SCHOOL DISTRICTS APPROACH TO REOPENING: Gov. Larry Hogan has said the state is “not going to be rushed into public school reopenings” given the uncertainties involved. Everybody would like to get our kids back in school as quickly as we can, but we also want to do it and make sure our kids are going to be as safe as possible.” How are some of the state’s school districts approaching reopening? McKenna Oxenden of the Sun writes the story.
- Carroll countians have been eager for a more specific look at what the back-to-school season will look like for the 2020-21 school year, and on Wednesday Carroll County Public Schools plans to release a draft of its plan for the fall, Catalina Righter reports for the Carroll County Times.
- As Montgomery County Public Schools’ plan for the fall semester becomes clearer, many teachers are voicing concerns about student and staff safety, Caitlynn Peetz of Bethesda Beat reports.
INTENSIVE CARE NUMBERS DROP: Maryland’s number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in intensive care units has decreased for four straight days after fluctuating slightly last week, Marcus Dieterle of Baltimore Fishbowl reports. One week ago, there were 142 Marylanders in intensive care, and the number is down to 108 patients today–the lowest it has been since March 29.
PG MANDATES COVID TESTING: Rachel Chason of the Post reports that Prince George’s County announced Monday that all of the county’s public safety employees will be required to get tested for the coronavirus.
FROSH JOINS SUIT AGAINST ICE: Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh joined other states in suing the Trump administration over a rule preventing foreign students from remaining in the country this fall if all of their courses are held online, reports Christine Condon for the Sun.
- Frosh will represent the state of Maryland and the University System of Maryland, the umbrella organization for 12 institutions, in a lawsuit against ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to block a new federal rule that does not allow students on F-1 and M-1 visas to remain in the country if they take a fully online course load in the fall, Elizabeth Shwe reports in Maryland Matters.
DELEGATE FILES COMPLAINT AGAINST POLICE UNION: A state lawmaker who is a former Black Lives Matter activist has accused the leaders of two Montgomery County police unions of using strong-arm tactics to slow down police reform legislation in Annapolis. In June, Del. Gabriel Acevero (D-Montgomery) filed a formal complaint with the National Labor Relations Board claiming he was fired from his job as a union field rep for publicly supporting police reform legislation, Glynis Kazanjian reports for Maryland Matters.
OPINION: HIGH RISK ELECTION: In a column for his Political Maryland blog, Barry Rascovar writes there’s no mystery why Gov. Larry Hogan ordered state election officials to conduct a high-risk, in-person Nov. 3 election — it helps his budding presidential ambitions. Why else would he flatly dismiss recommendations of medical experts and those most experienced in running elections?
FRANCHOT REASSURES TAXPAYERS: Comptroller Peter Franchot sought to alleviate Maryland’s taxpayers’ concerns ahead of the next filing deadline, saying his office will treat them with respect and be responsive to their questions, Bryan Renbaum of MarylandReporter writes. Wednesday, July 15, is the deadline to file 2019 state and federal income taxes. Estimated taxes for the first two quarters of 2020 are also due on that date.
MD DELEGATION WANTS TO OUST TANEY BUST: Nearly the entire Maryland congressional delegation is pushing to remove a marble bust of one of the state’s most infamous residents – the late Supreme Court chief justice Roger B. Taney, who authored the 1857 Dred Scott decision – from the U.S. Capitol, Daniel Vock writes for Mayland Matters.
PROTEST OF, SUPPORT FOR SHERIFF JENKINS: Steve Bohnel of the Frederick News-Post writes about a protest and a counterprotest over calls to defund the police, in particular Frederick Sheriff Chuck Jenkins’ office. Chants of “The people — united — will never be defeated!” and “What we do want? Justice! When do we want it? Now!” echoed in Frederick Monday night, coming from 50 to 60 people, several of whom were from the local Latino community and other people of color. They were organized by the RISE Coalition of Western Maryland, and were calling to defund the sheriff’s office and end 287(g), a program used by Sheriff Chuck Jenkins (R) for most of his tenure as the county’s chief law enforcement officer.
- Roughly 50 people waved blue line flags and variations of the message “support our sheriff” in Frederick Monday night, writes Steve Bohnel for the Frederick News-Post. The group, organized in part by the Frederick County Conservative Club, assembled in support of Jenkins, his policies and local law enforcement.
TERM LIMITS BILL FAILS IN B’MORE COUNCIL: A proposal to ask city voters if Baltimore’s elected officials should be limited to three terms in office failed Monday before a divided City Council, Yvonne Wenger of the Sun reports. Half the council said voters should be given the chance to approve or reject term limits by way of a ballot question in November. The other half argued that voters already have the power to impose term limits every four years.
ARUNDEL SENDS CHARTER RESOLUTIONS TO VOTERS: The Anne Arundel County Council recently passed three charter amendment resolutions, leaving many choices up to voters, including whether the Human Relations Commission should be required to exist, Olivia Sanchez reports in the Capital Gazette.
RESTAURATEUR THREATENS TO SUE BA CO: Owners of a Middle River crab house say they will sue Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski Jr. and the Baltimore County Police Department for failing to protect the business from protesters, writes Bryan Sears for the Daily Record.
EX-MAYOR HONORED BY MUNICIPAL LEAGUE: Former New Windsor Mayor Jack A. “Jay” Gullo Jr. was presented with the Maryland Municipal League’s Lifetime Achievement Award during the 2020 virtual MML summer conference for his service in municipal government, Shreeya Agarwal reports for the Carroll County Times.
