Politics

As Baltimore City leaders explore ways to reimagine the “Highway to Nowhere” thanks to a $2 million federal grant, some community groups are wondering: What’s taking so long? Repurposing the infamous 1 1/2-mile stretch of U.S. 40 took an important step forward last year when Baltimore City received federal funds to help study the proposal, which is backed by Mayor Brandon Scott and members of the Maryland congressional delegation.

Gov. Wes Moore (D), who used national connections and his growing political popularity to set fundraising records during his 2022 campaign, continues to raise money at a furious pace. In campaign finance documents released Wednesday, Moore reported collecting more than $2.6 million for his own campaign committee during his first year in office. On top of that, the governor helped the Maryland Democratic Party raise almost half a million dollars in its state accounts between mid-January 2023 and this January, while his lieutenant governor, Aruna Miller, reported raising $274,000 over the past year.

Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman said Allegany County will benefit from having an updated housing stock as it is a critical component of attracting people to the area. Lierman spoke with the media while attending the 2024 PACE Reception held Thursday at the Westin Hotel in Annapolis. PACE — an acronym for Positive Attitudes Change Everything — is an annual event where elected officials and administrators from Western Maryland are given the opportunity to meet with top state-level officials to discuss needs for the upcoming year.

In November 2022, Anne Arundel County voters elected three new delegates and one new senator to represent them in Annapolis. Two of the legislators, state Sen. Dawn Gile, a Democrat, and Del. Stuart Schmidt, a Republican, were elected to represent District 33, which includes Riva, Crofton, Odenton, Severna Park and Cape Saint Claire.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott outraised his chief rival Sheila Dixon by about $150,000 last year, campaign finance reports filed Wednesday showed, expanding the incumbent mayor’s war chest as the campaign begins to heat up. However, Dixon’s campaign will have the benefit of an additional $200,000 contributed to a super PAC dedicated to supporting her candidacy. The annual filings, which were due late Wednesday, showed Scott, a Democrat in his first term as mayor, raised $682,134 last year in his effort to maintain his seat.

Democratic state lawmakers want gun manufacturers to help foot the bill for trauma injuries, including gunshot wounds, following an example set by California last year. A bill from Sen. Sarah K. Elfreth (D-Anne Arundel) and Del. Bernice D. Mireku-North (D-Montgomery) would levy an 11 percent excise tax on gun and ammunition manufacturers to feed the Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund.

The Anne Arundel County Council amended three bills Tuesday night, two of which expand benefits for county first responders, setting up further debate and a potential final vote next month. In its hour-long meeting, the council held public hearings on five bills. Three of the bills were amended and will be up for further amendments or a final vote at the council’s next meeting on Feb. 5. Two bills were defeated.