REPUBLICANS FILE SUIT TO STOP REDISTRICTING BALLOT QUESTION: Republicans in the Maryland General Assembly filed their promised lawsuit late Thursday against Democrats’ ballot question on congressional redistricting. The late-night filing came just a few days after lawmakers finished a special legislative session to pass the ballot question, a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters in November, could pave the way for Democrats to draw a map that eliminates Maryland’s last remaining Republican seat in Congress, held by Rep. Andy Harris, chairman of the U.S. House Freedom Caucus. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.
- The Maryland Freedom Caucus – far-right House Republicans – and Senate GOP leadership argue the amendment should not be placed on the November ballot for voter approval. “Annapolis Democrats spent taxpayer dollars on a special session for one reason: to rewrite the Maryland Constitution and eliminate the last remaining Republican congressional seat,” said chair of the Maryland Freedom Caucus Del. Matt Morgan. Sarah Petrowich/WYPR-FM.
WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THE BALLOT QUESTION IS APPROVED: If Marylanders vote in favor of the redistricting referendum approved Tuesday by the General Assembly, the road would be cleared for a reshaping of the state’s congressional districts, potentially upending 2028 races from central Maryland to the Eastern Shore. Tinashe Chingarande and Matt Hubbard/The Baltimore Sun.
COLUMN: IT’s NOT ABOUT ANDY HARRIS: Oh, Andy. What is Maryland to do with you? To hear Republicans in the State House tell it, you’re the damsel in distress, a starlet in the clutches of a King Kong gerrymander unleashed on the state by Democrats. Harris and his fate loomed over Annapolis during two days of debate in the General Assembly’s just-concluded special session. Rick Hutzell/The Baltimore Banner.
FORMER DEL JALISI SUES, CLAIMING BALLOT ERROR COST HIM PRIMARY: A former state delegate is claiming a ballot error in one precinct cost him a shot at returning to the State House. Hasan M. “Jay” Jalisi served in the House from 2015-2023. In a three-page lawsuit filed July 28, more than a month after the primary, Jalisi said his campaign to return to the House of Delegates was thwarted by an error that caused his name to be left off the early voting ballot in one Randallstown precinct. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
POLICE BODY CAM FOOTAGE OF SCHOOL-SIDE ICE ARRESTS: As immigration officers detained two parents outside Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School during morning drop-off in June, frightened school employees turned to the Baltimore Police Department for help. Body camera footage shows that the officers who responded had little more to offer than sympathy, underscoring the widening divide between local authorities and federal immigration officials. Sara Ruberg/The Baltimore Banner.
STATE OKs TRANSMISSION LINE UPGRADE TO RETIRE LAST COAL PLANT: Maryland regulators approved a much-delayed transmission line upgrade Friday that’s needed to retire the state’s last operating coal plant. Part of a $1.5 billion grid upgrade project, the power lines would run from the Brandon Shores coal-fired power plant in Northern Anne Arundel County to Maryland’s border with Pennsylvania to bring in electricity from that state. Adam Willis and Bria Overs/The Baltimore Banner.
3 BA CO CANDIDATES GET ENOUGH SIGNATURES TO GET ON BALLOT: After rushing to lock down 6,000 signatures by Monday — equal to 1% of registered Baltimore County voters — only half of the independent candidates who initially filed to run for office in the county will be on November’s ballot. County Council hopefuls Joseph “Joe” Hooe, Cory Shaffer and Donna Eve Radtke Sekora are running unaffiliated with either party to represent southwestern, northern and eastern Baltimore County, respectively. Ceoli Doyle/The Baltimore Banner.
LUTHERVILLE STATION DEVELOPMENT FACES PERENNIAL COMMUNITY FEAR: It appears a controversial development along the light rail in Baltimore County is about to leave the station. For years, the redevelopment of Lutherville Station has been stalled, but a county councilman says he is preparing to get the project rolling towards county approval. Public officials say it’s good planning to put apartments near a transit stop. Neighbors fear who might ride the rail into their community. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
IN B’MORE, CRIME IS DOWN BUT ‘QUALITY OF LIFE’ OFFENSES LINGER: Loitering, drinking in public and littering are among the host of crimes that often get overlooked in discussions about public safety in Baltimore. While the city is experiencing historic declines in homicides and shootings, some residents say other low-level offenses persist at unacceptable levels and erode their quality of life. Alex Mann/The Baltimore Banner.
FAMILY WORRIES ABOUT B’MORE ACTIVIST HELD IN PHILIPPINES: Vivian Pasion wants to hear her wife’s voice again. She has no idea when that will be. Human rights advocates are sounding alarms over the detainment of Baltimore resident Christina Pasion in the Philippines. She had traveled to her native country in Southeast Asia last December as part of an exposure trip coordinated by Migrante USA and Migrante International, which advocate for Filipino migrants. Clara Longo de Freitas/The Baltimore Banner.
OC CHURCH REMAINS SANCTUARY FOR THE HOMELESS: Starting in April, staff at the century-old St. Paul’s By-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Ocean City has used a couple dozen bunk beds to shelter people who have nowhere else to go. They continue to do so even after Ocean City officials issued thousands of dollars in fines to the church, citing the “barracks-style living quarters” are in violation of zoning codes. Sara Ruberg and Carrie Samis/The Baltimore Banner.
CARROLL SECURES $1M TO PRESERVE SCENIC FARMLAND IN WATERSHED: The Carroll County government secured more than $1 million for a conservation easement on a roughly 140-acre property in Hampstead. The landowners could have sold their property to a developer for a significant sum, but the conservation easement offers them a financial incentive to preserve the farmland and the more than 3,000 feet of scenic road views. The property is also important because it sits in the Prettyboy Reservoir watershed, which is a source of drinking water for Baltimore city. Gabriella Fine/The Carroll County Times.
MARYLAND STREAM RESTORATION WORK DRAWS BACKLASH: Sharon Boies grew up learning about nature in Columbia’s outdoor “living classrooms.” So when the SHA rebuilt Longfellow Creek behind her home in 2020, she began documenting the changes. “The stream remains biologically impaired today, in year six of the restoration,” Boies wrote in her notes. “The stream didn’t overflow its banks prior to the restoration. State and local governments spend nearly $500 million a year on stream restoration and related projects intended to help meet Clean Water Act requirements and Chesapeake Bay pollution-reduction goals. The Longfellow Creek project helps meet the state’s obligation to control runoff from roads and prevent downstream erosion, but critics argue the stream is being destroyed. Karl Hille/The Baltimore Sun.
RABID BEAVER ATTACKS CLOSE PARTS OF FREDERICK COUNTY PARK: Portions of a Maryland state park remain closed to visitors after two people were attacked by rabid beavers in the past two weeks. A 13-year-old boy was attacked July 26 while swimming in the lake at Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. More than a week later, another beaver bit a 19-year-old man fishing from the park’s shoreline on Wednesday. Maia Nehme/The Washington Post.
