LAWMAKERS PROPOSE $20 MINIMUM WAGE TO INCLUDE TIPPED WORKERS: On Thursday, Democratic Del. Adrian Boafo, from Prince George’s County, announced his and Baltimore Sen. Cory McCray’s proposal to exempt tips from state income taxes, to increase the minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2030, and to require that tipped workers be paid the same minimum wage as everyone else. Rachel Baye/WYPR-FM.
- State Democratic lawmakers are pushing a bill that would allow Maryland voters to raise the minimum wage from $15 to $20 — including for workers in the service industry — but it’s receiving a thumbs down from Republicans. Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun.
LAWMAKERS CONSIDER CLEARER REGULATION OF POLICE USE OF DRONES: Some Maryland lawmakers worry that current state law doesn’t offer clear guidance on how or when law enforcement can use drones as the first or only responders to emergency calls. The police are operating in a legal gray area, said Del. Robin Grammer Jr., a Republican from Baltimore County and a member of Maryland’s House Judiciary Committee. “Now, it’s reactive enforcement,” he said. “You can come back to this moment … in a year, two years from now, and some jurisdiction’s going to be sending out drones proactively. That’s not the world I want to live in.” Paul Kiefer of Capital News Service/Maryland Reporter.
THE FASTER YOU DRIVE, THE MORE YOU PAY UNDER NEW PROPOSAL: Marylanders would face larger fines the faster they’re caught driving by a speed camera, under a new proposal in the state legislature. Currently, cameras in Maryland issue fines of $40 for anyone caught going 12 mph or more over the speed limit through school zones, residential zones or in front of any other speed camera that isn’t operating in a highway work zone. John Domen/WTOP-FM.
DISABILITY ADVOCATES SAY THEY’RE NOT BEING HEARD: Members of the disability community told a Senate panel Thursday that they feel they’re being left out of the conversations surrounding potentially huge budget cuts to the state agency responsible for administering resources for their community. Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.
CONGRESSIONAL DEMS DEFEND STATE’s FEDERAL WORKFORCE AFTER TRUMP ORDERS: Democrats representing Maryland in Congress are doubling down on their efforts to protect federal workers in the state, saying Thursday they will try to pass legislation and also rely on the courts to stop President Donald Trump’s quick moves to reclassify tens of thousands of merit-based employees as political appointees. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SHARES LEGISLATIVE GOALS FOR 119TH CONGRESS: Maryland’s congressional delegation — “Team Maryland,” which includes a slew of new starters — met at the Capitol Thursday to lay out its legislative plan moving forward. Kate Amara/WBAL 11 News.
TRUMP REVERSES SOME BIDEN HEALTH CARE POLICIES: WHAT IS MEANS FOR MARYLANDERS: President Donald Trump’s early action on health care reversed some of his predecessor’s policies, but former President Joe Biden’s most defining initiatives were left intact. Signature Biden achievements, such as the $35-per-month cap on insulin, the $2,000 annual cap on prescription drugs and allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices directly with pharmaceutical companies in accordance with the Inflation Reduction Act, remain unchanged. Carson Swick and Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun.
MOORE’S BUDGET WOULD PICK UP COST OF PRE-TRIAL MONITORING FOR THE POOR: Gov. Wes Moore’s budget proposal includes $3.2 million to cover the cost of pretrial home detention for people who are charged with crimes but can’t afford to pay for private electronic monitoring — extending a pandemic-era program that abruptly ran out of money last year. Madeleine O’Neill/The Baltimore Banner.
FORMER ELECTIONS BOARD MEMBER PART OF JAN. 6 PARDONS: He’s the stepson of an Eastern Shore chicken magnate. He has donated thousands to right-wing politicians and was briefly a member of the Maryland State Board of Elections. He stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and was arrested for it three years later. Now he’s among the pardoned. Lee O. Sanderlin/The Baltimore Banner.
STATE INVESTIGATES EXPLOSION AT CANNABIS FACILITY: The Maryland Office of the State Fire Marshal is investigating a fire and explosion that happened Wednesday afternoon at a cannabis extraction facility in Stevensville, on Kent Island. Cody Boteler/The Baltimore Banner.
PROPOSED BILL AIMS TO PROTECT FARMERS FROM PROPERTY LOSSES AMID TRANSMISSION DEBATE: As the debate over the proposed 70-mile transmission line continues, Del. Nino Mangione presented the “Protect Maryland Farm Lands Act” in the General Assembly House Economic Matters Committee Thursday. Jessica Babb/WBFF-TV News.
AFTER TWO HEARINGS, PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS ANSWER CONCERNS AFTER AGENT’S DEATH: The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services has “taken real steps” to identify and propose solutions to problems that were exposed by the May 31 killing of Parole Agent Davis Martinez, lawmakers said Thursday. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
FOOTBALL FANS COMMANDEER THE HOUSE; MOORE’S TEAM GROWS; FAIR WAGE TURNS TO VOTERS: Important items of business Thursday for House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George’s) included advising delegates that the chamber would meet in person on Monday and playing a snippet of the Washington Commanders fight song over the House sound system. Josh Kurtz, William J. Ford and Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.
CREMATORY WASN’T CREMATING BODIES, BUT STOCKPILING THEM, STATE BOARD SAYS: The Maryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors took emergency action this month to stop Heaven Bound Cremation Services in Charles County from operating after a series of inspections discovered decomposing bodies waiting for cremation, often in cardboard boxes. Meredith Cohen/The Baltimore Banner.
AFTER MORE THAN THREE DECADES, HOMELESS PERSON PROJECT TO CLOSE: The Homeless Persons Representation Project, a legal services provider and advocacy group dedicated to defending people facing housing insecurity, will shutter its practice after more than 30 years in business, the organization said Thursday. Hallie Miller/The Baltimore Banner.
TWO IN CUSTODY AFTER MEADE HIGH STUDENT STABBED: Two people are in custody after a student was stabbed Thursday morning at Meade High School, Anne Arundel County police said. County police said the school’s resource officer reported a stabbing around 10:09 a.m. and that officers responded to help in life-saving efforts and an investigation. Greg Ng/WBAL-News.
