GENERAL ASSEMBLY RELEASES FOUR DRAFT MAPS: Leaders of Maryland’s General Assembly released four draft maps for the state’s new congressional districts, a slate of options to redraw the voting lines for Maryland’s eight U.S. representatives that will be debated during a special legislative session next month, Bryn Stole and Pamela Wood report in the Sun.
- Commission chair Karl Aro, a former head of the Department of Legislative Services, said in a statement that the conceptual maps are a baseline for public comment and based on testimony the commission has received in their public hearings so far, Bennett Leckrone of Maryland Matters reports.
SCHULZ, PEREZ DISAGREE OVER JOBLESS INSURANCE MANAGEMENT: Maryland’s 2022 gubernatorial election may be a year away but the race is already heating up. This week state Commerce Secretary and GOP establishment favorite for governor Kelly Schulz and former DNC chair and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Perez sparred over the Hogan administration’s pandemic stewardship of the state’s unemployment insurance system in separate interviews with Bryan Renbaum of MarylandReporter.com.
GOV CANDIDATES EXPOUND ON SUPPORT FOR LATINO COMMUNITY: Latinx policymakers asked gubernatorial candidates to expound on how their plans on COVID-19, education and the economy would support the growing Latino community. Only five of nine declared Democratic candidates for governor — Jon Baron, Peter Franchot, Doug Gansler, John B. King, Jr. and Tom Perez — and one Republican candidate, Robin Ficker, attended the Monday forum, Elizabeth Shwe of Maryland Matters writes.
BANNER SEEKS OFFICES: The Baltimore Banner is on the hunt for office space in the central business district as the local news startup funded by Choice Hotels International Chairman Stewart Bainum Jr. looks to launch by June. The article includes a Q&A with Banner publisher Imtiaz Patel on a number of issues about content and revenue model. Melody Simmons reports in the Baltimore Business Journal.
LAWMAKERS CONSIDER COMPLIANCE FOR AUDIT SCOFFLAWS: Lawmakers, irritated with a growing number of unsatisfactory audits of state agencies, said legislation may be needed to force compliance, reports Bryan Sears for the Daily Record. Members of the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee made the threat as they pressed Budget Secretary David Brinkley and others Tuesday for answers.
LEGAL CANNABIS TO BE HOT TOPIC IN ANNAPOLIS: Maryland lawmakers have begun grilling experts on marijuana policy over the past week as politicians gear up for a looming legislative session where legalizing the drug for adult recreational use appears slated to be a top issue, Bryan Stole reports in the Sun.
ATTERBEARY TO HEAD HOUSE WAYS & MEANS: Howard County Del. Vanessa Atterbeary is the new chairperson of a committee in the state legislature that handles taxes, gambling and education issues, Pamela Wood of the Sun reports. Atterbeary, a Democrat, was named to lead the House of Delegates Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday by House Speaker Adrienne Jones.
EMBATTLED B’MORE IG ELECTED TO NATIONAL IG ORG POST: Under attack locally by Marilyn Mosby supporters, Baltimore’s inspector general, Isabel Mercedes Cumming, has been elected second vice president of the national organization of inspectors general, Mark Reutter reports for Baltimore Brew.
CARROLL COVID CASES RISE AGAIN: COVID-19 cases in Carroll County increased for the second consecutive week after several weeks of decreasing totals, Madison Bateman of the Carroll County Times reports. The county health department reported 174 new COVID-19 cases from last week after reporting 163 the week of Oct. 24 and 127 the week of Oct. 17.
STAFF SHORTAGE TO SHUT MO CO SCHOOLS BEFORE THANKSGIVING: Montgomery County schools will be closed the day before Thanksgiving as the district expects a substitute teacher shortage to hamstring operations, Caitlynn Peetz reports for Bethesda Beat.
BIDEN HEADS TO PORT OF B’MORE TODAY: The Port of Baltimore that President Joe Biden plans to visit Wednesday to showcase his port infrastructure initiatives remains a small player in the nation’s supply chain that still is recovering from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
- Bruce DePuyt and Jacob Fishler of Maryland Matters write that Biden will get an up-close view of one of the largest ports in the nation — one that is expanding rapidly as it races to compete with other East Coast facilities.
ANNAPOLIS MAYOR, COUNCIL ALL DEMS: Mayor Gavin Buckley was elected to a second term as mayor of Annapolis and all eight Democratic City Council candidates swept their respective races, the first time in at least 70 years that one party will control the mayor’s office and the legislature, Brooks DuBose of the Capital Gazette reports.
