Politics

On a cloudy Thursday morning in March, state Sen. Paul Pinsky walked out of the Maryland State House for a new life on the cutting edge of climate policy he’s helped hone in the state. Just moments earlier, Pinsky, 73, who spent 36 years representing Prince George’s County in the General Assembly, was presented with the First Citizen Award from Senate President Bill Ferguson in recognition of his long public service.

One of the biggest changes to state education policy to come out of the Maryland General Assembly this session didn’t actually originate from lawmakers — it came from the new attitude in the governor’s office. Gov. Wes Moore emphasized access to a good education for all in Maryland, and demonstrated he isn’t afraid to spend money on ensuring that.

The Supreme Court on Friday preserved women’s access to a drug “mifepristone” used in abortion, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore responded to the decision. Moore said he was “glad” about the Supreme Court’s ruling. He added the “battle is far from over.” “Glad to see the Supreme Court preserve access to mifepristone and not further escalate attacks on reproductive rights across the country,” Moore said in a tweet.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and the Department of Public Works on Saturday hosted the 23rd annual Mayor’s Spring Cleanup. Scott kicked off the event in south Baltimore. The project encourages those in the community to pick up trash and to recycle. Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club, said federal money in the Inflation Reduction Act has helped improve the environment in places like west Baltimore.

The president of Baltimore City Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3 is taking issue with what Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said about Freddie Gray eight years after his death. Wednesday marked the eighth anniversary of the death of Freddie Gray who died from injuries sustained while in police custody. In a tweet Wednesday night, Moore said Gray’s death was “a turning point for not just those who knew him personally, but all of Baltimore as well.”

The delegation to the Maryland General Assembly representing the lower Eastern Shore concluded its 2023 work in Annapolis 10 days before, but their duties were not quite finished until they made their way back home for the Post Legislative Session Forum in Salisbury. At the Wicomico County Civic Center on Thursday, April 20, six area legislators attended a luncheon hosted by the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce before recapping their recent three-month period of legislative activity. There were over 100 community members on hand to hear from the delegation.

Members of the Frederick County Board of Education appeared receptive on Wednesday when the student member of the body argued that his position should have voting rights — but also expressed reservations. Lucas Tessarollo, a senior at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School, is the student member of the board for the 2022-23 school year.