE SPOKE WITH ALAN FOREMAN OF THE MARYLAND THOROUGHBRED HORSEMEN'S ASSOCIATION AND ALAN RIFKIN REPRESENTING THE JOCKEY CLUB OWNER OF THE TWO TRACKS.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BIG PLANS FROM THREE YEARS AGO?

>> WELL WE WERE HIT WITH THE PERFECT STORM.

COMING OUT OF COVID LASTED THE 6-MONTH SHUTDOWN AND THE COUNTRY WAS GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE TO BUY MILK AND EGGS, INFLATION IS RAMPANT.

AND WHEN YOU ADD INFLATION TO A PROJECT OF $400 MILLION IT EATS AWAY AT THE PROCEEDS AND CARVES AWAY AT WHAT YOU CAN BUILD.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT INTEREST RATES THEN BEGAN TO SKYROCKET.

THE NET EFFECT OF BOTH THE INTEREST RATE INCREASES, WHICH WE HAD PROJECTED AT 2.5% WHEN WE WERE READY TO FLOAT THE BONDS IN 2020 NOW 5.5%, COUPLED WITH INFLATION, HAS COST THE PROJECT IN EXCESS OF $165 MILLION.

THAT IS WE HAVE 165 MILLION LESS TODAY OUT OF A $400 MILLION BUDGET TO BUILD WHAT WAS ENVISIONED.

AND IT'S NOT FEASIBLE.

ALAN AND I TRIED EVERY POSSIBLE WAY ALONG WITH BILL COLE, TO SEE IF WE COULD MAKE THAT BLANKET FIT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, FORCES OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL SERIOUS FORCES OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL, INFLATION AND INTERES RATES, HAVE MADE THAT PLAN JUST NOT FEASIBLE.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS FEASIBLE AT THIS POINT?

IS THERE A NEW PLAN?

>> WELL, THAT'S WHAT ALAN AND I AND BILL COLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THE GRAVITATIONAL PULL IS PIMCO IS A ONE TRACK SOLUTION THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TO DO MONEY TO DO PIMCO AND LAURELS AND PIMCO IS A NATURAL GRAVITATIONAL FORCE BECAUSE IT'S THE HOME OF THE PREAKNESS.

I THINK A LOT OF US ARE STARTING TO THINK CAN WE MAKE PIMCO A YEAR-ROUND RACING FACILITY AND ALAN HAS THE APPROPRIATE CONCERN ABOUT WHERE OUR HORSES TO BE STABLED WHO CAN NOT BE STABLED IS NOT BIG ENOUGH WHERE ELSE WOULD THEY GO.

THOSE ARE THE ISSUES WE'RE TRYING TO WRESTLE WITH.

>> ALAN FOREMAN THE HORSEMEN'S PERSPECTIVE ON THIS?

>> JEFF THE REDEVELOPMENT PLAN WAS ABOUT THE REDEVELOPMENT OF THE PARK HEIGHTS COMMUNITY AND PITCHED CO-AS THE CENTERPIECE IT WOULD INVOLVE THE EN TISH INDUSTRY AT ONE FACILITY.

AT THE TIME WE DID THE CONCEPT PLAN THAT WAS LAUREL PARK.

THE STADIUM AUTHORITY WAS BROUGHT IN TO DO THE ASSESSMENT AND TO OVERSEE THE PROJECT.

AND UNDER ITS ASSESSMENT IT IS DETERMINED THAT THE FEASIBILITY OF RENOVATING OR COMPLETELY RELTSES LAUREL AND I WOULD SUGGEST IT NEEDS A COMPLETE REBUILD IS IS NOT AFFORDABLE.

THE COST TO DO LAUREL IS DOUBLE WHAT WE ESTIMATED.

THAT IS A PROBLEM SUPERIMPOSED ON TOP WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL REDEVELOPMENT PLAN.

SO IN DOING SO YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT OTHER OPTIONS THE OPTION IS PIMCO.

YOU WILL HAVE TWO NEW RACING SURFACES A SMALLER CLUBHOUSE.

AND IT WOULD BE A CRIME TO LET THOSE FACILITIES SIT FOR 11 MONTHS A YEAR AND ONLY USE THEM FOR THE PREAKNESS.

PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU HAVE TO SITUATE THE INDUSTRY 1400 HORSES THOUSANDS OF JOBS DAILY RACING AT A FACILITY.

SO THE STADIUM AUTHORITY WORKING WITH THE HORSEMEN HAD BEEN LOOKING AT OPTIONS.

ONE OF WHICH IS TO CONSOLIDATE AT PIMCO, IS LAUREL FEASIBLE AS A TRAINING CENTER AND IT MAY NOT BE BECAUSE OF ITS COST AND WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE THERE IN THE STATE TO BUILD A TRAINING CENTER IS DONE IN OTHER STATES, AND HAVE THAT TRAINING CENTER FEED INTO PIMCO BUT PIMCO WOULD BE A VIBRANT YEAR-ROUND FACILITY.

THERE IS A SECOND PROBLEM AND THAT IS A TAX PROBLEM THAT ALAN HAD HAS TO DEAL WITH INVOLVING THE LAUREL PROPERTY WHICH SUPERIMPOSES A GREATER COST ON THE PROJECT BECAUSE IT REQUIRES THE CONVEYANCE OF THE LAUREL PROPERTY TO AVOID A CAPITAL GAINS SITUATION.

CAPITAL GAINS TAX SITUATION AND THE ONLY WAY AROUND THAT PROBLEM IS FOR THE STATE OR ANNAPOIS COUNTY TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY.

AND THAT FEEDS INTO WHY THE AUTHORITY WAS CREATED WE NEED A STATE ENTITY TO OVERSEE THIS PROJECT TO EXPLORE THE OPTIONS SEE WHAT IS BEST FOR THE RACING INDUSTRY.

THIS PROJECT IS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE MARYLAND RACING INDUSTRY AND TO COME UP WITH RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WILL BE MADE TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IN NEXT YEAR'S SESSION AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD.

ALAN AND I AND ANYBODY WILL SAY IT'S ONE OF THE MOST COMPLICATED PROJECTS THEY HAVE EVER SEEN.

>> Jeff: ALAN LET ME JUMP IN WE MENTIONED THE AUTHORITY.

THIS HAPPENED ON THE LAST DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT DID NOT GET A LOT OF ATTENTION CALLED THE MARYLAND THOROUGHBRED RACETRACK OPERATING AUTHORITY.

SAID IT WAS DONE AS A STAND BY IN CASE THE CURRENT OWNERSHIP OF THE MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB EXITED THE STATE.

>> THAT'S NOT ACCURATE.

WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON THAT AUTHORITY LANGUAGE FOR ABOUT A YEAR.

WE HAVE BEEN ASKED IN THE 2022 SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON TWO THINGS: ON THE WHETHER OR NOT PIMCO COULD BE THE CENTRAL FOCUS OF RACING.

AND THAT IS ESSENTIALLY PRIORITIZE PIMCO.

AND SECONDLY WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS AN OPERATING STRUCTURE THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN THE OPERATING STRUCTURE TODAY THAT WE ALL WORK WITHIN THAT COULD BE BETTER IN THE LONG RUN FOR THIS SUSTAINABILITY AND VIABILITY INDUSTRY FOR THE PURPOSES OF TRAINING AND STABLING.

THAT MODEL IS SIMILAR TO THE DEL MAR MODEL IN CALIFORNIA.

WHERE THE HORSEMEN TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN STABLING AND TRAINING.

AND ESSENTIALLY WE RUN THE RACETRACK AND RUN THE RACING.

SO IT ISN'T SOMETHING THAT ANY OF US BY SURPRISE WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IT.

IT IS A NECESSARY OPTION.

BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY AS YOU HEARD FROM ALAN AND HEARD FROM ME, LAUREL PARK IS UNLIKELY TO BE A FEASIBLE VENUE IN THE LONG-TERM FOR TRAINING AND STABLING.

THE COSTS ARE AN ABSORB NANT THERE ARE TAX IMPLICATIONS.

AND WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY ALL OF THE MONEY AVAILABLE AFTER INFLATION AND INTEREST RATE INCREASES, IS DEPLOYED TO PIMCO.

SO AT THE END OF THE DAY, A SUBSTITUTE LOCATION FOR LAUREL PARK FOR TRAINING AND STABLING OFFSITE NEEDS TO BE FOUND AND THE AUTHORITY CAN PLAY A BIG ROLE IN THAT.

