HOGAN WANTS TO SAVE SURPLUS FOR A RAINY DAY: Calling for fiscal discipline, Gov. Larry Hogan Thursday outlined a five-point plan for how the state will allocate the funds derived from its $2.5 billion budget surplus, Bryan Renbaum reports for MarylandReporter.com.
- Hogan suggested saving most of the $2.5 billion budget surplus for a “rainy day,” in the five-point plan for what he would like to do with the extra money, Rachel Baye reports for WYPR.
- Hogan said one of his top priorities will be reducing taxes for seniors, but the plan does not offer details, Ovetta Wiggins reports for the Post.
- The Democratic-led legislature will likely reshape the governor’s spending plan in the budget, Bryan Sears writes for The Daily Record. With supermajorities in both chambers, Democrats have shown a willingness to override Hogan’s vetoes.
BALT. CO ‘LEGEND’ TED VENETOULIS REMEMBERED: Theodore G. “Ted” Venetoulis, government reformer and “a revered part of the fabric of our community,” according to U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, died Wednesday, Pamela Wood reports for the Sun. Venetoulis was the son of Greek immigrants who steered Baltimore County’s government out of a time of scandal and later worked in TV and publishing, and was an important supporter for the idea of a nonprofit newspaper in Baltimore.
- After his term in county government, during which he earned the nickname “TV Teddy” for a willingness to appear on camera, Venetoulis set his sights on the Maryland governor’s seat. He lost the Democratic nomination in 1978 to Harry Hughes and went on to own the Times Publishing Group, Marcus Dieterle reports for Baltimore Fishbowl, quoting two people referring to him as a Baltimore County legend.
- The son of Greek immigrants, Venetoulis (D) was already an accomplished political strategist and congressional aide when he was elected county executive in 1974 at the age of 40., Josh Kurtz reports in Maryland Mattes.
- Longtime friend Michael Olesker remembers Venetoulis in Jmore.
EMBATTLED MCGRATH DEFIANT ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Roy McGrath, the former chief of staff to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan who faces state and federal criminal charges related to a controversial payout to move from one state job to another, was defiant in a social media post Thursday night, blasting “politically-motivated bullies,” Pamela Wood reports for the Sun.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR: Six of nine democratic gubernatorial candidates spoke at a forum hosted by the Anne Arundel County Democratic Party in Gambrills on Thursday evening, Hannah Gaskill reports in Maryland Matters.
GRAND JURY DECLINES TO CHARGE IN POLICE SHOOTING CASE: A Montgomery County, Maryland, grand jury reviewing the case of a man who was shot and killed by Gaithersburg Police said there was not enough evidence to charge the officers, Abigail Constantino reports for WTOP. Kwamena Ocran, 24, was shot and killed by the Gaithersburg police on Jan. 8.
PEDIATRIC VACCINE SUBMITTED FOR APPROVAL: Hogan is hoping to see vaccine approval for kids before Halloween, and said the state will be ready to administer more booster shots and vaccinate children between the ages of 5 and 11 once the federal government gives the go-ahead, Zeke Hartner reports for WTOP.
HOMELAND SECURITY SEIZES FAKE VACCINE CARDS: Federal officials have made 32 seizures of about 1,000 fake COVID-19 vaccination cards shipped from China to the Baltimore area, Annie Rose Ramos reports for WJZ.
Workforce Readiness for Advanced Energy With a renewed focus on the advanced energy economy and addressing the impacts of climate change, workforce readiness, diversity, and availability are challenges to be addressed. This FREE Webinar on October 12th focuses on approaches, programs, incentives, and the people providing solutions and assistance to support evolving local businesses.
OFFSHORE WIND WILL BRING ONSHORE FACILITY: Ørsted will create a $20 million operations and maintenance facility in West Ocean City as its wind turbine project takes off, with 110 construction jobs for the facility, Kristian Jaime reports for the Salisbury Daily Times.
CENSUS TAKEAWAYS: Like the rest of the country, Maryland has become more diverse, Aadit Tambe reports with key takeaways from the U.S. Census for the Capital News Service in MarylandReporter.com.
RASKIN LEADS IN ELECTION CONGRESSIONAL HEARING: U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, expressed exasperation at Thursday’s congressional hearing about a controversial ballot review in Arizona for the presidential election, Laura Olson reports in Maryland Matters.
BARRON FIRST BLACK PERSON TO BE MD’S U.S. ATTORNEY: Erek L. Barron has officially been sworn in as the 49th United States Attorney for the District of Maryland, William Carter reports for WBAL NewsRadio. Barron, a former state delegate, is the first Black person to hold the title and first Democrat in 20 years.
RIEMER CALLED OUT FOR FINANCIAL TIES TO VACCINE MAKER AS HE PUSHES MANDATE: Three Montgomery County labor unions are drawing attention to County Council Member Hans Riemer’s ties to Pfizer as he calls for mandatory employee vaccinations, Dan Schere reports for Bethesda Beat. His wife, Angela Riemer, is a vice president of federal government relations for Pfizer, and the household owns stock in the company, as listed on Riemer’s financial disclosure forms.
COMMENTARY: Maryland has taken a big step forward by creating and Office of Outdoor Recreation to support outdoor recreation and its economic benefits, outdoor advocates Jessica Turner and Joel Dunn opine for Maryland Matters.
FOREST PROGRAM TOP FREDERICK PRIORITY: Maintaining a statewide forest preservation program is among the legislative priorities Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner is asking state lawmakers to address in Annapolis, Jack Hogan reports for The Frederick News-Post.
