CRITICAL PHASE IN ARCHDIOCESE’S BANKRUPTCY CASE: The Archdiocese of Baltimore’s bankruptcy case moved closer to the critical mediation phase Monday, as attorneys for the Catholic church, its insurance carriers and a committee of sex abuse survivors reached a tentative agreement on the terms for upcoming negotiations. Alex Mann/The Baltimore Sun.
HOW DEMS CAN PUT NEW PRES CANDIDATE ON MARYLAND’s BALLOT: It could still be weeks — and a winding journey — before Democrats settle on who will replace President Joe Biden at the top of the 2024 ticket, but state election officials and and legal experts say placing the new candidate on the ballot should be straightforward. Maryland’s top party officials and their convention delegates took one step closer Monday, pledging their unanimous intention to back Vice President Kamala Harris at their party’s national convention next month. Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.
WHO ARE THE DELEGATES TO THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION: Maryland’s 106 delegates to the Democratic National Convention could vote to make Vice President Kamala Harris the party’s presidential nominee as soon as Thursday. While the national convention isn’t set to begin until Aug. 19 in Chicago, party officials believe the presidential roll call may need to be held virtually and earlier, rather than on the convention floor. That’s because deadlines in a handful of states require the political parties to have their nominee certified before or during the Democrats’ convention week. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
MOORE, LOYAL TO BIDEN, BACKS HARRIS FOR PRESIDENT: Gov. Wes Moore on Monday joined the chorus of Democrats in Maryland and across the country endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the party’s presidential ticket after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 election a day earlier. Moore also said he has “no interest” in leaving his role to serve as her running mate, as some political analysts had speculated. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.
- Maryland Democratic leaders, most of whom are political institutionalists, have rallied around Vice President Kamala Harris as the alternative to President Joe Biden now that Biden has departed the presidential race. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
MOORE NOT INTERESTED IN BEING HARRIS VP PICK: Gov. Wes Moore attempted to quash talk that he could be a candidate for vice president this year, saying Monday that he’s focused on his job as governor. But asked by reporters if he would turn down the job if offered by new Democratic front-runner Kamala Harris, Moore said: “I plan on being helpful in any way that I can to support the vice president. However, I do not plan — I have no interest.” Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
DRUG AFFORDABILITY BOARD FRUSTRATED BY SLOW PROGRESS: Members of Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board expressed frustration Monday on the slow pace of the so-called “cost review” process to determine if six prescription drugs are unaffordable for workers on state health plans.While most of the administrative hurdles have been addressed, staff said it could still take months before the board is at a point where it can officially declare whether a half-dozen medications are unaffordable for Marylanders. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
RASKIN CALLS ON SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR TO RESIGN: In a rare moment of unity for the often divided House Oversight and Accountability Committee, the Republican chairman, Rep. James Comer, and its top Democrat, Rep. Jamie Raskin, issued a letter calling on Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to step down. Alanna Durkin Richer, Farnoush Amiri and Claudia Lauer/Associated Press.
HOW A CITY HALL VETERAN WAS OUSTED BY A NEWCOMER: The race to represent South and Central Baltimore’s 11th District on the City Council had all the makings of a blowout. A little-known part-time football coach who had never run for office and only arrived in Baltimore four years ago was up against a City Hall veteran with a massive war chest and a sprawling list of endorsements — the only city candidate backed by Gov. Wes Moore. But when the votes were counted in May’s Democratic primary, 31-year-old Zac Blanchard pulled off a stunning upset of incumbent Eric Costello. How did he do it? Saul Pink/The Baltimore Banner.
OLSZEWSKI BACKS INCREASING SIZE OF COUNCIL BY FOUR: Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski is throwing his weight behind increasing the size of the County Council by four members. Olszewski signed a petition Monday to put the question on the November ballot. His support comes one week before a key deadline, when at least 10,000 valid signatures have to be turned in to the Baltimore County Board of Elections. There are dueling proposals. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
WOMAN INMATE’s DEATH ATTRIBUTED TO COVID, PNEUMONIA, DEHYDRATION: Covid-19, pneumonia and dehydration contributed to the death of a 33-year-old woman in custody at the Harford County Detention Center in May, according to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office. The state medical examiner ruled that the woman died of natural causes complicated by opioid withdrawal and other contributing factors, the sheriff’s office said. Dillon Mullan/The Aegis.
ASSESSING B’MORE GUN VIOLENCE REDUCTION PLAN: Last Thursday, seven people were indicted for allegedly operating a drug trafficking organization in East Baltimore. Baltimore Police said there had been an increase in shootings in the area where the group operated, though no one was charged with shootings or homicides. It was the 13th group indictment from the city’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy that Scott has claimed “played a critically important role in driving the largest year-over-year homicide reduction in Baltimore’s history in 2023.” Brandon Soderberg/Baltimore Brew.
FCC, LAWMAKERS SEEK TO BRING WI-FI TO W. B’MORE: U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Baltimore City Mayor Brandon M. Scott (D) and Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel spoke on plans to expand internet connectivity in Baltimore on July 22. Tashi McQueen/The Afro.
JUDGE SADLER OF HOWARD COUNTY DIES AT 97: Judge R. Russell “Russ” Sadler, a lawyer whose improbable career path eventually led to a Howard County judgeship, died July 5 of heart failure at his Ellicott City home. He was 97. “All the good things you can say about a judge apply to Russ,” said former Chief Judge of the District Court James N. Vaughan. “He was well-respected, well-liked and was very serious about his job and both patient and understanding.” Frederick Rasmussen/The Baltimore Sun.
