Month: August 2013

State Roundup, August 30, 2013

State’s drop in infant mortality rate attributed to substantial cut in black infant deaths; MDOT to listen to concerns over Red Line, but says major changes won’t be coming; Sen. Simonaire hopes to ease burden of stormwater runoff fee with new legislation; IRS to recognize all legally married same-sex couples; Atty. Gen. and gubernatorial candidate Gansler calls for minimum wage hike, cut in corporate tax rate and more programs for senior citizens; meanwhile, one Montgomery council member wants a $12 minimum wage in that county; federal grants to help Baltimore City Police with DNA testing backlog; 2nd Amendment group continues to chip away at local gun control laws, this time with Carroll County allowing gun-carrying at waste facilities; crowded field for Mizeur’s District 20 seat; and, to lighten the day, presidential hopefuls such as Martin O’Malley and Chris Christie, imagined as Sesame Street characters.

Rascovar Commentary: Is the end near for Maryland Republicans?

MarylandReporter.com welcomes Barry Rascovar as a regular contributor. We have been linking to his columns in the daily roundup for years, but we will be publishing his columns simultaneously with his own blog, PoliticalMaryland.com. Rascovar has been reporting and commenting on Maryland and national politics and government since 1971, first for the Baltimore Sun, then the Gazette of Politics and Business and The Community Times.

State Roundup, August 29, 2013

The proposed $2.2 billion Purple Line would run from Bethesda to New Carrollton, affecting 16 miles along the way; Maryland Live poker room gets state OK to open; after 23 years, Del. Sonny Minnick to retire; Gov. O’Malley speaks at MLK march commemoration, then touts Maryland on Sharpton show; O’Malley kicks off series of events to highlight accomplishments; U.S. Rep. Harris visits new shore emergency care center; U.S. Rep. Delaney speaks with farmers; Montgomery exec Leggett to visit China; and Arundel Councilmen concerned over closed superintendent hiring process.

Auditors found Frostburg State failed to get proper approval or competitive bid for $2M energy facility

Frostburg State University paid for construction of a $2 million Sustainable Energy Research Facility without documenting the reason for its site-selection decision, without obtaining required approvals from the Board of Public Works or the university system, and without requiring the developer to competitively bid construction, according to an audit released Wednesday.

State Roundup, Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Push continues to start school after Labor Day; judge denies Perdue, Eastern Shore farmer attorney’s fees from Waterkeeper Alliance; PSC defers request on wind project start; waterman get a hearing in Annapolis; state urges dog owners to scoop the poop to save waterways; Gov. O’Malley to speak at March on Washington anniversary event; Caroline Republican Central Committee blames Queen Anne’s in Sen. Pipkin replacement mess; and former Arundel Councilman Daryl Jones gets a day in court on his removal.

Blue Moon: A blogger takes political plunge and runs for delegate

David Moon, the man behind the Maryland Juice political blog in Montgomery County, made it sort of official Saturday on the back patio of his Takoma Park home. He’s running for the House of Delegates, with a formal announcement to come later. Moon has been a progressive activist, campaign manager and consultant, and helped elect folks such as Sen. Jamie Raskin, Montgomery County Council members Nancy Navarro, Valerie Ervin and Hans Riemer, and the District 18 Democratic slate. A few of these folks showed up at the event.

Don’t leave choice for Pipkin seat to Democratic governor, Republicans say

The chair of Caroline Republican Central Committee is blaming the central committee in Queen Anne’s County for giving Gov. Martin O’Malley the power to choose the successor of Sen. E.J. Pipkin in District 36. Del. Mike Smigiel, one of the two nominees, is asking the four county central committees to jointly interview him and Del. Steve Hershey to help break the tie and avoid leaving the choice to O’Malley.

State Roundup, Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Two Western Maryland prison officials are out as one retires, the other is reassigned; chicken farmers relieved after state holds off on manure spreading restrictions; Comptroller Franchot warns Frederick Commissioners against sale of county care facilities at this time; Montgomery minority Senate hopeful cites political pressure in withdrawing from consideration; Del. Cane to seek re-election; and Blaine Young says General Election money a factor in not running for governor.

Support Our Work!

We depend on your support. A generous gift in any amount helps us continue to bring you this service.

Facebook