Politics

A room full of women who lead some of Maryland’s districts, counties and local agencies gathered for a luncheon at the Maryland Association of Counties in Ocean City on Friday to talk about the role and influence women can have in government and administrative positions. The “Women of MACo” luncheon was filled with dozens of women in leadership positions, who cheered remarks from the state’s first Black speaker of the House of Delegates, Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County).

The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents almost 43,000 employees of the Social Security Administration across the country, announced Thursday it has endorsed President Biden’s nomination of former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley to be the next SSA commissioner. The AFGE SSA General Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to endorse O’Malley’s nomination.

President Biden is not shy about his feelings toward living in the White House. “It’s a little like a gilded cage,” he said early in his presidency, adding, “I find myself extremely self-conscious.” But, about 62 miles north, the president has become deeply fond of the other presidential residence. Here at Camp David, the rustic presidential retreat nestled in Catoctin Mountain Park, Biden loves the quiet and the vast outdoors that he can explore unencumbered by the hulking entourage that usually follows him around, according to aides, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the president’s personal time.

U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen visited Berlin Friday to highlight $400,000 in grant funding the Berlin Fire Company received. Van Hollen, joined by Eric Smothers of the Maryland State Firemen’s Association, spoke at the Berlin Fire Company’s Main Street station Friday morning about the need for support for emergency responders. Van Hollen said $400,000 in federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program funding would help the Berlin Fire Company (BFC) replace outdated gear.

President Joe Biden is using the presidential retreat at Camp David to help with a diplomatic mission – hosting the first-ever trilateral summit with Japan and South Korea, two countries that are putting aside a fraught history in the face of shared security challenges. Biden’s summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is meant to serve as a show of force as the countries grapple with persistent provocative behavior from North Korea.

Frederick mayors would be limited to two terms in office and unaffiliated voters could vote in city primary elections, under the recommendations of a charter review subcommittee. The city should keep its elections in years when there is not a gubernatorial or presidential election, consider ranked-choice voting once it becomes more feasible, and send mail-in ballots to every eligible voter in primary and general elections, the subcommittee said Thursday.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will begin sending out surveys in late August to producers in multiple states, including Maryland, to understand 2023 production and supply of small grains. The National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact over 3,500 producers in Maryland, Delaware, Maine, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, according to a news release.