Politics

Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is urging legislative leaders to pass a state income tax credit for contributions to humanitarian aid for Ukranians, as more than 1 million refugees flee the country amid Russian attacks. The tax credit would be a way to incentivize further support from Marylanders for the crisis in Eastern Europe, said Franchot, a Democratic candidate for governor.

A former Maryland state delegate seeking the Republican nomination for governor has been disbarred from practicing law by a state court following a complaint by the Attorney Grievance Commission. The Maryland Court of Appeals said in its ruling Thursday that Robin Ficker has been the subject of a long history of complaints of professional misconduct that expand over three generations of the bar counsel, The Washington Post reported.

Maryland legislators have amended a bill to remove a proposed 10 p.m. curfew for all businesses on “The Block” in Baltimore, instead requiring establishments to submit security plans to the city’s Liquor License Board for approval and install surveillance cameras outside. During a Senate committee hearing Friday, the bill’s main sponsor, Senate President Bill Ferguson, said the proposed amendment to remove the mandatory curfew from Senate Bill 222 came after discussions with businesses on “The Block,” a section of East Baltimore Street and Custom House Avenue downtown with several adult entertainment establishments.

The leader of the Maryland Senate is holding out hope for passage of a tax relief package before the session ends in April. The economic strain of a conflict in Ukraine layered on inflation growing at the fastest rate in 40 years has some lawmakers thinking about pocketbook issues. And while some tax proposals are being batted around, few so far would likely bring broad-based relief. Senate President Bill Ferguson said the legislature is looking for ways to make Maryland a more tax-competitive place this year.

A city panel on Thursday approved placing video billboards at some locations downtown. By a vote of 6-2, the Baltimore Planning Commission approved the creation of a district for the digital signs, which boosters have compared to Times Square or Las Vegas. One board member abstained. The commission approved billboards at six proposed locations but tabled plans for five others, according to public notes from the meeting.

In less than five minutes, Maryland lawmakers on Thursday unanimously rejected impeaching Gov. Larry Hogan. A fellow Republican and political opponent of Hogan had accused the governor of wide-ranging misdeeds including: overstepping his authority with pandemic restrictions, inappropriately welcoming refugees, denying access to controversial covid-19 treatments and flouting state law by using disappearing-message apps. Del. Daniel L. Cox (R-Frederick), a Donald Trump-aligned candidate for governor, had four minutes to make his case. Without debate, the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee summarily dismissed it.

The daughter of Maryland’s governor, a veteran prosecutor, launched a bid Wednesday to become St. Mary’s County’s top prosecutor. Jaymi Sterling announced that she will run for state’s attorney in the Southern Maryland county she calls home, WMAR-TV reported. The Republican, who is an assistant state’s attorney in Anne Arundel County, vowed to “prioritize efforts to fight violent crime, corruption, drug dealing, drunk driving, domestic violence, sex offenders, and repeat offenders.”

Maryland’s congressional delegation on Thursday announced a $1.7 billion federal loan to advance the construction of the Purple Line light-rail project in Washington’s inner suburbs. The project will connect New Carrollton in Prince George’s County to Bethesda in Montgomery County with a 16-mile East-West light rail line that will have 21 stations. It will join all three MARC lines and connect multiple metro stations.