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Lawmakers will consider changes to compassionate release in Maryland

As a nurse practitioner, Marian Grant recalled how she cared for a man with serious health issues in the hospital who was incarcerated at the Maryland Correctional Institution – Jessup. The man, she said, was 74 and suffering from kidney failure. He was unable to walk or care for himself. And he was so confused that he could not answer her questions. Grant said his medical charts indicated that he’d been back and forth in the last few weeks between the prison infirmary and the hospital. He was shackled to the bed, while a corrections officer sat in the room looking at his cellphone.

What to know about Gov. Wes Moore’s first State of the State speech Wednesday

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore will hit another key milestone in his nascent administration when he delivers his first State of the State address to the General Assembly — and the people of the state — at noon on Wednesday. Here are key facts about the State of the State and what to expect.

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Gov. Moore and HHS Secretary Becerra talk youth mental health, including new 988 crisis line

The new 988 crisis line, designed to replace the national 10-digit National Suicide Prevention hotline, is starting to gain traction in Maryland, one of the few states allocating direct funding to the effort, crisis responders said. The crisis line was among the topics discussed at a roundtable event on youth mental health in Baltimore on Friday, attended by Gov. Wes Moore, U.S Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and other government officials, crisis response providers, mental health advocacy organizations and youth advocates.

Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates describes his transition into office

Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates spoke to WBAL Radio’s C4 and Bryan Nehman this morning and described what he called the “absolute disarray of the states attorney’s office left by the prior administration.” “Phenomenal lawyers who kept the boat afloat, however, the office was sinking faster than anybody would realize,” Bates described to the hosts on Monday morning.

Read More: WBAL
Maryland 529 may not fix calculation errors until late 2023, director says

Fixes to a state education financing agency that has come under fire in recent months may not come until late 2023, according to its executive director. Almost 500 account holders who invested in a prepaid college savings plan with Maryland 529 have reported being unable to access their money since spring 2022 or have received far lower payments than anticipated. That’s sparked two recent General Assembly committee hearings and calls for state officials to investigate.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
At ancient Baltimore tunnel that often delayed his travel, Biden touts ‘long overdue’ rail upgrades

With the ancient, dimly lit Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel behind him, President Joe Biden touted job creation and labor agreements Monday during a visit to Baltimore to highlight replacement of the tunnel, which has come to symbolize America’s crumbling infrastructure. The White House billed the speech as a “kickoff event” for a $6 billion, federally funded project to replace a 4-mile section of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, including the mile-long, 19th-century B&P Tunnel, with two tubes that will allow trains to travel at 100 mph.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
49. Service In Your Community with Brandon Wright

In Episode 49, Damian is joined by Brandon Wright, Vice-President of Communications and Media Relations for the National Waste & Recycling Association. Join us for a look at how waste organizations support local communities, the nuances of the recycling industry, and what’s ahead for Maryland politics following Wes Moore’s historic election.

We hope to see you soon, in The Lobby.

President Joe Biden to tout job creation, labor agreements during Baltimore visit Monday

President Joe Biden will tout job creation and labor agreements during a visit to Baltimore on Monday to highlight a $6 billion, federally funded project to replace the Baltimore and Potomac Tunnel, which dates to the Civil War era, according to the White House. The White House is billing the speech as a “kickoff event” for the project, which will replace a 4-mile section of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, including the mile-long B&P Tunnel, with two tubes that will allow trains to travel at 100 mph. The old tunnel, built during the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant, is considered a bottleneck for both Amtrak and MARC trains because it forces trains to creep along at 30 mph or less.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Tom Kelso emphasizes continued commitment to Maryland Stadium Authority until his removal

In his first public comments since Gov. Wes Moore announced the decision to rescind Tom Kelso’s appointment as the chairman of the Maryland Stadium Authority, Kelso said he understood the decision and will continue working as long as necessary through the transition. “I respect Gov. Moore’s decision to name the chair of his choosing, and I am committed to continuing my work until the governor has named a new chair and the nominee is confirmed by the Senate,” Kelso said in a statement Sunday. “Once my successor is confirmed, I will work diligently through the transition to ensure our longstanding partnerships, including those with the Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore City Public Schools and others remain strong and the great work of the MSA continues.”

Ahead of board meeting, Maryland 529 director details accounting issues in memo to lawmakers

The director of Maryland 529, which runs the state’s troubled college tuition savings program, offered new details late last week about the agency’s flawed new recordkeeping system in the wake of angry account holders descending on Annapolis to complain of the trust and its administrators. Executive Director Anthony P. Savia also offered a seven-page memo in response to questions members of the House Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees volleyed his way at a Jan. 19 hearing. The memo includes a timeline and history detailing the problems plaguing the Maryland Prepaid College Trust, one of Maryland 529’s two college tuition plans.

The Morning Rundown

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