TEICHERT WITHDRAWS FROM U.S. SENATE RACE, BACKS HOGAN: The field of Republicans vying for U.S. Senate will get a little smaller Friday as one of the leading candidates departs the race and endorses former Gov. Larry Hogan. John Teichert, a retired Air Force General, was to announced today that he is ending the campaign he began last October and throwing his support behind Hogan, who was a surprise entry at the filing deadline last Friday. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
HOGAN EXPLAINS U.S. SENATE RUN: Almost one week after announcing his candidacy for U.S. Senate, former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) opened up in an interview about why he decided to run and attempted to clear up his opinion on abortion rights after swift backlash from Democrats following an appearance on CNN. Mikenzie Frost/WBFF-TV News.
SPEAKER JONES PACKAGES ‘DECENCY AGENDA’ AND RELEASES VIDEO: The “decency agenda” championed by House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County), one of her main priorities for this year’s 90-day legislative session, was formally released Thursday. While the bills that are part of the agenda have all been introduced in recent days, their common thread is being amplified with a video message that Jones released Thursday. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
U.S. HOUSE DEMOCRATS FROM MD. PRESS REPUBLICANS TO PASS FOREIGN-AID BILL: U.S. House Democrats from Maryland are criticizing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) for refusing to hear the U.S. Senate-approved foreign-aid package that includes Ukraine and Israel. The Senate passed the $95 billion national security supplemental spending bill Tuesday. Johnson has firmly rejected calls to put the bill to a vote in the House due to the lack of border security legislation. He also has rejected a bipartisan compromise on border security crafted in the Senate. Katharine Wilson of Capital News Service/Baltimore Post-Examiner.
COMMENTARY: RESTORE CUTS TO TRANSPORTATION FUNDING: While the governor’s partial restoration of transportation funds is certainly welcome, we badly need acceleration of investment – not just restoration of proposed cuts. In fact, in 2022, the MTA estimated its capital needs at $512 million annually merely to maintain a “state of good repair” for existing facilities and equipment. That doesn’t include the promised east-west Red Line or the Purple Line. Jon Laria/The Baltimore Banner.
HEARING WILL DETERMINE IF MOSBY’s MORTGAGE FRAUD CONVICTION STANDS: Lawyers for Marilyn Mosby are set to debate federal prosecutors Friday over whether the former Baltimore state’s attorney’s mortgage fraud conviction should stand. Alex Mann/The Baltimore Sun.
MD.’s HOUSE DEBATES BILL TO CRACK DOWN ON STREET RACING: The debate over a bill that would create stiffer penalties for illegal street racing and stunt driving continued Thursday in the Maryland House of Delegates – just days after its round in the Senate. State lawmakers say the problem has spun out of control across Maryland. Keith Daniels/WBFF-TV News.
MOCO LAWMAKER SEEKS HARSHER PENALTIES FOR RECKLESS DRIVERS: Proposed state legislation to impose harsher penalties on reckless drivers was inspired by an October traffic collision that caused a Montgomery County police officer to lose both of his legs, according to state Del. Greg Wims (D-Dist. 39), the legislation’s sponsor. Ginny Bixby/MoCo 360.
LT. GOV. BACKS BILL SEEKING SAFER WORK ZONES: Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D) testified Thursday in favor of a bill to increase enforcement of safe driving laws in Maryland work zones. The Maryland Road Worker Protection Act is one of the pieces of legislation that stemmed from a commission to figure out the best ways to increase safety in work zones following a deadly crash in a work zone on I-695 last March. Jeff Morgan/WMAR-TV News.
STATE’s NEW ONLINE TAX PORTAL DELAYS REFUNDS: Tens of thousands of people have already filed their taxes in Maryland, but many of them are still waiting on their tax refunds. For some, it’s been weeks since they filed their taxes and still no refund. The Maryland Office of the Comptroller said the launching of its new online tax portal had a big hand in the delay. Dennis Valeria/WJZ-TV News.
HOWARD CO. PUBLIC LIBRARY WORKERS VOTE TO UNIONIZE: Howard County Library System workers have voted overwhelmingly to form a union and join the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, union officials announced Thursday. Abby Zimmardi/The Baltimore Banner.
MOMS FOR LIBERTY TARGET BOOKS IN HOWARD CO. SCHOOL LIBRARIES: The Howard County chapter of Moms for Liberty wants sexually explicit books off school library shelves, and they’re enlisting the “mastermind” behind Carroll County’s successful book-ban campaign to help it do that. Kristen Griffith/The Baltimore Banner.
COMMENTARY: FORMER HOUSING OFFICIAL CRITICIZES PLANS FOR HARBORPLACE: Harborplace deserves better than apartment towers that look more like downtown Houston than waterfront Baltimore. M.J. “Jay” Brodie/Baltimore Brew
