WIND TURBINE FABRICATION CENTER TO OPEN LOCALLY: Maryland is expanding its clean energy portfolio and will have its first offshore wind fabrication center per a $72 million partnership between a Danish wind company and an eastern shore steel fabrication firm, Bryan Renbaum reports on Gov. Larry Hogan’s announcement for Maryland Reporter.
- A Caroline County steel fabricator will supply $70 million in wind turbine foundations for the projects that offshore wind farm developer Ørsted plans to develop in the ocean off Maryland and New Jersey, Lorraine Mirabella reports for the Sun.
PORT OF BALTIMORE BOOMING DESPITE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES: As the global supply chain continues to experience issues, Gov. Larry Hogan reports the Port of Baltimore is setting records and seeing increasing traffic as new cranes mean big ships can be directed to Baltimore, Phil Yacuboski reports for WBAL.
BAINUM’S BALTIMORE BANNER: Stewart W. Bainum Jr., the hotel magnate who launched a failed bid to acquire The Sun and the rest of the newspapers owned by Tribune Publishing, plans to open a new nonprofit, all-digital publication called The Baltimore Banner, according to a new report in The Atlantic. Bainum, chairman of Choice Hotels International, told the magazine the organization will start with an annual operating budget of $15 million and a staff of 50 journalists. WJZ reports.
COMMISSION DELAYS SPORTS BETTING LICENSING: The postponement of a Thursday meeting of the Sports Wagering Application Review Commission means three casinos will continue to wait for licenses to be awarded, Bryan Sears reports for The Daily Record. The postponement comes amid questions about awarding licenses to three casinos while licenses for minority owners are mired in delays, including an as-yet-to-be-started disparity study.
COMMENTARY: BLACK VOTERS HAVE CHOICES FOR GOVERNOR RACE: The election comes with an opportunity for black voters to elect the first Black governor in Maryland, Candace Bacchus Hollingsworth comments for Maryland Matters. The former mayor of Hyatsville and national co-chair of Our Black Party said that opportunity isn’t new of late; this makes the third in the last eight years. The field includes three Black men vying for the top spot: Rushern Baker, John King, and Wes Moore, but she urges voters to look closely to see if Black candidates will be unapologetic in their commitment to Black folks.
HISPANIC ENDORSEMENTS FOR PEREZ: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Perez announced endorsements from nine members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus representing California, Arizona, Florida and Texas this week, just before National Hispanic American Heritage Month ends on Friday, Elizabeth Shwe reports for Maryland Matters.
- Perez was also endorsed by state Sen. Joanne Benson, a Prince George’s County Democrat.
NO CONTRACT IN RALLY CASE: The contract between a conservative Roman Catholic organization and the company that manages the MECU Pavilion in Baltimore was nearly finalized when city officials stepped in to cancel the event in August, Madeleine O’Neill reports for The Daily Record. Citing concerns that the group’s planned rally could incite violence, they canceled the event and the group sought recourse with the courts, but still do not have a contract.
Innovation Ahead: Advanced Energy & Carbon Emissions Reduction: Cutting-edge products & technologies being developed now will be mainstream in the future. Join the Maryland Clean Energy Center for a FREE webinar on October 18th, as presenters highlight innovative technologies as well as the resources and investment necessary to move them through the “valley of death” to the marketplace in the future.
NEW POLICE INVESTIGATION PANEL HAS ALREADY BEGUN WORK ON CASES: A new division of state investigators has already taken on a few cases as it undertakes new responsibilities to investigate police related deaths after the law went into effect on Oct. 1, Jessica Anderson reports for the Sun. The Independent Investigations Division is being closely watched as part of a broader legislative push for justice following a Minnesota police officer’s murder of George Floyd.
MOSBY HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE WITHOUT THE PRESS: Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby is having “press conferences” lived streamed from her social media without including any press or press questions, Maxine Streicher reports for WBFF. One man replied on Twitter with the question: “Want to try again and invite the press this time?”
CONTINUED PROBLEMS PLAGUE UNEMPLOYMENT PAYOUTS: An economist with Towson University commented that the continued problems with Maryland processing unemployment claims this late into the pandemic is “inexcuseable,” Amy Simpson reports for WBFF.
SCHOOL SYSTEM HALTS VOLUNTARY COVID TESTING PROGRAM: Two weeks after launching a voluntary coronavirus testing program for school staff, Frederick County Public Schools has ended the effort due to a lack of participation, Jillian Atelsek reports for The Frederick News-Post.
