Cynthia Prairie, Author at MarylandReporter.com

State Roundup, December 11, 2015

State Dems consider legislation to automatically put eligible residents on voter rolls; AFSCME protests outside Government House over stonewalled negotiations; Gov. Hogan highlights job growth in Western Maryland; tells MACo conference he’s there to help local jurisdictions; Maryland Chamber gears up for 2016 legislative session; Frostburg U., medical marijuana business team up to foster jobs, research; and Sun editorial board urges UM to change name of Byrd Stadium.

Hogan gets warm welcome from county officials, promises to restore road funding, collaborate

overnors traditionally get a warm welcome from the local elected and appointed officials at the winter conference of the Maryland Association of Counties. But Thursday’s night welcome for Gov. Larry Hogan at the dinner installing new MACo officers at the Cambridge Hyatt Regency was particularly loud and boisterous, with standing ovations at the beginning and end of a short 12-minute speech that delivered standard talking points from the governor.

State Roundup, December 10, 2015

State union to protest what it sees as Hogan administration’s failure to negotiate new contract; research ties drop in gonorrhea cases to state’s hike in alcohol tax; numbers of detained juveniles on the decline; state doles out grants to push anti-drug trafficking initiatives; move by hospital regulators could spell more jobs in poorer communities; U.S. Rep. Cummings, Sen. Cardin push for witness protection funding; and Carroll board votes to shutter three schools.

State employees protest lack of new contract or response to proposals

Gov. Larry Hogan will host the annual holiday party for state employees Thursday afternoon at the governor’s mansion. But outside Government House, members of the state’s largest public employee union, AFSCME, plan on protesting what they say is the administration’s failure to negotiate a new contract or respond to any union proposals, despite a Dec. 31 deadline in state law.

State Roundup, December 9, 2015

Supreme Court unanimously sends redistricting challenge to three-judge Maryland court; poor PARCC scores push BOE to reconsider test’s usefulness; lawmakers seek to raise state’s clean energy goals; Medicaid computer system upgrade killed as Atty. Gen. Frosh considers suing contractor; lawmakers revive end-of-life legislation; state apparently sent towns millions that should have gone to Montgomery County; Gov. Hogan considers trade trip with DC and VA; and Emmitsburg to keep controversial WWI plaque.

Elementary, middle school PARCC scores fall short of readiness levels

Following the release Tuesday of new, statewide exam scores showing that fewer than half of elementary and middle school-aged students passed, Maryland Board of Education members appeared to be split over the practicality of continuing to use the exam in coming years.

State Roundup, December 8, 2015

Following a Sun report on continuing lead paint problems, lawmakers call for tougher enforcement; Maryland beekeepers seek labeling, restrictions in effort to stave off colony collapse; policing panel urges shortening time for police officers to respond to internal probes; Saylor commission releases report on training police in disability awareness; business panel mulls targeted tax hikes; College Park President Loh suggests changing name of Byrd Stadium; Emily’s List backs Peña-Melnyk; and more Baltimore City pols line up for Van Hollen.

Beekeepers hope legislators will act on pesticide to protect hives

Maryland beekeepers are again hoping that the state’s legislature passes a bill in 2016 to label a class of pesticides, neonicotinoids, as harmful to bees and restrict sales of the chemicals to commercial and agricultural applicators.

The Mikulski-Clinton email files

Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Hillary Clinton are good friends, as these email exchanges while Clinton was secretary of state show. The final email response from H to “Barb” in 2010 is amusing given the current presidential campaign. Hillary says: “How’s our friend, Martin [O’Malley] , doing? I know he has a rematch when he should be reelected by acclamation for steering the ship of state so well. Pls give him my best wishes.”

State Roundup, December 7, 2015

Legislative policing review panel cancels December meeting, raising questions on General Assembly action; in wake of California shootings, three politicians offer vastly different approaches; although lead poisoning drops in Maryland, its presence still profound; Hogan eyes rural counties for extra education funding; Maryland atty gen puts out help wanted sign for media mediator on information requests; Hogan talks to Baltimore City businesses before heading to Western Maryland; Ben Carson holds fund-raiser in city; Bernie Sanders to visit Baltimore this week; TU hires new president; and candidate field for Cecil exec grows.

Cynthia Prairie

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