Cynthia Prairie

GAO assesses impact of climate change on most contaminated sites, including seven in Maryland; vaping businesses suffer during health scare; Howard board of ed straw votes signal move toward redistricting with some changes; Gov. Larry Hogan keeps big announcements under wraps, but with a cost to some political relationships; Baltimore City Council pushes state on richer HBCU settlement;poultry slurry tank plan stirs controversy in Wicomico; state Sen. William Smith returns from Afghanistan deployment to different political world; Ellicott City plan awaits one land purchase; Del. Parrott to seek U.S. Rep. Trone’s seat; and Evening Sun editorial cartoonist Mike Lane dies at 78.

Central Maryland school districts split over pre- or post-Labor Day school start; marijuana commission restricts sale of some vape products; environmental, financial concerns arise over proposed American Legion Bridge project; Maryland pushing health care signups even as Trump administration continues to seek dismantling of Obamacare; Gov. Hogan OKs attorney Nicole Williams for former Del. Gaines’ seat; state GOP holds weekend convention; state police agencies wrestle with drone use vs. privacy issues; Maya Rockeymoore Cummings undergoes preventative double mastectomy as she readies run for late husband’s congressional seat; Howard County Del. Hill jumps into fray to seek Cummings’ seat; and House Speaker Pelosi blasts Trump during fundraiser for U.S. Rep. David Trone.

Hundreds of supporters of Maryland’s historically black universities and colleges rally in Annapolis to voice opposition to Gov. Hogan’s final offer of $200 million to settle lawsuit as Speaker Jones takes to the mic to back $577 million settlement; General Assembly likely won’t address legalizing recreational marijuana in 2020 session; Hogan taps Keiffer Mitchell as top lobbyist for his agenda; two companies proposing off-shore wind farms raise the height on their turbines by more than 200 feet, pushing regulators to reopen discussions; oops: state errs in sending 22,000 warnings to drivers over Hatem Bridge; Comptroller Franchot offers same message to Republicans and Democrats on the limits of government; Howard high schools back on the table over redistricting discussions; UB to train 3,000 as elections judges to Feb. 4 special primary to fill U.S. Rep. Cummings’ seat; and Cummings’ papers to go to Howard University.

Maryland, Virginia governors announce partnership to rebuild American Legion Bridge over the Potomac in attempt to relieve major traffic congestion on I-495; dozens show up at last public hearing of Kirwan Commission to show support for pricey, statewide education reform proposals; audit office under Kirwan would be weak; Washington County air concerns to lawmakers before start of Annapolis session; field for seat held by late U.S. Rep. Cummings gets crowded; Cummings was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer 25 years ago; and Baltimore city seeks to fix laws on prohibiting posting ‘early’ campaign signs.

Maya Rockeymoore Cummings has stepped down from her seat as Maryland Democratic Party chair to run for her late husband’s congressional seat; Sen. Jill Carter to make ‘special announcement’ next week as she considers running for Congress; Public Information Act Compliance Board seeks more authority over records disputes; teachers voting on who will serve on Maryland school board; Washington County, Carroll County schools outline wishlists for next Annapolis session; and iconic Baltimore gathering place for pols, Jimmy’s, up for sale again.

Baltimore Republican operative whose posts prompted President Trump’s anti-Cummings, Baltimore tweets to seek Cummings’ congressional seat; Charlton Howard named state prosecutor to head office to probe political corruption; Del. Moon proposes bill to prohibit real estate firms from selling homes based on school districts; two central Maryland school districts chose two different start days for fall 2020 classes; more than 100 Marylanders chose X for gender on licenses; ex-Del. Gaines’ daughter and campaign treasurer pleads guilty to wire fraud; U.S. Rep. Raskin, a constitutional scholar, becomes a star in impeachment probe; 29-year-old Clarksburg resident to challenge U.S. Rep. Trone in Dem primary; and Frederick seeks to bring transportation into rural parts of county.

General Assembly leaders propose spending $2.2 billion on school construction, boosting classroom dollars as it seeks to push forward backlogged projects; lawmakers question why few students accept offer of free community college tuition; Washington County lawmakers listen to constituents on benefits of medical marijuana; physician who aided other hospitals in crisis takes over scandal scarred UMMS; Howard school board kills motion to continue redistricting process by starting from superintendent’s recommended proposal; Bowie State president chastises Congress for holding up HBCU funds; and Montgomery County bans discrimination based on hairstyles.

With a 71% black prison population, Maryland leads all states – including Mississippi; Annapolis lawmakers look to 2021 for changes in voting privacy for Maryland’s disabled voters; two former delegates team up to fight opioid abuse; Handgun Permit Review Board violated open meetings law; U.S. Congress holds up funding for HBCUs; Frederick council, Montgomery school board set legislative priorities; state kills Montgomery plan to avoid Beltway widening; University of Maryland assesses climate goals; and in 2020, Baltimore County to start schools post-Labor Day.

Gov. Hogan joins coalition of governors opposing Trump administration withdrawal from Paris Agreement; Kweisi Mfume officially joins race to replace U.S. Rep. Cummings; law enforcement officials weighing in on Montgomery County Exec Elrich decision to not display ‘blue lives matter’ flag at police station; Del. Luedtke seeks emergency legislation to get 12th early voting site in Montgomery after state board votes against it; and Baltimore City Council gives preliminary OK to banning plastic bags.

Former U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume is expected to announced today his will seek the late Elijah Cummings’ seat in Congress; Transportation Secty Rahn says Gov. Hogan won’t raise taxes for major transit projects; Hogan wades into Montgomery County ‘Blue Lives Matter’ flag controversy; U.S. House Speaker Pelosi addresses Maryland Democrats; Maryland’s top court considers changes to timing of judicial suspensions; Hogan names two to Maryland courts; private citizen wants to buy ‘Negro Mountain’ signs as controversy continues over history of its name; in Baltimore County, more African Americans subjected to police stops; and state elections board nixes new Montgomery voting site.