I THINK WE ALL THINK IT'S VALUABLE.

>> Jeff: RACING WAS SUSPENDED AT LAUREL FOR A FEW DAYS.

NUMBER OF HORSES HAD TON EUTHANIZED THIS HAPPENS ACROSS THE INDUSTRY IT HAPPENED AT CHURCHILL DOWNS.

THEN THE TRACK WAS INSPECTED AND DEEMED TO BE SAFE.

NOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

>> SO THE NEXT DAY IT WAS DEEMED TO BE SAFE AND WE HAD SAID ALL ALONG IT WAS SAFE.

THE PRACTICAL REALITY THERE ARE SOME DANGERS IN THIS SPORT.

LET ME BEGIN WITH THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A THOUSAND POUND ANIMAL VERY WELL-TRAINED ON ANKLES THE SIZE OF YOURS.

THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE THERE ARE HORSES WHO OUGHT NOT BE RACING.

THERE ARE SOME HORSES ON THE TRACKS WHO SUSTAIN NATURAL AND UNFORTUNATE INJURIES.

AND THEN THERE ARE INSTANCES WHERE THE TRACK ITSELF IS AT FAULT.

THOSE ARE COMPLICATED ASSESSMENTS TO MAKE AS TO WHAT IS THE JUSTIFICATION FOR THE CAUSE OF ANY OF THESE UNFORTUNATE EPISODES.

BUT ALAN AND I SHARE A VERY IMPORTANT SIMILARITY HERE, WE DON'T REALLY CARE WHAT THE CAUSE IS.

TO US WE WANT TO FIND EVERY REASON POSSIBLE EVERY WAY POSSIBLE TO MAKE THE SPORT AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE BOTH SUPPORTED HIGH A, THE HORSE INTEGRITY SAFETY ACT AND A VARIETY OF PROTOCOLS BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN ALL THE TIME TO MAKE THIS SPORT AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

THE PUBLIC EXPECTS IT.

>> Jeff: ALAN FOREMAN, THE HORSEMEN OK WITH GOING BACK TO LAUREL WHEN THE PIMCO MEET ENDS?

>> WELL, WE BROUGHT IN AN EXPERT WHO THE HORSEMEN HAVE TREMENDOUS CONFIDENCE IN.

HE WAS BROUGHT IN TO ASSESS THE RACING SURFACE.

HE MADE CERTAIN CHANGES.

HE CHANGED THE MAINTENANCE PROTOCOLS.

AND WE HAVE NOT HAD AN INCIDENT SINCE HE CAME IN.

AS LODGE AS JOHN IS THERE AND DOING HIS WORK, THE HORSEMEN ARE COMFORTABLE.

WE HAVE NOT HAD AN INCIDENT SINCE HE HAS COME IN.

I WOULD SAY THIS IS AN AREA THAT I SPENT A GOOD PART OF MY CAREER IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, I WAS PART OF THE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM THAT INVESTIGATED A SPATE OF FATALITIES AT AQUA DUCT RACETRACK IN NEW YORK 10 YEARS AGO AND WE LEARNED A LOT FROM IT.

AND WHEN YOU SEE CLUSTERS OF INJURIES, CLUSTERS OF FATALITIES, WHICH IS PRECISELY WHAT HAPPENED AT CHURCHILL LAST WEEK, IT IS A RED FLAG.

AND IT'S WHEN YOU TAKE A TIME-OUT AND THAT IS WHAT WE DID.

WE SAW A CLUSTER OF INJURIES, FATALITIES WE TOOK A TIME-OUT TO ASSESS WHAT MIGHT BE THE CAUSE OR CAUSES.

IT'S MULTIFACTORIAL.

BUT THE FIRST THING IS RACING SURFACES AND WEATHER.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE DID.

AND WE WILL LOOK AT EVERY FATALITY, EVERY INJURY, THEY WILL DO SO AT CHURCH HILL.

THE GOOD NEWS IS WE ARE SO FAR BETTER THAN WE WERE 10 YEARS AGO AND FIVE YEARS AGO.

ONE FATALITY IS ONE TOO MANY.

UNFORTUNATELY IT IS ENDEMIC IN OUR BUSINESS.

