GOVERNOR SIGNS CHILD VICTIMS ACT INTO LAW: In an emotional bill-signing ceremony on Thursday, Gov. Wes Moore (D) on Thursday signed the Child Victims Act – which had been sponsored by House Economic Matters Chair C.T. Wilson throughout four legislative sessions. As of Oct. 1, it will be legal for adults who were sexually abused in childhood to sue their abusers. Hannah Gaskill and Lee O. Sanderlin/The Baltimore Sun
HOYER BACKS ALSOBROOKS FOR U.S. SENATE: Long-serving Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) on Thursday backed Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D) for Senate, offering a weighty endorsement in a growing field of contenders. Lateshia Beachum/The Washington Post
DEL. LESLEY LOPEZ ENTERS CONGRESSIONAL RACE: Del. Lesley J. Lopez (D-Montgomery) entered the race for the open 6th District congressional seat Thursday, pledging to leverage her experience as a state lawmaker, political strategist and mother of two toddlers to Capitol Hill. She is the fourth Democrat to enter the race to replace U.S. Rep. David Trone (D), who is running for U.S. Senate. William J. Ford and Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters
P.G. CO. EXEC SEEKS TO TAP RAINY-DAY FUND TO AVOID TAX HIKE: Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) plans to plug a $60 million hole in her next budget with rainy-day funds to avoid raising taxes even as she faces calls to increase county spending. Lateshia Beachum/The Washington Post
HEALTH DEPT. SEEKS STATE FUNDS TO STOCKPILE ABORTION PILL: The Maryland Department of Health will turn to the state for capital to stockpile one of the most-prescribed medication abortion pills as the case to revoke its approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration continues its way through the courts. Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun
MOORE STROLLS ON BUSY GEORGIA AVE. IN WHEATON: To give a perspective of what pedestrians experience traversing Georgia Avenue, Montgomery County Council member Natali Fani-González (D-Dist. 6) took Gov. Moore (D) on a walking tour of Downtown Wheaton on Wednesday to see firsthand the lack of bike lanes, narrow sidewalks and the challenge of crossing a busy road. Elia Griffin/MoCo 360
INVESTORS SUE TITLE COMPANY UNDER STATE INVESTIGATION: A Lutherville title company that helped facilitate sales of homes in distressed Baltimore neighborhoods for ABC Capital is being sued by investors who claim it accepted nearly $1 million for transactions that weren’t completed. The Maryland Insurance Administration is investigating alleged discrepancies at Castle Title. Justin Fenton/The Baltimore Banner
BCPS OFFICIALS ADMIT HALF OF ALL STUDENTS ARE CHRONICALLY ABSENT: School administrators confirmed on Thursday that half of all Baltimore City School students are chronically absent. Administrators were questioned about the absentee record during a city budget hearing on Thursday. Jeff Abell/WBFF Fox 45
PIMLICO’S OWNERS RECONSIDER PLAN TO CLOSE OTB: The owners of Pimlico Race Course are reconsidering plans to shut down off-track betting at the historic venue, a day after a news report indicated the track would stop carrying simulcast wagering by the end of the month. Brandon Weigel/The Baltimore Banner
ACTIVISTS WANT TO REVIVE RED LINE PROJECT AS A SUBWAY LINE: Activists in West Baltimore are proposing a phased-in plan that reinvents the Red Line light rail project. The Smart Line plan reimagines the defunct Red Line project as a subway line. Once built out, advocates said it could one day connect western Baltimore County to Sparrows Point in eastern Baltimore County. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters
NEW STATE LAWS THAT ARE NOW IN EFFECT: Aside from several bills that were enacted immediately after they were signed, Thursday marked the first batch of bills — 120, to be exact — signed in Maryland’s recent legislative session that became law. Here are a few of those laws that went into effect Thursday. Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun
COMMENTARY: NONPROFIT HOSPITALS CAN FILL GAPS IN CARE FOR MIGRANTS: Nonprofit hospitals can fill gaps in the care of undocumented immigrants. Programs modeled after one in place at Johns Hopkins would address needs until a policy solution is found. Kathleen R. Page, Edward W. Corty and Carolina Lopez-Silva/The Baltimore Banner
COMMENTING ON AN ABORTION COMMENTARY: The Maryland legislature has decided to protect abortion services, while other states have put limits on it. “The hardship of getting to Maryland to have an abortion is understood. However, rather than complain about it, there should be an organization created that will take donations from across America from those who want to support the necessary travel to a state that keeps abortion available on demand.” Marc King/Maryland Reporter
