SUPREME COURT STRIKES DOWN NY GUN LAW, HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR MD: The U.S. Supreme Court struck down New York’s restrictions on concealed carry gun permits in a 6-3 split, which means Maryland’s gun laws may have to change. In response to the ruling, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said that the public sphere will become more dangerous. Kristen Mosbrucker and Joel McCord/WYPR
- The Thursday ruling could loosen gun restrictions in Maryland and six other states and make it easier for people to carry guns in public. Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun
- The court ruled that New York’s concealed carry law violates the 14th Amendment of the Constitution — a major decision that expands the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. The opinion comes at the same time Congress is considering new gun control legislation following two deadly mass shootings. Josh Kurtz and Ariana Figueroa/Maryland Matters
- Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said his team is examining the high court’s ruling to see how it affects the issuance of permits in Maryland, known legally as “wear and carry” permits here. Pamela Wood/Baltimore Banner
- The ruling has emboldened Maryland gun rights advocates in their pending Second Amendment challenges to the state’s handgun permitting and licensing requirements. The two Second Amendment challenges have been held in abeyance by the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals as it awaited the Supreme Court’s ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. Steve Lash/The Daily Record
- “More deaths, and more pain.” That is what Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said would follow the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down a New York law regarding concealed carry permits. WBAL NewsRadio
- About one-quarter of the U.S. population lives in states expected to be affected by the ruling. Jessica Gresko/Associated Press
- “The New York law is the only one that struck down Thursday but the death knell for the dozens of similar laws you can almost hear it in the distance,” University of Baltimore School of Law Professor Michael Meyerson said. Kim Dacey/WBALTV
FRANCHOT AT THE GAS PUMP, CALLS FOR ACTION: Maryland State Comptroller Peter Franchot was at a Northwest Baltimore gas station Thursday, calling on state and national leaders to temporarily suspend gas taxes. “We need to do something,” said Franchot, a Democrat running for governor. Other Democratic gubernatorial candidates weighed in with thoughts on the issue. Paul Gessler/WJZ
- Maryland should repeal a 2013 law that links automatic gas tax increases to inflation and other factors, according to Franchot. Bryan Sears/The Daily Record
- Franchot is also suggesting sending $2,000 survival checks to some 475,000 low-income households, and he’s calling on businesses to allow employees to work remotely whenever possible. David Collins/WBAL TV
- Franchot’s comments come as the state gas tax is slated to increase by 19.4 percent on July 1. Zshekinah Collier/WYPR
- Meanwhile, a recent study out of the University of Pennsylvania suggests Maryland’s gasoline tax holiday earlier this year also benefited gasoline suppliers. On average, the customers paid 26 cents less per gallon and sellers nabbed a dime of it as companies pushed more product into Maryland with its tax suspended before demand waned and prices actually fell. Jeff Hager/WMAR
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY VOTERS GUIDE: Maryland Reporter has published a voters guide for Prince George’s County candidates for executive, council, courthouse, school board and legislature. It joins Maryland Reporter guides for statewide candidates, Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties. The guides include links to other voters guides and sources of information on the candidates.
ECONOMIC CONCERNS OF VOTERS LARGELY MISSING FROM GOVERNOR’S RACE: Maryland’s candidates for governor have outlined lofty visions for increased wages and tens of thousands of new jobs. They’ve talked about investments in transportation, education and small businesses. But among all the policy plans and stump speeches, the most pressing economic concerns of voters this year like mounting inflation and gas prices are seldom mentioned. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun
WHITE HOUSE LAUNCHING OFFSHORE WIND PARTNERSHIPS: The White House is launching a formal partnership with 11 East Coast governors, including Gov. Larry Hogan, to boost the growing offshore wind industry, a key element of President Joe Biden’s plan for climate change. Matthew Daly/Associated Press
COMMISSION MEETS TO BEGIN WORK ON CLIMATE CHANGE: The Maryland Commission on Climate Change had its first meeting Thursday, beginning the process of implementing landmark climate change law The Climate Solutions Now Act. Nene Narh-Mensah/Maryland Matters
OPINION: LOW INCOME ENERGY BILL STILL NEEDED: A low income energy bill vetoed by Gov. Larry Hogan would have required the state to make energy efficient retrofits in 32,000 low-income homes annually, like weatherization, new furnaces and air conditioning, and Energy Star appliances. Maryland’s next governor and legislature can eliminate systemic inequalities in energy cost burdens with smart investments that deliver energy efficiency for all. Ruth Ann Norton/Maryland Matters
CANDIDATE PROFILE ON TOM PEREZ: Tom Perez helped Democrats retake the White House in 2020. Now he hopes to be the Democrat to reclaim Maryland’s governor’s mansion after eight years of Republican control. Pamela Wood/Baltimore Banner
AFRO ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENTS: The AFRO has endorsed Brooke Lierman for comptroller, Anthony Brown for Maryland Attorney General and Marilyn Mosby for Baltimore City State’s Attorney. AFRO Staff/AFRO Black Media Authority
SUN ENDORSES O’MALLEY FOR AG: The Baltimore Sun endorsed former District Court Judge Katie O’Malley for the Attorney General role over U.S. Rep. Brown. “The deep experience in legal strategy held by Judge O’Malley, who spent 20 years on the bench and 10 years as a prosecutor, gives her an edge over her opponent,” the endorsement states. Baltimore Sun Editorial Board/Baltimore Sun
BALTIMORE STATE’S ATTORNEY CANDIDATE LEAVES FORUM EARLY: In the race for state’s attorney, candidate Thiru Vignarajah left a candidates forum this week after a critical article about him started drawing attention. His spokeswoman announced about halfway through the two-hour event that he had another meeting. Fern Shen/Baltimore Brew
JUUL PRODUCTS REMOVED FROM SHELVES: Frederick vape shops removed Juul products from shelves Thursday after federal health officials ordered an electronic cigarette maker to halt sales and distribution, citing public health concerns. Mary Grace Keller/Frederick News-Post
MARYLAND LEADERS FIGHT TO KEEP STATE IN CONTENTION FOR LOCATION OF ARPA-H: Maryland is in danger of losing out on a chance to host the campus of a new federal agency Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, or ARPA-H, which will tackle projects that are seen as too costly, risky or time-intensive for the private sector and traditional public research. Congressional proposals have limited its location, for instance suggesting that it should not be in proximity to Washington D.C. Giacomo Bologna and Meredith Cohn/Baltimore Sun