WE LEARN FROM IT AND HAVE PROTOCOLS VETERINARY PROTOCOLS, PRERACE EXAMINATION PROTOCOLS TO TRY TO PREVENT THIS.

AND WHEN YOU SEE THEM AS CHURCHILL EXPERIENCED IN CLUSTERS WHICH IS AN ABERRATION, YOU STEP IN IMMEDIATELY AND TRY TO GET TO THE CAUSE OR CAUSES AND PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.

>> Jeff: ALAN RIFKIN LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION THAT YOU AGREE ON WE HAVE A NEW GOVERNOR TAKING A LOOK AT STRATEGY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY, JOB CREATION STRATEGY IN THE STATE WHAT IS THE ARGUMENT THIS INDUSTRY WHICH GOES BACK HUNDREDS OF YEARS IS WORTH THE STATE INVESTING IN WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY HIGH-TECH ALTERNATIVES WHERE THE MONEY COULD GO?

>> JEFF, YOU PUT YOUR FINGER ON IT.

THE MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB WAS FOUNDED IN 1743.

FOR 280 YEARS IT'S BEEN PART OF THE FABRIC OF THIS STATE FROM THE BEAUTIFUL HORSE FARMS THAT YOU SEE TO THE PREAKNESS.

THE JOCKEY CLUB HAS WEATHERED THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, THE CIVIL WAR, TWO WORLD WARS, GREAT DEPRESSIONS.

IT'S PART OF OUR CULTURE.

IT'S PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR STATE.

>> Jeff: HOUR THANKS TO ALAN RIFKIN AND ALAN FOREMAN.

AND UPDATE ON THE U.S. RACE FOR THE U.S. SENATE WITH BEN STANDIG ANNOUNCING THE RETIREMENT.

ANGELA ALSOBROOKS ANNOUNCED HER BID ROLLING OUT ENDORSEMENTS FROM TREASURER DEREK DAVIS AND CONGRESSMAN.

TWO OTHER CURRENT ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE ANNOUNCED BIDS, CONGRESSMAN DAVID TRONE AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCILMAN WILL JAWANDO.

>> OUR NEWSMAKER THIS WEEK IS JAY PERMAN THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND.

Dr. PERMAN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> IT IS A PLEASURE, JEFF, ALWAYS HAPPY TO BE WITH YOU.

>> Jeff: ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU SINCE THE LAST TIME WE TALKED MARYLAND HAS A NEW GOVERNOR, HIGHER EDUCATION, LIFTING PEOPLE OUT OF POFORT D. TO WHAT DEGREE IS THE COST OF EDUCATION A BAYER?

>> I THINK YOU KNOW HOW WE MUST FEEL THOSE OF US IN HIGHER EDUCATION TO HAVE GOVERNOR MOORE CHAMPIONING THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION.

BECAUSE HE UNDERSTANDS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GETTING AN EDUCATION AND LIFTING ONESELF OUT OF POVERTY.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERNS ME, THOUGH, JEFF, AS WE LISTEN TO THE NATIONAL DIALOGUE, AND RESPECT WHAT THE PUBLIC SAYS, IS THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY SEE THE LINKAGE.

SOME PEOPLE ARE NOT CONVINCED THAT HIGHER EDUCATION GETTING A DEGREE IS SO IMPORTANT IN GETTING AHEAD.

AND THAT CONCERNS ME.

BECAUSE I WORRY ABOUT THE IMPACT OF FEWER AND FEWER PEOPLE AVAILING THEMSELVES OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

I WORRY ABOUT THE IMPACT ON OUR SOCIETY.

MANY PEOPLE HAVE HEARD THE DATA WHICH ONLY GROWS STRONGER ABOUT THE FACT THAT IF YOU GET A BACHELOR'S DEGREE YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE MUCH MORE MONEY THAN WITHOUT IT.

THAT'S CLEAR.

I THINK IT'S IRREFUTABLE.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT A HIGHER EDUCATION CONFERS ON PEOPLE.

THINGS THAT I CARE ABOUT AS A PHYSICIAN, PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD A COLLEGE EDUCATION ARE GENERALLY HEALTHIER.

THEY ARE GENERALLY HAPPIER.

THEY ARE EMPA THICK THEY SLOL TEAR IN OUR SOCIETY.

