Politics

The race for western Maryland’s 6th congressional district has two new candidates, including a Frederick County resident and a Montgomery County state delegate. Del. Lesley Lopez, a Democrat, on Thursday announced her bid for the seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. David Trone, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat held by retiring Sen. Ben Cardin, a Democrat.

Getting through airport security could be a bit easier for Maryland travelers with the launch of a digital ID option for people with Android smartphones. Maryland is now the first state in the nation to offer a digital driver’s license and ID for Google Wallet — and the first to offer a digital ID on both major mobile operating systems. Last May, Maryland launched the mobile ID option for Apple Wallet, which is available on iPhones.

Prince George’s County lawmakers have formally kicked off a high-altitude planning process that will guide major future redevelopment at the Washington Commanders’ FedEx Field in Landover, as well as along Metro’s Blue Line, a top economic development priority for local public officials. The county council voted unanimously Tuesday to initiate the Central Avenue-Blue/Silver Line Sector Plan and Sectional Map Amendment process, which will probably take around two years to complete.

The Maryland Meals for Achievement In-Classroom Breakfast Program secured $4.5 million in additional funding on May 16 as Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed SB559, bringing the annual program funding to $12 million. MMA provides breakfast to students after the bell in schools where 40% or more of students qualify for free and reduced price meals.

Frederick’s mayor and aldermen will consider changes to how they do their jobs, as they reevaluate the city’s legislative process. The changes could include the process for how legislation is introduced and creating a timeline for how it would move toward passage. Mayor Michael O’Connor said at a workshop meeting Wednesday that he thinks it would be good to have the city’s process better defined.

As jurisdictions across the country grapple with how to address accountability in policing, a new proposed bill in the Montgomery County Council would restructure how the county oversees police reform and public safety. Expedited Bill 27-23, co-sponsored by councilmembers Dawn Luedtke (D-Dist. 7) and Sidney Katz (D-Dist. 3), seeks to repeal the county’s existing Policing Advisory Commission (PAC) to clarify the work of police accountability in the county.

Baltimore officials doubled down Wednesday on their commitment to restart the city’s weekly recycling collection in early 2024, but warned that the move will be possible only if the city receives 30 new garbage trucks that are currently in production. The promise, first outlined by Mayor Brandon Scott in his State of the City address in April, was reiterated by Department of Public Works employees Wednesday during a budget hearing held by the Baltimore City Council.

Maryland’s newest legislator was sworn in Monday, capping a two-decade journey that started as a legislative page and included a job in the State House mailroom. Del. Kent Roberson (D-Prince George’s) took the oath of office on the House dais that overlooks the chamber where in 2002 he was one of a number of high school students selected to work on the floor, making coffee and filling binders with bills and amendments.