Baltimore City councilman seeks daily fine against DPW director for recycling pickup

Baltimore City Councilman “Yitzy” Schleifer proposed a daily fine against the Department of Public Works director in regard to recycling conditions in the city. Jason Mitchell, who is the DPW director would receive a $1,000 fine a day every time a weekly recycling collection is missed. The collections are often missed because of a shortage of workers.

Maryland, you have multiple options for voting in the fast-approaching July 19 primary election

Maryland’s once delayed 2022 primary election is finally upon us. As you make plans to head to the polls or your local ballot drop box, here’s what you need to know. For one, Tuesday is the deadline to register to vote. There are others: Some caused by further changes to systems introduced last election cycle because of the pandemic, others resulting from new political boundary maps at the federal, state and county levels as a result of the U.S. Census.

Wes Moore: Author, veteran, nonprofit chief seeks to add ‘governor’ to his resume

Wes Moore has built up a diverse resume over his career, serving as a military veteran, an investment banker, a best-selling author, an entrepreneur and the chief of a large charity. All of those stops along the way have prepared him, he says, for what he hopes is his next title: governor of Maryland. Amid a crowded field of candidates — there are 10 Democrats on the ballot — Moore has drawn the most attention. He’s both a lightning rod for criticism and a beacon for hope for change in Maryland.

Maryland leaders react strongly to Supreme Court overturning Roe

Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott: Today the court has taken aim at women and their right to make fundamental health choices about their own bodies. This decision is especially harmful for Black Women and women of color who already face disparate health challenges and barriers to care. The court got it absolutely wrong again today. Men have absolutely no place deciding what women do with their bodies.

Maryland lawmakers could change gun law after Supreme Court’s ruling

The Supreme Court’s ruling Thursday that Americans have a right to carry a handgun outside the home for self-defense — striking down a New York law that made it illegal to carry a gun in public without proving there was a special need for protection — could mean Maryland will have to change its own similar law. Under state law, a gun owner must prove that they have a “good and substantial reason” to carry a concealed weapon. That could include proving they have been threatened and are in danger, showing they have high security clearances, or being a business owner. About 39,000 concealed carry licenses are issued in Maryland.

Inflation, gas prices on the minds of voters as governor candidates talk jobs, investments in workers

They’ve outlined lofty visions for increased wages and tens of thousands of new jobs. They’ve talked about investments in transportation, education and small businesses. But among all the policy plans and stump speeches from Maryland’s candidates for governor, the most pressing economic concerns of voters this year are seldom mentioned. “It’s making it tougher to do anything, to save anything,” Tad Trias, a Severna Park resident, said of mounting inflation that’s affecting everything from groceries to gas. “I’ve definitely been a little bit more conscious of what I’m buying, when I’m buying it.”

Large crowd rallies outside Baltimore’s federal courthouse to support of abortion rights following Supreme Court decision Friday

Abortion rights supporters gather Friday evening outside Baltimore’s federal courthouse to protest the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, which had enshrined women’s rights to abortion. Deborah Agus was in college when the landmark Roe V. Wade decision was passed. She did not expect to see the day when the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn the ruling that made abortion a constitutional right. “It’s really frightening,” said Argus, an attorney from Baltimore, on Friday evening outside Baltimore’s federal courthouse on Lombard Street, where a large crowd gathered in support of abortion rights.

Maryland professor observes foreign and local elections up close

When Ukrainians went to the polls in 2019 and elected President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a Maryland election judge was there to observe the democratic process play out. Todd Becker has observed foreign elections for decades with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, giving him a unique perspective on the state of elections now under fire for everything from unfounded claims of fraud to pandemic-related changes.

Maryland likely to become sanctuary state in wake of abortion ruling

Abortion remains legal in Maryland after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Friday overturning Roe v. Wade, but advocates and experts warned that the broad ruling could still have significant consequences here. As other states enact abortion bans, Maryland is likely to become something of a sanctuary state for women seeking to terminate pregnancies, said Del. Ariana B. Kelly, D-Montgomery County. Kelly helped pass a law this year that broadened the types of medical practitioners who can provide abortions to include nurse practitioners, certified midwives and physicians’ assistants.

U.S. Supreme Court Gun Rights Decision Has Major Implications for Md. Concealed Carry Law

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a New York law that made it illegal to carry a firearm in public without showing a special need for protection — throwing into doubt the legal status of a similar Maryland law. The court ruled that New York’s concealed carry law violates the 14th Amendment of the Constitution — a major decision that expands the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. The opinion comes at the same time Congress is considering new gun control legislation following two deadly mass shootings.