Politics

Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th) and House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) were evicted Tuesday from their United States Capitol hideaway offices in the aftermath of the ousting of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The ejection of Hoyer and Pelosi from their hideaway offices was one of the first acts of the new interim speaker, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.). Hoyer’s communications team confirmed reports that he was ordered out of his hideaway, but declined any further comment on the matter in a statement to Capital News Service.

For several months, Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater has been soliciting ideas for bills and position statements for the county's 2024 legislative package, which will be presented to the state delegation this year. Fitzwater's staff contacted more than 100 community organizations and all of the county's boards, commissions, councils and municipalities, according to a Sept. 28 press release.

With Maryland’s Child Victims Act in effect since Sunday, lawsuits have already been filed in courthouses throughout the state — including some high-profile cases against the Roman Catholic Church and state of Maryland. But how many more will come remains unknown. When other states set aside time limits — permanently or for brief timeframes — hundreds and sometimes thousands of cases seeking delayed justice were filed in state courts.

Dissident Republicans in the U.S. House voted with Democrats on Tuesday to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker, a historic move that came just nine months after he secured the gavel following days of negotiating with the GOP’s right flank and 15 rounds of voting. It wasn’t immediately clear after the vote how the House would proceed in the coming days, having entered uncharted territory. No speaker has ever before been removed by the House.

In the new administration’s first year, Gov. Wes Moore (D) and the state’s top lawmakers supported legislation to bolster health care coverage, access and protections in Maryland. Moore signed several bills back in May that aim to do just that. Some of those bills, including measures to protect and expand access to abortion services, took effect in June. But several health-care focused bills went into effect over the weekend, with a start date of Oct.1.

President Joe Biden and leaders in Congress paid tribute Friday to the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the longest-serving female US senator in the country's history. "She was a historic figure, a trailblazer for women and a great friend," he said. Feinstein, a Democrat from California, died at the age of 90 on Thursday night at her home in Washington.

A third Anne Arundel County Council bill aimed at addressing potentially fraudulent care practices and fire safety issues at facilities for people in addiction recovery was withdrawn at Monday night’s meeting. Council member Nathan Volke, a Pasadena Republican, withdrew the bill after a lengthy discussion during which it became apparent the four Democrats comprising the council majority would oppose it.

Poll results for the Goucher-Baltimore Banner poll. (Original photos by Baltimore Banner staff; Photo illustration by Yifan Luo for The Baltimore Banner) With Baltimore voters set to decide the leadership of their City Council next year, Councilman Zeke Cohen holds a healthy 13 point lead over incumbent Council President Nick Mosby, according to a new survey of Democratic Baltimore voters from Goucher College Poll in partnership with The Baltimore Banner.

The Prince George’s County Council passed a resolution Tuesday that will permit council members to vote virtually under certain circumstances, reversing course after pushback against a previous vote and a week before the first pregnant council member is set to give birth. The update allows council members to virtually vote if they are experiencing illness, parental leave or “a significant or unexpected factor or event” outside their control.