STATE REVENUE CHIEF SEES GOOD FISCAL FUTURE DESPITE ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY: The state’s fiscal outlook appears to be very bright over the next two years even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to bring about considerable economic uncertainty, Bureau of Revenue Estimates Director Andrew Schaufele said Tuesday during a Board of Revenue Estimates meeting. The three-member board comprises Comptroller Peter Franchot, Treasurer Nancy Kopp, and Budget Secretary David Brinkley. Bryan Renbaum/MarylandReporter.com.
HOGAN TRIES TO BLOCK RELEASE OF McGRATH RECORDINGS: Gov. Larry Hogan is attempting to block the release of conversations that were recorded secretly by his one-time chief of staff, who is awaiting criminal trials on wiretapping and other charges in both state and federal court. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Sun.
LAWMAKERS TO PROBE CYBERATTACK AT HEALTH DEPT: Two legislative committees that oversee the Maryland Department of Health plan to grill top state officials about an attack that disabled the agency’s computers, top lawmakers said on Tuesday. Bruce DePuyt/Maryland Matters.
- Several daily COVID-19 metrics remain missing on the Maryland Department of Health’s website as of Tuesday, after a cyber attack forced it to shut down more than a week ago. Andy Owen, a spokesperson for the department, told WYPR that they are trying to get data back up as soon as possible, but did not give a specific date. Sarah Kim/WYPR-FM.
COVID CASES AROUND STATE: Howard County Public Schools canceled all athletics contests and many extracurricular activities due to multiple coronavirus outbreaks. In a news release, the Maryland school district cited a “rapidly rising number of COVID-19 cases” affecting multiple high schools in its decision to halt athletic events. Alejandro Alvarez/WTOP-FM.
- COVID-19 hospitalizations have approximately doubled in Anne Arundel County over the past two weeks, jumping from 41 to 84, according to county Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman. Dana Munro/The Capital-Gazette.
- The number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the Baltimore County Public Schools doubled earlier this month. Baltimore County Health Officer Dr. Gregory Branch said, “You’ve got people feeling a little bit more lax when it comes to their mask wearing and their hand washing, stuff like that, all of that is going to increase the number of outbreaks that you have.” John Lee/WYPR-FM.
SOME JURISDICTIONS HAVE COVID TESTS, SOME DON’T: Montgomery County is the latest D.C. region jurisdiction to offer free rapid, at-home coronavirus test kits, announcing plans this week to provide the tests for targeted groups. Scott Gelman/WTOP-FM.
- COVID-19 test kits can be as hard to find as this year’s most popular toy — only in this case, it can be a matter of life and death. COVID-19 rapid tests are hard to find in stores, and PCR testing appointments are getting tough to find, too. David Collins/WBAL-TV.
O’MALLEY, BROWN IN TIGHT ENDORSEMENT RACE: Katie O’Malley and Anthony Brown are rolling out the endorsements they are racking up as they each seek to win the seat being left vacant by retiring Attorney General Brian Frosh. Bennett Leckrone and Bruce DePuyt/Maryland Matters.
HEAT STAYS ON BA CO REDISTRICTING PLAN: Civil rights advocates and residents again slammed the Baltimore County Council’s redistricting proposal for including just one majority Black council district during a meeting of the council Tuesday evening. Bennett Leckrone/Maryland Matters.
ADVOCATES DECRY LACK OF COMMUNITY BUY-IN IN MO CO POLICE BILL: Advocates and lawmakers expressed disappointment over a newly introduced police accountability measure in the Montgomery County Council Tuesday, saying there was no opportunity for community buy-in. Hannah Gaskill/Maryland Matters.
POTENTIAL BUYER SUES PG OVER WHO CAN BUY PROPERTY IN TAX SALES: An out-of-state property seeker is urging a federal appeals court to strike down as unconstitutional a Maryland law requiring bidders on tax-delinquent Prince George’s County properties to be county residents. Steve Lash/The Daily Record.
FORMER FREDERICK SCHOOLS CHIEF TO GET $800,000: The Frederick County Board of Education will pay former superintendent Terry Alban more than $800,000 over the next year and a half as part of a settlement agreement, according to documents released Tuesday. Alban, who was head of Frederick County Public Schools for 11 years, renewed her contract with the board in 2019. It wasn’t set to expire until June 2023. Jillian Atelsek/The Frederick News-Post.
VP HARRIS IN PG TOUTING EV INFRASTRUCTURE BUCKS: Vice President Kamala Harris visited Prince George’s County on Monday to announce a $7.5 billion plan to construct an electric vehicle infrastructure system. William Ford/The Washington Informer.
