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State Roundup, June 27, 2019

Federal ICE agents take action around state; Sen. Cardin urges support for fallen journalists memorial in D.C.; the Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling today on the Maryland, North Carolina partisan gerrymandering cases; Hogan administration touts decline in homelessness statewide, but some jurisdictions see increases; horse-racing regulators ignored state law in awarding racetrack subsidies, Sun investigation finds; General Assembly committee is urging state, local jurisdictions to ramp up cybersecurity spending; UM Pharmacy School reverses decision, will now offer graduate degree in medical cannabis; U.S. Rep. Brown says he’s open to another run for governor; and a federal judge won’t rule on dispute over Maryland Public Information Act requests in Baltimore County.

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State Roundup, June 26, 2019

MVA offices, already scrambling over REAL ID compliance, now tackling that extra day closed – Friday, July 5; state racing commission delays reimbursing Stronach $4.4 million; Maryland panel probing marijuana legalization meets, under new leadership; Gov. Hogan pushing state agencies to ensure energy savings in state office buildings; Howard County school cafeterias ranked high for healthy foods; VP Pence, in Maryland for GOP Red, White & Blue dinner, gives shoutouts to lots of Republicans, except for Larry whatshisname; Senate panel kills fund request from civilian real estate arm over concerns money will go to D.C. FBI HQ instead of suburban choice; and Baltimore city considers rules for public financing of local campaigns.

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State Roundup, June 25, 2019

The Maryland Democratic Party accused nearly 100 donors to Gov. Hogan’s re-election campaign of donating too much money, a claim Hogan’s attorney dismissed as ‘false, sloppy;’ Senate President Miller urging Hogan to release funds for Baltimore police reforms, school construction and rape kits; unredacted complaint indicates pharmaceutical companies coordinated response to congressional inquiry as ‘polite f-u letters;’ few perjury prosecutions amid tens of thousands of failed gun background checks; feds search Metro chair’s home; Maryland’s immigrant communities fear roundups, deportations; and in this week’s Democratic presidential debates: What’s in it for candidate John Delaney, committee chair Tom Perez.

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State Roundup, June 24, 2019

General Assembly failed to renew a 23-year-old tax credit program, throwing cold water on Baltimore city development; as Maryland approaches 1st anniversary of Capital-Gazette killings, Tribune Publishing announces plan to build D.C. memorial to slain journalists; Gov. Hogan’s drumbeat maY have helped push Jack Evans’ resignation from Metro board; counties across Maryland find ways to accommodate trending farm-based brewery industry; President Trump’s promise of raids on immigrant communities sends fear throughout state; BSO standoff continues; Corine Frank tapped as new executive director of Maryland GOP; Columbia’s first office building razed; Supreme Court expected to rule on gerrymandering; and Montgomery County Council pushes County Exec Elrich on new emergency communication system.

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State Roundup, June 20, 2019

The Board of Public Works approves a $27.5 million contract to demolish the Baltimore City Detention Center to make room for an inmate treatment facility; BPW also OKs Alabama contract delayed in protest by Comptroller Franchot; BPW also dips into its own pot to pay for lawyers’ fees over State Center dispute; three members of the UMMS board accept invitation to return; Metro board chair admits to ethics violations; Gov. Hogan blasts Mo Co Exec Elrich over emergency system outages; Mayor Young wants Stronach to split state funds between Pimlico, Laurel; federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration rules aimed at steering money from Baltimore organizations that provide abortion referrals; U.S. Rep. Brown fails in House panel bid to block Hogan on road widening; Marylander Ta-Nehisi Coates testifies for reparations; later Speaker Clay Mitchell is remembered.

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State Roundup, June 19, 2019

Gov. Hogan signs exec order in attempt to defend state agencies against cyber-attacks, names chief to coordinate its management; Hogan again urges head of Metro to resign, urges release of more data in ethics probe; U.S. Rep. Brown maneuvers to stop funding for enviro study on Hogan’s toll lane plans for Capital Beltway, I-270; scientists find that microplastics a growing environmental danger to the Chesapeake Bay; Atty Gen Frosh seeks dismissal of lawsuit by company seeking gas pipeline through Western Maryland; Baltimore city opportunity zone has potential to financial benefit already wealthy Kevin Plank, Goldman Sachs; Stronach Group seeks $4.4 million reimbursement for Laurel Park upgrades; state testing digital license plates; Maryland U.S. reps sign on to federal reparations bill; and Montgomery Exec Elrich blasted over 14-hour emergency radio disruption.

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State Roundup, June 18, 2019

Frederic Smalkin, new chair of Handgun Permit Review Board, says board will meet with new, shared understanding of law; Abell report says tough policy on child support more harmful than beneficial for low-income families; legislators continue to push Gov. Hogan on to release fenced-off funding; Atty Gen Frosh warns of cyberattack of some medical records; as BSO lockout continues, musicians protest and talks set for Friday; Frederick County Exec Gardner “surprised” by BPW quick flip on I-270 work; board finds Metro chair Evans violated ethics code; and new leaders to review decades old Baltimore City-Baltimore County water agreement.

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State Roundup, June 17, 2019

Gov. Larry Hogan continues to review $200 million in projects including school construction, rape kits and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; state polling E-Z Pass holders over willingness to use tolls lanes as part of push on I-270, Capital Beltway widening; former Sen. Frank Kelly, sons resign from UMMS boards after criticism in being asked to rejoin; long-time political insider Mark Wasserman, UMMS senior vice president of external affairs, a no-show at meeting with Hogan and silent to reporters’ inquiries; tributes to the late Speaker Clay Mitchell pour in; two NAACP chapters as state to probe state delegate’s ‘hang them high’ comment; Georgia abortion law could benefit Maryland film industry; BSO musicians face lockout after board vote; Annapolis wrestles with streaming more public meetings; and former state Del. Donald Hammen dies at 79..

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State Roundup, June 13, 2019

Review of UMMS finds more no-bid contracts with members of board of directors, going outside hospital policy; Gov. Hogan names Chip DiPaula, among others, to UMMS board while four are asked to return, including ex-Sen. Frank Kelly; UM Medical Center pulls request for a rate hike, after critics decry timing of such a request; Baltimore city drops lawsuit over Pimlico after talks with Stronach restarted; Climate Change Part 4: keeping the drafts at bay; Planned Parenthood launches Maryland-DC-N. Virginia effort to protect abortion rights; and committee chaired by Maryland U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings votes to hold two Trump officials in contempt of Congress.

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State Roundup, June 12, 2019

Gov. Larry Hogan is urging the Trump administration to reconsider delay, put Underground Railroad hero Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill; statewide, fatal overdoses down while Washington County sheriff disputes uptick numbers; state moves forward to demolish 40 buildings making up city detention center; Hogan asks U.S. Rep. Hoyer’s help in pushing through redistricting reform; in Part 3 of series on climate change, poorer Baltimore City residents struggle with heat, hot water bills; Washington County parklands aided by state Open Space funds; Baltimore County publishes interactive county budget information; and slew of “Healthy Holly” books find their way for the taking at Maryland Book Bank.