State Roundup: Limits eased on crab harvests; Morgan accuses Towson U. of copying business program; environmental group gives governor mixed reviews

LIMITS EASED ON CRAB HARVESTS FROM BAY: The Chesapeake Bay’s crabbers are getting the green light to catch a few more blue crabs, a year after dismal population numbers led to steep cutbacks in their allowance. The region’s fishery managers say results from the just-released wintertime survey were promising enough to relax some of the restrictions. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced on June 27 a raft of industry-friendly changes to its crab controls. Crabbers, though, say they are disappointed that regulators didn’t give them more slack. Jeremy Cox and Timothy B. Wheeler/Bay Journal/Maryland Reporter

• The high cost of crabs may be cutting back on traditional crab feasts. Mike Klingaman/Baltimore Sun

MORGAN’S PRESIDENT ACCUSES TOWSON U. OF COPYING PH.D. PROGRAM: The president of Morgan State University is accusing Towson University of setting up a new academic discipline that duplicates a well-established program at Morgan — reigniting a bitter and longstanding fight in Maryland about white educational institutions creating programs that already exist at historically Black colleges and universities. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP GRADES GOVERNOR: The Maryland League of Conservation Voters was the first environmental organization to endorse Gov. Wes Moore during the 2022 Democratic primary campaign, and now it’s the first to release an evaluation of his first six months in office. The group’s overall analysis of the Moore administration’s performance on climate change, environmental justice and environmental stewardship in general was positive. But the group warned that Moore must move with dispatch to fulfill important statewide climate and clean energy goals. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters

JEWISH LEADERS SAY MD. SCHOOLS COULD IMPROVE HOLOCAUST CURRICULUM: The world history learning standards for Maryland high schoolers got its first explicit mention of the Holocaust in late 2019. The latest version of the Maryland High School Modern World History Framework, which serves as a guideline for public schools across the state,  entails “evaluating the cause, course, and consequences of the Holocaust.” Although some learning standards have improved to include more explicit requirements on teaching the Holocaust, there is more still to be done, said Howard Libit, executive director of the Baltimore Jewish Council. Sabrina LeBoeuf/The Baltimore Sun

TWO NEW DELEGATES SWORN IN, BRINGING HOUSE TO FULL MEMBERSHIP: The Maryland House of Delegates is back to full membership following the swearing in of the chamber’s two newest members. Dels. Ryan Spiegel (D-Montgomery) and Malcolm P. Ruff (D-Baltimore City) were sworn in Thursday in separate ceremonies by House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County). Both are assigned to the House Appropriations Committee. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters

B’MORE CO. EXPANDING HIGH-SPEED INTERNET IN RURAL AREAS: Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. and Comcast announced on Thursday a $7.4 million grant supporting the expansion of high-speed broadband service to 450 homes in rural northern Baltimore County. The grant comes from the Maryland Office of Broadband’s Connect Maryland Network Infrastructure Grant Program. The grant, along with prior grant-funded expansion efforts, will allow the county to bring high-speed internet access to 99 percent of unserved northern Baltimore County residences. Aliza Worthington/Baltimore Fishbowl

OLSZWESKI BEGINS RAISING MONEY FOR CONGRESSIONAL RACE: While U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-2nd) ponders his political future, another Democrat prepares. Ruppersberger has yet to formally announce his plans to seek a 12th term. Meanwhile, Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. (D) has hired noted Baltimore fundraiser Sophia Silbergeld and is raising money. Just in case. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters

NEW PSC CHAIR VOWS TO “LEAVE NO MARYLANDER BEHIND”: Fredrick H. Hoover, the new chair of the Maryland Public Service Commission, vowed to follow the lead of the man who appointed him, Gov. Wes Moore (D), and “leave no Marylander behind” as he takes over a powerful regulatory agency that will increasingly have more say over how the state confronts climate change. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters

LAWMAKERS RESPOND TO STATE’S MASS SHOOTINGS: The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act provided over $5 million last year to Maryland toward gun violence prevention initiatives. The funds are expected to be disbursed early next year. Maryland House Speaker Pro Tempore Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-Wicomico), who grew up a few blocks away from where seven people were shot in Salisbury on Wednesday, wants to see the money make it all the way down to the local level. Dwight Weingarten/The Hagerstown Herald-Mail

COMMENTARY: RELAUNCH OF RED LINE REVIVES PROMISE OF COMMUNITIES: The Red Line is a promise to connect East Baltimore to West Baltimore — and beyond — through affordable public transit, and it’s a promise to unleash the full potential of the residents of the city and the county. “We stand united in our commitment to fulfill this promise — as neighbors, leaders and public servants who understand the life-changing impact that effective transportation can provide.” Gov. Wes Moore, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr./The Baltimore Banner