FERGUSON OFFERS LEEWAY ON PURSUING REDISTRICTING: Senate President Bill Ferugson says Maryland could be dipping its toes into the national redistricting arms race after months of firm opposition against redrawing the state’s congressional map. Sarah Petrowich/WYPR-FM.
MOORE LETS 2 IMMIGRATION REFORM BILLS BECOME LAW SANS SIGNATURE: Gov. Wes Moore is letting two major immigration reform bills from Maryland’s latest legislative session go into law without his signature: the Community Trust Act and the Data Privacy Act. Sarah Petrowich/WYPR-FM.
NEW GROUP PUSHES CHILDHOOD EDUCATION AS VITAL WORK: A newly formed statewide group hopes to drive home the point that early childhood education matters. The Maryland Early Care and Education Coalition’s “call to action” plan includes development of a statewide early care and education workforce registry, and coordination with the Governor’s Workforce Development Board to help with strategies to grow the early childhood workforce.William Ford/Maryland Matters.
CAREGIVERS IN TAILSPIN OVER RULES CHANGES, WAGE CUTS: Advocates for people with developmental disabilities warn that upcoming rule changes and wage cuts this summer will be detrimental – particularly for those who self-direct their Medicaid services and have family members help with care. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
DISABILITY ADVOCATES SOUND ALARM AFTER RAPE OF DISABLED WOMAN: Advocates in Maryland are raising concerns about the rape of a disabled woman who was living in a group home when, during a hospital visit, doctors determined she was seven months pregnant. Dan Morse/The Washington Post.
MARYLAND TRAILS IN OVERSIGHT OF GRANTS TO NONPROFITS: Maryland is lagging behind a growing number of states that have implemented uniform safeguards for overseeing billions in taxpayer-funded grants distributed to nonprofits and outside organizations, according to financial experts, lawmakers and state grant management policies reviewed. Patrick Hauf/The Baltimore Sun.
HOW HAS MARYLAND’s ECONOMY FARED UNDER MOORE? As Gov. Wes Moore asks Marylanders to give him another four years, it’s worth considering Ronald Reagan’s famous question during the 1980 presidential campaign: Are you better off than you were four years ago? Here are four indicators showing how things have changed since Moore was elected. Bria Overs/The Baltimore Banner.
DeMARINIS: ALLEGANY VOTERS HAVE BEEN SENT NEW BALLOTS: Jared DeMarinis, Maryland’s elections administrator, has offered an update on the state’s effort to remedy the mail-in ballot mix-up that had voters receive the incorrect party ballot. DeMarinis said the delivery of replacement ballots has commenced, and by May 22 had been sent to voters in Allegany County. Keith Demko/The Salisbury Daily Times.
OPINION: MARYLAND NEEDS COST RELIEF; UTILITIES DON’T NEED A MONOPOLY: For working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and small businesses, the increasing cost of elecricity is not just frustrating — it is unsustainable. Marylanders deserve straight answers about why this is happening. The simple version is that demand is rising, the grid is expensive to maintain and upgrade, and it remains too difficult and costly to build the energy infrastructure we need. But the problem is not just supply. It is also market power. Brooks Schandelmeier/Maryland Reporter.
NEW HOWARD MEMORIAL HONORS VETERANS: As the nation remembers fallen service members on Memorial Day, Howard County residents can visit a new place to honor veterans in downtown Columbia. After a decade of planning, designing and building, the Howard County Veterans and Military Families Monument opened to the public this month at Vivian C. “Millie” Bailey Park. Staff/WJZ-TV News and The Baltimore Banner.
A YEAR AFTER FLOODS, WESTERNPORT PRESSES AHEAD WITH RECOVERY: Historic flooding undercut the foundation of Westernport’s town library a year ago and buried its books in mud. But two blocks away, the town’s recovery is pressing ahead. A building that was once home to a beloved local medical clinic is the temporary home of the Westernport branch of the Allegany County library, offering a few thousand books and a seed bank to local residents. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
COLUMN: ‘GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP’ TO BE A SHORT ONE FOR MANY: In their new YouTube reality show “The Great American Road Trip,” U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Fox News host Rachel Campos-Duffy and their nine children drive around the country to celebrate its 250th birthday. “We’re encouraging everyone to go take a road trip,” Duffy says. It’s blisteringly out of touch and too much to ask of us. Leslie Gray Streeter/The Baltimore Banner.
COLUMN: HARRY DUNN CONTINUES TO FIGHT INSURRECTIONISTS: Harry Dunn’s lawsuit might not have been a campaign strategy, but it sure as hell should remind people what’s at stake in the 5th District. He told me he didn’t sue to block Donald Trump’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund” to benefit his run for Congress. “People are angry about it within the district,” Dunn said. “Think about all the federal employees who were laid off illegally.” Rick Hutzell/The Baltimore Banner.
1,500 STATE LOANS TO FEDERAL WORKS REMAIN UNREPAID: Maryland distributed more than $2.5 million in no-interest loans to federal workers during recent government shutdowns, aiming to provide short-term relief to employees required to work without pay. More than 1,500 remain unpaid as repayment deadlines arrive. State economists say that this raises questions about whether the program reflects financial hardship among federal workers or could become a costly collection burden for taxpayers. Mennatalla Ibrahim/The Baltimore Sun.
ELEVATOR PITCHES FROM PATOKA, YOUNG AND SHAMS FOR BA CO EXEC: With the primary about one month away, the five Democratic candidates for Baltimore County executive are pitching for your vote. Today we hear from two council members who are running, Izzy Patoka and Pat Young. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
- Mansoor Shams is running for the Democratic nomination for Baltimore County executive by targeting the ethics of the three members of the County Council who are also in the race. (On May 21, we heard from Julian Jones and attorney Nick Stewart.) John Lee/WYPR-FM.
KLAUSMEIER PROPOSES DITCHING GENDER TITLES FOR COUNCIL: There’ll be no more “councilmen” on the Baltimore County Council. No more “chairman” either if legislation proposed by County Executive Kathy Klausmeier is approved.The bill, which calls for gender-neutral titles to be used in the county code, is being questioned by the Republicans on the council. It would ditch gender-specific titles for neutral ones like councilmember or councilperson. Councilman Todd Crandell was clearly annoyed. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
QUESTIONS OVER OUTSIDE FUNDING IN BALTIMORE COUNTY RACE: Questions have arisen over outside players potentially having a hand in the race for Baltimore County State’s Attorney. Sarah David is listed as being publicly backed by the Working Families Party, a political group with financial ties to George Soros. “So, that’s an independent expenditure group, so they can’t coordinate with our campaign at all,” David said. Maxine Streicher/WBFF-TV News.
MAN KILLED BY SECRET SERVICE WAS BALTIMORE COUNTY RESIDENT: The man Secret Service officers shot and killed Saturday near the White House was a Baltimore County resident who struggled with mental health and had shut out those closest to him in recent months, according to friends and court records. Lee O. Sanderlin/The Baltimore Banner.
