MOORE, U.S. DOT SEC. AGREE TO FAST-TRACK KEY, AMERICAN LEGION BRIDGE PROJECTS: Gov. Wes Moore and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Thursday they agreed to fast-track reconstruction of two critical Maryland bridges, signaling a push to speed work on the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge and the chronically congested American Legion Bridge. Brian Carlton/The Baltimore Sun.
STATE TURNS TO PRIVATE INSURERS TO HELP FUND SHIFT TO NEW HOSPITAL RATE-SETTING SYSTEM: State officials this week voted to tap private health insurance plans to make up for an expected loss in funding and rate-setting control as Maryland transitions to a new federal framework for Medicare payments to state hospitals. Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.
WHAT HAPPENED ON DAY 2 OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY SESSION: Lawmakers are back in Annapolis for the annual 90-day legislative session, where they’ll take on a budget shortfall, a hostile administration in the White House and more. Banner Staff/The Baltimore Banner.
HAS TIME RUN OUT TO REDISTRICT? DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK. Maryland Democrats have gotten national pressure to redraw the boundaries of the state’s Congressional districts to benefit their party. The state has yet to act, and a big deadline — candidate filing — looms next month. Is there time enough for Democrats to redistrict? Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
IMMIGRATION DEBATE FUELED BY REPORTED ANNAPOLIS ICE ACTIVITY: Reports of immigration enforcement in Annapolis have fueled debates around U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as state lawmakers consider bills concerning ICE. Maggie Trovato/The Baltimore Sun.
LAYOFFS AND CONFUSION AT PRIDE CENTER AFTER FEDERAL GRANT CUTS REINSTATED: After learning it had abruptly lost $2 million in federal funding, the Pride Center of Maryland moved to lay off a dozen employees, or about a third of its workforce, the Baltimore nonprofit’s leader said Thursday. Alissa Zhu/The Baltimore Banner.
GOP LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES INCLUDE STATE AUDIT ANSWERS AND SPENDING CUTS: Both Maryland Democrats and Republicans are stressing “affordability and accountability” this legislative session, but the caucuses have some staunch differences on how they would like to achieve these goals. Sarah Petrowich/WYPR News.
‘TRANSFORMATIVE’ PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO HELP SERVICE MEMBERS HAS BITARTISAN SUPPORT: A 118-page bill aimed at transforming Maryland’s occupational licensing process has gained bipartisan support in the state legislature, with supporters saying it will help military families and bring the state into federal compliance. Jeff Morgan/Channel 2 WMAR.
YOUR BGE BILL HAS DEFINITELY GONE UP. HERE’S WHY. Yes, your Baltimore Gas and Electric bill is higher than ever. And it’s only going to get worse. Gas rates have more than tripled, while electric rates have nearly doubled, since Exelon acquired BGE in 2012, according to the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, a utility watchdog. Bria Overs/The Baltimore Banner.
3 MD MEMBERS OF CONGRESS BACK NOEM IMPEACHMENT: Some Maryland congressional Democrats are joining an effort to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, saying her immigration enforcement tactics violate the Constitution and she’s enriching herself with her power. Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.
ELRICH PROPOSES $6.6B CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) on Thursday unveiled a $6.6 billion six-year capital improvements program (CIP) that includes a new transit center in Gaithersburg, a new dual-agency police station in the Wheaton-Glenmont area, and funding for public school improvements, among other projects. Ceoli Jacoby/Bethesda Today.
SCHOOL FUNDING AND OTHER HO CO BILLS TO WATCH: In December, the lawmakers, all Democrats, floated ideas that would adjust the county’s funding obligation for schools, expand certain voting rights for teenagers in local elections and crack down on speeding. Lillian Reed/The Baltimore Banner.
