Cynthia Prairie

With inclusion of science test scores, surveys of students, educators, school star ratings see fewer high fliers and low performers; Maryland schools Superintendent Karen Salmon says she won’t seek reappointment; accountability structure is key to Kirwan education proposal; a state task force is weighing tighter regulations over vaping; local GOP begins to mull replacement as Del. Cassilly becomes aide to governor; Del. Mosby to seek to become Baltimore City Council president; Supreme Court interested in Carroll County appeal of state-imposed stormwater regulation; Maryland employers, employees and job seekers continue to seek guidance over medical cannabis use in the workplace; and city schools could face $6 million budget gap.

Citing health concerns, long-time state Sen. Shirley Nathan-Pulliam, 80, announces retirement; Board of Public Works could reverse promises to Montgomery, Prince George’s on toll lanes to push Beltway project through; failed direct deposit to 3,500 state workers laid to Capital One; report card on Maryland’s medical marijuana industry finds bright spots with some ‘needs improvement;’ former state Democratic chair Rockeymoore Cummings spent down party’s savings; lobby firm suing former clients; former Gov. O’Malley verbally assaults Trump Homeland Security deputy in D.C. bar; two Garrett County towns suing 3M over PFA contamination; and problems don’t follow police officers from one job to the next.

Despite lawsuits, Gov. Hogan to push forward on State Center redevelopment; millions of dollars available statewide for testing of rape kits; recreational marijuana may not be legalized in 2020; state auditor sets off alarms in Annapolis, saying UMMS hindering his work; state Sen. Bill Ferguson says he’ll keep Mike Miller’s chief of staff as new Senate president; Chief Administrative Law Judge Thomas Dewberry to retire; daughters of the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings outline why they are backing Harry Spikes to replace father; first lady Melania Trump gets a rude reception in Baltimore; and Congress still hasn’t seen report on why the FBI HQ relocation plan was killed.

Traffic congestion can signal prosperity in a region such as D.C. and the suburbs, but it also creates major problems where the fixes aren’t simple; Montgomery County could throw a wrench into the state’s Beltway widening plans by deciding to sue; what happens to the $1 million in Catherine Pugh’s campaign fund?; study finds climate change could imperil four Baltimore area superfund sites; state aids Catonsville in quest to become Music City, Maryland; tis the season for campaign fundraising; Maya Rockeymoore Cummings says double mastectomy was a relief; Howard schools to close for Feb. 4 primary in race for the late Rep. Elijah Cummings’ seat; and Baltimore County considers tougher rules on gun shop owners to prevent firearms thefts.

Gov. Hogan paroles lifers who committed crimes before they turned 18; state regulators OK vaping products for sale after testing for substance possibly linked to illness; Sen.Lam to introduce bill banning balloon launches statewide; Montgomery planners, frustrated by SHA refusal to turn over road widening data, may file public information request; Kirwan education plan supporters have harsh words for Gov. Hogan, and vice versa; Mayor Young asks city agencies for budget cuts to prepare for Kirwan cost; former Mayor Pugh’s problems didn’t start with honest mistakes; and Howard parent files open meeting complaint against school board.

Indictment says former city Mayor Catherine Pugh, a former state senator, schemed to sell ‘Healthy Holly’ books than she intended to publish and pushed to secure funds intended for Associated Black Charities; Pugh used proceeds to buy homes, pay down equity line of credit; charges against former campaign aide who had been elected to House of Delegates – but would never take seat – helped set indictments against Pugh in motion; politicians throughout the state react to indictments; planners from Montgomery and Prince George’s counties refuse to sign off on a study of how to add toll lanes to the Capital Beltway and I-270; Sens. Cardin, Van Hollen ask state to include bike/walk lane on Nice Bridge replacement; state audit faults Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention for not having clear guidelines for awarding crime grants; with window to sign up for special primary, 32 candidates to vie for congressional seat held by the late Elijah Cummings; and Montgomery County debates 5G antenna placement.

Ex-Mayor Pugh indicted; Del. Barve to propose bill to shutter state’s remaining coal-fired plants; union proposes tax changes to fund Kirwan education plan; Maryland roads score high on quality, spending, in ConsumerAffairs report; Gov. Hogan’s appointments secretary says vetting, hirings are not political; Sen. Guzzone to replace King as Budget-Tax panel chair; NRA backs gun rights advocates’ appeal of Maryland law; Sen. Jill Carter jumps into crowded race for seat of late U.S. Rep. Cummings;  state Sen. Washington announces run for Baltimore mayor; and Baltimore City Council finally passes plastic bag ban.

GAO assesses impact of climate change on most contaminated sites, including seven in Maryland; vaping businesses suffer during health scare; Howard board of ed straw votes signal move toward redistricting with some changes; Gov. Larry Hogan keeps big announcements under wraps, but with a cost to some political relationships; Baltimore City Council pushes state on richer HBCU settlement;poultry slurry tank plan stirs controversy in Wicomico; state Sen. William Smith returns from Afghanistan deployment to different political world; Ellicott City plan awaits one land purchase; Del. Parrott to seek U.S. Rep. Trone’s seat; and Evening Sun editorial cartoonist Mike Lane dies at 78.