CITING INFLUX, JUDGE PUTS HOLD ON 1,250 VICTIMS ACT CHILD ABUSE CASES: A Baltimore City Circuit Court judge Monday put on hold over 1,250 civil cases filed under the Maryland Child Victims Act pending further guidance from the state’s highest court. The administrative order from Administrative Judge and Chief Judge Audrey J.S. Carrión, sought “to address the unprecedented influx of cases filed in recent weeks and months” under the law, which eliminated the statute of limitations for civil child sex abuse cases and went into effect in October 2023. Raquel Bazos/The Baltimore Sun.
- Carrión said she was largely making the decision in light of ongoing discussions about how to best manage all the cases. The order, she said, does not prevent people from filing new lawsuits. Dylan Segelbaum/The Baltimore Banner.
SUPREMES LET MARYLAND’s ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN STAND: The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday let stand Maryland’s decade-old ban on assault weapons, over the objections of conservative justices who were ready to review a lower court’s defense of the law that they called “dubious” and “questionable.” William Ford/Maryland Matters.
MDOT PROGRAMS SEEK TO PROVE RIDE-SHARING CAN PAY: The Maryland Department of Transportation has two new incentive programs to pay Baltimore-area commuters to share rides to work, its latest attack on the proud American tradition of sitting alone in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Sharing your commute with at least one other person can earn you each $5 per day for up to 90 days. Daniel Zawodny/The Baltimore Banner.
HOMELAND SECURITY TAKES DOWN LIST OF ‘SANCTUARY’ JURISDICTIONS: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security over the weekend took down a public list of cities and jurisdictions that the Trump administration labeled as “sanctuary” cities, after a sharp rebuke from a group representing 3,000 sheriffs and local law enforcement. In Maryland, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Charles, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties as well as 10 municipalities of Annapolis, Baltimore City, Cheverly, College Park, Edmonston, Greenbelt, Hyattsville, Mount Rainier, Rockville and Takoma Park were on the list. Ariana Figueroa/Maryland Matters.
BALL DEFENDS HOWARD’s IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES: Howard County was included on a list of Maryland counties and cities deemed “sanctuary” jurisdictions by President Donald Trump’s administration, but County Executive Calvin Ball said the county’s laws don’t prevent the federal government from enforcing federal immigration law. “In Howard County, more than one-fifth of our residents were born in another country. In our schools, you can hear 82 different languages being spoken. We oppose any form of discrimination, including against immigrants,” Ball said. Kiersten Hacker/The Baltimore Sun.
MOORE COURTS GROWING S.C. BUSINESSES FOR EXPANDING IN MARYLAND: As Gov. Wes Moore spent his trip to South Carolina this week pushing back against the idea that he’s running for president in 2028, he was running head-first into another kind of national competition — one that he’s said he does not “plan on losing.” Moore visited three large or fast-growing South Carolina businesses on Friday in what his office described as a key component of his economic growth agenda: Engaging with thriving businesses outside of Maryland to get them to think about expanding here. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.
VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER, 35, SEEKS TO OUST HOYER FROM HOUSE SEAT: A volunteer firefighter is challenging Maryland’s most indomitable member for his seat in Congress. Harry Jarin, a resident of Anne Arundel County, announced last week that he will run against longtime Rep. Steny Hoyer to represent Maryland’s 5th District. “I don’t know how much more losing the establishment of the Democratic Party was planning on doing before they decide to try something different,” said Jarin, 35. Ben Mause/The Baltimore Sun.
McCLAIN DELANEY SEEKS $3.5M IN FED FUNDS TO REPLACE BRUNSWICK WATER TANK: U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-District 6) is seeking $3.5 million in federal funding to demolish and rebuild a drinking water storage tank in Brunswick. The reservoir, which is more than 100 years old and is not currently in use, is leaking around 50,000 gallons of water per day and does not meet environmental quality standards, according to Jeremy Mose, the assistant city administrator for Brunswick. Esther Frances/The Frederick News Post.
AMID ECONOMIC CONCERNS, PRINCE GEORGE’S VOTERS TO ELECT NEW COUNTY EXEC: Voters will select Prince George’s next county executive today, with State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy (D) facing off against Air Force veteran Jonathan White (R) for the seat. The next executive is entering the office amid serious economic concerns for Prince George’s, including the closing of Six Flags and the Trump administration’s efforts to fire federal workers and shrink the federal government. Interim County Executive Tara Jackson has been serving since December after U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks was elected to the Senate and resigned from her position leading Prince George’s. Richard Elliott/The Washington Informer.
OP-ED: BALTIMORE COUNTY’s VERY OWN TAMMANY HALL: Baltimore County Inspector General Kelly Madigan was troublesome enough that then County Executive Johnny Olszewski made an ill-fated attempt in 2021 to curtail her independence and powers that resulted in the biggest political embarrassment of his tenure as county executive. Is it a coincidence that current County Exec Kathy Klausmeier apparently wants to get rid of Madigan, whose initial term as inspector general ended in January? I don’t think so. I believe that it is Tammany Hall doing what Tammany Hall does. David Plymyer/Baltimore Brew.
CARROLL STATE’S ATTY, POL HAVEN SHOEMAKER WON’T SEEK RE-ELECTION: Carroll County State’s Attorney Haven Shoemaker said Monday he will not seek a second term in office next year. The Republican was first elected to the role in 2022. “I want to say that serving as Carroll County’s State’s Attorney has been the honor of a lifetime,” Shoemaker, 60, said. “However, at this point in my life, it’s time to let someone else have a try,” he said. “By the time I leave office, I will have been an attorney for 34 years and will have held political office for 30.” Sherry Greenfield/The Carroll County Times.
LONGTIME BA CO OFFICIAL PATRICK RODDY RETIRES, AGAIN: Patrick Roddy, a longtime lobbyist and Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier’s director of government affairs, has re-retired. Roddy’s last day was Friday, county spokesperson Erica Palmisano said. Klausmeier had appointed him to his role shortly after she took office in January. Roddy spent more than 20 years in Baltimore County as a director of legislative affairs liaison and assistant county attorney. He was also part of former Gov. William Donald Schaefer’s legislative staff. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.
JHU TO FREEZE HIRING, PAUSE PAY HIKES AMID FEDERAL CUTS: The Johns Hopkins University will freeze hiring, pause pay increases and slow down capital projects amid ongoing federal cuts and uncertainty, the school’s leadership said Monday. Raquel Bazos/The Baltimore Sun.
DICK STORY, FORMER HOWARD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CHIEF, DIES AT 79: Dick Story, the former longtime CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority, knew a thing or two about doing business. More importantly, he knew a thing or two about people — and that both matters were deeply intertwined. While Story will be remembered for his achievements and awards, those who knew and loved him say they’ll most remember the guidance he gave and the kindness he extended. They’ll also hold close the memories of Story emceeing local events as the unofficial “voice of Howard County.” Story, also an Army veteran and an active community volunteer, died May 23 of kidney cancer. He was 79. Cayla Harris/The Baltimore Banner.
