OCEAN CITY AMONG SITES FEDS PICK FOR POSSIBLE OFFSHORE WIND FARMS: Federal regulators have chosen three new areas that could host offshore wind farms off the Mid-Atlantic East Coast, including sites off Ocean City, Virginia Beach and the Delaware beaches. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is “committed” to hold an auction for what it calls the Central Atlantic by August 2024, determining which companies get to lease the selected areas to construct wind farms, said bureau spokesman John Filostrat in a statement. Christine Condon/The Baltimore Sun.
ATTORNEY GENERAL’s OFFICE TO GET NEW STAFF FOR CHURCH PROBE: The Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved creating four positions for attorneys and another four for support staff in the Office of the Attorney General, which seeks to expand investigations of sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church as well as prosecuting police-involved fatalities and serious injuries. Treasurer Dereck Davis (D) said Wednesday he is feeling better about the pace of lease negotiations between the Maryland Stadium Authority and the Baltimore Orioles. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
DELAYED PROJECT MAY HAVE FUELED BAD BLOOD AMONG HARFORD OFFICIALS: A delayed public safety project may be at the root of the animosity between Harford County Executive Robert Cassilly and Harford Councilman Aaron Penman that has led to a wiretapping and email monitoring complaint by the councilman. Hugo Kugiya/The Baltimore Banner.
STATE PROSECUTOR PICKS UP CASSILLY CASE: Allegations of email monitoring by Harford County Executive Robert Cassilly (R) are now in the hands of the Office of the State Prosecutor, according to the president of the Harford County Council, Patrick Vincenti. Bryan Sears, William Ford and Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
GREEN GROUPS SEEK MORE TRANSPARENCY ON STATE ENERGY PROGRAM: Eight environmental leaders are pressing Maryland energy regulators for more transparency on how the state’s renewable energy program is handled — and how the state hands out financial credits for entities that generate renewable energy. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
STATE SUPREMES REJECT ANNAPOLIS CITY ATTORNEY FOR GRIEVANCE COMMISSION: The Supreme Court of Maryland has rejected Annapolis City Attorney D. Michael Lyles’ bid to run the state’s Attorney Grievance Commission. Lyles confirmed that he had not been chosen to serve as bar counsel, a prestigious position leading the commission that investigates alleged ethical lapses by Maryland attorneys. Rebecca Ritzel/The Capital Gazette.
GEORGE MASON U. PROVOST TO HEAD TOWSON UNIVERSITY: Mark R. Ginsberg, provost and executive vice president of George Mason University, will serve as Towson University’s 15th president, the University System of Maryland announced Wednesday morning. He will start work Oct. 30. Sabrina LeBoeuf/The Baltimore Sun.
- George Mason is Virginia’s largest university with about 35,190 students. In comparison, Towson’s fall enrollment from last year was nearly 19,800. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
FEDERAL PROSECUTORS WANT JOINT TRIAL FOR SHERIFF JENKINS, KROP: Federal prosecutors on Tuesday argued that Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins and local firearms business owner Robert Krop were not entitled to separate trials, and sharply criticized Jenkins’ rationale for why charges against him should be dropped. Jillian Atelsek/The Frederick News Post.
JUDGE: DEFAMATION SUIT AGAINST EX-HAGERSTOWN MAYOR CAN PROCEED: Although a judge recently dismissed one defamation count against former Hagerstown Mayor Emily Keller, a defamation suit will proceed after he refused to dismiss another involving allegations Keller waged a rumor campaign against a former heroin addict who turned his life around to help others. Julie Greene/The Hagerstown Herald Mail.
FORMER COLLEGE PARK MAYOR SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS FOR CHILD PORN: The former mayor of College Park pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges of possession and distribution of child pornography, and as part of the plea, agreed to a sentence of 30 years. Penelope Blackwell/The Baltimore Banner.
1st BLACK WOMAN TO BECOME EPISCOPAL PRIEST ONE OF FIVE WOMEN TO BE ON QUARTER: Pauli Murray, a Baltimore native and the first Black woman to become an Episcopal priest in the United States, is one of five women selected to be honored on the reverse side of a U.S. quarter in 2024. Jordan D. Brown/The Baltimore Sun.
O’MALLEY’s PORTRAIT TOO SMALL: A long-awaited portrait of former Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) is now gone after a very brief public appearance. The portrait was unveiled in July and sent to what was to be its home in the Governor’s Reception Room inside the State House. But O’Malley’s portrait, hanging on the wall between Republican former Govs. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Larry Hogan, was a wee bit smaller. Visibly smaller. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