BY DEFINITION THEY PAY MORE TAXES BECAUSE THEY HAVE A BETTER INCOME.

ALL OF THIS IS FUNDAMENTAL TO US HAVING A HEALTHIER, MORE PRODUCTIVE SOCIETY.

SAY ONE MORE THING IN THIS REGARD.

THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF CONCERN IN SOME QUARTERS ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION MAKING PEOPLE THINK IN A WAY THAT SOME MIGHT NOT WANT US TO THINK.

WE DON'T TEACH PEOPLE WHAT TO THINK.

IN HIGHER EDUCATION WE TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO THINK AND THAT IS A VALUABLE SKILL FOR A LIFETIME.

>> Jeff: WHEN YOU WERE AT UMB, UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE, I THINK YOU STARTED SOMETHING CALLED THE CORE SCHOLARS PROGRAM.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> Jeff: WHICH IS ON A MICRO SCALE WITH A SMALL NUMBER OF KIDS IN THE COMMUNITIES AROUND THAT INSTITUTION ANDS MARYLAND PUBLIC TV HAS DONE DOCUMENTARIES ON THAT FROM WEST BALTIMORE.

AND IT'S BEEN A GREAT SUCCESS.

KIDS HAD A CHANCE IN LIFE WHO MAY NOT HAVE, THE QUESTION IS: HOW DO YOU SCALE SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

I WILL LET YOU TALK ABOUT IT A LITTLE BIT WITH THE IDEA THAT A LOT OF RESOURCES YOU CAN HELP A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO HELP 100,000 PEOPLE HOW DO YOU DO IT?

>> WHAT YOU'VE OPENED FOR DISCUSSION HERE, JEFF, IS SOMETHING THAT IS A PARTICULAR OF FOCUS OF OURS IN THE SYSTEM.

AT THE MACRO LEVEL, WE HAVE TO DECIDE HOW BEST AS THOSE WHO FOCUS ON A COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION, WHAT IS OUR ROLE IN ENGAGING WITH PRE-K-12 SO THAT CHILDREN ARE BETTER PREPARED, CAREER READY, COLLEGE READY WHEN THEY ARE AT THE END OF 12TH GRADE.

WE HAVE A ROLE THAT WE MUST PLAY.

AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY REGARDING TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT SCALING, IS THAT HAVING HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF TRAVELING OUR SYSTEM, TRAVELING TO OUR 12 INSTITUTIONS AND SAYING WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THAT REGARD?

TELL ME ABOUT YOUR PIPELINE INITIATIVES?

EVERYBODY'S DOING SOMETHING.

SO I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF DOING SOMETHING THAT ONE INSTITUTION CAN DO IN WEST BALTIMORE AS YOU DESCRIBED.

AND NOW, HAPPILY, I SEE THAT OUR ROBUST SYSTEM IS TAKING UP THAT CHALLENGE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

>> Jeff: WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH ENROLLMENT?

I KNOW THEY ALWAYS SAY HIGHER EDUCATION IS COUNTER CYCLICAL WHEN THE ECONOMY IS GOOD JOBS ARE PLENTIFUL AND PEOPLE ARE LESS WILLING TO INVEST IN EDUCATION.

AND THE ECONOMY'S BEEN GOOD.

OVERALL, TALK ABOUT ENROLLMET AND IF YOU DON'T MIND ALSO WITH REGARD TO THE SUNSET THE -- SUBSET THE HBCU'S WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM.

>> THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION OVERALL HAS SUFFERED AN ENROLLMENT DECLINE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

AND I'M SAYING FOUR YEARS DELIBERATELY BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE DECLINES CAME BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

THE PANDEMIC CERTAINLY EXACERBATED THINGS BUT THERE WAS DECLINE.

AND YOU REFERENCE A PARTICULAR REASON OR TWO FOR IT.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WHEN JOBS ARE PLENTIFUL, WHEN THERE'S A TIGHT LABOR MARKET, YES, IT BECOMES EASY AND IT BECOMES TEMPTING AND IT BECOMES UNDERSTANDABLE FOR PEOPLE THAT NEED RESOURCES FOR THEMSELVES OR THEIR FAMILY TO GO OUT INTO THE JOB MARKET.

SO ENROLLMENT TENDS TO SHRINK.

