EXPECT UNCERTAINTY IN 90-DAY LEGISLATIVE SESSION: The first two months of Maryland’s 90-day session will likely be markedly different from the final one, presiding officers say. Why? The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, a Republican who campaigned on strict alterations to existing Democratic policy, has state lawmakers uncertain regarding how they’ll need to respond in a year where Maryland’s purse strings are particularly tight. Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun.
- A nearly $3 billion state budget deficit darkens the Maryland General Assembly’s opening day, as lawmakers return to Annapolis Wednesday for their 90-day legislative session. The looming fiscal gap threatens hard-won investments in education, child care and transportation, among other initiatives. Brenda Wintrode and Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
POLL: MARYLANDERS OPPOSE TAX HIKES TO WIPE OUT DEFICIT: A majority of Marylanders oppose tax increases to erase a nearly $3 billion budget deficit projected for the coming fiscal year, a political challenge — and risk — for Gov. Wes Moore (D). The results of a poll released Tuesday by Annapolis-based Gonzales Research & Media are unsurprising, but they may not be welcome news for Moore, who has yet to fulfill some of his biggest promises as he eyes re-election and perhaps a run for president. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
- Opponents of raising the state’s income tax, sales tax or property tax include large majorities regardless of political party, gender, race or region. Strongest opposition comes from Republicans and independents. Opponents also include the 61% of voters who approve of the job Democratic Gov. Wes Moore is doing. Len Lazarick/Maryland Reporter.
MOORE ADMIN HOPES TO PREVENT TAX SALES DUE TO UNPAID WATER BILLS: Last year, a bill to prevent residences across Maryland from going to tax sale solely for unpaid water bills went haywire because of amendments — if you ask housing advocates. The version that passed the House of Delegates would have exempted only “owner-occupied” properties, which drew alarm from advocacy groups, because it would have been a step backward for Baltimore, where all residences were protected — whether they were owner-occupied or not. Christine Condon/The Baltimore Sun.
LIQUOR SALES IN GROCERY STORES NOT A PRIORITY FOR FERGUSON: Though Gov. Wes Moore has signaled an interest in allowing liquor to be sold in Maryland grocery stores, state Senate President Bill Ferguson said Monday that it isn’t at the top of his list of legislative priorities. Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun.
STATE CENTER BUILDINGS CLEARED OF HARMFUL LEVELS OF LEGIONELLA: All buildings at State Center in Baltimore have been cleared of dangerous levels of Legionella levels in the drinking water, after rounds of closures, water testing and system flushing, state officials announced Friday. Eric Solomon, communications director for the Department of General Services, said in an email that the last affected building in the complex is now cleared, but that testing will still go on. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
NEW BA CO COUNTY EXEC TO BE CHOSEN TODAY: The Baltimore County Council will decide who will become the county’s new leader at 3 p.m. Tuesday. The candidate chosen will fill the remaining two years of Johnny Olszewski Jr.’s term after the Miller’s Island Democrat won a seat in Congress last year. The five finalists are state Sen. Kathy Klausmeier; former state Sen. Jim Brochin; former county parks director Barry F. Williams; former county environmental protection head George G. Perdikakis Sr.; and civic activist and entrepreneur Yara Cheikh. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.
MARYLANDERS WHO HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN CAPITOL INSURRECTION: President-elect Donald Trump has vowed that on his first day in office he will consider pardoning those convicted of crimes in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol. Who are the Marylanders who have been arrested in the attack and what are their legal statuses thus far? Here is a “nonexhaustive” list. Abby Zimmardi and Ellie Wolfe/The Baltimore Banner.
- Here are some of the stories of Capitol Hill rioters who are hoping for a presidential pardon. Robert Klemko, Spencer S. Hsu, Tom Jackman, Sarah Cahlan, Clara Ence Morse and Hannah Dormido/The Washington Post.
D.C. NOW HAS LEVERAGE TO COMPETE WITH MARYLAND FOR COMMANDERS: President Joe Biden signed a bill giving D.C. control of the RFK Stadium campus into law on Monday, solidifying a generational redevelopment opportunity for the city and opening up the possibility of returning the Washington Commanders to the site. Now that D.C. controls the site, Bowser will formally be able to negotiate with the Washington Commanders ownership as D.C. competes with Maryland — where the team now plays, at Northwest Stadium in Landover — for a chance to build the next Commanders stadium. Meagan Flynn/The Washington Post.
BALTIMORE CITY’s FIRST STATE PARK COULD BE GWYNNS FALLS: Gwynns Falls is poised to become Baltimore City’s first state park, thanks to a partnership between Maryland Department of Natural Resources, the Office of Mayor Brandon Scott, and Baltimore City Recreation and Parks. Aliza Worthington/Baltimore Fishbowl.
POLL: MARYLANDERS SAY DRUG PRICES CAN BE CUT WITHOUT HARMING RESEARCH: A new poll says an overhwhelming majority of Marylanders believe drug manufacturers could reduce costs for prescription drugs without cutting into funds going to research and development of new drugs, a key argument of the pharmaceutical industry. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
POLL: MOORE FAVORED OVER HOGAN IN HYPOTHETICAL 2026 RACE: If the 2026 gubernatorial election were held today, Gov. Wes Moore would handily defeat former Gov. Larry Hogan, according to a new Gonzales Research and Media Services poll. Hogan, a Republican, has not yet said he’ll run for governor in 2026. But in the hypothetical, Moore, a Democrat, defeats Hogan 52% to 38%. Ten percent said they were undecided. Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.
LONG-TIME ANNAPOLIS COUNCILMAN WON’T SEEK RE-ELECTION: Long-time Annapolis City Council member Ross Arnett will not be seeking reelection later this year to spend more personal time in Annapolis, he said in a phone interview Monday afternoon. Megan Loock/The Annapolis Capital.
BEL AIR POLICE PROBE INFLUENCER POST ABOUT SCHOOL: Bel Air Police Department detectives are investigating a video filmed at the private John Carroll School and published on social media platforms this weekend. In it, an influencer who used to live in Maryland walks campus property and describes memories of wanting to fire an AK-47 into the bleachers during a homecoming football game in 2013. Brennan Stewart/The Aegis.
WESTERN MARYLAND CLINIC A LIFELINE FOR RED STATE RESIDENTS: Across from a derelict dairy farm in far Western Maryland is a simple brick building marked with a white sign: Women’s Health Center. The center is many things: a place to obtain gynecological care, a place for trans people to receive gender-affirming hormones and a place where people end pregnancies. It’s also a lifeline, cast over the border to West Virginia. Julie Scharper/The Baltimore Banner.
