Maryland lawmakers showed up to their final official day of work on Monday, a marathon of last-minute lawmaking as a midnight deadline to adjourn approached. The last day of the 90-day Maryland General Assembly session is generally a chaotic affair, as lawmakers go in and out of sessions in their chambers, punctuated by quick and impromptu committee voting sessions. Lobbyists and advocates make last-minute pushes for bills that still hang in the balance.

Maryland made more tax revenue from sports gambling in March than the previous three months combined as free bets declined and March Madness drew in millions more in wagers. Maryland received $5.3 million in taxes from sports gambling in March, according to the Maryland Gaming Commission, nearly 90% higher than the February figure of $2.8 million and more than any month since mobile gambling started in the state in November. In total, Marylanders made nearly $386 million in bets in March, an increase of about $46.5 million over February.

Food prices continue their roller coaster trajectory at a time when recession fears have the world on edge. Baltimore Banner readers can’t change the stock market (unless there’s something you’re not telling us), but we can control the way we shop at the grocery store. We checked in with three local food industry professionals to ask their advice on stretching dollars while food shopping. Chef Mario Cano Catalán of Ouzo Bay said when it comes to groceries for his family, “We buy what we’re going to eat. We don’t buy anything extra.” The father of three said writing a list of items you need before you go is crucial so “you don’t get anything that’s going to go to waste.”

Montgomery County, Maryland, council members began going over a $6.8 billion budget plan submitted by County Executive Marc Elrich. In a briefing with reporters Monday, Council President Evan Glass said, “There’s a lot in this budget. There’s a lot of good,” but there are also a lot of questions. Among those questions, Glass said, is whether the county can use one-time revenues to pay for recurring expenses.

 

 

Despite an ongoing lifeguard shortage, officials say they will make any necessary changes to ensure the beach is covered ahead of the summer season. On Monday, Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald presented the Ocean City Police Commission with an update on lifeguard recruitment. While staffing challenges remain, he said the Ocean City Beach Patrol would have two more testing dates before the summer season starts.

 

After multiple discussions spanning several months, the Frederick County Board of Education has determined it would be impossible to expand school bus service in the fiscal 2024 budget, its vice president said. Board Vice President Dean Rose said in an interview last week that he wasn’t giving up on the overall idea, though.

 

The General Assembly wrapped up its session Monday with a marathon of lawmaking, passing hundreds of bills mostly with ease, though there were spurts of tension right at the midnight deadline, as well as earlier in the day, around proposed laws to control gun ownership and grapple with the impending legalization of recreational cannabis. Entering the final day, the Democratic supermajorities in Annapolis had already approved landmark bills on topics like abortion access and civil remedies for victims of child sexual abuse.

A study of rent regulations in Montgomery County is coming, according to Natalia Carrizosa, a legislative analyst at the Office of Legislative Oversight (OLO), who spoke during a discussion Wednesday with the Montgomery County Renters Alliance. The need for the study arose because two competing rent stabilization bills have been put before the Montgomery County Council.

Hope for Baltimore’s future. That is what the CFG Bank Arena reopening means to several city and state officials. Oak View Group, the Los Angeles-based owners of the arena that recently underwent a $250 million renovation, held a ribbon-cutting event Friday morning ahead of the reimagined venue’s first concert later that evening, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band. The show will be followed by The Eagles Hotel California Tour on Saturday.

The landlord of my first apartment had been avoiding returning my security deposit for weeks. I was a polite 23-year-old but insistent about what I was owed — I think I may have implied a knowledge of real estate law and thrown in a “forthwith” or two. Unable to find a legitimate reason to just keep my money, he instead implied that the real problem was me, exaggeratedly wiggling his neck when he spat the word “attitude” like he was an extra on “Good Times.”