Politics

The Harford County Sheriff’s Office is investigating allegations made by County Council member Aaron Penman that the administration of County Executive Bob Cassilly violated the state’s wiretap statue. Penman said he received evidence, which he has passed on to law enforcement, showing the Cassilly administration monitored email communications between himself and five others, and phone records, said Penman, a Forest Hill Republican.

The Federal Regulatory Commission on Thursday finalized long-awaited new rules intended to reform how power generation projects get connected to the electric grid, seen as a major step in smoothing the path for thousands of mostly renewable power projects currently waiting to plug in. “This rule will ensure that our country’s vast generation resources are able to interconnect to the transmission system in a reliable, efficient, transparent and timely manner,” FERC Chairman Willie Phillips said, adding that there are 2,000 gigawatts of power projects stuck in interconnection queues across the nation.

In the wake of a mass shooting at a block party at a South Baltimore public housing complex, the city’s housing authority is imposing a new rule on its more than 40,000 residents that would make it easier to evict them for hosting events without permission. The agency’s five-person board voted unanimously July 18 to impose a new rule on residents’ use of utilities for parties, a response to the use of electricity during what agency officials have called the “unsanctioned” annual Brooklyn Day celebration at Brooklyn Homes

After months of rule rewrites, public comments and amendments, Maryland’s state board tasked with controlling the costs of prescription drugs has finalized a framework to evaluate which medications may be eligible for price reductions. The Prescription Drug Affordability Board approved new regulations Monday to establish a process for how the panel will determine which prescription drugs are difficult for Marylanders to afford and would be included in the board’s work to lowering those costs.

Turns out Will Jawando is raising money on Martha’s Vineyard, too. The Montgomery County councilmember, who is competing for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination against Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-6th), has a fundraiser scheduled in the wealthy Massachusetts enclave on Aug. 14 — one day before Alsobrooks is set to raise money there.

The Baltimore County Police Department keeps things close to the vest. Under a county executive administration that bills itself the “most transparent” in Baltimore County’s history, Police Department officials have closed ranks around public information. The police communications office often fails or declines to make the department’s top brass, like new Police Chief Robert McCollough and commanders, available for public comment.