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State Roundup August 19, 2016

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Firms rejected for preliminary medical marijuana licenses seeking answers from commission as several with political ties get chosen; following deaths of family of eight state now requires more notice by utilities of service cutoff; state Senate Pres Mike Miller schmoozes Republicans down the ocean; candidate for Arundel Circuit judgeship guilty of ethics violation in D.C.; and state gives grants to Baltimore City to prevent sewer releases, improve handling of sexual assault cases.

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State Roundup, August 18, 2016

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Hogan administration backs away from quick implementation of transit project scoring system; despite wishes for diversity, potential medical marijuana licensees lack it; state legislative leaders promise to hold Baltimore City school harmless with tax break to Port Covington; state pitches in $2.5 million for Ellicott City work; Frederick, other counties to get more voting machines; union, DJS at odds over facility staffing numbers; yes, county officials statewide are concerned about liability from Pokemon Go; longtime Republican operative says he might be voting for Clinton; Trump may falter when it comes to Catholics’ votes; and it’s late to the game, but Baltimore County Council to begin live-streaming meetings.

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State Roundup, August 17, 2016

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The small town of Hancock ready to be part-owner of a medical marijuana company; restaurateur also has eyes on the business; meanwhile, Allegany County still has hopes of getting into the game; as officials head to MACo conference, transportation issues may be front and center; three Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls also will be schmoozing at the shore; will Trump’s poor polling number be ominous for Kathy Szeliga’s chances in the Senate?; and FCC looks into stingray cell phone tracking by Baltimore City Police.

Photo by Alexandra Moss with Flickr Creative Commons License
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State Roundup, August 16, 2016

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News outlets pounce on the preliminary medical marijuana licensees to find out which of 30 companies are in their regions. At least one county walked away empty-handed; the Supreme Court likely to look at how many states — not just Maryland — are drawing their congressional maps for partisan advantage; transportation funding law expected to be a hot topic as MACo summer conference kicks off; and Baltimore City Council puts possible $15 wage on hold.

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State Roundup, August 15, 2016

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Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus vows to act aggressively on Department of Justice’s scathing report on discrimination by Baltimore City police and protesters arrested at FOP conference; Juveniles Services says it will consider limiting usage of shackles, strip searches on young prisoners; pre-approvals for medical marijuana licensing to be announced; Gov. Hogan seeks federal disaster aid for Ellicott City; Howard County will look to controlled development to curb future flooding; new heated walkway at governor’s mansion raises Democrats’ eyebrows; UMBC under federal probe over handling of rape cases; and changes at the top for both Maryland Dems and GOP.

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State Roundup, August 12, 2016

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Gov. Hogan, Democratic leaders re-ignite clash of transportation spending, project scoring system; Moody’s issues “negative alert” after Hogan withhold education funds from counties; medical marijuana industry seeks legal ways to keep dollars safe outside of leery banks; Maryland Lottery sees record sales; DOJ report on Baltimore Police says rape cases were mishandled; Maryland Live generates $18 million for grants to Anne Arundel, organizations; and Maryland to move Frederick City DSS office.

Reacting to the release of the Justice Department report: Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, and Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division.
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State Roundup, August 11, 2016

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The federal Department of Justice issues a 163-page report that outlines the abuses committed by the Baltimore City Police Department in its interactions with African American communities, including illegal stops and unnecessary use of tasers; the would-be mayor, Catherine Pugh, says she’d keep Commissioner Davis on to lead reforms, Gov. Hogan says he hasn’t read report yet and former city Mayor O’Malley sidesteps questions on his much-criticized zero-tolerance policy; Ellicott City gets federal disaster designation; MVA extends deadline for proving citizenship, residency for commercial drivers, which could help immigrants; Tax Free Week begins Sunday; and Republican Connie Morella backs Clinton for president.

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State Roundup, August 10, 2016

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Brit Kirwan gets bipartisan leadership nod to head school funding panel; Simonaires team up to introduce bill to make attack on police a hate crime; Gov. Hogan asks feds to declare Ellicott City a disaster; counties struggle to meet Hogan deadline on transit project reporting; Joe Cluster nominated to replace dad in State House; activist DeMarco takes to the streets on wheels to lobby for override of Hogan vetoes; Baltimore City minimum wage barely passes council; anti-immigration group says it helped Montgomery term limit petitioning; and Washington County to cut back on testing kindergartners.

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State Roundup, August 9, 2016

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Gov. Hogan announces $3 million in grants to fight heroin epidemic in nine jurisdictions, but Baltimore City didn’t apply; citing backlog of cases, mental-health advocates demand more staff, ask that facilities be re-opened; Baltimore City Council takes first step toward $15 minimum wage; and petitions presented in Montgomery County to term-limit County Executive, Council.

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State Roundup, August 8, 2016

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Helen Delich Bentley, former congresswoman, port advocate, Republican firebrand, dies at 92, is honored by many across political spectrum; medical marijuana panel whittles applicants down in first round; Gov. Hogan calls MSEA ‘union thugs’ after they make request; grid operator suspends power line after Hogan outlines rate hike concern; in address to Urban League confab, Hogan seeks bipartisan solutions; Senate candidate Szeliga continues to back liberal gun ownership; Baltimore City to tackle minimum wage; and Montgomery County Council considers term limits.