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State Roundup, August 15, 2018

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Businessowners at the Port of Baltimore begin to see impact President Trump’s tariffs and trade war; state Sen. Zirkin criticizes Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Ben Jealous over judicial appointments comment; MACo summer conference sans Jealous; Gov. Hogan backs UM decision to put coach on leave; student-organized school safety roundtable to feature a number of politicians; Frederick County Democrats rank higher than Republican counterparts in MaryPIRG scorecard; and racist flyer appears after White Marsh Mall brawl and call for MTA to cut bus service hours.

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State Roundup, August 14, 2018

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Gov. Larry Hogan has taken a large lead in the first media poll since the primary, with rival Ben Jealous seeing his unfavorability ratings inch up; new African-American business organization backing Jealous for governor; Maryland Republicans hope to end supermajority of Democrats in the state Senate; one Maryland Democrat doesn’t mind being called a socialist and is working toward starting a separate party; too many mental health issues end up being dealt with in criminal justice system; despite lawmakers’ calls, Gov. Hogan won’t curtail Light Rail service to Arundel County; Maryland’s medical marijuana industry is growing; and U.S. Rep. John Delaney visits all 99 counties in Iowa in his presidential bid.

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State Roundup, August 13, 2018

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Board of Elections set to spend $7.4 million on election security, although report finds major overhauls are unnecessary; Maryland law goes into effect protecting family planning services should federal funds be cut; University of Maryland to probe football coaching practices in wake of reports on poor treatment of players; Maryland becomes a testing ground for progressive activism; Gov. Larry Hogan, rival Ben Jealous condemn white supremacist rally; Baltimore County could be key to winning governorship, political analysts say; as Democratic HQ opens in Howard, turnout becomes Goal No. 1; Neil Simon gets enough signatures to make the Senate ballot as an independent; and Baltimore County Exec Mohler says no to trimming MTA hours to White Marsh after brawl.

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State Roundup, August 10, 2018

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Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ben Jealous asks TV stations to pull last RGA commercial; Gov. Hogan announces new initiative to combat human trafficking; Hogan sends letters to corrections officers defending his record with the state prison system; Maryland state parks are so crowded they are turning away visitors; violent crime becomes major issue in Baltimore County executive’s race; Tribune Media suit claims Sinclair “fought, threatened, insulted and misled” federal regulators; and Frederick council hopeful says old racist comments on Facebook came from a hack.

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State Roundup, August 9, 2018

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous uses the f-word when asked by reporter if he identifies as a “socialist,” apologizes later; Jealous, Republican Gov. Hogan pick up endorsements from Democrats; GOP Baltimore County exec candidate Al Redmer uses Jealous gaffe to challenge Dem opponent Johnny Olszewski; as Republican Governors Association batters Jealous in ads, Democratic counterpart stays mum; Jealous lays out campaign strategy, reveals poll numbers that show him 9 point behind; local governments facing crisis of under-funded pensions; and Tribune nixes Sinclair deal, threatens to sue Hunt Valley company.

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State Roundup, August 8, 2018

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During multi-state Chesapeake Bay summit, Pennsylvania concedes it could do more toward cleanup, says state has no dedicated fund; Maryland senators ask U.S. Treasury to probe Russian ties to state elections company;; Maryland’s retirement and pension fund earns 8% return in last fiscal year; federal GSA admin may have mislead lawmakers on White House involvement in decision on new FBI headquarters plans; Comptroller Franchot issues rules on collecting online sales taxes; state Sen. Brochin expected to endorse Larry Hogan for governor; The Business Monthly newspaper is sold; and as Anne Arundel’s moratorium on solar projects ends, tightened regulations expected.

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State Roundup, August 7, 2018

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Nancy Floreen submits more than 20,000 signatures in independent bid to become Montgomery County executive; oops: Republican National Committee’s link to Maryland’s GOP Twitter account links to Sexy Car Babes instead; Maryland launches a community solar pilot program; state seeks help from Exelon, others states in cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay; state to keep SNAP program in place at farmers markets; U.S. Rep. Raskin’s Democracy Summer teaches youth about political activism;deputy sheriffs back Al Redmer for Baltimore County executive; and Baltimore City seeks to stop privatization of water system.

State Roundup, August 6, 2018

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Investigators find that some packaged Maryland blue crab is cut with cheaper foreign meat; Democratic Governors Association gaffe exposes 1,418-page opposition research document on Republican Gov. Larry Hogan; Democratic governor hopeful Ben Jealous rides city bus system, calls it broken and blames Gov. Hogan; state Democratic Party launches statewide, coordinated campaign for Jealous; in interview with New York Times, Hogan tires of talking about President Trump; in Capital Gazette interviews, politicians weigh in on gun control; state Dems create an uneasy peace between women’s groups, Black Caucus over Del. Curt Anderson; deadline today for Nancy Floreen to collect enough signatures to get on Montgomery ballot in county exec race; and Baltimore Sun leaves its long time Calvert Street home for Port Covington.

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State Roundup, August 3, 2018

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Gov. Larry Hogan said he supports House Speaker Busch’s effort to allow voters to decide abortion issue; Maryland Legislative Black Caucus rejects calls for Del. Curt Anderson to resign before probe into harassment claims is complete; state to use millions of dollars it received in a federal settlement with Volkswagen to improve air quality; Hogan says his bipartisanship could work in Washington, doesn’t rule out run for president; Kent County may have veto power over any proposal for a new Chesapeake Bay crossing landing there; and Washington County releases reports on harassment claim against commissioner, leak.

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State Roundup, August 2, 2018

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House Speaker Michael Busch plans to lead an effort to enshrine a woman’s right to choose within the state constitution; Gov. Larry Hogan, Comptroller Peter Franchot decry heavy debris, sediment flows into the bay, saying Susquehanna River states of Pennsylvania and New York haven’t done enough; fourth audit in 10 years finds Baltimore Circuit Court failed to pursue overdue fines, civil fees; Carroll school transportation chief says new Maryland sick leave law might worsen bus driver shortage; Senate President Mike Miller, other legislators urge Supreme Court to save Bladensburg Cross; and reports say aides to former Howard schools Superintendent Foose faced discrimination.