Thursday, October 31, 2024 | Baltimore, MD
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Politics

Increased tolls may be on the horizon as panel examines transportation funding needs

Using one of Maryland’s toll bridges and tunnels could become more expensive. The state has not seen an increase in tolls in more than a decade. Joseph Sagal, executive director of the Maryland Transportation Authority, said that era, which included two toll reductions, may be at an end within the next four years. “We started looking at the last time tolls were raised, that was nearly a decade ago,” Sagal said at a meeting of the Transportation Revenue and Infrastructure Needs Commission in Annapolis.

Commissioners Question School System Budgeting

The Worcester County Commissioners are seeking answers to a variety of financial questions now that they have a detailed school system budget to review. The commissioners last week sent a letter to the Worcester County Board of Education asking for clarification on a number of items in the school system’s budget. Commissioner Chip Bertino, president of the board, said the county simply needed to gain a more accurate understanding of the Worcester County Public Schools (WCPS) budget and policies.

Work Zone Safety Task Force aims for driving culture shift

Maryland’s Work Zone Safety Task Force met Thursday to discuss potential improvements to safety at road construction sites. Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller established the task force after the crash in March that killed six construction workers on the Baltimore Beltway. Since that crash on March 22, there have been 325 construction zone accidents. The total so far this year is 804.

 

 

Read More: WBALTV
Captured in a metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia primary school, this photograph depicts a typical classroom scene, where an audience of school children were seated on the floor before a teacher at the front of the room, who was reading an illustrated storybook, during one of the scheduled classroom sessions. Assisting the instructor were two female students to her left, and a male student on her right, who was holding up the book, while the seated classmates were raising their hands to answer questions related to the story just read.
Gov. Wes Moore talks education, Blueprint policy priorities at Maryland Public Television town hall

At Wednesday’s event, Moore was asked how he planned to tackle educational disparities across jurisdictions in the state. His answer: the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, historic legislation funneling billions of dollars into the state’s public schools over the next decade. “We cannot be afraid to say that these disparities that we have in the state of Maryland — not just when it comes to education, but with every single facet — that for many of them, they are generational and long-standing,” Moore said.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Baltimore spending board to consider $285,000 employment contract for new police commissioner next week

Baltimore’s Board of Estimates is scheduled to consider Richard Worley’s new employment agreement Wednesday, a document that details how much severance he’d be owed if city legislators don’t confirm him as the city’s next police commissioner the next day. An agenda for the spending board’s meeting next week prices the contract at $285,000 — presumably the proposed salary for Mayor Brandon Scott’s pick to lead the Baltimore Police Department.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
What we learned from a state hearing on youth crime

Lawmakers, public defenders, police, prosecutors and state officials gathered in a marathon meeting over video on Wednesday to confront Maryland’s problems with juvenile crime head-on. For five hours, they defended their own actions to help kids and combat crime, while pointing out other areas that need changes. Despite disagreements, all said they hope to reduce instances where children are perpetrators or victims of violence.

At first meeting, new Baltimore water task force aims to offer assurances for the future: ‘Our water utility is not for sale’

At the first meeting of the Baltimore Water Governance Task Force on Wednesday night, Chairman Bill Henry chose to start off with some assurances. “Our water utility system is not for sale,” Henry said. “We will not be making any recommendations that involve Baltimore City giving up legal ownership of the water, wastewater and stormwater system.”

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Some Maryland lawmakers criticize findings of report on youth crime

A day after the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services released a report showing statewide youth crime has decreased over the past decade, some state lawmakers criticized the findings in a legislative hearing Wednesday. State House Judiciary Chair Luke Clippinger, a Baltimore City Democrat and Anne Arundel County prosecutor, held a legislative briefing Wednesday, the first in a series before the 2024 session, to address the state of the juvenile justice system.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Battles over spending, farm bill, Ukraine and yet more loom over a divided Congress

The U.S. House and Senate are both back in D.C. on Tuesday following a long summer recess, facing an overwhelming agenda of unfinished work — funding the federal government and reauthorizing major programs set to expire at the end of the month. Congressional leaders and President Joe Biden have only a few weeks to broker a short-term spending deal that can gain votes from deeply divided members of Congress or spark a partial government shutdown before a Sept. 30 deadline. Far-right House Republicans already are insistent on big cuts in spending levels at odds with bipartisan Senate legislation.

 

Gov. Wes Moore says he has no interest in higher office in 2024, calling himself ‘the most improbable governor’

Gov. Wes Moore fended off questions Tuesday on whether he’ll run in the 2024 Democratic presidential primary during an interview with global news organization Semafor, saying he had no interest in higher office and turning the subject to his nontraditional political background. “I think it’s really important for people to remember that I am probably the most improbable governor in this country,” Moore said in answer to the first question from Semafor Co-founder and Editor-at-large Steve Clemons.

Read More: Baltimore Sun

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