Cynthia Prairie

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.

State Roundup, February 11, 2020

State Roundup, February 11, 2020

by | Feb 11, 2020 |

Sen. Klausmeier proposes bill to ban student sex offends from school campuses; taking Trump administration one step further, Comptroller Franchot bans sale of disposable e-cigarette devices; Gov. Hogan seeks to repeal Busch-sponsored bill requiring state to pay Annapolis at least $750,000 annually; as state seeks to right history, statues of Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass installed at State House; Hogan blasts President Trump on Chesapeake Bay program cuts; Sen. Carter says progressive support could help her win Cummings’ seat; and at least 11 take buyouts at Sun Media Group papers.

State Roundup, February 10, 2020

by | Feb 10, 2020 |

The Washington Redskins now dangling stadium in front of Virginia to secure spot in rising sports betting industry; following concern over governor’s real estate holding, lawmakers introduce measure to strengthen ethics law; bill targets ethics in the governor’s office; after special election day glitch, elections officials won’t require use of controversial wireless transmission network; bill would add hairstyles bias to discrimination law; Del. Parrott seeks to end mandatory needle exchange program; and Gov. Hogan proposes state pay for Capital Gazette press memorial.

State Roundup, February 6, 2020

by | Feb 6, 2020 |

Gov. Hogan focuses on fighting city crime, support from General Assembly in State of State address as members receptive to message of bipartisanship; Sen. Pinsky sponsors bill to bar state funds from going to Maglev projects; bill to provide state subsidies to some in state health insurance marketplace would cut costs, supports say; Len Lazarick recalls time when presidential candidates actually stumped in Maryland; network designed to transmit Maryland voter data to state officials during special primary had to be shut down; 7th District Congressional candidates gear up for their next races; Maryland congressmen talk Trump acquittal; and Montgomery officials push against federal immigration changes.

State Roundup, February 5, 2020

by | Feb 5, 2020 |

Kweisi Mfume wins Democratic primary while Kimberly Klacik takes Republican race for chance to finish the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings’ term in Congress; who are the candidates?; it may be confusing but there is still another primary in April, for a full term in Congress; Mfume overwhelmed a large Democratic field; in the meantime, House and Senate Democratic leaders in Annapolis announced a broad legislative package aimed at reducing violent crime; even as Gov. Hogan lambasts mandated spending, he does add to it; lawmakers question redundancy of Hogan’s school accountability plan; House passes bill requiring background checks for private sales of long guns; as Redskins sports betting at new stadium, they vow to hire minority vendor; and President Trump honors Maryland Tuskegee Airman with promotion to brigadier general.

State Roundup, February 4, 2020

by | Feb 4, 2020 |

Voters in the 7th Congressional District head to the polls today to nominate a candidate to replace the late Elijah Cummings; in expected low turnout, ‘super voters’ are targeted; panel postpones appointments to UMMS board of directors until audit is complete; Gov. Hogan speaks with city leaders on crime, violence and squeegee kids; Hogan pushes back against bill to use education funds for Pimlico revitalization; Senate panel OKs two Hogan picks to lead Transportation, Corrections; Montgomery House delegation cuts proposed salary hike for local school board members by $50,000; prez candidate Michael Bloomberg taps Maryland campaign team; and mayor of Thurmont, widow of slain Capital Gazette reporter to attend President Trump’s State of the Union address.

State Roundup, February 3, 2020

by | Feb 3, 2020 |

Baltimore city officials push lawmakers for more aid, cooperation in reducing violent crime; aid in dying advocates continue to push bill; while Baltimore County lawmakers praise the Pimlico-Laurel racetrack plan, they ponder future of State Fairgrounds in Timonium; bills would strengthen state’s public records laws; lawmakers seeks to reduce late fees for toll payments; Tuesday is Special Primary Day for the 7th District Congressional race to fill the late U.S. Rep. Cummings’ term, and the Baltimore Sun editorial board backs state Sen. Jill Carter in the Democratic Primary and community activist Reba Hawkins in the Republican Primary; back in Annapolis: Republican lawmakers put forward bill on what can be labeled ‘meat;’ Baltimore County government hasn’t recycled glass in years; and Howard County has significant health disparities that exist along racial lines.

State Roundup, January 30, 2020

by | Jan 30, 2020 |

Republican lawmakers attempt to amend bill on sales of long guns, while Democrats call them a ‘distraction’; Senate President Ferguson and Sen. Miller push for online ad tax to help fund education, others question its fairness, constitutionality; Gov. Hogan revives push for statewide post-Labor Day school start; proposal would protect Maryland drivers who have their licenses confiscated due to Real ID non-compliance; Speaker Jones turns on House live-streaming; legislation would extend protection to private citizens breaking into cars to save heat-distressed animals; and sisters of late U.S. Rep. Cummings endorses Mfume, Spikes.

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