Politics

The first round of fundraising numbers are in for the candidates who hope to become Maryland’s next U.S. senator. Of the declared Democrats, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks raised the most money in donations — $1.73 million — since the May 1 announcement that longtime U.S. Senator Ben Cardin would not run again.

After starting the year with a large surplus, Maryland is projected to have a nine-figure structural deficit entering the next fiscal year. A former budget secretary said the state government’s projected budget shortfall “will very likely” be higher than what initial estimates show. Lawmakers entered the last legislative session with a multibillion-dollar surplus, but Maryland is now projected to have a $418 million deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2024, according to the Department of Legislative Services.

Gov. Wes Moore named Terry V. Jackson of Harford County and Michael Bellis of St. Mary’s County as new members of the board of directors at the Maryland Legal Services Corp. (MLSC). In addition, Debra A. Thomas Esq. of Baltimore was elected board chair and Allison Banks of Baltimore was elected treasurer. Jackson is an accounting and finance professional with many years of experience helping organizations with financial analysis, reporting, auditing, and strategic planning.

After several years of discussion and debate, Frederick County’s newest library will be built on the site of a park on the west side of the city of Frederick. The new library will be built at Hillcrest Park, at the corner of McCain Drive and Butterfly Lane in Frederick’s Hillcrest neighborhood, Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater and Frederick Mayor Michael O’Connor announced at a joint press conference Monday.

Senate battle of the endorsements: Now that U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin isn’t running for the U.S. Senate, the two Democratic front-runners are battling it out over endorsements. Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks started early, rolling out multiple waves of endorsements from current and former elected officials.

A crowd of more than 500 people gathered before nightfall Sunday evening, their heads bent for an opening prayer at Memorial Baptist Church. They were urged to contemplate Baltimore City’s vacant housing crisis as they prepared to hear the details of a plan to work on ending it. The Rev. Cristina Paglinauan, of The Church of the Redeemer, asked the crowd to envision residents of Fulton Avenue and Preston Street walking to buy groceries, young kids playing in recreation centers, and residents using park benches, all enjoying a lively neighborhood without a vacant building in sight.

The most recent 90-day legislative session swung the Maryland’s fiscal picture from hundreds of millions in surplus to increasing projected deficits over the coming four years, according to the Department of Legislative Services. Deficits projected in the report for 2028 exceed $1 billion and approach levels not seen since The Great Recession. The new projections pose a test to the ability of Gov. Wes Moore (D) to deliver on a number of priorities and promises.

Maryland will send its final payment worth up to $1,691 to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients for the month of July in nine days. SNAP benefits, also called food stamps, will continue being distributed in Maryland until July 23. Food stamps are sent out from the 4th to the 23rd of every month, according to the state’s benefits schedule.