Jared DeMarinis. 2014 file photo.
DEMARINIS TO HEAD STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS: An 18-year veteran of the Maryland State Board of Elections will take the reins this fall as the agency’s new elections administrator. The five-member board on Thursday unanimously approved the selection of Jared DeMarinis to succeed long-time administrator Linda Lamone. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters.
- Board members emphasized his longtime service as a staff member for the election board and highlighted his nonpartisan approach as two key factors in their decision. Katie Shepherd/The Washington Post.
FBI LETTER PUSHES VA. AS SITE FOR NEW HQ OVER MD.: The FBI in a letter this month underscored the value of locating its planned suburban headquarters close to existing Virginia facilities as a decision nears in an at-times acrimonious, decade-long fight between the commonwealth and Maryland to lure the agency. Gov. Wes Moore (D) on Thursday reiterated his position that the sites in his state have the best transportation assets, cost and racial equity opportunities, and can most quickly deliver the $2 billion project. Lateshia Beachum, Erin Cox, Gregory S. Schneider and Laura Vozella/The Washington Post.
STATE GAMBLING REGULATORS BLOCKED EFFORTS TO EASE OVERSIGHT: Leading sports betting companies, eager to gain footholds in the growing Maryland market, asked the state to roll back rules intended to safeguard bettors from misleading promotional offers. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
BALTIMORE DEMOCRATS SUBMIT TWO NAMES FOR DISTRICT 41 VACANCY: Baltimore City Democrats on Thursday night deadlocked over who should fill a vacancy in the House of Delegates from the 41st District and decided to submit two names to Gov. Wes Moore (D) for consideration for the House seat: former Del. Angela C. Gibson (D), who represented the district in Annapolis as an appointee from 2017 to 2019, and Malcolm P. Ruff, a lawyer who is colleague and protégé of prominent civil rights attorney Billy Murphy. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
DEADLINE SET FOR SCHOOLS TO SUBMIT BLUEPRINT PLANS: Maryland’s 24 school systems have until Oct. 1 to submit their Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education plans. The deadline approved Thursday by the Blueprint’s Accountability and Implementation Board coincides with an appeal process for local school officials to use if they disagree with the board’s decision to withhold money for the next fiscal year. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
SMOKE NOT CAUSING A RUSH AT BALTIMORE HOSPITALS: Despite plumes of smoke from Canadian wildfires that have drifted into the region, there’s been no rush on the emergency room, according to Baltimore area hospitals. And while that could change in coming days if the air doesn’t improve, the real concern is what happens next. Meredith Cohen and Sarah True/The Baltimore Banner.
- Montgomery County residents are being encouraged to limit time spent outdoors and avoid strenuous activity amid code-red air quality conditions Thursday, according to an alert sent by the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. While school isn’t canceled, other services across the county are changing due to the poor air quality. Em Espey/MoCo360.
BALTIMORE POLICE COMMISSIONER IS LEAVING: Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison, who has led the department through federal reforms for the last four years but whose tenure was marred by stubbornly high levels of gun violence and staffing issues, is stepping down from his position. Mayor Brandon Scott said at a Thursday news conference that he will nominate Richard Worley, currently the deputy commissioner for operations, as interim BPD commissioner, and intends to nominate him to the position permanently. Justin Fenton, Ben Conarck, Emily Sullivan and Adam Willis/The Baltimore Banner.
ANNE ARUNDEL ADDS RAISES FOR LIBRARIANS AND SCHOOL NURSES TO BUDGET: Anne Arundel County adds raises to librarians and school nurses to fiscal 2024 budget: In the final week before Anne Arundel County is required to pass its fiscal 2024 budget, County Executive Steuart Pittman’s office added pay raises for librarians and school nurses. Dana Munro/The Capital Gazette.
GOVERNOR, CSX PLEDGE MILLIONS TO SUPPORT B&O RAILROAD MUSEUM OVERHAUL: The B&O Railroad Museum announced it plans a $30 million transformation of its Southwest Baltimore campus to restore a historic railroad repair building, add exhibits and community gathering space, and create a new entrance. The president and CEO of CSX Corp. was at the museum on Thursday and said the company is donating $5 million donation for the project. Gov. Wes Moore (D) was also on hand and said the state would pledge $3 million. Lorraine Mirabella/The Baltimore Sun.
MONTGOMERY CO. ACTIVISTS CALL FOR SAFER STREETS: Nineteen people have died on Montgomery County roadways from car crashes and vehicle collisions with pedestrians and cyclists so this year, according to county data. Families who have lost loved ones and advocates for safer streets, including the Montgomery County Families for Safe Streets, Action Committee for Transit and Washington Area Bicyclist Association are demanding the county implement infrastructure and transportation policies in favor of pedestrians soon.Elia Griffin/MoCo360.
