Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Baltimore, MD
Baltimore, MD
54°
Mostly Cloudy
FOLLOW US:

Politics

Jawando works to position himself as the progressive in Md.’s Senate race

In his bid for the U.S. Senate, Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando (D-At Large) openly acknowledges his fellow Democratic opponents have more money. But he argues that will not matter. He went into the home turf of one of those opponents, Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D), on Wednesday to unveil his first wave of endorsements from four local officials in her jurisdiction. At the same time, he declared himself the most progressive candidate in the wide-open race to succeed retiring Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) in 2024.

Annapolis task force launches survey seeking election feedback

Annapolis elections held a year early? Or a year late? Residents from all political affiliations casting ballots in primaries? Voters as young as 16 heading to the polls? These and other questions about the municipal election system are part of a new questionnaire launched this week by the city’s Task Force to Study the City Municipal Elections Laws, an all-volunteer body appointed in February by Mayor Gavin Buckley.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Larry Hogan says he hasn’t ‘slammed the door’ on running for presidency

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is still not completely ruling out a potential run for political office, but it’s not his “focus” at the moment. “I made the decision not to seek the Republican nomination,” Hogan said while on The C4 and Bryan Nehman Show on Wednesday. “I didn’t close the door to that. It’s not something I’m focused on.” Since leaving office, Hogan has said he did not want to run for presidency but may be working on possibly running as a third party.

 

With Prince George’s County leading the region in traffic fatalities, bill seeks to codify safety

With ambitious development plans around transit stations, notably along the Blue Line, Prince George’s County has a problem. Its fatality rate from automobile accidents is by far the highest in the DC region, partly due to having the most vehicle miles traveled. Recognizing this, the county adopted new urban design standards in 2017, yet fatalities remain extraordinary.

Brown vows fight for corporate diversity hiring and retention policies

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) vowed to fight attempts to end the racial equity and inclusion policies used by private corporations. “Let me be clear: diversity is not a threat — it’s an asset,” Brown said in response to a threat of legal action by 13 Republican attorneys general. “Diversity initiatives address longstanding disparities that continue to persist in our society, while also enriching business, sparking innovation, and fostering greater understanding among individuals from various backgrounds and experiences. Embracing and supporting diversity is a moral imperative and smart business.”

Jenkins asks judge for guns back; considering ending leave of absence

Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins is asking a federal judge to amend the conditions of his release to let him have two of his department-issued handguns as he “continues to work daily,” according to a court filing on Monday. Jenkins also said in an emailed statement to The Frederick News-Post on Tuesday that he is expecting “to make a decision as to when to rescind [his] ‘leave of absence’ status,” which has been in effect since mid-April. He did not provide a timetable for his decision.

Baltimore pushes back against EPA order to cover more sewage backups

Baltimore officials are pushing back against an order from the federal Environmental Protection Agency to assist residents with a wider range of sewage backups into their homes. Currently, under a pair of pilot programs, the city sends cleanup crews to Baltimore residents’ homes — or reimburses cleanup costs — only if a backup was caused by wet weather, which can overwhelm the aged sewer system because of cracks where rainwater can enter.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Md. Public Service Commission schedules hearings on BGE rate hike request

The Maryland Public Service Commission has scheduled two initial virtual public comment hearings on the multiyear rate plan filed in February by Baltimore Gas and Electric Company. The hearings are scheduled for Aug. 9 and 23, both at 7 p.m. The commission will schedule an additional public comment hearing at a later date.

 

Baltimore spent more than $33,000 on election cellphones city staff forgot to turn off

Baltimore paid more than $33,000 last year for cellphones that city officials neglected to turn off after the election was over, an investigation by Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming found. The 400 phones, which the Baltimore Board of Elections uses on a temporary basis for election employees and judges, are typically activated a month before a primary and deactivated after the subsequent general election.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
White House, Washington DC
Biden chooses former Hoyer aide as his new legislative affairs director

President Joe Biden is tapping Shuwanza Goff — a veteran congressional aide who also served as his main point of contact to the House at the start of the administration — as his new director of legislative affairs, making her the first Black woman to be the White House’s chief emissary to Capitol Hill. Goff succeeds Louisa Terrell in the role, a position that is especially vital for a president who spent more than three decades in Congress and takes pride in his connections to lawmakers.

The Morning Rundown

We’re staying up to the minute on the issues shaping the future. Join us on the newsletter of choice for Maryland politicos and business leaders. It’s always free to join and never a hassle to leave. See you on the inside.