state roundup: SNAP PAYMENT ERRORS COULD BE COSTLY TO STATE; THOUSANDS OF MAIL IN BALLOTS STILL TO BE COUNTED IN BALTIMORE COUNTY

STEEP PENALTIES COULD BE IN STORE FOR REDUCED SNAP PAYMENT ERROR RATES: In recent years, Maryland has reduced the administrative errors it makes when sending food assistance dollars to low-income families — but that success might cost the state in a year. New federal data shows that Maryland slightly reduced what’s called the “payment error rate” from 13.64 in federal fiscal year 2024 to 13.08 in federal fiscal year 2025, according to an update this week. Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters. 

•  New data show Maryland now ranks ninth-highest in the nation for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment errors, which could result in federal penalties that would cost state taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Brooke Conrad/Fox 45 News. 

MD MEMBERS OF CONGRESS STRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS AS TRUMP STALLS BILL:  U.S. lawmakers from Maryland vowed to continue focusing on affordable housing initiatives for state residents and beyond at a Capitol press conference Thursday, taking stabs at President Donald Trump’s refusal to sign a landmark bipartisan bill. Amelia Twyman/Maryland Matters.

SOME DELEGATES STILL LOCKED IN TIGHT PRIMARY CONTESTS: For most of the candidates running for Maryland’s General Assembly, the dust is now settling after Tuesday’s primary election. But a select few are still locked in tight races two days later. On Thursday, the state began its post-election counting of mail-in ballots. At the start of the day, nearly 208,000 ballots remained to be counted, and more ballots could still flow in. They’ll be counted so long as they were postmarked on or before Election Day. Christine Condon and William J. Ford/Maryland Matters. 

PATOKA PICKS UP VOTES IN MAIL IN, NOT CONCEDING BALTIMORE COUNTY EXECUTIVE RACE: The vote totals in the race for the Democratic nomination for Baltimore County Executive tightened a bit Thursday. Julian Jones started the day with 7,944 more votes than Izzy Patoka with 35,000 mail-in ballots to count and more than 3,000 provisional ballots to consider. John Lee/WYPR FM.

3 TAKEAWAYS FROM HO CO’S PRIMARY ELECTION: Howard County voters handed Vanessa Atterbeary not only the Democratic nomination for county executive but also apparent wins for her allies in all five County Council races. Lillian Reed and Jess Nocera/The Baltimore Banner. 

THOUSANDS OF MAIL IN BALLOTS REMAIN TO BE COUNTED IN BALTIMORE COUNTY: Though initial returns have started to shape Baltimore County’s most closely watched primary races, the outcome of several contests remains uncertain as election officials work through tens of thousands of mail-in ballots. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS IMMUNE FROM SOME OLDER SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS, STATE HIGH COURT RULES: Public schools are immune from lawsuits alleging sexual abuse that happened before mid-1971, the Maryland Supreme Court ruled this week.  In recent years, the legislature moved to make it easier for survivors of child sexual abuse to seek redress.Dylan Segelbaum/The Baltimore Banner. 

UY CONCEDES TO MILAM IN MO CO SHERIFFS RACE AFTER PRIMARY: Though the results of Tuesday’s Democratic primary election are not yet certified, Montgomery County Sheriff Maxwell Uy has officially conceded to opponent Will Milam. Milam, a Poolesville resident and the former assistant sheriff for Prince George’s County, has received 65.4% of the Democratic vote while Uy received 34.6% so far, with mail-in ballots still to be counted. Elia Griffin/Bethesda Today. 

OVER 100 JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY EMPLOYEES LAID OFF DUE TO CUTS IN FEDERAL FUNDING: 110 Johns Hopkins University (JHU) employees have been laid off due to cuts in federal research funding, according to a university spokesperson. The cuts have affected the Bloomberg School of Public Health, the Carey Business School, and the central administration. The spokesperson said that “roughly 110 employees” were laid off. Dominick Philippe-Auguste/WMAR 2 NEWS. 

SALISBURY MOTHER STILL DETAINED SIX MONTHS AFTER ICE ARREST: A Salisbury woman arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after dropping her daughter off at school has now spent more than six months in federal custody — far longer than the typical ICE detainee — despite hearings, appeals and attempted intervention by members of Maryland’s congressional delegation. Josh Davis/The Baltimore Sun.