FROSH DEFENDS STATE ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS BAN: Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh on Friday defended the constitutionality of the state’s ban on semiautomatic assault-style weapons against a U.S. Supreme Court challenge by gun rights advocates who say the prohibition violates the right to keep and bear arms. Steve Lash/The Daily Record.
Del. Shane Pendergrass has her sights set on home after 36 years in the House. State House photo.
AFTER 36 YEARS, DEL. PENDERGRASS SET TO RETIRE: Shane Pendergrass won a seat in the House of Delegates in 1994 and has served there ever since, holding the gavel for the Health and Government Oversight Committee gavel for the last six years. She’s a policy wonk and a voracious reader, and she is the first to acknowledge she is terrible at the schmoozy side of politics. After 36 years, she is preparing to leave office. Bruce DePuyt/Maryland Matters.
SEN. REILLY WON’T SEEK RE-ELECTION: After previously exploring a run for Anne Arundel County executive, Del. Sid Saab filed to run for state Senate for District 33 on April 8. Then on Monday, Sen. Ed Reilly, who represents that same district, withdrew his reelection bid. Dana Munro/The Capital Gazette.
- In an interview, Reilly insisted that he made up his mind to leave politics four years ago ago, following a tough 2018 election fight — and not because of Saab. “He and I reached an agreement six months that he was going to run and I was going to step back,” the lawmaker said. Bruce DePuyt/Maryland Matters.
GARRETT COMMISSIONER TO RUN DELEGATE: Jim Hinebaugh, now in his second term as Garrett County commissioner, recently announced his Republican candidacy for the House of Delegates representing District 1A of Garrett and Allegheny counties. Staff/The Garrett County Republican.
EDWARDS LEADS IN FUND-RAISING: Donna F. Edwards, the former congresswoman for Maryland’s 4th District, has pulled in more than $600,000 in donations since announcing her bid in January to regain her old seat — leading the field this quarter in what is expected to be the state’s most competitive Democratic primary. Her nearest competitor, Glenn Ivey, former Prince George’s County state’s attorney, finished the first quarter with more cash on hand, setting him up to compete with Edwards in what marks something of a congressional rematch. Meagan Flynn/The Washington Post.
OLSZEWSKI BACKS LIERMAN FOR COMPTROLLER: Baltimore County Executive John Olszewski Jr. (D) endorsed Del. Brooke E. Lierman for comptroller in his first statewide endorsement of the 2022 election cycle. And the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee will meet virtually Tuesday night to designate a candidate to appear on the July 19 primary ballot after Del. Al Carr decided to run for County Council. Bennett Leckrone and Danielle Gaines/Maryland Matters.
PUSH FOR BILLIONAIRES TAX: A coalition of advocacy organizations is calling on Maryland’s congressional delegation to endorse a resolution to institute a federal billionaire tax, saying that there is a disparity in what the rich pay to the federal government annually versus the working class. Hannah Gaskill/Maryland Matters.
OPINION: OUTRAGEOUSNESS IN BALTIMORE COUNTY: Both the opinion by Baltimore County Attorney James Benjamin on the violation by Councilwoman Cathy Bevins of the residency requirement for council members and the response to it by Council President Julian Jones are troublesome. While the opinion reaches a questionable conclusion, there is nothing questionable about Jones’ response: It is outrageous and irresponsible. David Plymyer/Baltimore Brew.
ARUNDEL COUNCIL OKs POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD: The Anne Arundel County Council on Monday night voted 7-1 in favor of adopting the structure of the county’s Police Accountability Board. This new board, which each county is mandated to create under the Maryland Police Accountability Act approved by the General Assembly last year, will review outcomes of police disciplinary matters considered by charging committees, and require regular reports of the disciplinary process and make policy recommendations. Dana Munro/The Capital Gazette.
EX MAYOR WON’T SEE JAIL TIME: Former Cambridge Mayor Andrew Bradshaw, who admitted to posting nude photos of his ex-girlfriend on Reddit, will not have to spend time behind bars under a plea deal announced Monday by the state prosecutor’s office. Brian Witte/The Associated Press.
- Bradshaw, 32, was first charged in November with 50 counts of distributing revenge porn based on allegations that he posted nude photographs of a former romantic partner to an online forum without her knowledge or consent. Madeleine O’Neill/The Daily Record.
WORTH OF STATES’ INVESTING IN NFL TEAM QUESTIONED: Washington Commanders owner Daniel Snyder is contemplating setting up shop in D.C., Maryland or Virginia after the lease on FedEx Field in Prince George’s County expires in 2027 — assuming he stays on as owner, given the mountain of scandals piling up on him. In the meantime, many economists say public subsidies to fund football stadiums are a windfall for wealthy team owners and a waste for taxpayers. Anna Gawel/WTOP-FM.
McDONOGH SCHOOL & RACIAL RECKONING: On Tuesday, the McDonogh School in Baltimore will unveil its tribute to the 200 men, women and children enslaved by John McDonogh at the time of his death in 1850. Although their labor helped build the wealth that created the school, their contributions have not been widely acknowledged outside of the school’s archives and student art projects. Lillian Reed/The Baltimore Sun.
CIVIL, WOMEN’s RIGHTS ADVOCATE SERENA BAUM DIES AT 88: Serena S. Baum, who had worked in the civil rights movement and was a staunch advocate of women’s rights and later became vice president of Vanns Spices, died of Alzheimer’s disease March 17 at the Blakehurst Retirement Community in Towson. The former Roland Park resident was 88. Frederick Rasmussen/The Baltimore Sun.
