DEL. BARRON NOMINATED FOR U.S. FOR MARYLAND: President Biden is nominating eight new leaders for U.S. attorney positions across the country, including in Maryland. Most are historic firsts, writes Eric Tucker of the AP.
- President Biden has nominated Prince George’s County Del. Erek Barron to become the next U.S. Attorney for Maryland; if confirmed, he would be the first Black person to hold the post, and the first Democrat in 20 years, Justin Fenton reports for the Sun.
- If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Barron would become Maryland’s top federal prosecutor, a post Jonathan F. Lenzner has held on an interim basis since Robert K. Hur stepped down in February, Steve Lash reports for the Daily Record.
- Barron is a partner at the law firm of Whiteford Taylor & Preston LLP, writes Danielle Gaines for Maryland Matters. He has a relationship with president that includes a stint from 2007 to 2009 as counsel and policy adviser to Biden on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs. Barron was also co-chair of the group Marylanders for Biden, which formed early in the 2020 presidential election campaign.
OVERTURNING ROE WON’T IMPACT MARYLAND LAW: Legal analysts say that even if the U.S. Supreme Court reverses precedent and strikes down Roe v. Wade, abortion will remain legal in progressive-leaning states such as Maryland that are likely to choose to continue to allow the procedure, reports Bryan Renbaum of MarylandReporter.com.
OPINION: MARYLAND NEEDS MORE WOMEN IN POWER: In a column for Maryland Matters, Rockville resident Fiona Gallagher opines that “as a young woman who just reached voting age, I’m shocked that a state such as Maryland does not demonstrate gender representation. I’m troubled that women’s voices are not heard in positions of power. I’m concerned for the young girls who cannot see themselves in Maryland leadership.”
BIZ GROUP RIPS LEGISLATORS’ VOTES: The Maryland Free Enterprise Foundation, previously known as Maryland Business for Responsive Government, issued its annual legislative report card, Josh Kurtz reports for Maryland Matters. “In spite of the massive economic downturn caused by the pandemic, the 2021 General Assembly continued a recent trend of passing bills that make it harder or more expensive to be an employer or business owner in Maryland,” said Maryland Free board chairman Scott Dorsey.
***Baltimore County Executive John A. Olszewski, Jr. invites the Baltimore County Business Community to a briefing on the disparity study the county recently completed. The briefing will be held virtually on Wednesday, July 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please use this link to register: https://www.tfaforms.com/4919137 For more information, please email: MWBE@Baltimoremd.gov The study examined contracts the county awarded to willing M/WBEs. Mason Tillman Associates, the consultant who completed the study, will present the findings from the disparity study and the county will provide information on the enhancements to the M/WBE Program.***
OPINION: REP. HARRIS STOKES MEDICAL FEARS: In a column for the Sun, Dan Rodricks opines “Maryland Rep. Andy Harris is a doctor, and a doctor should know better. … irresponsibly and unethically, he has chosen to stoke fears of the (Covid-19) vaccine instead of relieving them with the wise perspective you’d expect from a Johns Hopkins-educated physician. The latest chapter in the 1st District Republican’s lackluster career starts with Harris’ opposition to mandatory vaccination for more than 200,000 students, faculty and staff of the University System of Maryland.”
ATTY GEN HIRES INVESTIGATOR FOR POLICE KILLINGS: The Maryland Attorney General’s Office announced the hiring Monday of a former Department of Justice attorney to investigate killings by police in the office’s newly created independent investigations unit, according to a media release, Phillip Jackson reports in the Sun.
HOGAN HONORS PARALYMPIC SWIMMER: Paralympic swimmer Becca Meyers’ achievements were recognized by Gov. Larry Hogan at a news conference covering the state’s progress and setbacks in empowering Marylanders with disabilities, Lizzy Lawrence of the Sun reports. The Monday morning event commemorated the 31st anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
PRINCE GEORGE’S SCHOOL BOARD IN DISARRAY: The Prince George’s County Board of Education is in crisis, reports Bruce DePuyt for Maryland Matters. There is deep mistrust and a feeling of grievance among the 13-member panel, which is riven by conflict and has splintered into angry factions. While the board has had rocky relations for some time, things have deteriorated in recent weeks — with the filing of ethics charges against almost all of the panel’s elected members and a formal push to remove the panel’s chairwoman.
MAYOR SCOTT: MASKING MAY RETURN: Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said mask mandates may return if COVID-19 cases continue rising, Bryan Sears reports for the Daily Record. The city continues to see increases in cases over the last month. Scott and his commissioner stopped short of saying what would trigger new restrictions.
ANNAPOLIS COUNCIL KILLS BILL ON SHORT-TERM RENTALS: The Annapolis City Council defeated a bill that would require special exception approval for non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in residential conservation districts, Hope Kahn of the Capital Gazette reports.
ABERDEEN COUNCIL CONSIDER CHANGING GOV’T STRUCTURE: The Aberdeen City Council debated changing the form of city government at a work session last week, a discussion that has been simmering for months. Any change to the structure of city government is notional at this point, and the council is considering the ways it could examine the city’s charter and get residents’ input on any possible adjustments, James Whitlow of the Aegis reports.
