The political action committee for End Citizens United // Let America Vote, a national advocacy group looking to get big money out of politics and fighting to strengthen voting protections, will endorse Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) Wednesday in the May 14 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. “Angela Alsobrooks is dedicated to protecting the freedom to vote and fighting for democracy reform to ensure our government works for the people — not just the wealthy elite,” Tiffany Muller, the president of End Citizens United // Let America Vote said in a statement.

Haters are going to hate but Maryland lawmakers say they want to make it harder for scalpers to shake off anti-scalping laws and sell over-priced tickets in Maryland for the next Taylor Swift concert or other big event. House and Senate lawmakers are proposing additional protections meant to prevent state residents from being gouged by unscrupulous ticket resellers out for a quick buck. The bill is part of four wide-ranging consumer protection bills that legislative leaders are supporting during the 2024 session.

I have always been passionate about Baltimore County. It’s the community I grew up in, the community where I raised my children and the community I still call home. As county executive, I was fully committed to ensuring the region was as competitive and successful as any other part of our state. That same commitment has continued on in my post-public service life. This is why I recently agreed to serve as chairman of Sparrows Point Alliance, a grassroots organization built to support Tradepoint Atlantic’s efforts to continue the revitalization of Sparrows Point.

Whether you love Donald Trump or loathe him, Maryland Secretary of State Susan Lee made the correct decision to put his name on the May Republican primary ballot, rather than follow the lead of her counterpart in Maine in disqualifying the ex-president. Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will be on the primary ballot in Maryland, Lee informed election officials. In a letter to state elections officials Monday, Lee said Trump and Haley generally met the qualifications for candidates who “generally advocated or recognized in the news media throughout the United States or in Maryland.”

The Baltimore Police Department has drawn so much scrutiny in recent years for poor policing practices, that one might assume the department had taken a firm hand with the most basic of chores — the management of time sheets. While preventing, responding to and solving crime is both difficult and often dangerous, setting an employee’s hours and making sure supervisors signed off is a piece of cake. Every organization, from the small mom-and-pop store to the most massive bureaucracy, faces this same chore.

A recent article in The Baltimore Sun, “Baltimore ballot question financed by Sinclair Broadcast group chair slashing City Council size garners 25K+ signatures” (Jan. 18), reminds me of when I served as a member of the Council of the District of Columbia. During my tenure, I introduced legislation that would have actually expanded the size of the D.C. legislative body. I did this primarily because it was important for me to recognize that more direct representation for D.C. residents is an important way to ensure that every voter has a voice.

To paraphrase one of Taylor Swift’s songs back to her: Welcome to Baltimore! It’s been waiting for you! Well, let me clarify that. Our quirky and culturally and historically vibrant city has been waiting to be discovered by everyone, including the megastar, who will presumably be at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday to watch boyfriend Travis Kelce and his Kansas City Chiefs play the Ravens in the AFC championship game. Already, the internet is alive with hilarious GIFs of her “visiting” everything from lake trout spots to the Banner newsroom.

I agree with Josh Kurtz (Maryland Matters, Jan. 5) that the Maryland Department of the Environment’s climate plan is comprehensive but lacks a sound strategy. Strategy is long term, not short term. While the plan’s tactics are sound, it does not have a strategic vision of what a net-zero Maryland looks like. How do the key pieces fit together? The basic weakness here starts at the top with goals.

Almost two years after passing landmark youth justice reform, Maryland lawmakers are scrutinizing its impact on young offenders – and questioning whether they’ve done enough to make things better. The 2022 reforms were meant to help more young offenders avoid incarceration and get on the path to rehabilitation. But with spikes in auto thefts, carjackings and handgun violations by youth around the state, lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle are thinking about refining and updating the reforms this year.

This week’s guest is State Senator Shelly Hettleman from District 11. Senator Hettleman joins the podcast to discuss forming the Maryland Jewish Legislative Caucus and her legislative agenda for the session.