Cynthia Prairie

BSO, musicians end labor dispute; a federal judge has thrown out a challenge to Maryland’s ban on conversion therapy for minors; Washington County leaders say Goucher poll contending Marylanders are for tax hikes for schools doesn’t reflect their residents’ views; growing number of Marylanders agree that climate change is based in human action; Goucher poll also finds that Marylanders like socialism more than they like Trump’s job performance; state throws Montgomery’s Corridor Cities Transitway plans into doubt; Frederick County gets federal grant for 38 more firefighters; and Howard County desegregation plan to get public airing.

Goucher poll finds 74% of Marylanders are willing to pay more taxes for improved public education, but 77% have no idea what the Kirwan Commission education spending plan is; a Kirwan spending workgroup reverses commission’s trend of openness; Attorney General Frosh questions Purdue Pharma-Sackler family actions on lawsuits; Maryland colleges tackle vaping trend; business leaders see latest problem in workforce development is competition for talent; unemployment rate remains under 4%; 24th county for Maryland is proposed and it’s all in D.C.; BSO, musicians reach tentative accord; and Washington County organization to study impact of taxing short-term rentals.

Gov. Hogan launches process to pay millions of dollars to five men wrongly convicted, imprisoned; within minutes of touting competition in bidding process, Hogan defends no-bid contract extension; while Maryland farmers fight climate change on a day-to-day basis, state program hopes to help them see the long view; state vows to fight President Trump order nixing its say over auto emissions standards; survey finds fewer commuters are driving solo; Hogan pushes Attorney General Frosh to take up more Baltimore City criminal cases; Prince George’s State’s Attorney Braveboy to end cash bail requests; Annapolis campaign consultant pleads guilty to wire fraud; and Washington County see influx of meth cases.

Audit finds that the Maryland Department of Commerce failed to verify that companies given taxpayer-funded incentives actually created jobs; in the first six months of the year, opioid deaths in Maryland fell; 10 candidates on list for opening on Maryland’s Court of Appeals; Howard County residents protest proposed desegregation plans; Baltimore’s police commish tells state panel that no internal probe into Gun Trace Task Force corruption has begun; Baltimore mayor invites plaintiffs with grievances against police to speak to spending panel; and Montgomery County introduces ambitious racial equity bill.

Maryland’s congressional Democrats ask Ag Secty Perdue to rescind rule that they say could yank 50,000 in state from food stamps; state census panel stymied by lack of planning; Gov. Hogan to lead infrastructure, economic mission to Australia; U.S. Rep. Brown touts gaming industry as important to state education, economy; BGE says Howard council member’s Ellicott City plan could harm its service to the area; Montgomery County seeks to restrict youth access to e-cigarettes with bill to restrict location of vape shops; and Montgomery finds itself lagging in fulfillment of climate change promises.

Gov. Hogan pledges State Police copter crews for Baltimore crime-fighting efforts; cocaine-related deaths have skyrocketed since 2015; state’s Lynching Truth and Reconciliation panels begin tour of Maryland; state approves more than $23 million in funding to bring air conditioning to more than 15 additional schools in Baltimore County and city; Montgomery’s public campaign financing program said to be a model for rest of state; as probe of Metro and its former chairman to kick off, Maryland closer to releasing its portion of funding; as President Trump pulls funds from military projects for border wall, replacement child care facility in Prince George’s imperiled; Maryland winemakers see impact of climate change; and Howard councilwoman pushes plans for Ellicott City flood mitigation.

Seven medical cannabis users have reported unexplained respiratory problems; letters between Hogan administration and state Health Care Commission seem to offer path toward new Prescription Drug Advisory Board; Attorney General Frosh criticizes tentative Perdue Pharma settlement; D.C. Council of Governments pushing for more affordable housing; with President Trump’s planned visit to Baltimore, protesters expected to be out in force; while presidential hopeful Joe Biden leads the money race in Maryland; Sen. Bernie Sanders outshines with most donors; Maryland Democratic Committee, siding with DNC, soundly defeated proposal for a dedicated climate change presidential debate; musicians reject latest BSO proposals; and with Maryland members splitting down party lines, U.S. House votes to ban off-shore drilling.

Maryland’s four historically black universities offer to settle suit against state for $577 million; as College of Southern Maryland embarks on fundraiser to set up leadership institute named for Senate President Mike Miller, several entities with business before state government are donating; Gov. Hogan pledges $21 million to help Baltimore fight crime, backs surveillance plane; state’s medical marijuana regulators ask licensees to report any vaping-related illness; state gets $700,000 federal grant to study endangered Atlantic sturgeon; U.S. House Republicans want deeper probe into Jack Evans’ tenure as Metro chair; House panel splits along party lines to pass gun safety measures; and in the series Code Red, Part III looks at an effort to plant shade trees throughout Baltimore.

The Maryland Transit Administration fund for capital projects will fall by about $345 million over the next six fiscal years; Natural Resources proposing 30% cut in oyster harvest for the season; state lawmakers press U.S. Ed Secty DeVos on application denials from student locan forgiveness program; in Code Red, Part II, excessive heat can be detrimental to many with health issues; 2014 candidate for sheriff charged with campaign reporting violations; fuel-laden vans seized in Baltimore region; chair of city labor committee proposes ending pot testing of job candidates; and Chevy Chase council votes to decommission its barky dog park.

Speaker Jones appoints 2nd in command, changes up House leadership, committee assignments; Maryland’s young medical marijuana industry growing dramatically with new patients, anticipated legalizing recreational marijuana; despite concern, workgroup includes teacher salary hikes in ‘foundation’ formula; August was fourth best month for casinos – but not for Horseshoe; Ben Jealous isn’t running for mayor, but will he run for governor?; law professors urge court to revisit Maryland’s emoluments lawsuit; sex assaults in Montgomery draw White House attention to undocumented residents, sanctuary policy; state removes signs for Negro Mountain; and Bowie mayor retiring after 21 years, leaving field wide-open..