DOCKWORKERS STRIKE EXPECTED TO DISTRUPT SUPPLY CHAIN: Workers with the International Longshoremen’s Association picketed at the entrances of the Dundalk Marine Terminal as they launched their strike, on Tuesday. Clad in neon green safety vests, they held signs that read, “No work without a fair contract.” Wambui Kamau/WYPR-FM.
- The longshoremen’s strike is halting operations at ports across the East and Gulf coasts — threatening critical supply chains and potentially leading to the delay and disruption of goods from fresh produce to automobiles. Luis Melgar and Rachel Lerman/The Washington Post.
- Most consumers won’t notice a meaningful change in prices, inventory or deliveries from their go-to retailers in the first few days of the dockworkers’ strike. But that will change quickly if this key link in the global supply chain remains offline for two or more weeks. Jaclyn Peiser/The Washington Post.
ENERGY FIRMS SEEK TO BLOCK NEW STATE CONSUMER LAW: Large energy companies are suing the state in an attempt to block a new law that was designed to strengthen consumer protections in Maryland’s retail electricity marketplace. The Retail Energy Advancement League and Green Mountain Energy Co. filed suit in U.S. District Court in Baltimore Tuesday, saying the state’s new guardrails on energy companies that compete with utilities violate the firms’ First Amendment rights and act as an impediment to Maryland’s clean energy mandates. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
LAW PROTECTING GENDER AFFIRMING CARE TAKES EFFECT: Gender-affirming care was added to Maryland’s definition of legally protected health care on Tuesday as Maryland’s Trans Shield Act, which was sponsored by Silver Spring representative and House Majority Leader Del. David Moon (D-Dist. 20), went into effect. Advocates say this legal change will make Maryland a “sanctuary state” for transgender people seeking medical care. Ginny Bixby/MoCo 360.
JUDGE GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO CAMPUS PRO-PALESTINE VIGIL: A pro-Palestine student group at University of Maryland College Park can move forward with an Oct. 7 vigil previously canceled by school leaders, after a district court judge ruled in their favor Tuesday. Bri Hatch/WYPR-FM.
- The ruling comes after a federal judge granted a request by U-Md.’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine to halt the university’s decision to cancel student-led events next Monday, which marks one year since Hamas militants attacked Israel and took hostages, prompting a significant military response from Israel. Ellie Silverman/The Washington Post.
- U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte determined the students would likely prevail on their free speech arguments and ruled the event may proceed so long as organizers ask participants to identify themselves, and allow the university to both provide security and oust anyone who fails to comply with reasonable crowd-control measures. Jessica Calefati and Mentnatalla Ibrahim/The Baltimore Banner.
- “Even if pro-Israel groups see October 7 as somehow sacrosanct, it is at least fair argument for pro-Palestine groups to see the date as sacrosanct as well, symbolic of what they believe is Palestine’s longstanding fight for the liberation of Gaza,” Judge Messitte wrote. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
ARCHDIOCESE TO CLOSE DOZENS OF B’MORE CHURCHES BY DEC. 1: The Archdiocese of Baltimore has formally notified area Catholics of its intention to fold 31 parishes into other ones effective Dec. 1, setting in motion the plan to close dozens of churches before the holidays. The number of parishes in Baltimore and parts of Baltimore County would be reduced from 61 to 23, while the number of worship sites would decrease from 59 to 30. Julie Scharper and Penelope Blackwell/The Baltimore Banner.
MOORE SEEKS TO REMEDY VACANT HOUSING PROBLEM IN B’MORE: Gov. Wes Moore set a target Tuesday of eliminating 5,000 vacant Baltimore homes in five years, committing state support and making the issue an administration priority. Moore signed an executive order enabling a series of state actions aimed at reducing the city’s count of vacant homes, estimated at 13,000 houses and some 20,000 empty lots. Hallie Miller/The Baltimore Banner.
- “Right now, Baltimore has roughly 13,000 vacant and abandoned homes or structures and has more than 20,000 vacant lots,” Moore said Tuesday. “If we want to drive investment and we want to drive growth, we need to address the vacancy problem in Baltimore.” Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
DEL. McCASKILL HOPES TO PUSH REPARATIONS IN MARYLAND: Although they met for the first time for our interview, Rev. Dr. Robert Turner and state Del. Aletheia McCaskill (44-B, Baltimore County) are much alike in their passion and their work to move the needle on reparations. For two years, Turner’s been making the trek to urge national action. Del. McCaskill is pushing for reparations in Maryland, a state that once held over 150,000 slaves of African descent. Maria Morales/WMAR-TV News.
MOORE ADDRESSES O’s DEAL CONFUSION, SUPPORT FOR AND FROM BIDEN: In a wide-ranging interview, Gov. Wes Moore said that he didn’t do the best job explaining what it meant for the state and the Orioles to sign a memorandum of understanding — news that was flashed on the ballpark video board in the middle of a game. He also talks about his support of President Joe Biden, Biden’s departure from the presidential race and his immediate support in the aftermath of the Dali collision that collapsed the Key Bridge. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
STATE HEALTH PLANS AVAILABLE TO BROWSE: Maryland’s health insurance open season starts on Nov. 1. The state is opening its exchange up for people to browse plans and prices in preparation for the 90-day period where people can sign up for insurance or change their plan. Open enrollment runs from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15, 2025 for coverage next year. Scott Maucione/WYPR-FM.
OVERDOSE DEATHS IN CARROLL DROP 26%: Drug overdose deaths in Carroll County dropped 25.93% in 2023, from the prior year, according to the Maryland Department of Health. The downward trend started in 2022, when deaths from drug overdose dropped 8.47% from 2021. Sherry Greenfield/The Carroll County Times.
FORMER DEL. MELVIN STUKES DIES AT 76: Melvin L. Stukes, who served on the Baltimore City Council and in the Maryland House of Delegates, died Sept. 21 at his Pikesville home. He was 76. “Constituent and public service were in Melvin’s DNA,” said former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke, a City Hall colleague and friend. “He really enjoyed helping people.” Frederick Rasmussen/The Baltimore Sun.
