MOORE WARNS OF BELT-TIGHTENING TO COME: Gov. Wes Moore spent the first eight months of his tenure delivering good news to fellow Democrats, supporting their policies and promising to bring overdue systemic change. But Maryland’s balance sheets do not show good news for Moore. As he sets about delivering on transformational campaign promises, state analysts are predicting that budget deficits will sprawl to $1.8 billion annually after his term ends — in large part due to an ambitious education program beloved by state Democrats. Erin Cox/The Washington Post.
- As the state prepares for budget season, Moore told county and city officials at the Maryland Association of Counties summer conference to expect to tighten their fiscal belts. Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun.
- “It’s going to take the discipline of elected officials at the state and the local government…and yes, it is going to take the discipline of the governor. As much as I want to say ‘yes,’ you’re going to hear some ‘no’s,’” he told assembled state and county leaders at the closing address for the Maryland Association of Counties summer conference in Ocean City. Danielle Gaines and Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
PERSONAL EARNING POWER GROWS, BUT NOT ENOUGH: “Put simply: Our economic engine does not support our ambitions,” Gov. Wes Moore said. The first-time politician, who began his career as an investment banker, ran through bleak economic data that shows Maryland residents are losing earning power compared to their neighbors — while New Jersey families saw personal incomes rise by $1,700 last year, those in Maryland saw only $1,000, he said, in a speech that alternated between soaring tones about the state’s potential and sober ones about its present. Erin Cox/The Washington Post.
$600M IN BOND MONEY AWAITS O’s FOR LEASE DEAL: Gov. Wes Moore, the Orioles and the Maryland Stadium Authority are trudging toward an end-of-year expiration of the team’s Camden Yards lease, with few signs that a deal on a new lease is near. But there’s one massive carrot to entice the O’s to renew — $600 million in state bonds for stadium improvements, signed, sealed and waiting on team chairman and CEO John Angelos. Brenda Wintrode and Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO CONSIDER TWEAKING CANNABIS LAW: Maryland’s cannabis industry is less than two months old and lawmakers and regulators are already contemplating tweaks in the coming General Assembly session. Since July, the new recreational adult use industry has recorded sales of almost $90 million. The expectation is that sales will surpass $1 billion. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
WOMEN OF MACo CHEER GROWING LEADERSHIP ROLES: A room full of women who lead some of Maryland’s districts, counties and local agencies gathered for a luncheon at the Maryland Association of Counties in Ocean City on Friday to talk about the role and influence women can have in government and administrative positions. The “Women of MACo” luncheon was filled with dozens of women in leadership positions, who cheered remarks from the state’s first Black speaker of the House of Delegates, Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County). Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
***If you like the idea of learning about China today, now is the time to sign up for a six-week seminar by Maryland Reporter’s Len Lazarick at Howard Community College. The small two-hour class runs every two weeks starting Thursday Sept. 7 and ending Nov. 16. Click here to learn more and register for the course.***
BROWN ANNOUNCES $24M IN OPIOID SETTLEMENTS: Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) announced that the state and most of its counties and municipalities received nearly $24 million in opioid settlements. The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents almost 43,000 employees of the Social Security Administration across the country, announced Thursday it has endorsed President Biden’s nomination of former Gov. Martin O’Malley to be the next SSA commissioner. William Ford and Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
STATE RESIDENT GETS 1st LOCALLY ACQUIRED CASE OF MALARIA IN 40 YEARS: The Maryland Department of Health has confirmed a positive case of locally acquired malaria in a Maryland resident. The person, who lives in the National Capital Region, was hospitalized and is in recovery. The person did not travel outside of the U.S. or to any other states with recent cases of malaria. “Malaria was once common in the United States, including in Maryland, but we have not seen a case in Maryland that was not related to travel in over 40 years,” Health Secretary Laura Herrera Scott said. Blair Young/WBAL-TV News.
- The risk for transmission of locally acquired malaria is very low, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And people should look out for these symptom: Fever, chills, sweats, headache, breathing problems, tiredness, vomiting, diarrhea and cough. Mosquitoes that are infected with malaria spread the parasite by biting other people. Elia Griffin/MoCo 360.
- Maryland typically reports about 200 travel-related cases of malaria a year, according to state health figures. Meredith Cohn and Sarah True/The Baltimore Banner.
CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST DEL. LONG: Charges have been dropped against a freshman state delegate who was accused of assault and burglary. Del. Jeffrie Long (D-Calvert and Prince George’s) was scheduled to appear Friday in a Calvert County District courtroom to face charges stemming from an April 4 incident involving a family member. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
COLUMN: BWI-AREA RESIDENTS FINALLY GET A SAY: For the first time, advocates for addressing airplane noise issues at Thurgood Marshall Baltimore Washington International Airport will get seats on the Maryland Aviation Commission, a body that helps govern BWI. A law taking effect Oct. 1 adds four members to the nine-member body, two each from Howard and Anne Arundel counties. Rick Hutzell/The Baltimore Banner.
OPINION: AMID SHORTAGE, TIME TO LISTEN TO SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS: As a contracted school bus driver for Anne Arundel County, I am hopeful that our school bus transportation seems in pretty good shape for the start of school on Aug. 28. … When I skim the school bus horror stories online, the chronic need for drivers, I keep hearing that there is not one reason but several related to the shortage. I thought a list would be a good way to show the complexity of fixing or, at least, limiting the problem. After all, I hear from transportation managers and journalists, but we don’t often hear anything from school bus drivers. Earl Yarington/The Baltimore Post Examiner.
BUS SERVICE A PRECURSOR TO B’MORE RED LINE: A new pilot service in Baltimore City that was announced by Gov. Wes Moore in June is meant to provide expanded east-west travel services while plans for the Red Line take shape. “We need to make improvements today,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “The Red Line is moving forward, and we’re excited about that, but we need to make improvements today for the riders along that corridor. And that’s what this service does.” Emily Hofstaedter/WYPR-FM.
QUANTA PIERCE, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST, DIES AT 88: Quanta L. Pierce, who had a lengthy career in the foster care division of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services and was a civil rights activist, died of Alzheimer’s disease July 22 at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital. The Randallstown resident was 88. Frederick Rasmussen/The Baltimore Sun.
