FEDS SAY MARYLAND SCHOOLS MAY BE DEFYING ITS TITLE IX INTERPRETATION: The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced Tuesday that it is investigating whether the Maryland State Department of Education and several local school districts violated Title IX by having policies permitting transgender students to participate in athletics. Darreonna Davis/The Baltimore Banner.
- Maryland school districts are defending their policies to protect transgender student athletes, despite the charge that the policies may violate Title IX. MSDE guidance recommends that school districts allow students to use restrooms and participate on sports teams that best align with their gender identities. The federal department’s Office for Civil Rights said that policy could violate the Trump administration’s interpretations of Title IX – the 1972 law that withholds federal funding for educational institutions that discriminate on the basis of sex. Mayah Nachman/Maryland Matters.
MOORE SAYS LAWMAKERS WILL RETURN TO REDRAW DISTRICTS: Gov. Wes Moore said Wednesday that lawmakers will be summoned to Annapolis soon to clear the Gway for the state to redraw its congressional district boundaries to further favor Democrats. “We are planning on coming back to have a special session,” Moore told reporters outside the State House. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
JUDGE: CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST STATE CORRECTIONS CAN MOVE FORWARD: A federal judge on Wednesday ruled that attorneys suing the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services over claims that the Central Booking and Intake Center routinely detained people after their release had been ordered can proceed as a class action lawsuit on behalf of more than 13,000 people. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Baltimore covers a three-year period between 2019 and 2022. Ruben Castaneda/The Baltimore Sun.
SUPREME COURT APPEARS TO KEEP STATUS QUO ON FORECLOSURE SALES: A U.S. Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday is likely to continue to allow controversial sales of Maryland real estate that has fallen in foreclosure over back taxes, a problem that has plagued many Baltimore homeowners for years. Hallie Miller/The Baltimore Banner.
RELATIVELY SMOOTH PRIMARY ELECTION, WITH SOME SURPRISES: Most of Maryland’s major races were easy to call before the clock struck midnight, with a combination of early votes and Election Day results. Tuesday brought a few apparent defeats that were surprising, including for state Sen. Nancy King (D-Montgomery), the Senate majority leader, who trailed challenger Amar Mukunda, a Montgomery County native and a combat engineer, 49% to 36% by Wednesday evening. Christine Condon and William Ford/Maryland Matters.
THE PRIMARY ISN’T OVER JUST YET: Thousands of Marylanders voted on Tuesday, and winners have been declared in most races — including for governor, Congress and the House of Delegates. But the primary election is technically not over yet. Election officials will comb through thousands of ballots for the next few weeks. Here’s what you need to know about what’s next. Clara Longo de Freitas/The Baltimore Banner.
ANALYSIS: WHAT FERGUSON’s VICTORY OVER LaPIN MEANS … OR NOT: Senate President Bill Ferguson’s Democratic primary victory Tuesday over provocative, persistent challenger Bobby LaPin was fueled by many factors and could have many consequences for the future governance of this state. One thing it was not was a referendum on mid-decade congressional redistricting. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
COMMENTARY: THERE ARE REASONS NOT TO PANIC ABOUT POLITICS, REALLY: We’re not even 48 hours past Maryland’s primaries — which went largely as expected — but my nerves are still frazzled as I already think about the fall. Because I have a generally bleak opinion of humanity at present, and given the overall unpleasantness of national politics, I’m really scared that the five months leading up to the general election will be full of meddling, lies and nastiness. Leslie Gray Streeter/The Baltimore Banner.
A NUMBER OF FIRSTS ON HORIZON IN HOWARD COUNTY RACES: With Tuesday’s Democratic primary win, Vanessa Atterbeary is poised to become the first Black woman to be elected Howard County executive. Her win was among several firsts for the county government. Kevin Chin, of Ellicott City, is the presumed winner of the District 1 race. He would be the first Asian American to serve on the County Council. In District 2, Jessica Nichols’ win would make her the first Black and Latina woman to be elected to the Howard County Council. April Santana and Kiersten Hacker/The Baltimore Sun.
RAZOR THIN SPLIT BETWEEN HARFORD EXEC DEM CANDIDATES: Four votes — that’s the margin separating the two Democrats running for Harford County executive as of Tuesday night, a razor-thin split between Barbara Kreamer and Matthew Brown that will remain unresolved until mail-in ballots are counted, with the final tally not expected until early July. The winner will face County Executive Bob Cassilly in November. Matt Hubbard/The Aegis.
FEW SUPRISES IN CARROLL PRIMARIES: Carroll County voters largely reaffirmed incumbents and familiar names in primary races. More than 10,000 Carroll voters cast ballots ahead of primary day, including 5,097 early votes and 5,957 mail-in ballots received as of Tuesday at 5 p.m., according to state election data. Marissa Yelenik/The Carroll County Times.
CARROLL SHERIFF BEATS PRIMARY OPPONENT: Incumbent Carroll County Sheriff James T. “Jim” DeWees defeated his opponent in the Republican primary Tuesday, according to unofficial returns from the Maryland State Board of Elections. DeWees will face Democratic nominee Gail Wickless, a former Baltimore County Police officer, in the November general election. Brendan Nordstrom/The Carroll County Times.
FORMER SHERIFF LEADS; TO FACE INCUMBENT IN ARUNDEL: Former Sheriff Jim Fredericks leads the Republican primary for Anne Arundel County sheriff. He was atop sole opponent James McNeill by nearly 6,000 votes on Wednesday. If the lead holds, Fredericks will go on to face incumbent Sheriff Everett Sesker, a Democrat, in the general election in November. Sonya Watson/The Baltimore Sun.
DEPUTY CREEK, SGT MILLER TO SQUARE OFF IN NOVEMBER: Todd Creek, who has served as a sworn deputy with the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office for the past 18½ years, is one step closer to becoming sheriff after soundly defeating three candidates Tuesday in thee Republican primary. He’ll face Guy Miller, a CCSO sergeant, to square off in the November general election. Carl Hamilton/The Cecil Whig.
