AFTER TWO MASS SHOOTINGS, MOORE TAKES A TOUGHER ON CRIME STANCE: A week after 30 people were shot — two fatally — in a historic attack in Baltimore, Gov. Wes Moore said that stemming the bloodshed will require more police and tougher sentencing for repeat violent offenders — echoing a tonal shift for Democratic leaders grappling with escalating gun violence. Ovetta Wiggins/The Washington Post.
OPINION: LOCK UP REPEAT OFFENDERS: In 2022, “Juvenile Justice” legislation was passed in Annapolis that limited the ability of law enforcement to interact with juvenile suspects. Since that time there has been a significant uptick in juvenile crime across the state. The House Republican Caucus has offered and advocated for legislation addressing repeat violent criminals year in and year out. We have to work cooperatively and give serious consideration to commonsense policies, no matter where they come from. Dels. Jason Buckel and Jesse Pippy of the House Republican Caucus/MarylandReporter.com.
67 CHILD CARE FACILITIES TO SHARE $11.5M IN CAPITAL PROJECT FUNDING: Dozens of Maryland child care facilities have been awarded $11.5 million, thanks to the Child Care Capital Support Revolving Loan Fund, Gov. Wes Moore announced Tuesday. The funds will be shared among 67 child care centers in the state as part the inaugural round of funding is disseminated. Sabrina LeBoeuf/The Baltimore Sun.
REP. JORDAN PUSHES ALABAMA OVER MARYLAND, VIRGINIA FOR FBI HQ: Ohio Republican Rep. Jim Jordan is calling on the U.S. House committee that controls government spending to bar any federal dollars from going toward a long-planned rebuild of the FBI headquarters in the Maryland or Virginia suburbs outside Washington, D.C. Jordan is thrusting himself into a years-long battle between Maryland and Virginia for the location of a new HQ. Jennifer Shutt and Brian Lyman/Maryland Matters.
VALIDITY QUESTIONED OF MOORE’s HEALTH COST PANEL APPOINTMENTS: Gov. Wes Moore (D) is standing by his recent appointments to a powerful state commission that regulates hospital costs — despite questions about whether they are legally eligible to serve. The issue was raised when Moore named two high-profile appointees to the Health Services Cost Review Commission. Looming is the question of whether their appointments violate a state law that restricts how many members can be connected to an entity regulated the commission. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
FAMILIES WIN BATTLE OVER 529 COLLEGE SAVINGS PLAN: Maryland families who use the state’s prepaid tuition program to save for college will get the generous earnings on plan contributions they’ve been pushing for since the state distributed, and then took back, money from thousands of account holders last year, State Treasurer Dereck Davis announced this week. Jessica Calefati/The Baltimore Banner.
MIA MASON HOPES TO BECOME FIRST OPENLY TRANS CONGRESSWOMAN: Frederick resident Mia Mason, a Democrat, is running for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, trying to become the first openly transgender person to serve in the legislative body. Mason, a U.S. military veteran, also ran for Congress in 2020. She lost to Republican incumbent Andy Harris in the 1st District, 63% to 36%. Ceoli Jacoby/The Frederick News Post.
- “We’re running because we’re passionate about our communities, and ALL of the people in them,” Mason said in a press release. “We understand the struggles and challenges that we are facing right now, because we are listening to you, and because we’ve experienced them too.” Emily Venezky/WTOP-FM.
OBJECTIONS RAISED TO POTOMAC ED’s RATE INCREASE REQUEST: Electric utility Potomac Edison has requested a rate change to bring in more than $50 million, eliciting backlash for a projected 10% increase in the average customer’s bill. In a filing with the Maryland Public Service Commission — which approves or denies utilities’ rate change requests — Potomac Edison asked to increase its distribution revenue by $50.4 million. Shifra Dayak/The Frederick News Post.
O’MALLEYS’ PORTRAITS TO BE HUNG IN ANNAPOLIS: The portraits of former Gov. Martin O’Malley and his wife, retired District Court Judge Catherine Curran O’Malley, will soon take their places among their peers at the State House and the governor’s mansion. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
ARUNDEL REBRANDS EQUITY & DIVERSITY OFFICE: Anne Arundel County has rebranded its equity and diversity office and named a new leader, County Executive Steuart Pittman announced at a news conference Tuesday. The Office of Equity and Human Rights — formerly the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Department — will be led by Asha Smith, who has served as equal opportunity and human relations officer for the last two years. Dana Munro/The Capital Gazette.
FORMER SEN. TOMMIE BROADWATER, 81, DIES: Former Maryland state Sen. Tommie Broadwater died Tuesday, July 11. He was 81. “He was well-known. He was there for everybody. He gave everybody advice, especially those running for office. They called him the godfather. He loved people,” said his daughter Jacqueline Broadwater during a brief phone interview at her father’s mansion in Upper Marlboro. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
