MO CO PARENTS SEEK SUPREME COURT OK TO OPT KIDS OUT OF LGBTQ+ BOOKS: Attorneys representing a group of Montgomery County parents recently asked the Supreme Court to hear a case calling for Maryland’s largest school system to allow parents to opt their child out of reading and discussing storybooks with LGBTQ+ characters. Nicole Asbury/The Washington Post.
STATE LEGISLATIVE LGBTQ+ CAUCUS SAYS HOGAN NO ALLY: Members of the Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus are accusing former Gov. Larry Hogan of not standing up for the LGBTQ+ community. Hogan, the Republican nominee for Maryland’s U.S. Senate seat, has proved he is not an ally to LGBTQ+ Marylanders, a statement from five members of the caucus reads. All are Democrats. Caucus members said it is critical that the Democratic candidate, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, beats Hogan in November. Marijke Friedman of Capital News Service/MarylandReporter.com.
MARYLANDERS WORRY ABOUT VOTING SAFETY, POSTAL SERVICE: Maryland’s representatives to the Greater Washington Council of Governments represent jurisdictions from Frederick to Southern Maryland. And as Election Day approaches, these officials and their counterparts from Virginia and the District of Columbia are unified behind one idea: Ensuring the integrity of the vote and the safety of the voters. They agree that the very fabric of democracy depends on it. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
- The U.S. Postal Service will play a large role in this upcoming election, but potentially not a good one, state and local election officials suggested in a letter on Wednesday. Fernando Cervantes Jr./USA Today.
- The only post office in the community of Glen Arm in Baltimore County will permanently close its location at 12112 Long Green Pike next month. USPS states the lease to the building will expire on Oct. 5. Ahead of that, the Glen Arm Post Office will suspend service at the close of business on Friday, Oct. 4. There is an active search for an alternate building to replace the Glen Arm Post Office. However, a timeline for completion is not set. Cristina Mendez/WJZ-TV News.
- As the 2024 presidential and local elections approach, Baltimore needs more election judges to staff voting precincts around the city Nov. 5. Armstead Jones, director of the Baltimore City Board of Elections, has put a call out to constituents to engage in the electoral process by working at polling stations — especially after voter turnout was low across the city and state in May’s primaries. Penelope Blackwell/The Baltimore Banner.
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS EVENT EMPHASIZES GROWING NUMBERS: Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) said she understood the significance of math when she walked into the U.S. Senate chamber last year as just the third Black woman and 12th Black person ever to serve in the chamber. It was the third day of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s legislative conference in Washington, D.C. Butler, who will step down when her term expires in January, said the number of elected Black women senators could double this fall if voters elect U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D). William Ford/Maryland Matters.
- The Maryland Legislative Black Caucus hosted one of the largest state gatherings during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 53rd Annual Legislative Conference. Maryland has the largest Black state legislative body in the country with 66 members. The event titled “Maryland Black Excellence,” showcased Gov. Wes Moore who reminded the audience: “We have to elect Angela Alsobrooks to the United States Senate to maintain control of the country’s future agenda.” Catherine Pugh/The Afro.
NAVAL ACADEMY IN COURT TO DEFEND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: Whether the U.S. Naval Academy’s interests in a more diverse student body are distinct enough to allow it to continue considering race and ethnicity in admissions is at issue in a trial that begins Monday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. Jean Marbella/The Baltimore Sun.
- Students For Fair Admissions sued the Annapolis-based Naval Academy, arguing that its admissions policies are unlawful and discriminate against white and Asian applicants. That same group was behind landmark 2023 U.S. Supreme Court cases against Harvard and the University of North Carolina that struck down policies to boost minority enrollment, changing the way selective colleges and universities across the country choose their students. Sapna Bansil/The Baltimore Banner.
MD NAACP MEMBERS ALLEGE FINANCIAL MISCONDUCT, BULLYING BY FORMER LEADERS: More than 150 NAACP members in Maryland signed a letter alleging financial misconduct and “bullying” by two top local leaders who were suspended last week by the national civil rights organization. The three-page letter, dated July 24, accuses the Rev. Kobi Little, tpresident of the Baltimore NAACP and head of the NAACP Maryland State Conference, and Joshua Harris, vice president of the Baltimore chapter and treasurer for the state conference, of improperly spending conference funds without approval and without providing details to “even justify expenditures.” John John Williams/The Baltimore Banner.
HOPKINS HEALTH AGREES TO PAY DISABLED PATIENTS WHO WERE DENIED AIDE: Johns Hopkins Health System has agreed to pay a total of $150,000 to disabled patients who were not allowed a support person — such as a parent, adult child or spouse — to assist with their medical treatment during the height of the pandemic, the U.S. attorney’s office in Maryland announced Thursday. Katie Shepherd/The Washington Post.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT HOWARD’s INSPECTOR GENERAL CHARTER QUESTION: In November, Howard County voters will get the chance to amend the county charter to include an office of inspector general. The idea picked up steam last summer after a Howard County Council member proposed it and many spoke in favor of the idea at a public hearing. Now the council is moving forward on two tracks, with the fall referendum and two pieces of legislation set to come before the council. What do you need to know about the inspector general question on the ballot? Abby Zimmardi/The Baltimore Banner.
B’MORE COUNCILMAN, OTHERS URGE VOTERS TO REJECT SHRINKING COUNCIL: Zeke Cohen, Baltimore City councilman and Democratic nominee for City Council president, when asked about a ballot question that would reduce the size of the council from 14 to 8, said residents could see a decline in services if it passed. “I think it’s a terrible idea. … Baltimore is finally seeing some real gains on public safety. We’re seeing record reductions in homicides, we’re seeing significant drop in shootings,” Cohen told Jayne Miller of WBAL. “To essentially double the size of City Council districts means that folks are going to get less constituent service. There is no other reality here.” Robert Sobus and Chris Cichon/WBAL NewsRadio.
- Baltimore City Council members, union leaders, religious groups and community organizations on Sunday called on voters to reject a ballot initiative to cut the number of council districts, asserting that the measure would weaken the democratic process. Dylan Segelbaum/The Baltimore Banner.
B’MORE’s FIRST FAMILY EXPECTING SECOND CHILD: Baltimore’s first family is set to grow, according to a late-night post from Mayor Brandon Scott. Scott posted on Instagram Friday night that he and wife Hana Pugh are expecting a second child together. The couple married this summer in a private ceremony after the birth of their son, Charm. Lee O. Sanderlin/The Baltimore Banner.
BEACHES CLOSED SUNDAY IN THE DMV: Popular beach destinations along the coasts of Maryland and Virginia were closed Sunday to swimming and even wading as officials investigate reports of “medical waste,” including needles, washing up on shore. Swimming was not allowed at Ocean City, Assateague Island and Fenwick Island, as well as Chincoteague Public Beach, officials announced Sunday afternoon. Valerie Bonk/WTOP-FM.
- Maryland officials closed Assateague State Park to swimming, wading, surfing or any other activities in the ocean. The Assateague Island National Seashore, which is in both Maryland and Virginia, prohibited swimming along “ALL” ocean-facing beaches, according to alerts sent Sunday. The island is 37 miles long. Parts of Delaware are also impacted, including Dewey Beach, where town officials also barred swimming. Michael Laris/The Washington Post.
