ADDRESSING MARYLAND’s TEACHER SHORTAGE: The U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Shortage Areas database found that for the current school year, Maryland was short of teachers in 28 subjects, which is up from 17 five years earlier. The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future aims to fix that problem by “elevating the stature of the teaching profession” through higher pay, better training and stronger recruitment efforts. However, experts and educators have mixed views about whether that will successfully address the root causes of the shortage. Aidan Hughes and Daranee Balachandar of Capital News Service/MarylandReporter.com.
SENATE OK’s TAX ON FIREARMS, AMMO SALES: The Maryland Senate on Monday approved a bill creating a tax on the sale of firearms and ammunition in the state. The approval came on Crossover Day in the General Assembly, a key deadline that guarantees the bill will be considered in the House of Delegates. Matt Bush/WYPR-FM.
WHY CROSSOVER DAY MATTERS: Maryland lawmakers facing a critical deadline turned the legislative gears a little faster Monday, passing hundreds of bills between the chambers to give each the best chance of becoming law. If a bill hasn’t been shuttled across the State House’s marble hallway by the last session on “crossover day,” it’s less likely to make it through the legislative process. Brenda Wintrode and Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
- “Crossover Day” in the Maryland General Assembly, a key deadline for legislation to be approved, passed Monday with surprisingly little drama and without the marathon floor sessions the day often requires. Josh Kurtz and Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
- Of the 2,700 pieces of legislation under consideration in this year’s session of the General Assembly, the vast majority of what will ultimately pass — and what will be killed — is, for the most part, already settled. Sam Janesch and Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun.
HOUSING BILL STILL IN COMMITTEES: While almost all of Gov. Wes Moore’s legislative priorities have crossed over in at least one chamber as of Monday, the Housing Expansion and Affordability Act of 2024 has yet to leave committee in either the House or Senate. Jessica Babb/WBFF-TV News.
NUMBER OF YOUNG SHOOTING VICTIMS IN BALTIMORE DECREASES: The number of high school-age shooting victims in Baltimore is decreasing for the first time in three years, a sign of progress in a city beleaguered by gunfire. While shootings victimizing teens between ages 13 and 18 remain above pre-coronavirus pandemic levels, they have fallen sharply this year compared to the same time period in 2023. Lee O. Sanderlin, Ryan Little and Fernando Becerra/The Baltimore Banner.
BILL TO BAN JUVENILE SEX OFFENDERS FROM SCHOOL FAST-TRACKED: A bill to keep juvenile sex offenders out of Maryland public schools is being fast-tracked through Annapolis to make sure it can be passed before the session ends. Less than four weeks is all that remains in this year’s legislative session. Chris Papst/WBFF-TV News.
DOJ SAYS UMBC FAILED TO PROTECT STUDENTS FROM COACH: A Title IX investigation from the Department of Justice says that UMBC knew about allegations of sexual assault, harassment and discrimination by a former coach, but didn’t do enough to stop it. The investigation started in November of 2020 after the department received allegations that the former head coach of the university’s men’s and women’s Swimming and Diving Team, Chad Cradock, had sexually abused and discriminated against athletes, according to the DOJ. Colleen Johnson/WBFF-TV News.
- The investigation found that the university allowed Cradock “to do as he pleased without consequence, including engaging in physical sexual assaults” against students between 2015 and 2020. Kristen Griffith and Liz Bowie/The Baltimore Banner.
GRAMMER WITHDRAWS FROM 6th DISTRICT U.S. HOUSE RACE: Army veteran Geoffrey Grammer (D) announced Monday he is withdrawing from the race for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District and is endorsing fellow Democrat April McClain Delaney of Potomac. Ginny Bixby/MoCo 360.
EXPANDING BA CO COUNCIL RECOMMENDED, BUT ACTION IN DOUBT: In a preliminary report released earlier this month, a workgroup is recommending that the Baltimore County Council increase its size from seven to nine. However, the political future of that proposed expansion is in doubt. It would take at least five votes on the seven-member council for the expansion question to be put on the November ballot. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
