Homepage Featured

State Roundup, July 17, 2019

National Capital Planning Commission concerned over Capital Beltway widening, affect on 20 acres of parkland it oversees; behind the scenes, the race is getting started to one day replace Mike Miller as Senate president; as more elderly inmates qualify for release, state prison population continues to drop; audit finds sensitive data on 1.4 million students, 200,000 teachers inadequately protected; insurers say state re-insurance program has stabilized their market; as U.S. House adopts resolution condemning President Trump’s recent racist tweets, U.S. Rep. Hoyer steps into breach as House Speaker Pelosi pulled from podium; and Baltimore police team up with state and federal agencies on a three-year effort to fight violent crime, gangs and the drug trade.

State Roundup

State Roundup, July 16, 2019

State audit finds Maryland agency failed to monitor groups it funded to provide gambling, opioid addiction treatment and care for disabled children; as BSO bargaining gets ready to restart, emails reveal BSO CEO scripted a message for Gov. Hogan to deliver; Stanford study finds Maryland’s charter school students about a month ahead of public school students; Independent Can Co. says Trump tariffs cost it $1 million last year, with losses expected to double this year; U.S. Rep. Harris defends President Trump’s racist tweets about four congresswomen of color; UB President Schmoke proposes NYC-style restructuring of Baltimore colleges; growing diversity changes political landscape in Arundel; school audit for Howard County is narrowed; and 1st medical marijuana dispensary opens in Carroll County.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, July 15, 2019

Gov. Hogan maintained silence on Sunday over expected ICE raids that never happened; House Speaker Jones says first order of 2020 will be hike in school funding; Christian school sues state after funds pulled for discriminating against students because of sexual orientation; Black Caucus Foundation celebrates a successful year; board of Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway replaces Del. Lisanti as exec director after 17-year stint; and 200 Arundel teachers join efforts to write school curriculums.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, July 11, 2019

State teachers union spent most on lobbying this past session, while JHU came in third as it sought, won OK for armed police force; two state lawmakers say they are concerned about FBI, ICE mining Maryland driver’s licenses for facial recognition database; court dismisses Atty Gen Frosh’s emoluments lawsuit against President Trump; Baltimore city state’s attorney tells congressional panel that federal drug policies have harmed city; Gov. Hogan taps three for Baltimore County District judgeships; and U.S. mayors agree to Baltimore resolution to not pay ransom to cyber-hackers.

State Roundup, July 10, 2019

With Gov. Hogan withholding money, some supporters balk at giving BSO more money landing it on shaky financial ground; as Congress debates Child Nutrition Reauthorization Bill, four in five Maryland kids go hungry in summer; state teachers learning to flex their individual muscles; Hogan joins 21 governors in supporting tougher Obama mileage standards; Maryland GOP begins considering a party without Gov. Hogan leading; state’s first African American woman National Guard head retires; Open Meetings Compliance Board says Talbot council’s email, text convos violated law; Queen Anne’s considers ban on mass balloon releases; and Mayor Jack Young reconsiders run for Baltimore mayor.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, July 9, 2019

Want to find out latest figures on what lobbyists are earning and what organizations are paying? State searchable database has been updated; Gov. Hogan’s decision to withhold millions in approved funds to impact to Southern Maryland projects; Hogan is urging Congress to pass trade pact with Mexico and Canada; Treasurer Kopp says Maryland considering divesting from fossil fuels; former Prince George’s Exec Baker tapped to serve on UMMS board; UM-Baltimore County athletes sue accuser in latest pushback over sexual assault claims; overall casino revenue drop; and gay Montgomery County councilman battles deluge of hate.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, July 8, 2019

As Gov. Hogan cites possible economic downturn in reasoning to withhold budgeted $245M in project funds, including school construction and BSO, Democrats blast his bipartisan push as hypocritical; three years after racing commission gives $1.7 million to Stronach for upgraded housing at Laurel Park, project remains unfinished; new law requires state to disclose fees state pays to Wall Street investment firms: state retirement fund paid $370 million annually on $51 billion in assets; state Labor Dept. discloses April data breach; large number of purchases delays more rebates on electric vehicles; Amazon plans large center in Prince George’s; and Hogan to move ahead with emergency tower in Montgomery.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, July 3, 2019

Just two months after the race for Maryland’s speaker of the House, at least two former supporters of Del. McIntosh have been removed from key posts, without new speaker’s knowledge; audit finds Port Administration used contract to skirt state procurement regs; new report finds blue crab population doing just fine; Maryland Attorney General Frosh is suing over asbestos mess following demolition; Frederick and Carroll counties continue work on Monocacy River plan; judge to allow Trump abortion ‘gag rule’ to go into affect; city cops won’t aid ICE in civil actions; agreement to put Howard teachers starting salary at $60,000 in five years; and what ever happened to all those candidates running against Marc Elrich for Montgomery exec?

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, July 2, 2019

Gov. Hogan still mum on whether he’ll free millions projects, including school construction and rate kit testing; governor does withhold $55 million from ethics-beleaguered Metro; Court of Appeals suspends without pay city district judge over continued incivility; study finds Maryland would need $27 billion to fight rising seas; state high court rules that some workers’ comp claims can apply to telecommuters at home; state taps Easton, Baltimore city spots as arts districts; state prosecutors meet counterparts from El Salvador to join forces to battle MS-13 gang activity; and Montgomery Exec Elrich says legalized pot industry should be state-managed.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, July 1, 2019

Following Jordan McNair’s 2018 death, turmoil in its governance, the University of Maryland, College Park warned over accreditation; hundreds of new laws take effect today, including raised tax credit for child care and an armed police force for JHU; state horse-racing regulators ignored state law in awarding millions to Stronach for track upgrades; NAACP leaders throw their support behind D.C.-Baltimore maglev; some scientists think immediate fix to Bay dead zone might be doable; two women of color announce campaigns to take U.S. Rep. Hoyer’s seat; Moody’s cautions Montgomery County on planned budget move; first tax hikes in Baltimore County in years take effect today; and Pulitzer-winning columnist Leonard Pitts handcuffed by police in his Bowie home.