Cynthia Prairie

Multiple changes in state law required to make Preakness deal work; meanwhile, Stronach’s founder slams his company president-daughter, says deal can be improved; Arundel Exec Pittman to try to sell Preakness-Laurel Park deal to skeptical neighbors; citing safety, backups, Queen Anne’s official asks state to end two-way traffic along single span of Bay Bridge; after failing to get federal grants, Washington County first responders want commissioners to tout public-safety tax to state legislators; state agency concerns spark Carroll to study Piney Run Dam; Howard Council address Ellicott City flooding, school desegregation plan; and top city officials want full ban on plastic bags.

Amid pressure from state lawmakers, Hogan administration releases $900,000 aimed to ensure 2020 census counts; Preakness plan at first met with skepticism, winning some converts; despite Speaker Jones’ objections, State House Trust to amend plaque honoring Union and Confederate soldiers while removing rebel flag; state lawmakers continue working on getting more transparency when it comes to complaints against police; little data available to measure results of opportunity zones; Carroll County refiles opioid lawsuit; state elections board to consider another early voting site for Montgomery; and couples bring class action against federal agents over deportation move.

Baltimore City and horse-racing’s Stronach Group have come up with a plan to save Pimlico, keep the Preakness in Baltimore and held the surrounding community; while the deal has yet to be finalized, the road to even finding common ground was rocky; chairman of state medical marijuana commission says he is optimistic new round of licenses will include minority owners; a majority of members of the General Assembly get an A+ from the League of Conservation Voters; federal HIV grant to target Baltimore City, Montgomery, Prince George’s counties; EPA awards funds to deal with Conowingo pollution; grants aid security at places of worship; Frederick becoming a battle scene over immigration; and Baltimore City cops are highest paid city employees, including one who was suspended for ‘tarnishing the badge.’

Under mounting public pressure, Board of Public Works considers deadline implement plan to pay five exonerees; Transportation Secty Rahn blasted by BPW over severe weekend backs at the Bay Bridge; MTA gives Arundel residents a look-see of Bay Bridge expansion plans; with two new members tapped to fill vacancies in House of Delegates, ranks of those who first got their seats by appointment rises to 20%; state moves to demolition sections of Baltimore City Jail, while some historic preservationists say too much is being razed; and Baltimore County sets aside $16 million for school heating, air conditioning.

Gov. Hogan taps four new directors of the UMMS board, as changes continue following self-dealing scandal; Gov. Hogan also makes some changes to medical cannabis commission; state Health Department is urging e-cigarette users to find alternatives; three years after state mandate went into effect, more than two dozen state websites still lack language translation capability; state audit finds flaws in Coppin State’s systems for figuring out how much to charge students for tuition and how much financial aid to award; Washington County Board of Ed decides against proposing legislation in next Annapolis session; former Del. Lafferty talks new role as Baltimore County sustainability officer; with T.J. Smith stepping down from Baltimore County role, some believe he’ll run for city mayor; and Howard County to hold more public hearings on school redistricting plans.

Legislative audit of State Police finds discrepancies in hundreds of handgun serial numbers, concerns over financial practices; as lung illnesses, deaths continue, state urged to test vaping cartridges; Baltimore City, Gaithersburg joins suit against Trump administration over curbs on issuing green cards; Del. Luedtke pushes for 12th early voting site in Montgomery; after medical procedure, U.S. Rep. Cummings to return to Capitol Hill in two weeks; Baltimore County considers suing Monsanto over PCB contamination; Carroll County losing its dairy farms; opioid deaths in Frederick are down; “for now” judge dismisses as a “verbose complaint” a civil rights lawsuit alleging UMBC, county police and the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office improperly handled sexual assault investigations; and UMd’s Diamondback newspaper to end print edition in March.

From increasing age for cigarette and vaping product purchases to banning bumpstocks, hundreds of new laws go into effect Tuesday; businesses are also bracing themselves for minimum wage hike to $11 in 2020; Maryland senators, regional colleagues pushing for federal aid for the Chesapeake Bay; Atty Gen Frosh joins nationwide suit to protect Endangered Species Act; Baltimore city official grill Transportation Secty Rahn on local project funding cuts; Twitter suspends delegate’s account, reinstates it after outcry; organization acts as advocates to cut student suspensions; Metro board revises ethics policy; with Trump impeachment inquiry set to begin, a look back at another Republican named Hogan who defied a president, sealing his own fate; Maryland GOP uses impeachment probe to raise funds; presidential hopeful Booker joins GM picket line in White Marsh; and Montgomery County Exec Elrich considers mandating solar for all new homes.

Drug treatment advocates continue to push for sites where addicts can use drugs safely, connect to programs; for previous exonerees, Maryland found ways to compensate for time behind bars; Dems tap Carl Jackson and Cathi Forbes to replace Dels. Bromwell and Lafferty; in extremely rare sighting, researchers witness dolphin birth – in Chesapeake Bay; Attorney General Frosh joins lawsuit to protect wildlife from rollbacks of Trump administration; District Court judge, cited for abusive behavior, retires from bench; new Dem PAC takes in both shores of the Potomac; U.S. Rep. Harris says “no collusion” in Trump Ukraine call; Washington County to get new elections board HQ; and about 500 have signed up to speak at Howard County school redistricting hearings.

most Maryland congressional reps back impeachment inquiry; U.S. Senate panel boosts funding for federal Chesapeake Bay programs; state panel concerned with lack of information on Maryland push on Census; Maryland Public Policy Institute says 2018 poll shows Marylanders leery of new education spending; following killing at Frederick fair, Del. Cox wants to add to hate crime law; former Veep Biden, Sen. Warren lead for Dem nomination in Maryland poll; U.S. Rep. Cummings demands Ukraine documents from Trump White House; Howard Exec Ball spent $3,700 on tagged swag; and Baltimore County educators propose pre-Labor Day start for 2020-21 school year.