Cynthia Prairie

State Roundup: ICE accesses Md. drivers’ photos

State Roundup: ICE accesses Md. drivers’ photos

by | Feb 27, 2020 |

ICE officials have been allowed to run facial-recognition searches on millions of Maryland driver’s license photos without state, court approval; Maryland prepares for possible coronavirus outbreak; following death of student, bill would mandate cameras in special education classrooms; Baltimore City State’s Attorney Mosby advocates for compensation for those wrongly convicted; Mosby, AG Frosh testify against bill to hire more prosecutors in AG’s office; state’s top judge opposes compromise bill on judicial elections; coal workers lobby against plan to shutter plants; and on eve of sentencing, former Baltimore Mayor Pugh issues video apology.

State Roundup: $389M plan for racetracks

State Roundup: $389M plan for racetracks

by | Feb 26, 2020 |

Lawmakers hear pitches to fund $389 million Pimlico, Laurel track revamps, keeping Preakness in Baltimore, opening Laurel for more races and benefiting Park Heights neighborhood; bill to fund paid family leave before House committee; Speaker Jones pushes for $577 million for historically black colleges and universities to rectify funding imbalance; neighbors of odoriferous hemp farm take their complaints to Annapolis; bipartisan group seeks to put an end to coal power; state’s cannabis market generated $21.7 million in taxes, 4,000 jobs; and state retains coveted AAA bond rating.

State Roundup: Sanders leads in new Goucher poll

State Roundup: Sanders leads in new Goucher poll

by | Feb 25, 2020 |

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders leads in new Goucher poll as Maryland support for Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren dives; while leading Republican lawmakers are wary of $372.9 million deal to keep Preakness in Baltimore, bipartisan support possible; Goucher poll also finds Marylanders lukewarm over legalized sports betting; taxing services when there is no where else to turn; lawmakers ready to OK task force to oversee new JHU police; $15 million in state aid proposed to boost BSO; and Howard professor, family quarantined in Wuhan, U.S. over coronavirus.

State Roundup: Poll supports Kirwan but not taxes

State Roundup: Poll supports Kirwan but not taxes

by | Feb 24, 2020 |

New Goucher Poll finds strong support for Kirwan education reforms but concern over hike in taxes, with some urging status quo on taxes and state services; former state Attorney General Gansler approves of minimum sentencing for those who commit gun crimes, especially repeat offenders; proposal would ban police from offering waivers to sex crime victims to end investigation; father pushes bill to allow children with seizure disorders to use medical cannabis at school; Senate passes bill to stop discrimination by landlords against those using housing vouchers; Montgomery delegate hopes to find relief for businesses currently suffering through Purple Line construction; and Takoma Park considers banning use of fossil fuels.

State Roundup: Higher taxes for Kirwan?

State Roundup: Higher taxes for Kirwan?

by | Feb 20, 2020 |

Del. Luedtke proposes tax on professional services, penny cut in sales tax to fund Kirwan education initiatives, while many suspect businesses that haven’t paid that such tax will protest; watchdog group files ethics complaint against Gov. Hogan over business dealings; Climate Solutions Act would address state fleet, state buildings, new commercial construction and rising sea levels; Del. Wilson returns with bill seeking expanded time for victims of child sex abuse to sue; Sen. Lam introduces bill to ban public school ‘lunch shaming;’ and Hagerstown Airport gets $1 million in federal funding for upgrades.

State Roundup: Bill to ban hair bias

State Roundup: Bill to ban hair bias

by | Feb 19, 2020 |

Judiciary panel, pondering expanding definition of race, hears testimony on hairstyle bias that directly impacts African Americans; Senate gives initial OK to allowing public voice over future Bay Bridge work; American Heart Association wants to ban sale of flavored nicotine products; proposal would end point-of-sale plastic carryout bags; bill would allow law enforcement to take behavioral health patients to a crisis center; coaches are top paid state employees; Gov. Hogan names new State Police superintendent; and legislation to decide what can be labeled ‘meat’ dies in committee.

State Roundup: Lawmakers review Kirwan plan

State Roundup: Lawmakers review Kirwan plan

by | Feb 18, 2020 |

State lawmakers begin review of Kirwan education recommendations, funding possibilities and dire warnings should it not be funded; in the meantime, students, parents and teachers rally outside State House to support education overhaul plan; Gov. Hogan names first inspector general to oversee education spending; with aging population, Maryland faces crisis in lack of one-on-one health care workers; UMMS board member acknowledges ‘some knowledge’ of Healthy Holly dealings; Kweisi Mfume takes heat over supporting sentencing leniency for Catherine Pugh; and five named to District Court bench in Prince George’s.

State Roundup: House OKs school funds

State Roundup: House OKs school funds

by | Feb 17, 2020 |

Maryland House OKs $2.2 billion school repair, construction bill to ease crowding, replace old buildings; four committees to hear Kirwan education recommendations today; bill would enable people targeted by false police calls to sue the callers for damages; opioid chief Schuh defends expenditures after critical audit; half of Gov. Hogan’s “Green Bag” appointments go to women; new Redskins stadium may just replace the old one; state, local solution sought to hemp farm stench; and attorneys for Catherine Pugh cite distress, economic loss in seeking 366-day sentence for Baltimore’s former mayor.

State Roundup, February 13, 2020

State Roundup, February 13, 2020

by | Feb 13, 2020 |

County, city leaders urge General Assembly to provide more funding for balanced transportation spending statewide; transit panel hears testimony on bill to ban state from acquiring residential property for toll lanes for I-270, I-495; Darryll Pines, longtime engineering dean, is named new president of University of Maryland, replacing Wallace Loh; advocates push to update state’s 50-year-old open records laws; some minors would be allowed to get vaccines without parental consent; bill would reinstate capital punishment for mass murder; on a tip, state auditors question grant to buy country club/golf course with opioid funds; and resolution to set up panel to rename Western Maryland mountain.

State Roundup, February 12, 2020

by | Feb 12, 2020 |

Mother of slain black Army lieutenant urges Annapolis lawmakers to broaden state’s hate-crime law; bill would bar murder defendants from claiming they were provoked by victim’s sexual orientation, gender identity; Health Dept. official says changes in required makeup of panel probing maternal deaths might hamper recruitment; Senate OKs bill to ban balloon releases; retailers backing statewide ban of plastic bags; sheriffs opposing bill to stop law enforcement from asking detainees immigration status; Gov. Hogan’s clean energy bill met with skepticism; slew of women running for Baltimore City Council, mirroring national trend; and Washington County gears up to for Next Gen 9-1-1.

Support Our Work!

We depend on your support. A generous gift in any amount helps us continue to bring you this service.

Twitter

Facebook