Featured in Category

State Roundup, January 14, 2020

New Prescription Drug Affordability Board learns about ethics of financial disclosure requirements in first meeting; eight Annapolis lawmakers are running for other offices; Gov. Hogan sets aside $9 million in tax credits to help those with student loan debt; formal portraits of former Senate President Mike Miller, late Sen. Verda Welcome hung in Senate chamber; Chanel Branch tapped to replace former Del. Cheryl Glenn; Board of Public Works OKs $18.8 million for Rural Legacy Program grants; NAACP, Prince George’s County sue Census Bureau over lack of preparation; following “Healthy Holly” book scandal, Baltimore City Council pursues ethics reforms; and Baltimore mayor signs off on plastic bag ban.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, January 13, 2020

Medical marijuana brings in $10 million in tax revenues in FY2019; Southern Maryland officials plan to launch push to bring commuter rail to their communities; death with dignity bill could fall short again this year; tax proposed for online venues that host digital ads; legislature, workers have little confidence in handling of harassment, bias claims; two companies received a quarter of state tax abatements in 2019; with Baltimore City, Prince George’s concerned over Kirwan financial hit, lawmakers say they’ll study adjusting formula; federal lawmakers push to hold EPA accountable over Bay cleanup; dems seeking late Rep. Cummings’ seat hold forum; Prince George’s County Exec Alsobrooks slams law banning some fund-raising as biased; and is former Arundel County Exec Leopold running for AA school board?

State Roundup January 10, 2020

Former Senate President Mike Miller calls for addressing Baltimore’s crime problem in lengthy floor speech; Comptroller Peter Franchot confirms run for governor; Iran resolution passes house with all but one Maryland vote; online ad tax proposed; hospital op-ed praises state’s system; Hogan suggests retirement tax break for emergency responders; Morgan State University announces consideration of partnership for medical school; Baltimore youth fund under scrutiny; lawmakers from around the state discuss 2020 session and start meeting as delegations; judge rules against tenants in presidential son-in-law’s case; Brown picks a presidential candidate; Mia Mason will challenge Rep. Andy Harris; MVA working on REAL ID; tourism official calls for more CEOs to visit Garrett

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, January 9, 2020

Board of Public Works approves 2-1 Gov. Hogan’s Capital Beltway, I-270 roads plan with compromises; opening day of 441st General Assembly session launches era of younger, more diverse leadership, talk of bipartisan cooperation; as Adrienne Jones becomes new speaker, late Speaker Michael Busch is remembered; Gov. Hogan dismisses as false Washington Monthly article on business dealings, ethics while Jones, Senate President Ferguson express concern; cash-strapped Prince George’s, Baltimore to seek changes in Kirwan education formula; statewide, police departments have destroyed 270 rape kits in past two years; Maryland Insurance Agency to remain in downtown Baltimore location; gun issues among variety of Frederick lawmakers’ concerns; and Hogan asks Attorney General Frosh to sue Pennsylvania, EPA over Bay watershed cleanup plan.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, January 8, 2020

Comptroller Franchot tells crowd he’s running for governor in 2022; with the General Assembly session opening today, the Statehouse will see new House and Senate leaders: Speaker Adrienne Jones brings a quiet style to her post while incoming Senate President Bill Ferguson seeks stability during the transition; pay attention to the up and comers within the House and Senate; who are the six new members of the House and Senate?; as Gov. Hogan sets his top priorities as crime and corruption, he brushes off questions about his real estate business deals following Washington Monthly report; proposed I-270 monorail between Frederick and Montgomery counties gains traction; and with Amazon blooming in Arlington County, Va., the economic split between it and Montgomery County, Md., grows.

Featured in Category

State Roundup, January 7, 2020

While Gov. Hogan may not like a lot of what President Trump is doing, the way the two real estate executives have handled their private business affairs while in office is strikingly similar; Hogan faced a bumpy, windy road on the way to compromises over his Capital-area highway widening plans; a top Hogan aide is leaving to take government relations job with highway construction firm; on the eve of the General Assembly’s 441st session, Kirwan education reforms expected to remain top issue in Annapolis; with new leadership in the House of Delegates and the Senate comes uncertainty; new prescription drug board kicks off with bipartisanship, hope of reining in costs; Gonzales Poll finds Hogan’s popularity continues; and former U.S. Treasury official joins race for Baltimore mayor.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, January 6, 2020

Gov. Hogan, Comptroller Franchot reach agreement over Beltway, I-270 roads projects, now expected to go before Board of Public Works on Wednesday; as the General Assembly session gets ready to open, education reform – without massive tax hike – leads concerns; bills Hogan vetoed last May expected to reappear; with changes aplenty, House Speaker Jones taps new committee leadership; Prince George’s lawmakers want deal for Bowie Race Track in any Pimlico legislation; Carroll County lawmakers set sights on Kirwan ed reform; AFSCME says Hogan denied its members raises; Frederick County skewing slightly blue; banning hair discrimination expected in Baltimore city, may come up in Annapolis; and towns to fight proposed maglev project.

State Roundup, January 3, 2020

State employees agree to 2% raise deal; Cardin slams strike on Iranian general; family members won’t serve as campaign treasurer in proposed corruption reforms; former Del. Gaines sentencing today; Baltimore city starts 2020 with violence; Baltimore County’s homicide rate nearly doubled last year; Hogan issues welcome letter for refugees; legalized sports betting on the table; private school voucher case closely followed; former medical marijuana regulator joins cannabis company; Howard educators file grievance; viewpoints on impeached president in election year; speak out held on lifting of Baltimore gag order; profile of former Teach for America teacher turned Senate president; yard waste could be considered litter; opioid deaths by county; Garrett business leaders ask for health plan changes, Deep Creek Lake funds; Rep. Andy Harris holds a town hall; local governments meet on Bay cleanup; Hogan appoints MDTA board member; grant for bike path connector; flags fly at half staff for Cecil firefighter.

Homepage Featured

State Roundup, January 2, 2020

New laws took effect on Jan. 1, including minimum wage boost and one that bans insurers from penalizing organ donors; Baltimore ends year with 348 murders; Maryland’s prison population works a lot, but for not much pay; Gov. Hogan tells President Trump Maryland will continue to accept refugees; MarylandReporter founder Len Lazarick is stepping away from day-to-day operations, making way for Tim Maier to take the helm as executive editor and publisher; early data shows stream cleanup doesn’t help Bay as much as thought; Mike Griffith appointed to fill Del. Cassilly’s seat; lawmakers have just a few days before the start of the Annapolis session to raise campaign cash; MDGOP seizes Dems’ legal woes to stump for cash; Hogan pledges $3.8 million for Bikeways Program; and as B’more tries to control Airbnbs, fewer licensed than expected.

State Roundup

State Roundup, December 31, 2019

Del. Sydnor appointed senator to replace Nathan-Pulliam, Mike Griffith replaces Del. Cassilly; achievement gaps persists in Montgomery County; pay hike sought for Montgomery school board; Cummings $1M campaign fund could go to youth programs, scholarships; preview of legislation on plastic bag ban, assault rifle buy back, and legalization of marijuana, which is not likely to happen this year.