MEETING WITH BIDEN, MOORE SAYS PORT CHANNEL TO BE OPEN IN JUNE: Gov. Wes Moore left a meeting with White House officials Tuesday saying plans were intact to restore the federal channel by June 10 following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and that he expected the first large container ships to return around the same time. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
CONCERT TICKETING, ENTERTAINMENT FIRM PUSHES BACK AGAINST AG ANTITRUST LAWSUIT: Live Nation Entertainment Inc. is pushing back against an antitrust lawsuit brought by the Justice Department and 30 attorneys general, including Maryland’s, a suit it said makes “absurd” claims and will do little to benefit consumers. But Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown (D), who joined the lawsuit last week, said Live Nation and Ticketmaster, the targets of the suit, control too much of the market to the detriment of consumers. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
MOORE VETOES FIVE BILLS: Gov. Wes Moore has sent letters this month to Speaker of the House Adrienne Jones, D-Baltimore County, and Senate President Bill Ferguson, D-Baltimore, informing the legislative leaders of his veto decisions. “In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, I have vetoed Senate Bill 380 — Police Recruitment and Retention Workgroup” Moore wrote to Ferguson in the first sentence of one veto letter, a line similar to one that led three other letters to the legislators. Dwight Weingarten/The Hagerstown Herald Mail.
5 COUNTIES TO SHARE $16.7M FOR CLEAN SCHOOL BUSES: As part of its ongoing effort to replace diesel-fueled school buses, the Biden administration on Wednesday said it will provide approximately 530 school districts across nearly all states with almost $1 billion to help them purchase clean school buses. Five Maryland counties – Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Charles and Prince George’s – are set to share $16.7 million from the program, the White House announced. Shauneen Miranda/Maryland Matters.
HARRY DUNN TO CAMPAIGN FOR JOE BIDEN’s RE-ELECTION: Harry Dunn, a former U.S. Capitol Police officer from Maryland who defended the building during the Jan. 6 riot, will join former police colleagues in campaigning for President Joe Biden in battleground states. Dunn recently lost a congressional primary election bid to state Sen. Sarah Elfreth. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
COMMENTARY: STUDENTS ADVOCATE FOR FREE DRIVERS ED: In January 2024, I had the honor of speaking at Career Day with Ms. Riddle’s class at Achievement Academy High School. While sharing my journey as an electrician, entrepreneur and Maryland State senator, I posed a question to the students: “If you were senator for a day, what would you change or implement?” Their responses highlighted the need for free driver’s education in public schools. Sen. Cory McCray/The Afro.
CECIL EXEC SAYS ELECTION LOSS ‘TANTAMOUNT TO CHEATING:’ Cecil County’s third elected county executive said her reelection defeat in the Republican primary was driven by a “scheme” she called “tantamount to cheating,” but said she would accept the results. County Executive Danielle Hornberger (R) ended her re-election bid in a concession message posted Friday on her personal Facebook account. In that message she congratulated her primary challenger. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
***CHINA TODAY: Would you like to get beyond the political rhetoric and stereotypes that Americans have about China? Maryland Reporter’s Len Lazarick is leading a short seminar on China at Montgomery College’s Lifelong Learning Institute in Rockville. Four Thursdays, 2-4 p.m. on June 6, 13, 20, 27. The seminar is based on Len’s 30 years dealing with China and Chinese journalists. It combines lectures, PowerPoint, videos and discussion. It is designed for people who know little about China or may have been to China and would like to learn more. It examines the last 150 years of China-U.S. relations, Chinese society, culture, economy and politics. Tuition (but not fees) is waived for those over 60. The full course description and other information is in the institute’s brochure on page 8. Questions? Email Len@MarylandReporter.com
MORGAN GETS $1.05M GRANT: Morgan State University was awarded a three-year, $1.05 million grant this month from Ripple, a San Francisco-based blockchain and cryptocurrency solutions company. The university is the only historically Black college and university in Ripple’s University Blockchain Research Initiative, which supports more than 50 universities internationally, many of them Ivy League and elite schools. Bria Overs/The Baltimore Banner.
RANKINGS FOR BIPARTISANSHIP IN CONGRESS: The latest ranking of the most bipartisan lawmakers in Congress comes amid one of the least-productive in the nation’s history. U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D) was ranked 55th in the Senate bipartisan index, while U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D) was 67th of 98 senators ranked. In Maryland’s House delegation, U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-6th), who touted his ability to work across the aisle during his recent Senate campaign, was ranked as the 27th most bipartisan of the 436 House members on the list. Jennifer Shutt/Maryland Matters.
DAVID SMITH OBJECTS: David Smith, the owner of the Baltimore Sun and Sinclair Broadcast Group, has been using his money to fund two lawsuits, one against the school system, and to push for major changes in Baltimore City government, not always successfully. What happened when he finally was deposed by the Baltimore City schools system? Lee O. Sanderlin/The Baltimore Banner.
