Politics

The Montgomery County Council in Maryland approved a plan to cut nearly $25 million from the school system’s $3.2 billion budget request, with roughly $200 million placed on a budget reconciliation list for further consideration. County Executive Marc Elrich proposed a 10% increase in the county’s property tax, with the revenues going directly to the school system.

Maryland’s former Republican Governor Larry Hogan offered encouragement to American University’s School of Public Affairs at their Saturday commencement service. The former governor was honored with an honorary doctorate of public service just moments before speaking to graduates, guests and school community members.

The head of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, who oversees a swath of Baltimore anti-violence initiatives, will step down, effective June 30. Shantay Jackson, who has led the office since Mayor Brandon Scott created it at the start of his term, announced her resignation in a news release Thursday afternoon. The release did not include Jackson’s future plans or who would serve as director beginning July 1.

As Gov. Wes Moore gears up for what is scheduled to be his penultimate bill signing ceremony Friday following the end of his first legislative session in office, it remains a question whether he will become the first governor in more than 100 years to not veto a single bill. There has been a veto issued at every session since at least 1914, according to the Maryland State Archives.

“Norfolk Southern has got to begin to be held accountable for this.” That was the message made by state Rep. Marla Gallo Brown (R-Lawrence) in response to the Norfolk Southern train derailment in Mahoningtown Nine cars from a 216-car train derailed on Montgomery Avenue after 11 p.m. Wednesday night.

Baltimore City leaders explain what they’re doing to reduce crime and keep young people out of trouble. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott on Thursday joined the C4 and Bryan Nehman Show. One of the main topics of discussion was violence among youth in the city. Scott said violence in the city was down in every category except among young people.

Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D) and other top state officials gathered at the University of Maryland Baltimore County on Wednesday to discuss how state government plans to encourage clean energy and reduce the effects of climate change, during a forum that included community members and students from the university. The overarching message from the state officials: the challenge of reducing the effects of climate change will take wide-reaching efforts from every arm of the government, from transportation to land planning, in addition to local efforts.

Combine a rare Maryland congressional vacancy with a free ride for most of the elected officials who might seek the seat, and there could be a surfeit of candidates lining up to try to replace U.S. Rep. David Trone (D-6th), who is running for U.S. Senate in 2024. Trone’s congressional district, which covers part of Montgomery County and most of Western Maryland, is far and away the most competitive in Maryland, and there will be intense interest in both the Democratic and Republican primaries.