NATIONALLY FROM 2019-2023 THERE'S BEEN ABOUT AN 8% DECLINE IN ENROLLMENT ACROSS PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION.

WE'RE DOING A LITTLE BETTER FOR US IT'S BEEN A 6% DECLINE.

HOWEVER, WE ARE SEEING VERY ENCOURAGING NUMBERS NOW INDEPENDENT OF THE ECONOMY WHICH IS IT STILL ROBUST, THANK GOD, WE ARE SEEING EVIDENCE OF FRESHMEN ENROLLMENT COMING UP.

WE WILL HAVE THE NUMBERS FOR SURE IN THE FALL.

BUT IT'S STARTING TO LOOK LIKE WE ARE CREEPING BACK TO THE TRAJECTORY WE WERE ON.

WE EXPECT TO HAVE BY 2030, PROBABLY 10,000 MORE STUDENTS THAN WE HAVE RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE ABOUT 163,000 STUDENTS NOW.

WE ARE ANTICIPATING GROWTH.

AND YOU ASKED ABOUT THE HBCU'S.

THERE IS GROWTH AHE HAD HAD OF US AT UMES AND BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY AND COPPIN STATE UNIVERSITY.

THIS IS A TIME FOR ALL THE REASONS AT THAT TIME PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MANY STUDENTS OF COLOR WHO PREFER TO BE IN AN HBCU AND WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF CHOICES FOR THEM FROM THE URBAN TO THE RURAL AND IN-BETWEEN.

>> Jeff: FROM YOUR POSITION AT THE TOP OF THE STATE'S UNIVERSITY SYSTEM YOU SEE A MOVEMENT TO IN SOME JOB POSTINGS AND WITHIN STATE GOVERNMENT THE LAST ADMINISTRATION REMOVED THE NEED FOR A COLLEGE DEGREE FROM CERTAIN JOB POSTINGS.

PERHAPS THEY WERE MISCLASSIFIED AND NEVER NEEDED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

PERHAPS IT HAD TO DO WITH THE TIGHT JOB MARKET AND NEEDING TO FILL POSITIONS.

DO YOU THINK THAT IS A LONG-TERM MOVE?

AND WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?

>> WELL, WE WOULD NEVER ARGUE THE POINT THAT TO PUT IT INTO A PHRASE THAT IS OFTEN SAID, COLLEGE ISN'T FOR EVERYONE.

WHAT I WORRY ABOUT IS THAT PEOPLE WILL MISINTERPRET THESE RECLASSIFICATIONS WHICH MAYBE FOR GOOD REASONS AND ALSO BECAUSE IT IS A TIGHT LABOR ARKET SO IT'S PRACTICAL.

BUT WHAT WORRIES ME AND THIS COMES BACK TO WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, NO ONE SHOULD INTERPRET THAT TO MEAN COLLEGE IS NOT NECESSARY.

IT MAY NOT BE NECESSARY, NO QUESTION FOR SOME WORK.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT ISN'T NECESSARY FOR ALL THE REASONS I MENTIONED BEFORE.

AND I HOPE EVERYONE WILL KEEP IN MIND THAT PEOPLE ARE OFTEN GOING TO FIRST JOBS.

WHAT ABOUT THE SECOND JOB AND THE THIRD JOB?

AND THE JOB THAT DOESN'T EXIST NOW?

THAT MAY SUBSTITUTE FOR THE JOBS CURRENTLY PRESENT.

WE NEED TO GET AWAY FROM THE EITHER OR AND SAY MAYBE NOW I CAN GET A BADGE OR CERTIFICATE AND I CAN GO TO WORK IN THE LABOR MARKET.

IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT COLLEGE IS NEVER NECESSARY.

>> Jeff: LASTLY, YOUR OFFICE I BELIEVE IS IN CHARGE OF HIRING THE LEADERS OF UNIVERSITIES IN THE STATE SYSTEM WHEN THERE IS A VACANCY.

YOU HAVE A COUPLE HIGH PROFILE VACANCIES.

>> LET ME SAY THIS FIRST OF ALL, WE HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF RECRUITING OUTSTANDING PRESIDENTS WHEN SOME OF OUR WONDERFUL PRESIDENTS HAVE DECIDED AFTER LONG SERVICE TO RETIRE OR TO MOVE ON TO ANOTHER POSITION.

