MARYLAND SEES RISE IN DEATHS OF CHILDREN FROM ABUSE, NEGLECT: Some were beaten to death. One was tortured. Another was shot. As many as 83 Maryland children died from abuse or neglect in 2023, according to the most recent data reported by states to the federal government. That’s more than one death per week on average, making the state’s published rate of child maltreatment fatalities among the worst in the nation. But the alarming number of deceased children reported that year wasn’t a blip or an outlier. Jessica Calefati/The Baltimore Banner.
LAWMAKERS SPLIT OVER EARLY RELEASE FOR ILL INMATES: Maryland lawmakers are divided on whether to clear the path for elderly and seriously ill inmates to more easily seek early release from prison. Those backing a set of proposed reforms argue that the state wastes resources by incarcerating people too old or sick to commit new crimes. But some conservatives are pushing back. Paul Kiefer of Capital News Service/Maryland Reporter.
POLL: MARYLANDERS BACK TAX ON WEALTHIEST; SPORTS BETTING, CANNABIS: Maryland voters broadly support Gov. Wes Moore’s proposed budget-balancing tax increases for high-income earners, sports betting and cannabis sales, according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll. But the governor’s proposed 75-cent fee for retail delivery — levied on deliveries from big companies such as Amazon and DoorDash — met widespread opposition. Scott Clement, Emily Guskin, Dana Munro and Erin Cox/The Washington Post.
MOORE PROPOSES 1.3% CUT FOR HEALTH DEPT: Gov. Wes Moore is proposing a small cut to the Maryland Department of Health in an attempt to keep the state’s looming $3 million deficit under control. MDH makes up the largest slice of the pie for the state’s budget. Moore proposed a $21.5 billion budget for MDH for 2026, a 1.3% decrease. The largest cut in the budget comes from a $12 million decrease to local health departments across the state. Scott Maucione/WYPR-FM.
BILLS COULD FAST-TRACK NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: Two bills before the Maryland General Assembly could fast-track nuclear power plant construction to address the state’s energy generation shortfalls caused by accelerated green energy priorities. Gary Collins/The Baltimore Sun.
3 MORTICIAN BOARD MEMBERS RESIGN AFTER CREMATORY SCANDAL: Three members of Maryland’s Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors resigned Friday after Gov. Wes Moore (D) requested board leadership step down following outcry over the handling of abysmal conditions at a crematory. Katie Shepherd, Katie Mettler and Marissa J. Lang/The Washington Post.
- The abrupt departures come a week after the Maryland State Board of Morticians and Funeral Directors ordered the closure of a troubled Charles County crematory facility for improper handling of remains. Michele Kutta, Brandon Wylie and Patrick Thompson were asked by the governor’s office to resign from the board, according to a source familiar with the matter. All three were part of a four-member subset of the board referred to as the executive committee. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
LUNG ASSOCIATION SAYS MARYLAND ‘MOST IMPROVED’ IN TOBACCO POLICIES: Maryland was dubbed “most improved” in a new report grading state polices to combat tobacco use among residents, due in part to new laws that raised the state tax on cigarettes and included e-cigarettes in the state’s Clean Indoor Air Act last year. But there is still room to improve, according to the American Lung Association. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
DEL. QI ABSENT FROM SESSION; INTERIM HEAD AT DHS: Del. Lily Qi (D-Montgomery) has missed the entire session so far. She has been in China, where she was born. In an email Thursday, Qi said she just informed legislative leaders that her father died this week. The Maryland Department of Human Services will have an interim leader for the foreseeable future since Secretary Rafael J. Lopez has taken a leave of absence. A reason was not given. During the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland meeting Thursday, former colleague Jill P. Carter smiled, blew a kiss and mouthed “thank you” during a warm send-off. Josh Kurtz, William J. Ford and Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters.
ARUNDEL DEMS PICK BEHLER TO FILL DELEGATE VACANCY: Anne Arundel County Democrats on Saturday selected Dylan Behler, a party activist and former General Assembly staffer, as their choice to fill a vacancy in the House of Delegates. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
- At 26, Behler would become the youngest member of the General Assembly if his nomination is approved by Gov. Wes Moore (D), who has the final say on legislative vacancies. Behler currently works as director of legislative and constituent services at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, but he has also been chief of staff for former state Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth, who was was elected to Congress last year. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
PARROTT TO MAKE A 4th RUN FOR 6th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SEAT: Former Maryland General Assembly member Neil Parrott, a Republican, has filed a statement of candidacy for the Maryland 6th Congressional District with the Federal Election Commission, marking his fourth attempt to win the seat, according to the agency’s latest campaign finance documents. Ginny Bixby/Bethesda Today.
RASKIN’s ELECTION COFFERS HOLD ALMOST $5 MILLION: U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th) finished 2024 with just under $5 million in his campaign account, far outstripping all other members of the state’s congressional delegation, senators included, according to new campaign reports. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
O’MALLEY FAILS TO WIN DNC CHAIRMANSHIP: Former Gov. Martin O’Malley’s Facebook page lists his former job “at state of Maryland” and more recently as head of the Social Security Administration. The next entry will not be Democratic National Committee chair. Steve Crane/Maryland Matters.
- O’Malley placed third with 44 votes for chair, which was won by Ken Martin, a longtime Democratic Party insider who leads the party in Minnesota. Martin won the contest after one round of voting among DNC members who were gathered at the party’s winter meeting outside Washington. Martin received 246.5 votes out of 428 that were up for grabs Saturday. Patrick Svitek/The Washington Post.
SUN OBIT REPORTER FRED RASMUSSEN RESIGNS AT 77: Baltimore Sun obituaries writer Frederick N. Rasmussen, 77, who chronicled the lives of Marylanders ranging from mayors to actors to locksmiths, has resigned after 51 years and two months. His last day was Friday. “As my late mother used to say, every dog has his day, and I’ve had mine,” Rasmussen said. (Many of his noteworthy political subjects have been in this Maryland Reporter column.) Marcus Dieterle/Baltimore Fishbowl.
