MD. PORT DIRECTOR ABRUPTLY RESIGNS, DEPUTY STEPS IN: William P. Doyle abruptly resigned Friday from his position as director of the Maryland Port Administration, immediately transferring the leadership post to his deputy, according to a state ports spokesperson. The agency “cannot discuss details of personnel matters” but confirmed Doyle’s resignation, MPA spokesperson Richard Scher said Monday. MPA Deputy Executive Director Brian Miller is now serving as interim acting executive director of the agency that oversees the Port of Baltimore, Scher said. Dan Belson/The Baltimore Sun
LONG BACKLOG IN MEDICAID APPLICATIONS FOR HOME AIDES: More than 11,600 older and disabled Marylanders with Medicaid have been waiting as long as a year for help at home. Some are being hospitalized, institutionalized or even dying in the interim. These medically vulnerable residents — who need help with tasks such as bathing, dressing, cooking, cleaning and running errands — are among a massive backlog of applicants for in-home care through Medicaid. The Maryland Department of Health has just eight workers to process the applications. Sarah True/The Baltimore Banner
EXPERT DOUBTS CLAIMS OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE IRREGULARITIES: A well-known conservative provocateur attempted to make a splash in April by alleging that Maryland residents had fallen victim to a money laundering scheme by a national Democratic fundraising organization. But the allegations are dubious and federal regulations cast further doubt on the claims, which Maryland’s State Board of Elections has declined to investigate. Even so, some Maryland Republicans have seized on the allegations and are hoping they trigger campaign finance reforms. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters
LEADERSHIP CHANGES CHALLENGE EFFORTS TO REDUCE VIOLENCE IN BALTMORE: As leaders in Baltimore continue to move forward with the Group Violence Reduction Strategy, two of the implementing agencies will soon have new leaders, raising questions about stability. The effort, known as GVRS, works to give people an off-ramp from their life of crime through various programs, services and resources. When Acting Baltimore Police Commissioner Rich Worley was tapped this month to take over for Michael Harrison, he briefly touched on GVRS. The leader of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement (MONSE), which works with GVRS as well, is set to leave her position at the end of June. Mikenzie Frost/WBFF (Fox)
ADVOCATES CALL FOR MD. COMMUNITY INVESTMENT ACT: Economic Action Maryland and the National Community Reinvestment Coalition both released reports this month advocating for a statewide community reinvestment act in Maryland. They said the legislation would help increase homeownership and other financial lending opportunities for residents and business owners, especially people of color. Both groups and other housing advocates plan to push for the legislature to pass a bill next year. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters
CONGRESS TAKES A BACK SEAT ON U.S. ABORTION POLICY AS COURTS STEP UP: One year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion, the courts rather than a divided Congress are leading the way on decisions on reproductive rights that would affect the entire nation. Congress has not enacted federal legislation to either preserve reproductive rights or to restrict abortion in the year since the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization ruling nullified the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. Jennifer Shutt/Maryland Matters
CAROLL COUNTY TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WILL GET 4% RAISES: The Carroll County Board of Education approved a salary increase for public school educators and administrators when it ratified contracts with each group’s union last week. Employees represented by the Carroll County Education Association will receive a 4% cost-of-living adjustment next school year, according to the unanimously ratified master agreement. Thomas Goodwin Smith/Carroll County Times/The Baltimore Sun
ICYMI: SEN. NORMAN STONE DIES: Here is the Sun’s sendoff of the longest serving member of the Maryland General Assembly. Jacques Kelly/The Baltimore Sun
