COORDINATION PROBLEMS MAY DELAY EDUCATION REFORMS: Education officials are warning local school systems that their plans for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reforms might face delays after coordination efforts broke down this week between state authorities. The state’s Accountability & Implementation Board, the Blueprint’s main oversight authority, delivered a memo to superintendents and other coordinators Monday stating the Maryland State Department of Education had backed out of an agreement to jointly review school system’s implementation plans with the board. Lillian Reed/The Baltimore Sun.
HOWARD LATEST SCHOOL SYSTEM STRUGGLING WITH BLUEPRINT FUNDING: The Howard County Public School System is considering two budget-balancing scenarios that ask for additional county funding while cutting school system spending to address a $67.3 million gap between County Executive Calvin Ball’s proposed $1.1 billion education operating budget and the school board’s initial request. Ethan Ehrenhaft /Baltimore Sun Media.
MARYLAND RANKS HIGH FOR PRISONERS SENTENCED AS CHILDREN: Maryland holds the dubious distinction as having one of the highest rates in the country of prisoners who were sentenced as children, with a heavy racial skew, according to a new report. The numbers in Maryland represent the remnants of past “tough-on-crime” sentencing policies that stand in contrast to the more rehabilitation-focused juvenile justice system of today. Ben Conarck/The Baltimore Banner.
NAACP CRITICIZES JUVENILE SERVICES DEPARTMENT: The Randallstown NAACP has a scathing message to the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services, saying they’re failing children and not protecting the citizens of Baltimore County. Ryan Coleman, president of the Randallstown NAACP is ringing the alarm over juvenile criminal offenders. “They’re out stealing cars, carjackings, and hurting people,” said Coleman. Keith Daniels/WBFF-TV.
SOME PRIESTS ID’d IN ABUSE COVER-UPS REMAIN IN POSTS: Several of the five high-ranking priests who worked to cover up and minimize child sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Baltimore have celebrated Mass in parishes over the past week and remain on the governing boards of Catholic institutions, despite having their identities revealed and a subsequent call by victims’ advocates for them to step away from serving in the community. Lee O. Sanderlin and Jonathan Pitts/The Baltimore Sun.
NEW LAW GIVES INHERITANCE RIGHTS TO DOMESTIC PARTNERS: Domestic partners registering with the state will now be given the same rights as married spouses in probate matters, allowing one partner to inherit the other’s assets when they die while avoiding costly inheritance taxes, including in instances where no will exists, according to new legislation. Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.
ALSOBROOKS KICKS OFF SENATE CAMPAIGN WITH RALLY: Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D) gathered dozens of supporters at a rally to kick off her campaign for the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, seeking to shape what she described as a “people-powered” campaign as she faces challenges expanding her profile statewide and contending with the massive spending ability of one of her primary opponents. Meagan Flynn and Lateshia Beachum/The Washington Post.
FIGHT FOR TRONE HOUSE SEAT COULD PROVE MOST COMPETITIVE: Combine a rare Maryland congressional vacancy with a free ride for most of the elected officials who might seek the seat, and there could be a surfeit of candidates lining up to try to replace U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-6th), who is running for U.S. Senate in 2024. Trone’s congressional district, which covers part of Montgomery County and most of Western Maryland, is far and away the most competitive in Maryland, and there will be intense interest in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. Josh Kurtz and Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
B’MORE TO PROTECT SOME HOMEOWNERS FROM TAX SALES: Baltimore will remove some owner-occupied homes from the city’s annual tax sale for the third consecutive year, Mayor Brandon Scott announced Wednesday, although the city’s forgiveness will be limited to properties worth $250,000 or less. Emily Opilo/The Baltimore Sun.
