NOT JUST MILLIONAIRES WOULD PAY MORE UNDER MOORE’S TAX PLAN: More than half a million Marylanders who earn $500,000 or less per year would see their income tax bills go up under Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s proposed revenue plan. An analysis of the proposal by the comptroller’s office shows lower income taxpayers who itemize deductions would also pay more. Katie Shepherd/The Washington Post.
MDTA AWARDS $60 MILLION IN KEY BRIDGE REBUILD CONSTRUCTION, INSPECTION CONTRACTS: The Maryland Transportation Authority approved three contracts, each worth $20 million, for management and inspection services contracts in the Francis Scott Key Bridge reconstruction project. Todd Karpovich/The Baltimore Sun.
CONSTITUENTS EXPRESS WORRY OVER TRUMP ACTIONS DURING SENATORS’ CALL-INS: Constituents from across Maryland gathered for a virtual town hall Wednesday to voice concerns to Democratic Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks about the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle federal agencies and the potential impact on their jobs and the state’s economy. Capital News Service/Maryland Reporter.
TRACING LAWSUITS AGAINST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION: Lawsuits against the new Trump administration are flying almost as quickly as the executive orders they seek to challenge. This tracker can help you keep up. Madeleine O’Neill/The Baltimore Banner.
CARROLL CO. PARENTS CONCERNED OVER SCHOOL SYSTEM’S BUDGET CUTS: Drastic changes are on the table for Carroll County Public Schools, as the superintendent said they must become “fiscally compliant” with the state’s plan. The county will likely face larger class sizes, changes to course offerings and staff cuts under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future’s education funding plan. Tory Yorgy/WBAL TV.
IT’S VALENTINE’S DAY: POLITICAL POWER COUPLE LIST: The late, great New York muckraker, Jack Newfield, coined a phrase that’s very relevant to people who follow Maryland politics closely: The Permanent Government. Maryland Matters Staff.
LAWMAKERS PUT HOLD ON TECH CONTRACT; A $445 million contract for technology services has been put on hold by two state senators who call it another example of what is wrong with the state’s approach to such projects and the department they believe should oversee them. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters.
OUTGOING U.S. ATTORNEY CALLED A ‘STRONG PARTNER’: Maryland’s law enforcement community and political leaders on Thursday praised departing U.S. Attorney Erek Barron as a no-nonsense prosecutor who was unafraid to make difficult decisions or work across the ideological aisle to fight crime. Glynis Kazanjian/The Baltimore Sun.
AG BROWN RELEASES GUIDANCE ON DEIA POLICIES: Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown released multistate guidance on how businesses should handle diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility policies. Kaitlyn Bancroft/WBAL NewsRadio.
SOME SEXUAL ASSAULT VICTIMS ASKED TO WAIVE RIGHTS: Despite a five-year-old Maryland law banning their use, at least two police departments in the state continued to ask alleged victims of sexual assault to sign documents waiving their right to a police investigation. Jean Marbella/The Baltimore Sun.
PROPOSED EXCISE TAX ON FIREARMS WOULD FUND SHOCK TRAUMA: It was three years ago Thursday that Natalie Vinski Ibrahim and her 4-year-old son were at a playground near her Howard County home when they were struck by stray bullets from a nearby shooting. It’s why Vinski Ibrahim supports legislation that would put an 11% state excise tax on firearms sold in Maryland by federally licensed dealers. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
TRANSGENDER ADVOCATES RALLY BEFORE JUDGE PAUSES GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE RESTRICTIONS: Maryland transgender advocates rallied on Thursday outside of Baltimore’s federal courthouse before a judge temporarily paused the Trump administration’s efforts at restricting gender-affirming care. Dennis Valera/WJZ.
RELIGIOUS GROUPS ASK FED COURT TO BLOCK ICE RAIDS IN PLACES OF WORSHIP: A federal judge Thursday heard a request from eight religious groups to issue a nationwide injunction to block a Department of Homeland Security policy that broadens the government’s authority to conduct immigration enforcement in places of worship. Ariana Figueroa/Maryland Matters.
SENATE LEADER WANTS TO END SUBSIDIES FOR TRASH INCINERATORS: Maryland requires electricity providers to obtain a certain amount of power from renewable sources. For now, trash incineration counts as one of those renewable sources, but the state Senate president is leading the charge to change that. Rachel Baye/WYPR-FM.
DPSCS TAKES STEPS TO IMPROVE STAFFING, SAFETY: The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services is addressing several major challenges amid ongoing staffing shortages.Tommie Clark/WBALNewsRadio.
AS PROBLEM GAMBLING RISES, REVENUE FOCUSED REGULATORS RESIST REFORMS: Two years after Maryland opened mobile sports betting, staff members of the 1-800-GAMBLER helpline are noticing a disturbing trend. “We are starting to see more calls from college-age males and their parents, who are concerned,” said Mary Drexler, program director of the state-funded center providing the 24/7 hotline. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
NO PENALTY FROM ETHICS BOARD FOR LATE DISCLOSURE BY MAYOR’S ADVISOR: At its monthly meeting yesterday, the Baltimore Ethics Board took no public action on a top Brandon Scott aide for being more than four months late filing a required ethics disclosure form. Fern Shen/The Baltimore Brew.
HO CO KOREAN COMMUNITY CLOSELY WATCHING UNREST IN SOUTH KOREA: More than 15,000 Korean Americans call Howard County home. Many are concerned about political unrest in their homeland where the president has been impeached and arrested Jess Nocera/The Baltimore Banner.
COMMENTARY: GOODBYE FOR NOW – AND THANK YOU: Md. Matters founder offers a lengthy farewell worthy of an Oscars speech. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
