‘INTERIM’ NO MORE: CAREY WRIGHT APPOINTED STATE SCHOOL SUPER: The interim title will be removed from Carey Wright’s name after the Maryland Board of Education’s unanimous vote Wednesday to make her the permanent state superintendent of public schools. Wright began as interim superintendent Oct. 23, replacing Mohammed Choudhury, who resigned days prior. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
- Wright, a native Marylander, called her selection an honor and committed to improving how schools teach reading and math. “I believe by advancing literacy and mathematics for every child at every level from prekindergarten to high school graduation, we can prepare students for the career pathway they choose and success in life,” she said in a news release. Kristen Griffith/The Baltimore Banner.
MOORE: REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS SUPPORT AIDING KEY BRIDGE WORK: Gov. Wes Moore said he has met with several Republicans in Congress to discuss federal support for the response to the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and that they have been “incredibly encouraging” about their support for the clean-up effort. He praised the sole Republican in the Maryland delegation in Congress, Rep. Andy Harris, for reaching out to his friends in the conservative Freedom Caucus on behalf of the bridge recovery. Kiersten Hacker and Tyrah Burris of Capital News Service/MarylandReporter.com.
KEY BRIDGE ASSESSMENT NEVER ADDRESSED COLLISION POSSIBILITY: When the Francis Scott Key Bridge was inspected in May 2021, it earned high marks. Its railings and guardrails met modern standards. Its foundations were “stable” and didn’t show signs of erosion at the riverbed. The protection around its piers was “functioning,” the best grade in that category. It wasn’t, however, assessed for its ability to withstand a collision from a vessel. Hayes Gardner/The Baltimore Sun.
DEEP CHANNEL OPENING TO ALLOW SHIPS TO LEAVE PORT: Ships trapped for a month behind the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge will be given a chance to leave the Port of Baltimore using an alternate shipping channel that opens Thursday morning. Lorraine Mirabella/The Baltimore Sun.
SOME SEEK GOVERNOR’s VETO ON JUVIE JUSTICE, GUN LEGISLATION: Some lawmakers and organizations are calling on Gov. Wes. Moore to issue vetoes on policies that would produce seismic changes in the state’s juvenile justice system, allow the attorney general to sue gun manufacturers, revise plans to create offshore wind projects, end the publishing of public notices in local newspapers, and anything that would generally increase fees or taxes for state residents. Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun.
- The House Republican Caucus has asked Moore to veto House Bill 947 – Gun Industry Accountability Act – which would give the Office of the Attorney General and the 24 local state’s attorneys authority to sue firearms manufacturers and gun dealers. The bill isn’t listed as part of Thursday’s bill signing ceremony. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
WHO IS RUNNING IN MARYLAND’s 1st CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT? The mail-in ballot process in Maryland is underway, the early voting period is scheduled for May 2 through May 9, and the May 14 Maryland presidential primary Election Day is less than three weeks away. To provide information for voters about the candidates who are on the ballot for Maryland’s 1st U.S. Congressional District, which stretches from Eastern Baltimore County east to include Harford County, and the nine counties of the state’s Eastern Shore, we’ve compiled each candidate’s response to a question. Staff/The Salisbury Daily Times.
MOORE, VAN HOLLEN IN TV AD FOR ALSOBROOKS: Gov. Wes Moore and U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen — doubling down on their support for Angela Alsobrooks in the hotly contested Democratic primary for U.S. Senate — are leading a new star-studded television ad aimed at highlighting her endorsements from top Maryland officials. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.
***PART-TIME EDITOR NEEDED: Would you like to help Maryland Reporter put together its daily roundup of news? We need an editor Friday mornings, typically working 6-8 a.m. to compile the roundup for our website and the newsletter. Work in your pajamas. This is ideal for a retired journalist or freelancer. If interested, contact Len Lazarick, and attach a resume. If you’re reading this newsletter, you have a good idea what we do. You obviously need to know something about Maryland media, government and politics. You’ll know a lot more once you start doing it.***
CECIL COUNTY EXEC FILES ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST SCHOOL SUPER: Cecil County Executive Danielle Hornberger has filed an ethics complaint against Cecil County Public Schools Superintendent Jeffrey Lawson alleging that Lawson has engaged in improper political activity. Hornberger’s complaint alleges that Lawson “had knowledge of and directed the use of taxpayer resources for political purposes in connection with official CCPS meetings and activities” during school time. Matt Hubbard/The Cecil Whig.
MARYLAND SCIENTISTS SEARCH SPACE TO UNDERSTAND OCEANS: To better understand the ocean surface, NASA scientists went to the stars. The Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem satellite launched into orbit on Feb. 8 on a quest to better understand the microscopic content of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans. Two Maryland teams and a team from the Netherlands Institute for Space Research and Airbus Netherlands B.V., each worked on one of the three instruments on the satellite. Katherine Wilson of Capital News Service/MarylandReporter.com.
