TWO MARYLANDERS FACE NEW COMPETITION IN BID FOR DNC CHAIR: Two Maryland politicians are being considered to become the next chair of the Democratic National Committee, vying to lead a political party that is rebuilding after November losses in the White House and both chambers of Congress. Carson Swick/The Baltimore Sun.
STATE SUPER: GLASS ‘MORE THAN HALF FULL’ ON SCHOOLS: It’s been a hectic first year in office for Maryland State Superintendent Carey Wright. The sweeping education reform plan, the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, now in its third year, continued to see challenges in its rollout, and may well see changes in the coming year. Debates continued over policies about which books are appropriate for students to read. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
BILL CREATING CHESAPEAKE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA DIES IN CONGRESS: After passing the U.S. Senate, a bill that would have established the Chesapeake National Recreation Area fell short in the 118th Congress. But advocates are hoping to ride the momentum into next year. The bill would have linked natural and historical sites in the Chesapeake Bay watershed under the banner of the National Park Service, including several sites in the Annapolis area. Christine Condon |The Baltimore Sun.
LAST YEAR’S FAFSA WAS A DISASTER, HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT THIS TIME: After a tumultuous last year, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA, is up and running again. Ellie Wolfe/The Baltimore Banner.
MD EXTENDS PAUSE ON SOME NEW MENTAL HEALTH, ADDICTION LICENSES TO TACKLE FRAUD: The Maryland Department of Health announced Thursday the pause on new licenses for certain types of addiction and mental health providers will continue for another six months as the state grapples with suspected Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse. Alissa Zhu and Meredith Cohn/The Baltimore Banner.
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SARBANES REFLECTS: HE’S USING AS HIS “R” WORD RESILIENCE RATHER THAN RESISTANCE: U.S. Rep. John Sarbanes (D-3rd) was standing in the back of a room on Capitol Hill amid a cramped maze of office carrels the other day, fruitlessly fiddling with the volume on a big-screen TV. The final weeks for a retiring member of Congress may involve glowing tributes from grateful constituents, colleagues and interest groups. But when it comes to the work environment, dignity is in short supply. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
CITIES, STATES, SAYS THEY’LL NEED MORE HELP TO REPLACE MILLIONS OF LEAD PIPES: A new federal rule will require water utilities across the country to pull millions of lead drinking water pipes out of the ground and replace them, at a cost of billions of dollars. Alex Brown/Maryland Matters.
HERE ARE THE MARYLAND LAWS THAT KICK IN FOR THE NEW YEAR: After a hefty legislative season with hundreds of laws hitting the books in Maryland in 2024, the start of the new year brings more than a dozen new pieces of legislation. Clara Longo de Freitas/The Baltimore Banner.
ANNAPOLIS TO PROHIBIT PLASTIC BAGS: On January 22, the City of Annapolis is enacting its own prohibition on plastic carryout bags, comparable in function to Anne Arundel County’s ban. Jack Watson/Channel 2 WMAR.
Mo Co’s BIGGEST GOV’T STORIES OF 2024: Montgomery County’s leaders spent 2024 tackling a host of issues, ranging from making tough decisions about what to spend on county government and schools to addressing housing concerns and even an illegal pool party that drew hundreds to a Potomac mansion last summer. Ginny Bixby/MoCo360.
FORMER BGE EMPLOYEES CHALLENGE RATE HIKES, ALLEGE MISMANAGEMENT, FRAUD: Fourteen former Baltimore Gas and Electric employees are petitioning to intervene in the utility company’s case with the Maryland Public Service Commission over proposed rate hikes, contending the company wastes money and pushes the costs onto consumers. Racquel Bazos/The Baltimore Sun.
AACO SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES UNDER MICROSCOPE FOR NEXT PHASE OF REDISTRICTING: Starting in February, Anne Arundel County Public Schools will begin the next phase of rearranging the boundaries that determine which schools children attend. That two-phase process, known as redistricting, affects more than 85,000 students and 126 schools. Bridget Byrne/The Baltimore Sun.
COMMENTARY: PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD BE PART OF THE DISCUSSION ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING: Maryland is reliant on motor fuel taxes, various vehicle fees, federal funds and tolling to address its transportation infrastructure needs. But since 2020, revenues from the motor fuel tax have been in decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift towards more fuel efficient, hybrid, and electric vehicles. Ed McDonald/Maryland Matters.
