Homepage Featured

State Roundup, Aug. 4, 2017

By |

Acting Secretaries Schrader, Peters sue state Treasurer Kopp for salaries while Gov. Hogan “absolutely” supports suit; regulators ask medical marijuana companies if they have ties to those who graded their applications; Gov. Hogan asks FAA to mitigate airplane noise after flight paths altered; U.S. Rep. Delaney talks about his decision to run for president; U.S. Atty. Gen. Sessions tells Baltimore City to enforce Trump administration immigration stand at state-run jail if it wants federal crime-fighting aid as Mayor Pugh says state will send millions of dollars to help city and state Senate panel to hold hearing on Baltimore violence; judge overturns Montgomery County’s ban on cosmetic pesticides; Del. Kramer to run for state Senate seat held by Richard Manno, who is running for Congress; Del. Morales to seek re-election; and scientists concerned about Trump directive opening mid-Atlantic to gas, oil exploration.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, Aug. 3, 2017

By |

Federal officials tell a Senate panel that they remain committed to the new FBI headquarters despite its cancellation by the Trump administration; Baltimore one of 12 cities to get federal prosecutor focused on health care and opioid scams; in a race that is getting crowded with David Trone’s announcement for Congress, Sen. Manno says he’s running too; Arundel Councilman Grasso running for county executive; and U.S. Sen. Van Hollen attempts to stop brothers’ deportation.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, August 2, 2017

By |

Breaking: David Trone announces run for Congress; New Maryland health care panel meets for first time, hear that 400,000 in state could lose health care if Obamacare is repealed, but stumped over next steps as federal priorities shift;ACLU takes up citizen complaints against Gov. Larry Hogan over deleting comments, blocking users on his official page; judge in Purple Line case throws out last environmental objections to it moving forward; Comptroller Franchot touts upcoming tax-free week; study finds that Montgomery’s proposed $15 minimum wage will cost 47,000 jobs; and judge in Open Meetings case rules that Taneytown officials did not willfully violate law.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, Aug. 1, 2017

By |

Dem legislative leaders nix special session sought by Del. Glenn to overhaul medical marijuana industry, address racial inequality, saying it can be done in 2018 session; former delegate charged with accepting bribes seeks to throw out wiretaps; Common Cause finds cost of running successfully for General Assembly rising; President Trump urged to declare country in state of emergency over opioid overdose crisis; Sen. Hough files for re-election; with U.S. Rep. Delaney running for president, who will seek to fill his spot? Pundits ponder the possibilities; state Sen. Kagan consider run for Montgomery County exec; and an Open Meetings lawsuit goes to court.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, July 31, 2017

By |

U.S. Rep. John Delaney makes his run for the Democratic nomination for president public, touting the “new economy” and am entrepreneurial spirit. And of course with this news, the question is who will seek to replace Delaney? Bethesda Beat and A Miner Detail take a look; several of the independent marijuana experts reviewing medical marijuana proposals had ties to the companies they reviewed; Maryland joins states seeking to protect transgender military service people; Chesapeake Bay dead zone was smaller in June than expected; Prince George’s State Attorney Alsobrooks to run for county exec; and Montgomery County Council’s at-large race is packed.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, July 28, 2017

By |

Rep. Delaney now expected to announce that he’ll run for Democratic nomination for president; Rep. Van Hollen works to revive plans for new FBI headquarters after Trump administration killed them; $100 million for Purple Line in congressional transportation spending plan; state pension-retirement portfolio sees 10% return on investments; attorneys seek to block another court delay in implementing medical marijuana program; Gov. Hogan alters state’s vehicle emissions program; Evergreen Health sale fails, leaving two insurers in state’s individual ACA marketplace; transgender Marylanders react to President Trump’s tweets about banning transgender people from all military service; and Baltimore Mayor Pugh to introduce more violence reduction ideas.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, July 27, 2017

By |

Gov. Hogan signs on to bipartisan governors’ letter opposing Congress’ “skinny” repeal of Obamacare as gubernatorial candidate Ross recounts son’s life-threatening illness to blast congressional Republicans; Montgomery green lights Purple Line construction on county land; two cabinet secretaries go without pay; doctors set to open medical-marijuana shop in Hagerstown; BPW, Baltimore City agree to $1 million payout in man’s death; as election times nears, Hogan’s staff changes; and reaction swift to President Trump’s ban on military service for transgender people.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, July 26, 2017

By |

A Montgomery County trail group takes its fight against the Purple Line to U.S. Transportation Secretary Chao; Board of Public Works expected to OK $400,000 settlement in 2013 death at Morgan State; grant money helps expand Arundel’s Safe Station program to fight opioid abuse; U.S. Rep. Delaney expected to announce decision not to seek re-election this weekend; Montgomery Council gets revamped minimum wage bill, much to the consternation of business owners; with so many at-large council members from Takoma Park, Montgomery charter committee considers changes; and after public protests, Baltimore City Council passes preliminary illegal gun sentencing bill.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, July 25, 2017

By |

Budget Secretary Brinkley declines lawmakers’ requests to provide plan on filling $700 million shortfall; federal judge allows Trump commission to seek voter data, saying it is exempt from federal privacy review requirements; gun rights advocates plead case against Maryland assault weapons ban at Supreme Court; congressional, NAACP leaders address cash bail, criminal justice reform; Gov. Hogan to headline at Pennsylvania gubernatorial hopeful’s fundraiser; Maryland congressmen offer up two versions of redistricting reform; Baltimore city debates proposed mandatory sentence for carrying illegal guns; Frederick County ask PSC to consider new county regulations in solar farm permitting; and George Leventhal announces $196,652 from Montgomery campaign fund.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, July 24, 2017

By |

Plans for off-shore wind farm being met with opposition from Ocean City and Rep. Harris; communities slated for medical marijuana dispensaries begin to resist their placement; state’s corrections officers seek higher wages; gun advocates take Maryland assault weapon ban to Supreme Court; with anti-flu nasal spray deemed ineffective, counties grapple with flu shots for public school students; former Michelle Obama policy director says she’s mulling a run for governor; Arundel Councilman Grasso is running, for something; Del. Kipke injured in dog attack; Del. McKay won’t seek second term, decides to run for Register of Wills after officerholder indicted; and Montgomery County political activist Jonathan Shurberg dies at 54.