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State Roundup, August 30, 2018

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Gov. Larry Hogan, rival Ben Jealous are picking up cash from dramatically different classes of donors; recent history shows Jealous’ work as a venture capitalist; former U.S. Atty Gen Holder backs Jealous; Jealous, Hogan wrestle over union support; cash bail reform seems to be cutting into its use, freeing those charged to continue to work; Comptroller Peter Franchot holds huge lead in the money race against opponent Anjali Reed Phukan; recent fundraising by Arundel exec Steve Shuh mirrors foe Steuart Pittman’s but Schuh coffers still brimming; and former Ocean City Mayor Fish Powell dies at 89.

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State Roundup, August 29, 2018

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous has raised $1 million in two months, has $386,000 on hand compared to Republican Larry Hogan’s $9 million. But campaign says money not needed for a victory; Jealous says TV ads set to run after Labor Day; following Florida killings by Baltimore man, Sen. Zirkin says lawmakers will review gun and mental health laws; in standardized testing, Maryland, Baltimore City students show improvement; campaign finance reports look good for incumbents; independent Montgomery exec hopeful Nancy Floreen takes in bucks from developers, business people; Johnny Olszewski leads Al Redmer in Baltimore County exec fund-raising race; Montgomery County exec hopeful Robin Ficker visits Amazon HQ1; and Republican rival to Prince George’s County exec candidate Angela Alsobrooks drops out.

State Roundup

State Roundup, August 28, 2018

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New report says General Services Administration may have misled Congress on Trump administration involvement in killing FBI suburban headquarters plans and costs, sparking rebuke from Rep. Steny Hoyer, others; following blogger’s piece on Democrats’ concern over health of congressional candidate David Trone, Trone admits he has been undergoing cancer treatment; Gov. Hogan’s finance report lists $9.3 million in coffers as rival Ben Jealous waits to file report; Jealous’ cost savings from incarceration reduction doesn’t add up with official estimates; Jealous against arming teachers while Hogan says state has good safety plans in place; and Arundel school nurses get training in gun would care.

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State Roundup, August 27, 2018

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Following ethics probe, Del. Curt Anderson stripped of leaders posts, must attend anti-harassment training; Maryland part of nationwide trend to ban non-disclosure agreements over workplace sexual harassment; state contracts firm to better track sex offenders; Kirwan Commission still hasn’t toted up the cost of its wide-ranging education reforms; despite losing slew of lieutenants to progressive Dems, Senate President Miller adept at holding on to power; Gov. Hogan’s deep coffers help him win messaging contest against opponent Ben Jealous; supporters concerned about health of congressional candidate David Trone; is soon-to-be former Del. Pat McDonough becoming a newspaper owner? Late Arizona Sen. John McCain to be buried at Naval Academy; Maryland tributes pour in for former presidential candidate, Vietnam POW; and former Baltimore County super Dallas Dance to be released from prison.

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State Roundup, August 24, 2018

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Kirwan panel gets wide-ranging recommendations, including expanding pre-k, changing how teachers are paid.; Maryland to begin requiring coal-fired power plants to scrub toxic metals from discharge water; bay scientists concerned with overfishing of cownose rays; federal judge lets stand conspiracy, bias claims against Dels. Rick Impallaria and Pat McDonough in lawsuit over Muslim retirement community; Howard County recommends razing 19 Ellicott City buildings in flood mitigation plan; Gov. Hogan gets police endorsement, Ben Jealous gets endorsed by Senate Prez Miller and House Speaker Busch; GOP poll says Hogan popular in Miller and Busch’s districts; and faculty protests Frederick Community College president.

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State Roundup, August 23, 2018

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As state leaders cheer waiver that shores up Obamacare in Maryland, Democrats, advocates say they’ll push for permanent fix; two polls find Marylanders across the board support expanded pre-k; survey by state teachers union finds 91% of teachers shell out for class supplies, 40% work needed second job; legislative ethics panel meets to consider harassment allegations against Del. Curt Anderson; Democratic candidate for governor Ben Jealous tells kids about his lifelong struggle with stuttering; Gov. Larry Hogan courts votes in Democratic stronghold of Leisure World; independent Nancy Floreen garners enough valid signatures to make the ballot for Montgomery County exec; Maryland members of House oversight committee see testimony from Trump attorney Michael Cohen; and attempt by Rep. John Delaney to have Robert E. Lee statue removed from Antietam stalls.

State Roundup, August 22, 2018

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Maryland gets federal waiver to help stave off health insurance hikes for more than 200,000; state officials wary of Trump administration plan giving states more control over pollution limits of coal-fired power plants; citing pollution flowing into Bay, Del. Kramer may reintroduce bill calling for economic boycott of Pennsylvania; U.S. Homeland Security in Maryland to evaluate voting systems; CNBC gives Northern Virginia edge over Montgomery County for Amazon HQ2; Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Ben Jealous touts plan to make Maryland a model for universal health care; campaign of Gov. Larry Hogan hits the airwaves; Sierra Club of Montgomery backs Marc Elrich for county exec; and Arundel sheriff candidates back tightened access to firearms.

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State Roundup, August 21, 2018

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Democrats tout gubernatorial hopeful Ben Jealous’ plan to expand kindergarten using revenue from legalized marijuana; Montgomery’s GOP chief says Larry Hogan will do better than numbers indicate in that Democratic county; Sen. Ron Young, targeted by Republicans’ ‘Drive for 5,’ joins demonstration outside opponent’s event; Del. Rosenberg says lottery could save Pimlico; new 501(c)(4) pushes to give D.C. back to Maryland to ensure voting rights; Maryland orders Baltimore incinerator to cut pollution; enough signatures get Frederick County Council Prez Bud Otis back on ballot as independent; and Maryland news outlets sue state over new political ad financing law.

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State Roundup, August 20, 2018

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UM criticized for settlement with departing football coach as Board of Regents to probe player’s death; with lack of H2-B worker visas, Lower Eastern Shore a key battleground as Republicans seek to pick up 5 state Senate seats; Maryland’s crab industry suffers; state, county leaders split over smart growth policies; in wake of Pennsylvania grand jury report, Maryland attorney general called on to probe possible abuses by local priests; with no rival around, Gov. Larry Hogan takes the spotlight at MACo; Democrats focus on Ben Jealous’ education plan in effort to lure supporters; former Democratic Senate candidate’s ‘Bread and Roses’ party focuses on the ‘new socialism;’ and late Judge John Eldridge’s legacy is Maryland laws that brought it into 20th century.

State Roundup

State Roundup, August 16, 2018

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As Maryland’s education overhaul commission moves closer to recommending a billion increase in K-12 funding, panel wrangles with oversight, accountability; political pundits point out Ben Jealous’ lack of Maryland roots, neophyte missteps; independent Senate hopeful Neal Simon launches six-figure advertising campaign; MACo to focus on water issues; a year after Confederate monuments are removed from Baltimore city and the Statehouse, issues surrounding them remain; DSS vendor apparently was close friend of ex-director; and Capital Gazette murder suspect considers insanity defense.