HOUSE DEMS PUSH REDISTRICTING MEASURE THROUGH: A House of Delegates debate over congressional redistricting — marked by a high level of civility — went on for roughly four hours Monday night, but ended exactly as planned by Democrats. The House, in a voice vote, gave preliminary approval to House Bill 2100, the proposed constitutional amendment that would — if passed by the legislature and approved by voters in November — set standards for the state’s congressional districts. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
- Senate President Bill Ferguson said changing the constitution will put Maryland “on equal footing” with other states, affording the state the ability to choose to redistrict. Pushed by President Donald Trump, some Republican states drew new congressional lines starting last year — and Democratic states followed. Pamela Wood and Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.
- After nearly five hours of public testimony, the House Government, Labor, and Elections Committee voted 11-5 to advance House Bill 2100 after adopting one amendment, sending the measure to the House floor Monday evening. All Republican members voted against the bill, as well as Eastern Shore Democrat Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes. The Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee is expected to vote today on the companion measure before it heads to the full Senate. Mennatalla Ibrahim/The Baltimore Sun.
DESPITE SINGLE-ISSUE SESSION, CITIZENS RALLY IN ANNAPOLIS FOR OTHERS: Legislative leaders made it clear well before the start of the special legislative session Monday that there was only on issue on the agenda, a constitutional amendment on redistricting, and that nothing else would be entertained. That didn’t stop opponents and advocates of other issues from trying. William J. Ford, Will Hammann and Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.
TRUMP ADMIN ADMITS IT BLOCKED MILLIONS IN FUNDING FOR MARYLAND OVER POLITICS: When the Trump administration axed a slate of energy projects last year, it blocked tens of millions of dollars meant for Maryland companies and scientists to fortify the power grid, research hydrogen fuel cells and explore the applications of electric heat pumps. Now, President Donald Trump’s energy department admits it canceled that money for a political reason: Because Maryland is represented by Democrats and supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Adam Willis/The Baltimore Banner.
MARYLAND JOINS SUIT AGAINST TRUMP TO BLOCK ACCESS TO PRIVATE DATA: Maryland joined 24 Democrat-led jurisdictions that sued the Trump administration Monday to block a new policy that would allow a broad range of federal authorities to access personal information on families that receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families payments. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
WHY DID STUDENT TEST SCORES STALL? Proficiency for public school students in grades three through eight rose less than one percentage point over last year in both math and English, much slower than the 5% projected by the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The scores come after the state has spent billions more for the Blueprint, the landmark education initiative that began in 2022. Educators and experts say Maryland has changed its approach to teaching reading and math and progress is likely to come in slow and steady gains. In addition, they believe the effects of pandemic school closures linger. Liz Bowie/The Baltimore Banner.
FARMER URGES LAWMAKERS TO STOP PFAS PROLIFERATION AT THE SOURCE: A new state law aims to protect Marylanders from harmful PFAS by limiting the amount of the chemicals in biosolid crop fertilizer, but one Maryland farmer says lawmakers aren’t getting to the root of the problem. “It’s attacking the problem at the wrong end,” said Charles County Farm Bureau President Steve Walter. “You need to stop PFAS at the source, and that would be where it’s manufactured.” Brooke Conrad/The Baltimore Sun.
B’MORE SCHOOLS TO SEE MORE COOPERATION FROM STADIUM AUTHORITY: For years Baltimore City Public Schools have struggled with breakdowns in heating and air-conditioning in their brand new and renovated schools, closing schools for days, even as the Maryland Stadium Authority, which oversaw construction of the schools, and city school officials argued over a path forward. Last week, Maryland Stadium Authority officials agreed to work more collaboratively with the school system, which is responsible for maintenance of the schools after they are built. Liz Bowie/The Baltimore Banner.
PREAKNESS EXCLUDED FROM NEW THOROUGHBRED CHAMPIONSHIP: In another potential blow to the prestige of the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Triple Crown will be excluded from a new $5 million “Thoroughbred Championship Series” that includes both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes.The announcement comes less than two months after Gov. Wes Moore’s administration blocked Churchill Downs’ $85 million bid to purchase intellectual property rights for the Preakness. The state had the right to match the offer and opted to take control of its signature race rather than let the operator of the Kentucky Derby buy a stake. Childs Walker/The Baltimore Banner.
- A spokesman for the Maryland Jockey Club said the organization would not have a comment for a few days. Requests for comment from Aidan Butler, chief executive officer of 1/ST LLC, the racing arm of The Stronach Group, which ran the Preakness in partnership with the Maryland Jockey Club, went unanswered. Gov. Wes Moore’s office did not return a request for comment. Christopher Scarglato and Edward Lee/The Baltimore Sun.
OP-ED: BA CO SUIT AGAINST OLSZEWSKI TOP AIDE A CHARADE: Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier approved the $100,000 settlement with Patrick Murray, a former top aide to her predecessor, Johnny Olszewski. But the suit brought by the Olszewski administration against Murray seems to be something that they never wanted to win. David Plymyer/Baltimore Brew.