AND IT'S JOYFUL TO SEE THE QUALITY AND THE QUANTITY OF PEOPLE THAT ARE APPLYING FOR OUR JOBS.

YES, I'M THANKFUL.

YOU EXPECT ME TO BE PRIDEFUL.

THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND THE STATE'S PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM, PEOPLE USED TO TELL ME THIS NOW I'M FEELING IT.

IT HAS AN OUTSTANDING REPUTATION NATIONWIDE.

>> Jeff: JAY PERMAN THE CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND Dr. PERMAN THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MY PLEASURE, THANK YOU, JEFF.

>> Jeff: NOW ON TONIGHT'S SALUTE TO VETO RANS NANCY AMATTA WITH ENTREPRENEURIAL VETERANS AND THEIR NATURAL TREATMENTS FOR PAIN RELIEF.

>> WHEN YOU DO NATURAL REMEDIES, THERE'S REALLY NEVER ANY COMPLICATIONS WITH THAT.

>> SHE SAYS HER PRODUCT MEG RELIEF WAS CREATED TO HELP HER HUSBAND WHO WAS SUFFERING FROM KNEE AND LEG PAIN AFTER A BASKETBALL INJURY WHILE ON A TRIP TO THE WEST INDIES HE AFLIED NUTMEG TO HIS INJURIES.

HE HAD INSTANT RELIEF.

>> GOSH, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYBODY.

SO WE CAME UP WITH THE FORMULATION THAT ADDED ADDITIONAL PIECES TO MAKE OUR PRODUCT THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

>> IN THE BASEMENT OF THEIR GERMANTOWN HOME THEY SPENT THE NEXT EIGHT YEARS PERFECTING THE PRODUCT.

BEYOND THE MEG RELIEF IT NOW INCLUDES BATH BOMBS.

>> IT WAS DIFFICULT WE DID NOT HAVE A SCIENCE BACKGROUND.

>> THEY MET WHILE SERVING IN THE ARMY NEVER DID THEY IMAGINE THAT THEIR UNION AND ENTREPRENEURIAL VENTURE LEAD TO WINNING THE VETERANS SHARK TANK COMPETITION NOW THEY LOOK FORWARD COMMERCIAL SUCCESS.

>> WE ARE UP AGAINST GIANTS, BIOFREEZE, TYLENOL.

BUT WHAT I THINK PEOPLE ARE SHIFTING TOWARDS WANTING MORE NATURAL OPTIONS.

>> THEY HOPE THEIR PRODUCTS WILL HELP ANYONE IN PAIN AND ESPECIALLY VETERANS MANY OF WHOM ARE SUFFERING FROM SERVICE RELATED INJURIES.

>> I WAS IN THE INFANTRY, MY KNEES, BY BACK MY FEET WE DEAL IT BECAUSE WE WERE TAUGHT TO SUCK IT UP AND DRIVE ON.

THAT IS THE CHALLENGE.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO ANYMORE.

>> ARTHUR IS HOPING TO ENCOURAGE MORE VETERANS TO FOLLOW IN HIS FOOTSTEPS HE LAUNCHED A PROGRAM TO GIVE TRAINING AND RESOURCES FOR VETERANS WANTING TO LAUNCH AND MARKET THEIR GREATEST IDEA.

THIS WEEK HE RECEIVED A CITATION BY THE GOVERNOR FOR SERVICE TO THE VETERAN COMMUNITY AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO MARYLAND'S ECONOMY.

>> IT'S EXTREMELY GRATIFYING WHEN SEE THE LIGHT AND YES I CAN DO THIS TOO.

IT'S OUR OBLIGATION TO LOOK OUT FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

WE BECOME BETTER AS WE HELP OTHER PEOPLE.

>> I'M NANCY AMATTA FOR STATE CIRCLE.

>> Jeff: THE BELTWAY BEAR HAS BEEN BANISHED FROM THE 'BURBS.

HE WAS SPOTTED IN THE BELTWAY IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

DNR AND THE ROCKVILLE POLICE TRACKED THE BEAR AFTER DESTROYED A BEEKEEPERS HIVES AND WAS RELOCATED OUTSIDE THE COUNTY.

AND THAT IS "STATE CIRCLE" FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.