Politics

Cardin, a Democrat, will travel to New York this weekend as a representative of the United States to the U.N. to meet with world leaders, the senator said in an interview Tuesday with Capital News Service. Cardin said his message to the General Assembly will include “support for Ukraine, put a spotlight on the Sudan — the tragedies that are taking place there — and to try to find a way in which we can move towards the hostage release, cease-fire and peace in the Middle East.”

The Maryland State Board of Elections completed the installation Wednesday of 286 ballot drop boxes across the state for the general election. Marylanders can use any drop box to cast their mail-in ballots, which may arrive in homes as early as next week. “What you see now is a huge shift towards mail-in voting,” Maryland’s State Administrator of Elections Jared DeMarinis told Capital News Service.

More than 100 women gathered in the backroom at Checkerspot brewery Wednesday evening with three goals: to elect Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Angela Alsobrooks; to make Vice President Kamala Harris the first female president; and to enshrine reproductive rights into the state constitution.

Last weekend’s Heritage Days included a mix of young couples, retired folks, out-of-towners and locals, city officials said of the event’s success.

The federal government accused the operators of the container ship that brought down the Francis Scott Key Bridge of negligence and mismanagement, alleging that the Dali’s crew “jury-rigged their ship.” The new claims provide the most detailed account yet of what led to the bridge’s total collapse early March 26. The Justice Department on Wednesday filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Maryland seeking to recoup $100 million in costs associated with recovery and cleanup, as well as punitive damages, from the Dali’s owner, Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private, and its manager, Synergy Marine Group.

Maryland’s lone Republican in Congress, U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, is the new chair of the right-wing Freedom Caucus. Harris has replaced prior Freedom Caucus chair U.S. Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, who lost his Republican primary earlier this year. In a statement issued by the Freedom Caucus, Harris said: “I look forward to leading this caucus as we confront the reckless spending of the Biden-Harris Administration, work to secure our Southern Border, and defend our constitutional freedoms in the House of Representatives.”

Baltimore’s Department of Public Works Deputy Director Richard Luna is stepping down from his position, the Mayor’s Office confirmed on Thursday. His last day will be on October 3. The mayor’s office said Luna is leaving on his decision and it is not related to any work or performance-related issues at DPW. “I want to extend my sincere thanks to Director Luna for his tireless work on behalf of Baltimore,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said.

The Maryland State Board of Elections voted Tuesday afternoon to appeal an Anne Arundel County judge’s ruling to nullify a Baltimore ballot question needed for the redevelopment of Harborplace. Maryland Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis posted on X that the five-person board voted unanimously to appeal Anne Arundel County Judge Cathleen Vitale’s Monday ruling that the proposal, which would amend the city’s charter to allow for residential development and off-street parking along the Inner Harbor, was not appropriate for a charter amendment.