BIDEN ASKS CONGRESS FOR EMERGENCY FUNDS TO HELP REBUILD KEY BRIDGE, MAJOR HIGHWAYS: The Biden administration asked Congress on Friday for $3.1 billion in emergency funding to rebuild major highways, including Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed in March when it was struck by a cargo ship. Jacob Bogage/The Washington Post.
MTA EYEING TRUCKS WITH HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AT TUNNELS: The Maryland Transportation Authority is heightening its watch over what kinds of materials are passing through Baltimore’s tunnels on trucks since the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in late March. The loss of the bridge has rerouted trucks to tunnels, including the Fort McHenry Tunnel along Interstate 95 and Baltimore Harbor Tunnel along I-895. However, certain hazardous materials are prohibited under Maryland law from entering tunnels due to safety and environmental threats. Dana Munro/The Baltimore Sun.
CONSUMER WATCHDOG, ADVOCATES SEEK CURBS ON FOSSIL FUELS: For the past few years, a consumer watchdog has urged state leaders to rethink policies that may prolong the use of natural gas in the state. An array of advocacy groups have amplified that call. On Thursday, that consumer advocate and dozens of other stakeholders crowded into the hearing room of the Maryland Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities, to make their case. Josh Kurtz and Elijah Pittman/Maryland Matters.
SURVEY RANKS MOORE 3rd MOST POPULAR GOVERNOR IN U.S.: A new survey found that Gov. Wes Moore’s 65% approval rating among Marylanders makes him America’s third most popular governor. “His star has shot out like a comet,” said Roger Hartley, the dean of the University of Baltimore’s College of Public Affairs. “To this quickly ascend on the national scene is really, really impressive” — especially to have never held public office. Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun.
FEDERAL COURT DENIES EXPEDITED HEARING ON ELECTION SECURITY CASE: A federal appeals court has denied a request to expedite a hearing in a case involving the Maryland State Board of Elections and a group with ties to former Republican gubernatorial nominee Dan Cox. Two groups asked the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond for an expedited hearing on July 16, just one week after appealing a district court judge’s rejection of their election security claims. In a one-page order issued Thursday, the appeals court declined to fast-track the case. It gave no reason for denying the request. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VOTING IN NOVEMBER: As Election Day is less than 100 days away and races for president and other officers are heating up, Marylanders are gearing up to make their ballot selections. Election Day on Nov. 5 will feature not only candidates running for president of the United States, but also seats in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, local circuit courts, school boards and other offices. What do you need to know before casting a ballot? Dana Munro/the Baltimore Sun.
6 SOLAR FARMS PROPOSED FOR PROHIBITED FARM LAND IN CARROLL: Six new solar-generating farms are proposed for agricultural land in Carroll County, even though solar farms are prohibited on farmland in the county’s zoning code. The Board of Carroll County Commissioners will now be forced to address the issue again. The commissioners have voted to keep solar farms off agricultural land, but the state has the final say on such projects. Sherry Greenfield/The Carroll County Times.
STATE WARNS LAKESIDE HOMEOWNERS TO REPAIR DAM: A 900-foot man-made lake that is home to turtles, fish and migrating geese in Carroll County has become the center of a dispute between state officials and a handful of nearby homeowners. The Maryland Department of the Environment has determined that the Aspen Lake Dam and Reservoir, just west of Hampstead, is deteriorating and needs repair. The department has ordered that seven property owners living near or around the lake and dam must pay for the repairs, or expect legal action, according to letters sent to the property owners. Sherry Greenfield/The Carroll County Times.
KAMALA HARRIS’ EMERGENCE FUELING MORE DEM FUNDING FOR ALSOBROOKS: Kamala Harris’ emergence as likely new Democratic presidential nominee has brought renewed enthusiasm and a flood of dollars to the party. And Democratic leaders are hoping the shine rubs off on their candidates down the ballot — especially U.S. Senate nominee Angela Alsobrooks. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
2020 B’MORE HARRIS SUPPORTERS REIGNITED WITH NEW MISSION: Amid record fundraising and meme-generating, it’s easy to forget that Kamala Harris’ first run for president flamed out almost before the campaign staff she attracted to her headquarters in Baltimore had fully settled in. But those who worked on that abbreviated run for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, which ended in December 2019 before a single primary had been held, say the response to Harris’ current campaign shows they were just ahead of their time. Jean Marbella/The Baltimore Sun.
- While many of the staffers left Baltimore when Harris dropped out of the race — opening the door for her to make that same history as vice president — a handful decided to remain in the Baltimore area. They’re now applying the infectious, youthful energy they captured working on the Harris campaign throughout Maryland — often in the political sphere. John John Williams/The Baltimore Banner.
- So who was part of the Maryland #KHive five years ago? Del. Jheanelle K. Wilkins (D-Montgomery) was a supporter — and in fact had been tracking Harris’ political career on social media since before she had even been elected to the Senate, in 2016. State Sen. Mary L. Washington (D-Baltimore City) was also a supporter. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
SOME COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS TO GET PAID FOR CAREER COUNSELING: Some Maryland community college students will be paid to meet with career counselors under a new grant to keep students enrolled and help them complete their study programs. The grant program, called Expanding Success, awards $125,000 each to BCCC, Prince George’s Community College and Wor-Wic Community College. Up to 250 eligible students will be paid $50 monthly to meet with counselors at least once a month for one-on-one support. Lilly Price/The Baltimore Sun.
TEACHER CLEARINGHOUSE COULD HAVE WARNED BCPS ABOUT DECEPTION: Thanks to a national clearinghouse for screening teachers, hundreds of school districts would have known to ask more questions before hiring the high school athletic director who was arrested in April and accused of framing a Pikesville principal using artificial intelligence. Florida’s education department flagged the clearinghouse eight years ago that the teacher was denied a teaching certificate based on “test or document fraud.” Baltimore County Public Schools didn’t get the memo. Kristen Griffith and Dylan Segelbaum/The Baltimore Banner.
TOWSON APPLE WORKERS TO VOTE ON UNION CONTRACT: An Apple store in Towson, which was the nation’s first unionized location, has reached a tentative labor agreement with the company. In addition to raising pay, the offering will improve scheduling, job security and disciplinary practices all while maintaining current benefits, the workers’ union announced Friday. The store’s roughly 85 employees will vote on the agreement Aug. 6. Dana Munro/The Baltimore Sun.
BLACK MARYLANDER WHO SERVED IN WAR OF 1812 FINALLY GETS A HEADSTONE: Louis Giles has been working for three years to put a new gravestone in place for Samuel Neale, a Black Maryland veteran who worked as a steward and a medical assistant to a surgeon during the War of 1812. On Saturday, Giles completes that mission. Ela Jalil/The Baltimore Banner.
