Politics

As the opioid crisis continues, efforts to combat the problem are likely to be a point of interest in the upcoming 2024 Maryland General Assembly session. “The opioid epidemic persists, though the primary substances involved in overdose fatalities are evolving. State efforts are in place to address continued behavioral health needs,” Department of Legislative Services analysts wrote in a report previewing likely topics of legislation.

Two of Baltimore’s most recognizable buildings and brands are its two pro stadiums, Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium, and the teams that inhabit them. The Orioles and Ravens bring attention, pride and joy to Maryland — and Maryland gives a lot of taxpayer dollars back to the teams. A large public investment The state of Maryland built and financed both of the Baltimore stadiums and, last year, agreed to earmark at least $1.2 billion to improve the stadiums — $600 million for each. The principal and interest on the bonds sold to cover those costs ultimately would be paid off with lottery revenue.

State Sen. Clarence Lam of Howard County on Thursday became the fifth Democratic state lawmaker to declare their candidacy for the congressional seat being vacated by the retirement of Democrat John Sarbanes. Lam, 43, a physician, joins Democratic delegates Vanessa Atterbeary and Terri Hill, both from Howard County, and state Sen. Sarah Elfreth and Del. Mike Rogers, who are from Anne Arundel County.

The city of Frederick’s Department of Housing and Human Services will serve as a host site for the inaugural class of participants in the state’s Service Year Option and Maryland Corps programs, the state said Thursday. The programs, launched by Gov. Wes Moore in late October, allow people to spend nine months serving Maryland communities in exchange for hourly wages and a $6,000 stipend upon completion. The stipend can be used to cover the costs associated with higher education.

About two weeks ago, WBAL TV got early access to an interactive map that shows hundreds of thousands of homes in Baltimore could have lead drinking water pipes. The dots on the map, published by the Baltimore Service Line Partnership, do not mean all those homes in Baltimore and Baltimore County have lead water pipes. Instead, they indicate that local officials don’t know whether the water pipes are made of lead or another material.

Mayor Levar Stoney filed paperwork this week to run for Virginia governor in 2025, becoming the second Democrat to join the race to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Stoney has not formally announced for the office but has indicated that he will do so by the end of the year. Kevin Zeithaml, the mayor’s senior adviser, declined to comment Wednesday when asked about the campaign filing, which was made Monday.

A deadline is looming at the end of the year for Maryland to decide whether to keep or replace the troubled, for-profit company that provides medical care in state prisons and the Baltimore City jail complex. For the past five years, a company formerly known as Corizon Health has been responsible for treating more than 15,000 people incarcerated in state prisons and about 2,000 people being held in the city jails and other pretrial facilities in Baltimore.

The Frederick County Council is considering legislation that would allow people who are not registered to vote in Frederick County to serve on certain boards and commissions. Since 2012, an ordinance passed by the Board of County Commissioners — the precursor to the County Council — required that members of all boards and commissions be residents of Frederick County who are registered voters.

Democratic candidates seeking the U.S. Senate seat continued their push for support through a new ad, an endorsement in the city of Baltimore and a gathering with supporters in Florida. Rep. David Trone (D-6th) released his ninth campaign ad Saturday, the same week the congressman received an official endorsement from the National Education Association. The 60-second video entitled “Teachers” features public school educators, who only use their first names, summarized the need for more funding, counselors and other educational resources.