Politics

Following a year when youth crime was top of mind for Marylanders, key state lawmakers are aligning around adjustments to recent juvenile justice reform laws rather than the far-reaching reversals that opponents are seeking. “In terms of wholesale repeal? Not at all interested in that,” said Sen. William C. Smith Jr., who chairs the powerful Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.

New Year’s Day will mean no plastic bags for shoppers in and around Prince George’s County, Maryland, as a new law takes effect. Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, Prince George’s County’s ban on plastic bags will replace plastic bag use in retailers with paper and reusable bags in an effort to “protect local waterways and marine life, reduce plastic pollution and litter, and promote reusable bags,” a release said.

The Harford County Democratic Central Committee has announced its newest members and officers: Rico Albacarys and Stacy Stone. They were selected from applications and interviews held on Dec. 20. Logan Danker, Anthony Lyon and Bill Temmink also interviewed to fill the male vacancy opening. The Committee thought the three candidates each were impressive and welcomed all of them as associate members, according to a news release.

The first step of investigating an illegal dump in Baltimore City is to deliver a soft kick with the toe of your shoe to any item worth inspecting up close. David McGinnis says this gives any rats taking shelter underneath a chance to scurry out. On a mild November Wednesday, at the tip of a secluded, hilly crest tucked away in a residential neighborhood on the city’s west side, McGinnis spends a few minutes softly kicking his way around the dumping ground.

An Edgewater resident and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, filed earlier this month to run next year for the District 7 seat on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education. Jeremy York, who is originally from southern California and works for an education technology company, will seek the seat held by Michelle Corkadel, who has not yet announced whether she is running for reelection.

Voting rights activists and state Democratic Party officials say the way the Maryland Legislature uses appointments to fill vacancies is “undemocratic.” Nearly half of the state lawmakers in Montgomery County and a quarter statewide are not elected when they first get their seats in the General Assembly, according to Common Cause Maryland, a watchdog group that advocates for voting rights and fair elections.

Harford County government helped pay down student loan debt for 61 volunteer first responders with $305,000 sent directly to lending institutions, according to a county news release. Harford’s NEXT GEN Responder Student Loan Relief Program repays student loans up to $5,000 per year to help retain volunteer first responders and recruit the next generation.

The Prince George’s County Democratic Central Committee selected Denise Roberts on Thursday to fill a vacant seat in the House of Delegates. The central committee will forward Roberts’ name to Gov. Wes Moore (D), who has up to 15 days to confirm the appointment. Roberts, who worked as communications director for county State’s Attorney Aisha Braveboy (D), received 19 of the 26 votes from her fellow county Democrats.