CONGRESSIONAL REDISTRICTING BILL HEADS TO A VERY WARY SENATE: In a 99 to 37 vote Monday, the Maryland House of Delegates passed House Bill 488, fast-tracking a new congressional redistricting map to the Senate and setting the stage for a potential clash between Senate President Bill Ferguson and Gov. Wes Moore. Mennatalla Ibrahim/The Baltimore Sun.
- Ferguson and the Democratic majority in the chamber have long said they are opposed to redistricting in the middle of a decade, and fear it could backfire on Democrats seeking an advantage in this fall’s elections. Even so, House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk said she hopes Ferguson will soften his stance. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
- “This map is not about getting eight Democrats. It’s about getting eight congressmen — Republicans or Democrats — to stand up against this poorly veiled autocratic autocracy,” said Del. C.T. Wilson, a Charles County Democrat and lead sponsor of the map. “If you love America, how can you stand by and watch one man destroy our institutions, the very foundations of our country?” Wilson asked. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
HOUSE GIVES INITIAL OK TO PROHIBITING POLICE-ICE AGREEMENTS: The House of Delegates gave preliminary approval in a brief Monday night session to a bill that would prohibit cooperative agreements between local police and federal immigration agencies, rejecting a series of Republican amendments that had stretched over two days. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
HEALTH OFFICIALS TRACKED UNLICENSED SENIOR HOMES, THEN DROPPED IT: Internal state records show Maryland health officials identified worsening cases of senior trafficking tied to unlicensed assisted living homes, discussed enforcement strategies behind closed doors throughout 2023 and then abruptly stopped documenting action, without conducting a sweeping crackdown on operators they described as “fraudsters.” Gary Collins/The Baltimore Sun.
HOWARD YANKS PERMIT FOR ELKRIDGE ICE FACILITY: Howard County revoked a building permit for a private detention facility proposed in Elkridge that authorities say is intended for use by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Lillian Reed/The Baltimore Banner.
- Hundreds of residents packed the Howard County Banneker Room Monday night after rallying against a proposed private immigration detention facility in Elkridge. While the permit for this project has been revoked, they filled the chamber to support a proposal aimed at eliminating others like it. April Santana and Kiersten Hacker/The Baltimore Sun.
BA CO COUNCIL OK’s BILLS AIMED AT PROTECTING NONCITIZENS: As tensions flare nationally about the actions of federal immigration authorities, the Baltimore County Council on Monday approved a two-bill package aimed at protecting noncitizens from discrimination and certain immigration actions, while also creating a county Office of Immigrant Affairs. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.
NEW COMPENSATION LAW TRAPS SOME WRONGFULLY CONVICTED: The state used to be solely responsible for compensating people who were wrongfully convicted of a crime. A provision included in one of the budget bills in 2025 requires Maryland counties to now cover half of any amount — even though state’s attorneys are the ones handling the cases and they are independently elected officials. But the law has trapped some who are waiting for compensation. Dylan Segelbaum/The Baltimore Banner.
ARUNDEL CONTINUES PUSH FOR SMALLER HOMES: Anne Arundel County’s push to introduce more affordable, smaller “cottage homes” moved forward Monday with a series of amendments approved by the County Council — though not without heated debate over who the homes should serve. Benjamin Rothstein/The Baltimore Sun.
BATES TO SCOTT: SEE YOU IN COURT: After a legal review ordered by Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott blasted concerns raised by the city’s top prosecutor about partnering with the mayor’s public safety programs, State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said it sounded like the feud would go before a judge. Dan Belson/The Baltimore Sun.
- When he announced the split in December, Bates said he’ll still prosecute cases brought through the office’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy, but he was critical about what he said is a lack of transparency from MONSE about the services it provides. Justin Fenton and Emily Opilo/The Baltimore Banner.
CARROLL SEEKS CONTROL OVER WASTE RECYCLING AS NEW LAWS TAKE EFFECT: Carroll County updated its local waste and recycling laws last week. With the county’s Northern Landfill running out of space, Cliff Engle, Carroll County’s solid waste division manager, said some of these updated regulations could help Carroll pivot to something new: a landfill and waste processing system that helps the county dispose of both waste and recycling on local land. Lily Carey/The Carroll County Times.
PRINCE GEORGE’S PIT BULL BAN FINALLY ENDS: For decades, Prince George’s County outlawed pit bulls in a controversial ban. That changed this week with a new law, but some people still have reservations about the breed. Under the old ban, anyone owning, keeping or harboring pit bulls could risk fines up to $1,000 or six months’ jail time, with the animal sometimes impounded and euthanized. And pit bull advocates say it tore families apart. Kendyl Kearly/The Baltimore Sun.
McMILLEN CALLS 2013 EPSTEIN CORRESPONDENCE ‘A BLOW-OFF:’ Former Maryland basketball star and U.S. Rep. Tom McMillen appears in newly released records connected to Jeffrey Epstein. In files released by the U.S. Department of Justice on Friday, the convicted sex offender asks McMillen via email, “when are you in ny,” on Feb. 27, 2013. McMillen, 73, described the email as dismissive toward Epstein: “It was kind of a blow-off. I didn’t really give him an answer. We were aware of his criminality at that point.” Michael Howes/The Baltimore Sun.
