NICE BRIDGE COULD BE USED FOR WALKING, BIKING: U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (all D-Md.) urged the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) to pause its plans to demolish the existing Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge until an independent review is conducted to determine the feasibility and cost of repurposing it for recreational use. Press Release/Southern Maryland Chronicle
POLICE ARREST JUVENILE IN SQUEEGEE DEATH, CHARGE WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER: A 15-year-old squeegee boy was arrested and charged as an adult with first-degree murder for the July 7 homicide of 48-year-old Timothy Reynolds, who confronted squeegee workers with a metal baseball bat. Bethany Raja/WYPR
- Police said the boy was arrested before 7 a.m. at a home in Essex, and he was transported to police headquarters with his father. Justin Fenton and Tim Prudente
- The Baltimore business community is once again searching for ways to stop kids, teens and young adults offering to clean motorists’ windshields in exchange for cash or, in some cases, funds sent through Venmo or Cashapp. Johanna Alonso/The Daily Record
- Mayor Brandon Scott convened a summit, dubbed the Squeegee Collaborative, with those business leaders to develop a community-based response and expand on opportunities available to youth. Emily Opilo and Jean Marbella/Baltimore Sun
- City leaders insist jobs, not jail, is the remedy to clearing squeegee kids out of city intersections, however, there are questions whether squeegee kids are prepared for employment. Jeff Abell/WBFF
- Even with the arrest announcement, questions still remain about the details of that day, including what led up to the arrest and if the teen arrested had been present during earlier confrontations involving police that day. Tiffany Watson, Alexa Ashwell and Chris Berinato/WBFF
HARRIS NOT FACING GOP BACKLASH FOR JAN. 6 MEETING: Leading Maryland Republicans aren’t condemning Rep. Andy Harris for meeting with then-President Donald Trump and others in December 2020 and discussing — according to the Jan. 6 committee — a plan to block Joe Biden’s victory by derailing presidential election results approved by the states. Jeff Barker/Baltimore Sun
GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION CONTINUES TO BE TRUMP/HOGAN PROXY BATTLE: Former President Donald Trump and Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan aren’t waiting until 2024 to fight over the future of the Republican Party. The Maryland governor’s race, with each endorsing a candidate, is turning into a proxy battle between the two men who are offering vastly different visions of the party’s future as they eye presidential runs in 2024. Brian Witte/Associated Press
EARLY VOTING WRAPPED UP, BUT RESULTS WILL BE SLOW COMING: The last day of the eight-day window had the highest turnout, by far: 49,578, according to preliminary data from the Maryland State Board of Elections. About 4.6% of all eligible active voters turned out during the early voting period. The figure fell short compared to early voting numbers four years ago, when 222,100 people, or 6.17% of voters, cast ballots at early voting centers. Danielle Gaines/Maryland Matters
- It may be weeks before Maryland’s July 19 primary election results are tabulated and certified, with the rise in mail in voting and an unusual state law on when and how those ballots are counted. Kate Ryan/WTOP
- In Southern Maryland, some voters already made their voices heard at the polls through early voting, but it’s only about 3% of registered voters in Charles County and 4.4% in Calvert and St. Mary’s. Darryl Kinsey Jr., Marty Madden and Caleb Soptelean/Southern Maryland News
NY DOUBLES DOWN ON GUN PERMITS: Five of the six states directly affected by the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down subjective standards for concealed-carry permits, including Maryland, have curtailed their laws, but New York has doubled down. Alex Swoyer/Washington Times
STATE GOVERNMENT OFFERS MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR JOB SEEKERS WITHOUT BACHELOR’S DEGREES: Thanks to a tight labor market, more good jobs are opening up to workers who lack a bachelor’s degree, with Gov. Larry Hogan announcing in March that the government would open up more jobs and other states following. Lawrence Lanahan/The Hechinger Report
SAFER DRUG SPACES DISCUSSED IN BALTIMORE: During a press conference with Mayor Brandon Scott on Thursday morning, advocates and city officials expressed their support for overdose prevention sites, also known as “safer drug consumption spaces.” The mayor said substance abuse is a public health crisis, and Baltimore must address it by providing support services – not punishments – for people who use drugs. Marcus Dieterle/Baltimore Brew
OYSTER NUMBERS GROWING: Oysters are making a comeback from historic population lows, a boost which can be traced to scientists developing a more disease resistant oyster and to a program to build sanctuary reefs in bay tributaries. Oysters, as filter feeders, are key to bay cleanup efforts. Joel McCord/WYPR
COMMENTARY: POWER RANKINGS: Gubernatorial power rankings show how the race has changed over since Nov. 2020, with Kelly Schulz and Wes Moore at the top in July 2022. Brian Griffiths/The Duckpin
MOORE CALLS FRANCHOT OUT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA POST: Gubernatorial hopeful Wes Moore (D) called on rival Peter Franchot (D) to cut ties with a prominent supporter because of a social media post that appeared to call Baltimore residents “animals.” Bruce DePuyt and Danielle Gaines/Maryland Matters
SENATE CANDIDATE IN FREDERICK SPENDS MORE IN RACE THAN COMPETITORS: Over the last month, state Del. Karen Lewis Young — who is running for state Senate — spent nearly double what all other Frederick County candidates for Senate spent combined, recent campaign finance reports show. Jack Hogan/Frederick News-Post
BLACK CANDIDATES RUNNING IN BALTIMORE COUNTY COUNCIL RACE: Five Black candidates are running for Baltimore County Council council seats, months after community groups and advocates sued over a redistricting plan that they said would underrepresent Black county residents. Taylor DeVille/Baltimore Banner
CALLS FOR RETURN OF CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS IN ANNE ARUNDEL RACE: A coalition of Anne Arundel County community groups has called on county executive candidate Jessica Haire to return more than $250,000 in campaign contributions they claim she received from a Silver Spring developer hoping to construct a landfill in Odenton and entities associated with the company. Dana Munro/Capital Gazette
CECIL GETS BROADBAND GRANT: Cecil County received over $12 million from grants this week for a broadband expansion project to provide internet access to underserved areas of the county. Matt Hubbard/Cecil Whig
