O’MALLEY GETS WARM RECEPTION FROM U.S. SENATE FOR SSA POST: Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley told U.S. senators Thursday that if he is confirmed as the new commissioner of the Social Security Administration, he would focus on improving service and boosting the morale of the sprawling agency. O’Malley received a generally friendly reception from senators. Ryan Mercado of Capital News Service/ Maryland Reporter.
MD.’s BIGGEST TEACHERS UNION ENDORSES TRONE FOR U.S. SENATE: The state’s largest teachers union is backing U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) in his bid for U.S. Senate, providing a major boost to the congressman in a competitive Democratic primary to fill the seat of retiring U.S Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.). Ovetta Wiggins/The Washington Post.
MARILYN MOSBY JURY IS CHOSEN; TRIAL IS SET TO START MONDAY: A jury has been selected in the trial of former Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby, who is charged with perjury, after a three-day process. Opening statements are expected to start Monday in a federal courtroom in Greenbelt. Mike Hellgren/WJZ (CBS).
RALLY AT MO CO SCHOOL BOARD OFFICES DEMANDS ELECTRIC BUSES: About 50 Montgomery County Public Schools students, parents and environmental activists rallied outside of the Board of Education office in Rockville on Wednesday to urge superintendent Monifa McKnight and members of the school board to “keep their promises” regarding the district’s bus electrification program. Elia Griffin/MoCo360.
MO CO COUNCILMEMBERS SPEAK OUT ON ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR: For the many residents of diverse Montgomery County with connections to Israel and Palestine, the Israel-Hamas war is hitting home. Amid an increase of antisemitic and Islamaphonic hate crimes, county officials are responding, including offering thousands of dollars to houses of worship for security. MoCo360 sent a three-question survey regarding the Israel-Hamas war to all members of the Montgomery County Council. Ginny Bixby/Mo Co 360.
MOORE IS “DISAPPOINTED” BY PSC’s DECISION ON DATA CENTER PROJECT: Gov. Wes Moore said he is “disappointed” with a Maryland Public Service Commission decision leading to Aligned Data Centers stopping work on its data center project in Frederick County. Aligned Data Centers recently announced it is pulling the plug on its project after the PSC refused to grant the company an exemption from obtaining a specific certificate. Moore told the Frederick News-Post that he plans to work with the state legislature to address regulatory uncertainty on data centers. Gabrielle Lewis/Frederick News-Post.
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OCEAN CITY BEACH PATROL HEADING TO CANADA TO RECRUIT LIFEGUARDS: Members of the Ocean City Beach Patrol soon will be trading in their classic red swimwear for snug snow boots as they pack their bags and gear up for a quick trip to visit America’s neighbors up north. In an effort to ramp up recruitment efforts and combat future lifeguard shortages, a small team of testing officers will be conducting a Pre-Employment Physical Skills Evaluations test on Saturday, Nov. 4, at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. This is the first time a test will be hosted outside of the United States. Olivia Minzola/Salisbury Daily Times.
RETIREE BATTLES HOWARD CO. STREAM RESTORATION PROJECT: Stream restoration critics are worried that the restorations are little more than a political scheme to earn federal environmental credits. Others argue that the reality is more complex and that the projects can be initially ugly yet ultimately effective ways to improve water quality. Kristina Sharma/The Baltimore Banner
RESEARCH GROUP URGES MD.’s LOCAL PROSECUTORS TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT: Representatives with a national organization that collects and analyzes data for prosecutors’ offices said Maryland’s transparency is good, but could be better. One recommendation from Prosecutorial Performance Indicators – a group that includes researchers and college and university professors – would be to produce public prosecutorial dashboards, a tool recently released in Montgomery County. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters
MD. MAKING PROGRESS WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, ANNUAL SCORECARD FINDS: Every year, the Maryland League of Conservation Voters releases a scorecard grading each lawmaker for their votes on a series of environmental and climate bills in the most recent General Assembly session. But the scorecard also measures the state’s collective progress in addressing climate change and other environmental challenges. And based on the 2023 evaluation, released this week, the state is making a lot of progress. John Kurtz & Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters
OPINION: HOGAN IS SWINGING AT SOFTBALLS; MAYBE HE NEEDS A HARDBALL DEBATE: Every four years we hear, “This is the most important election in our lifetimes.” More plausible is 2024 will be the strangest election in our lifetimes. Former President Donald Trump, ensnared in a legal morass that many believe is the result of partisan prosecutors, is nevertheless poised to win the nomination. President Joe Biden, who many perceive as too old for another term, has recently drawn a credible primary challenge for that very reason. Enter Maryland’s former Gov. Larry Hogan, who is positioning himself to run for President on the No Labels ticket. Frank Howard/Maryland Reporter.
INTERACTIVE TOUR REIMAGINES BMORE’S NEW HARBORPLACE: There’s scrubbing the steps. Then there’s digging up the front yard. For Baltimore, remaking Harborplace amounts to the latter. Developer MCB Real Estate’s plan reimagines some of the city’s most prized parcels, adding housing, expanding park space and redesigning a busy intersection. Take an interactive tour of what’s been proposed and how it would compare to what the Inner Harbor looks like today. Dillan Mullen & Steve Earlen/The Baltimore Sun.
MORGAN HITS RECORD ENROLLMENT FOR 3RD STRAIGHT YEAR: Morgan State University experienced its third straight year of record enrollment, moving it closer to its goal of 10,000 students. Enrollment increased 8% overall over the previous year, spurred by a 4% increase in first-time freshmen attending the school. Aliza Worthington/Baltimore Fishbowl.
BMORE AGREES TO BIG FINE, CONSENT DECREE OVER POLLUTION FROM TREATMENT PLANTS: In an effort to settle complaints of pollution violations, Baltimore City has agreed to pay a $4.75 million fine and to enter a consent decree concerning operations at its Back River and Patapsco wastewater treatment plants. Lillian Reed/The Baltimore Banner
WASHINGTON CO. LEGISLATORS HOSTING FORUM ON MONDAY: The Washington County Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly will host a daylong pre-legislative forum on Monday, when the county’s state legislators will meet with various local leaders, elected officials, agencies and businesses to review priorities for the 2024 legislative session. Staff of Hagerstown Herald-Mail.
