Politics

Dozens of individuals testified on Monday before members of the Maryland Legislature regarding a resolution that calls for a ceasefire in Israel and Palestine, with the vast majority echoing the sentiments of the vice president of the United States, who called for an “immediate ceasefire” over the weekend. The calls come as about 100 hostages remain captive of Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization, after the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel (that killed about 1,200 people).

Ten energy retailers on Tuesday called for Gov. Wes Moore to prevent new regulations for utility marketing and sales from becoming law, contending that the policies will drive business from Maryland. Executives, including from the Fortune 500 companies Constellation and NRG Energy, wrote that the legislation will increase energy costs and remove choice from the market. They also requested a meeting with Moore.

Super Tuesday is over, and Maryland is looking forward to its presidential primary in May, with the state’s Attorney General Anthony Brown issuing a heads-up to voters: Beware of misleading robocalls related to election activity. Karen Straughn, director of the Mediation Unit with the Consumer Protection Division in the Office of the Attorney General, said there’s no particular issue right now, but that, “We are always concerned about scams coming in.”

Maryland lawmakers are weighing whether to create legal guardrails for when rap lyrics and other forms of artistic expression can be used as evidence against criminal defendants. The Senate Judicial Proceeding Committee heard testimony Tuesday about a proposed bill that would require a court to find a defendant’s creative expression has some connection to the alleged crime before admitting it as evidence.

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich withdrew his support Tuesday for Charles Bailey to be the county’s next fire chief. Bailey, a 30-plus-year veteran of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, would have been the county’s first Black fire chief. Elrich nominated him in November, but Bailey had yet to be confirmed by the 11-member Montgomery County Council.

Former U.S. Commerce Department official April McClain Delaney (D) is the first candidate to go on the air with a TV spot in the open 6th District congressional race. Delaney’s 30-second ad will begin airing Tuesday on cable stations throughout the district, and she is expected to be on TV through the May 14 primary. The introductory spot shows a picture of Delaney with her husband, former U.S. Rep. John Delaney (D), and their four daughters, along with a picture of the candidate with President Biden.

Unidentified callers phoning fake threats of violence to 911 have launched massive police responses in recent months to the homes of prominent political figures and state capitol buildings, including last week in Annapolis. The dangerous hoax, known as “swatting,” is meant to draw a heavily armed police presence — often SWAT teams — to a specific location to intimidate or harass innocent people, and has been increasingly used against political figures.

The longtime director of the Baltimore County Department of Health suddenly stepped down on Monday without an explanation. Baltimore County spokesperson Sean Naron and Maryland Department of Health spokesperson Chase Cook both said Dr. Gregory Branch was “no longer with” either the county or state as of Monday, and that they “thank Dr. Branch for his service to the county and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Baltimore County residents will have more time to weigh in on pending legislation after the council passed a resolution overhauling its rules for passing new laws and conducting meetings. Going forward, the council must give the public at least two chances to weigh in on proposed bills during work sessions before they’re voted on at a legislative hearing, according to a resolution the council passed 6-0 on Monday. Republican Councilman Todd Crandell was absent and did not vote.