The Moore administration announced over $15 million in grant awards and a budget proposal aimed to improve reproductive health care and abortion access across Maryland, according to a news release from the governor’s office Monday. The funding announcement comes during an election year when voters will have the opportunity, on the November ballot, to vote to amend the state’s Constitution to enshrine Marylanders’ right to terminate or continue a pregnancy.

Dressed in matching red heart headbands and necklaces, a pair of volunteers roamed the halls of LifeBridge Health Carroll Hospital Tuesday visiting patients alongside Raven, an 11-year-old Dalmatian outfitted in a red T-shirt, red tutu, pink and red bows and painted red nails.

Maryland lawmakers are considering legislation that would increase the penalty for crimes that occur at “sacred places.” A house committee heard testimony Tuesday on a proposed bill that would tack on as much as 10 years in prison to a felony conviction on a violent crime that happens at a school, hospital or place of worship.

 

Maryland’s first chief of the unit tasked with investigating police fatalities is leaving for a new role, she confirmed Tuesday. Dana Mulhauser was hired by the state in 2021 to helm its new Independent Investigations Division, a part of the state Attorney General’s Office. She left earlier this month and will become Everytown for Gun Safety’s deputy director of affirmative litigation.

 

Exterior improvements are complete on nearly a dozen downtown buildings. The mayor and City Council received an update on the facade makeovers at a work session Tuesday. The updates are part of a $950,000 downtown comprehensive investment program that matches grant funds for capital improvement projects including outside appearance of buildings, infrastructure and residential development.

 

Federal lawmakers say they are having conversations “at the highest levels of the Pentagon” to try to convince the Air Force to preserve a flight mission at Martin State Airport in Middle River, home of the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Wing. The Air Force is phasing out its A-10 “Warthog” attack aircraft over the next five years.

A state audit shows at least eight Maryland school systems didn’t use $12.3 million designated for students in underserved communities. According to the document from the Office of the Inspector General for Education, officials with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) didn’t provide training and guidance for local school officials to utilize what are known as concentration of poverty grants.

 

Advocates pushing for a higher minimum wage for tipped workers announced Tuesday that they will press to take the question directly to Maryland voters in November after lawmakers scrapped a bill that would have raised the pay floor. The shift follows a tepid bill hearing in the state Senate on Feb. 1, where skeptical lawmakers questioned how much local support the effort had after few Maryland restaurant workers showed up to testify in favor of the legislation.

The Harford County school board backed Superintendent Sean Bulson’s budget request Monday night in a 6-3 vote. Bulson proposed a budget with a $47.3 million or 7.7% increase over the current school year mostly by asking the county government for an increase in local funding of $40 million.

 

Baltimore County residents will have at least two chances to give their opinion on all legislation prior to a County Council vote, according to new rules proposed to improve public participation and transparency. Led by Democratic Councilman Pat Young, a group of council members on Tuesday reiterated their support for a resolution that would amend the council’s rules of procedure.