ATTY GEN SUES HARFORD COUNTY SHERIFF: Attorney General Brian E. Frosh is suing the Harford County Sheriff who he says blocked his office from investigating a police-involved shooting death, in violation of a state law ushered in among a sweeping wave of reforms last year. Ovetta Wiggins/The Washington Post.
- According to the complaint filed in the Harford County Circuit Court, Frosh’s office says that Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler is refusing to provide physical evidence and electronic copies of video evidence to the Independent Investigation Unit at the Attorney General’s Office. Hannah Gaskill/Maryland Matters.
- The man shot and killed by Harford County Sheriff’s deputy has been identified as John Raymond Fauver, 53, who had been suffering from chronic pain, opiate use and depression. The Maryland Attorney General’s Office has clashed with the sheriff’s office over who was allowed to investigate the shooting. Jason Fontelieu/The Aegis.
- The sheriff’s office, meanwhile, said in a statement Monday that it continues to work “in conjunction” with the AG’s Independent Investigation’s Division and Maryland State Police investigators, in accordance with state law and sheriff’s office policy. Staff/The Associated Press.
MARYLAND AMONG STATES TACKLING BIAS AMONG DOCTORS: In a groundbreaking study, Dr. Lisa Cooper, a leading researcher on racial health disparities at Johns Hopkins University, found that nearly all 40 participating Baltimore-area primary care doctors said they regarded their White and their Black patients the same. But that’s not what her testing on their unconscious attitudes revealed. Michael Ollove for Stateline/Maryland Matters.
BWI ROUNDTABLE TO CONTINUE TO SEEK NOISE SOLUTIONS: Despite overwhelming support from the DC Metroplex BWI Community Roundtable, a state bill designed to create a commission to study the health effects of the airport on the surrounding community failed to pass the General Assembly during this year’s session. Despite that, Anne Arundel and Howard counties each contributed about $50,000 for a contract to create a regional virtual noise monitoring system that will generate monthly reports. Dana Munro/The Capital Gazette.
DOCTOR CHARGED WITH MEDICARE FRAUD: Ron Elfenbein, 47, a prominent doctor overseeing coronavirus testing at Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport and other sites in Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties has been accused by federal prosecutors of overcharging Medicare and other insurers by more than $1.5 million. Elfenbein is indentified as the owner of Drs ERgent Care, which started in 2015 and was listed as its “principal office” the home address of Del. Sid A. Saab (R-Anne Arundel), who was listed as registered agent. The next year, the address changed and Elfenbein became registered agent. Steve Thompson/The Washington Post.
CANDIDACY DEADLINE, WITHDRAWAL DEADLINES MOVED: The Maryland Court of Appeals on Monday pushed back the deadlines to withdraw a candidacy and fill a candidate vacancy for the July primary election. The deadline for someone to withdraw their candidacy for the primary originally expired on April 18 — but the Court of Appeals on Monday extended that deadline to April 25. The deadline to fill a vacancy in candidacy for the primary has now been pushed back to Wednesday. Bennett Leckrone/Maryland Matters.
MARYLAND STUDENT-ATHLETES CASH IN ON NCAA RULES CHANGE: Alyssa Poarch, a soccer player at the University of Maryland who is eyeing a career in the game, is taking advantage of groundbreaking rules adopted last year by the National Collegiate Athletic Association that allow student-athletes to profit from their own name, image and likeness, a practice forbidden in the past. She is one of hundreds of student-athletes across Maryland who aim to profit from the new rules, which took effect July 1. Pete Pichaske/The Daily Record.
MO CO SIERRA CLUB BACKS BLAIR FOR COUNTY EXEC: The Sierra Club’s Montgomery County Group is endorsing former health care executive David Blair in this year’s race for county executive, according to a source close to the Sierra Club with direct knowledge of the decision. Louis Peck/Bethesda Beat.
MO CO COUNCIL TO CLARIFY ROLE FOR SCHOOL POLICE OFFICERS: Montgomery County Council members will meet Tuesday to discuss for the first time a new agreement between the school district and county police that outlines the role officers will have in public schools. Caitlynn Peetz and Steve Bohnel/Bethesda Beat.
DESPITE RESIGNATION, COUNTY WORKER GETS PAID, IN LINE FOR HIGHER PENSION: A Baltimore County official who was at the center of an inspector general investigation remains on the county payroll nearly a year after he stopped working. By staying on the payroll, the former official could draw a significantly higher pension than he would have if he had left county employment last year. Alison Knezevich/The Baltimore Sun.
- William “Chris” McCollum was reportedly forced to resign last July 2 following reports by Inspector General Kelly Madigan of unauthorized purchases and wasteful spending at the Ag Center while he was director. Mark Reutter/Baltimore Brew.
BA CO TO ADDRESS POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD: Baltimore County is figuring out how it is going to set up a state-mandated citizen police accountability board. The County Council will hear from residents Tuesday about what that board should look like. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
CARROLL CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON WATERSHED: Carroll County staff are planning an environmental conference this fall, focused on bringing together groups who seek to improve the county’s watershed, and volunteers who want to help them. Madison Bateman/The Carroll County Times.
