Commentary

SPOILER ALERT: This column contains key plot points for a 420-year-old play that’s been made into a movie more than 50 times. I know there may be people who aren’t familiar with every moment of “Hamlet,” William Shakespeare’s classic tragedy about betrayal, political corruption, twisted family dynamics and madness.

This week’s unseasonably cold temperatures have made the swift approach of the Preakness Stakes seem unreal. Yet, there it stands on the calendar: The Kentucky Derby runs this Saturday and then, two weeks later, Baltimore takes the national spotlight with the 148th running of the Triple Crown’s second leg on May 20.

In recent weeks and months, multiple states have passed legislation targeting academic freedom and independence at public colleges and universities. States incuding Florida, Iowa, North Carolina, North Dakota and Texas have gone after tenure, one of the most significant protections of academic freedom and independence in institutions of higher learning.

Everybody, even progressive Democrats, loves a growing business community. It means more jobs, more income, more taxes. When the new governor and comptroller spoke to the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Feb. 28, they embraced the business community. Said Gov. Wes Moore, who had actually spent some time as an investment banker: “When Maryland’s businesses are strong, Maryland’s communities are strong. As governor, I am dedicated to doing everything in my power to make Maryland the business capital of the United States.”

Public comment at a public meeting is generally and widely permitted. Even though the state’s open meetings law does not mandate it, it’s a good practice for a public body to hear from the public whenever possible. But some members of the public have been abusing the privilege at county Board of Education meetings, disrupting and delaying meetings beyond all reason.

Data from the Association of American Medical Colleges shows about 5.7% of physicians in the United States identify as Black or African American, even though Black individuals make up approximately 13.6% of the overall population. In Maryland, where 31.4% of our population is Black, only 12.3% of physicians identify as Black.

Hello, Taxes. It’s been a while. Yeah, almost no one thinks about me until it’s time. Me and Death: an afterthought. But it’s budget season in Maryland and beyond, when cities, counties and even those doofuses in Washington fight over me and my sister, Spend. So it’s a good time to catch up. You, mortals, have to deal with me sooner or later. I am eternal.