MOORE MAKES CASE FOR BUDGET PLAN: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore had a tough assignment on Thursday: sell his budget-balancing plan to a room full of people who see serious flaws in it. Pamela Wood and Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.
TAX-FREE SHOPPING COULD END, PROPERTY AND SNACK TAXES ADDED: Snack and property taxes and a four-year moratorium on Program Open Space purchases are all on a menu of options lawmakers could consider as the General Assembly works to finalize a balanced budget for the coming year. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters.
FEDS WITHOLDING $330 MILLION FROM MDOT: The Trump administration is withholding $330 million in previously approved federal grant awards for about 30 Maryland transportation projects, according to the state Transportation Department, which is urgently asking the administration to reconsider. Among the projects placed in limbo are key elements of Gov. Wes Moore’s signature program to promote the use of electric vehicles. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
SCHOOL DON’T HAVE TO ABANDON RACE BASE EFFORTS, YET: Maryland school officials are being told they should not rush to meet a Friday deadline to eliminate all race-based programming or potentially face the loss of federal funds. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
BAY RESTORATION AT STAKE IF MILLIONS REMOVED FROM TRUST FUND: Maryland’s budget shortfall could take a major toll on the Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. Caroline Foreback/WJZ NEWS.
HOPKINS COULD LOSE $200 MILLION A YEAR: Hopkins is on the verge of losing more than $200 million a year in federal research grants if a controversial rule change under President Donald Trump’s administration is allowed to stand. Alissa Zhu, Meredith Cohn and Ellie Wolfe/The Baltimore Banner.
NEW IMMIGRATION BILLS DEBATED: Democrats sought to limit state participation in federal immigration policy Thursday, as Republicans railed against the left for what they classified as misinformation. Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun.
LAWMAKERS SEEK TO END EmPOWER ENERGY SURCHARGE: The Maryland Freedom Caucus has filed an emergency bill to repeal program fees. The EmPOWER surcharge is a fee that customers pay on both their electric and gas bills funding energy efficiency programs. Wambui Kamau/WYPR-FM.
STATE POLICE CIVIL RIGHTS CASE DISMISSED: The U.S. attorney’s office in Maryland is moving to dismiss a federal civil rights case against Maryland State Police that accused the agency of discriminating against Black and female trooper applicants, a move ordered by the Justice Department. Katie Mettler and Jasmine Hilton/The Washington Post.
HARFORD COUNCIL MEMBER PENMAN TO VACATE SEAT: The Supreme Court of Maryland Wednesday denied a petition by Harford County Councilman Aaron Penman (R) to review a Circuit Court decision that said he could not continue in elected office while also working for the county sheriff’s department. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters.
STATE HOUSE REACTS TO DEATH OF SPEAKER’S SON: Official Annapolis sent condolences Thursday on the news that House Speaker Adrienne Jones’ son, Brandon, had died. Jack Bowman/Maryland Matters.
SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WELCOME MOORE’S PROPOSALS, EXCEPT TAX HIKES: Gov. Wes Moore reiterated his commitment to growing the economy to a largely receptive business audience Thursday, but small-business owners pushed back against the governor’s proposed tax hikes. Jack Bowman/Maryland Matters.
HOPEFUL ON REPARATIONS COMMISSION : Despite the mood in Washington, supporters think this may finally be the year for passage of a bill to create a Maryland Reparations Commission to study the inequality African descendants faced in the state. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
FREDERICK SCHOOLS WON’T BAN PHONES: Frederick County Public Schools approved a new policy this week that would split the difference between restricting students’ access to their personal devices in the classroom, and allowing students to use their phones to enhance their learning. Nathanael Miller/WYPR-FM.
