Cynthia Prairie

Gov. Hogan says he’ll only approve plan to add third span to Bay Bridge, drawing criticism from some; Bay dead zone among the largest seen in 35 years; while state revenue is up, Comptroller Franchot urges caution in spending; state denies two solar farm permits slated for Carroll County; Queen Anne’s officials pass law making balloon releases illegal; vaping-related lung illnesses hit Maryland as five are hospitalized; Montgomery County approaches Amazon to see if fulfillment center would fit; while feds sue Baltimore County over discrimination in police testing; test is common in area; $800,000 in federal funds to go toward oyster habitat restoration; presidential hopeful John Delaney fails to make latest round of debates; and Bread and Roses candidate Jerome Segal to run for president.

State’s new options for Bay bridges – all are in Anne Arundel County – spark concerns for Arundel officials; Baltimore delegate asks attorney general to investigate whether the Maryland Racing Commission has improperly awarded public subsidies to the state’s biggest racetrack owner; PARCC scores for Maryland students up in English, down in math; at National Governors Association confab, Gov. Hogan touts transportation projects; upper bay crabbers say catch is suffering; and following ruling tightening Open Meeting Law, St. Mary’s official says his county is Open Meeting Law compliant.

With Maryland’s new law attempting to curb puppy mills set to go into effect, pet stores are suing the state, claiming it is unconstitutional; Maryland state pensions returning below benchmarks; judge’s ruling in suit against companies in opioid crisis may bode well for suits brought by Maryland jurisdictions; two hopefuls to vie for Del. Lafferty’s seat as he takes post with Baltimore County; state Sen. Sallings denies tweet calling U.S. Rep. Omar ‘illegal;’ after meeting with Gov. Hogan, city reps are confident state will aid with crime problem; months before President Trump ‘rat-infested’ slam at Baltimore city, White House tried to kill rat-elimination funding; and city Republicans jump into race for Baltimore mayor.

Governors from Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire to meet over transportation issues; capital region drivers have 3rd worst commute in country; Comptroller Franchot mounts soft run for governor, for now; state to expand apprenticeship program; MSEA poll finds 94% of teachers spend their own money on school supplies and 50% work a second job to make ends meet; BSO, management remain split over contract; blast that destroyed chunk of building in Columbia held Social Security field office; months after Baltimore City computer hack, Ethics Board website finally back up; and officials from Baltimore city and Prince George’s and Montgomery battle it out on court.

Comptroller Franchot tells supporters he is ‘seriously considering’ run for governor; Maryland’s pilot dental program encompasses 33,000; state rolls out Promise Scholarship program for community college student, but Sen. Pinsky decries rocky process; big pharma dictating drug costs to Maryland Medicare beneficiaries; amid concern over spending, Kirwan education panel meets today; judge upholds state denial of easement for natural-gas pipeline in Hancock; and Republican state Sen. Salling launches campaign to run against incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruppersberger.

State to make available $10 million to bring reliable internet services to rural communities; state frees more than $1 million for Baltimore parks, withheld in error by Gov. Hogan; Bay dead zone growing; Arundel County agrees to comply with DNR’s order over sequestered beach; U.S. Rep. Cummings hosts confab on childhood trauma; and former House Speaker Paul Ryan, family to move to rental house in Maryland.

Despite Gov. Hogan’s push against tax hikes for Kirwan, Democrats vow to move forward to find funds for education overhaul; lawmakers begin rethinking how to tax, regulate recreational marijuana following Pew study on volatile tax revenue; Dels. Bromwell, Lafferty to leave General Assembly for new top jobs with Baltimore County Exec Olszewski; state orders private beach in Arundel to be made public or made a trade; U.S. Rep. Hoyer doles out cash to vulnerable House Dems; Baltimore City Council toughens ethics rules following Healthy Holly scandal; and PETA billboard slams first son-in-law and landlord Jared Kushner.

Gov. Hogan says he won’t support large tax hikes to fund the Kirwan education plan, while Speaker Jones say she wants to look at changes in tax credits; Pew study cautions states on expecting huge windfall from legal recreational pot; Maryland’s volunteer fire companies say they are in serious financial need; Maryland lags behind compensation for those exonerated of crimes they were imprisoned for; “substantial progress” made in negotiations to keep Preakness in Baltimore; state warns W. Virginia that it needs to pay up for MARC service or it will be cut; Open Meetings complaint filed against Handgun Permit Review Board; and it’s a bad year for oysters, only we don’t see it yet.

The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration is recalling 8,000 driver’s licenses for failing to meet Real ID compliance; while county leaders are being encouraged to support the Kirwan education initiatives, potential costs have them worried; Del. Davis says he is drafting legislation to remove ‘black liquor’ from renewable energy list; Gov. Hogan, Baltimore Mayor Young to meet next week over crime initiatives in Baltimore; WSSC justifies $900,000 rebranding, saying customers don’t understand what it does; Maryland’s delegation to Congress questions whether next election will be secure; court rules that pot odor insufficient grounds for police search; and Del. Impallaria wants defamation case to continue, says he wasn’t properly informed of hearing.

Gov. Hogan signs exec order creating renewable energy task force, mirroring bill that failed to pass last session but apparently cutting out greenies; Washington County finds cost of solar project cuts into their savings; Maryland businessman launches effort to mobilize support for Hogan’s road widening plan; state officials to focus on those undercounted as it mounts 2020 Census effort; Dart Container to shut Hampstead, Havre de Grace facilities; algae blooms that are toxic to dogs are found in Maryland lakes; Carroll Republicans decry Arundel Dem’s Facebook posting blaming GOP for shootings; Baltimore’s 35-year-old Council president considers running for mayor; and six Montgomery County schools found to be named after slave owners.