DELAYED BRIDGE CALLED TOO STRAIGHT, TOO SHORT: An investigation into delays of a Baltimore County bridge project that began late last year at the request of the Maryland Department of Transportation found the contractor did not follow state designs that would have accommodated the curvature of a boulevard. The bridge, it turns out, is too short and too straight. Clara Longo de Freitas/The Baltimore Banner.
NO CHARGES: AS AGENT SHOT McGRATH, HE SHOT SELF, SAYS REPORT: Roy McGrath, the former top aide to Gov. Larry Hogan, who skipped his federal fraud trial in Baltimore and evaded authorities for weeks before FBI agents tracked his car to a parking lot outside Knoxville, Tenn., held a gun to his head and fired as an agent fired a round into his left cheek. Tim Prudente/The Baltimore Banner.
- No charges will be filed against federal agents involved in the attempted arrest of McGrath, who died in a confrontation with federal agents. A report by the medical examiner in Knox County determined that McGrath simultaneously suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound and a single wound from a gun fired by a federal agent, according to prosecutors in Tennessee. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
FEC OKs RULES TO REFORM RENEWABLE PROJECTS CONNECTING TO GRID: The Federal Regulatory Commission on Thursday finalized long-awaited new rules intended to reform how power generation projects get connected to the electric grid, seen as a major step in smoothing the path for thousands of mostly renewable power projects currently waiting to plug in. One expert calls the developments, which could boost renewable energy projects in Maryland, ‘the greatest transmission reforms in a generation.’ Robert Zullo/Maryland Matters.
CONGRESSMEN PROPOSE CHESAPEAKE NATIONAL REC AREA: Members of Maryland’s congressional delegation have introduced legislation to establish a Chesapeake National Recreation Area that would include several historical landmarks around Annapolis. The Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act, sponsored by Democrats U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen and U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes, would establish the area with headquarters in Annapolis and in Hampton, Va. Dillon Mullan/The Baltimore Sun.
STATE DRUG BOARD FINALIZES FRAMEWORK: After months of rule rewrites, public comments and amendments, Maryland’s state board tasked with controlling the costs of prescription drugs has finalized a framework to evaluate which medications may be eligible for price reductions. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
POLITICAL BRIEFS: MARTHA’S VINEYARD FOR FUND-RAISING: Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks isn’t the only Senate candidate from Maryland raising money on Martha’s Vineyard. Will Jawando has a fundraiser scheduled in the wealthy Massachusetts enclave on Aug. 14 — one day before Alsobrooks is set to raise money there. The five-member Maryland State Board of Elections elected a new chair and vice chair Thursday. In the 6th Congressional District race to replace U.S. Rep. David Trone, who is running for Senate, Del. Joe Vogel (D-Montgomery) picked up the endorsement of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. And Del. Brenda J. Thiam (R-Washington) has converted her old legislative campaign website into a website for her congressional bid. Josh Kurtz and Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
ABORTIONS UP 50 PERCENT: At the Baltimore Abortion Fund, a non-profit that helps people seeking abortions in Baltimore City and Maryland, they have the numbers to prove it. Since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade last year, the decision that guaranteed the constitutional right to an abortion, BAF has served an additional 50% of patients seeking abortion care than in the year before the court’s decision. From June 2022 through June 2023, the non-profit assisted 1,621 clients, up from 1,150 in the year before. Emily Hofstaedter/WYPR-FM.
HENRIETTA LACKS SURVIVORS’ SUIT NEARS RESOLUTION: The campaign led by Henrietta Lacks’ surviving relatives to force a multibillion-dollar biotechnology company to compensate them for use of her stolen, regenerative cells will near resolution Monday, when the two sides are set to meet for a pivotal settlement conference. Jessica Calefati/The Baltimore Banner.
CLEANUP PRECEDED EVIDENCE GATHERING AT B’MORE MASS SHOOTING: The morning after the worst mass shooting in recent Baltimore history, cleaners with red dustpans and brooms worked behind police tape on Elarton Court, sweeping trash. An hour later, a Baltimore Police Department employee began laying down evidence markers. Even casual viewers of TV cop dramas might be surprised by this order of operations — and forensic experts were too. Brenna Smith and Jessica Gallagher/The Baltimore Banner.
APG ARMY MAJOR GENERAL KILLED IN SINGLE-ENGINE PLANE CRASH: The small plane that crashed Tuesday evening in Havre de Grace was piloted by a high-ranking Army general from Aberdeen Proving Ground, according to an Army news release. Army Maj. Gen. Anthony Wayne Potts, 59, of Aberdeen, was at the controls of the single-engine plane when it crashed around 7:15 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene, said a Harford County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson. No passengers were on board. Staff/The Baltimore Sun.
