Politics

The use of tobacco by athletes and fans inside the city’s professional sports stadiums would be banned by a bill approved by the Baltimore City Council on Monday. The bill, which was backed by the Baltimore Orioles, would prohibit the use of all forms of tobacco, including smokeless products, inside Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium.

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D), who has seen her principal opponent in the Democratic Senate primary, U.S. Rep. David Trone, dominate the airwaves for several months, went up with her first TV ad of the campaign Monday. It’s partially a biographical spot with a few not-so-subtle digs. The 30-second ad begins with Alsobrooks in half the frame, speaking to the camera, while small mug shots of U.S. senators — all white and mostly male and elderly — pop up on the other side of the screen.

A majority of Maryland voters will not support a 1-cent increase in the sales tax dedicated to transportation projects around the state, according to a poll released Tuesday. The results are part of the latest survey released by Annapolis-based Gonzales Research & Media. That survey also includes new data on the performance of Gov. Wes Moore (D) in office, and gauges support for strengthening penalties for firearm theft and fentanyl distribution as well as medical aid-in-dying legislation and abortion rights.

Late last month, thousands of retired state workers received a letter from Maryland’s Department of Budget and Management alerting them that major changes are coming to their prescription drug plans. “Based on State of Maryland law passed in 2019, your current prescription drug coverage will end December 31, 2024….We realize this is a big change, and you probably have many questions and concerns,” read the letters, dated Jan. 15, 2024 and signed by Christina Kuminski, director of the Employee Benefits Division for the department.

A Baltimore City Council committee is set to hear arguments Tuesday for and against a controversial proposal to revitalize the Inner Harbor by replacing the twin Harborplace retail pavilions with a multi-building, mixed-use development of housing, shops, offices and a park. Baltimore-based MCB Real Estate, which purchased the aging, nearly vacant waterfront marketplace out of receivership in April 2022, unveiled proposed designs at the end of October.

With the primary field set for Maryland’s 6th Congressional District, Republican voters have a choice between two candidates with past primary election success and four relative newcomers to politics. Neil Parrott, a state delegate from 2011 to 2023, filed Friday — deadline day — for the Republican primary after months of mulling it over. Parrott previously won the Republican primary for the seat in 2020 with 65% of the vote and again in 2022 with 63%.

After a contentious process to redraw Baltimore’s political map ended last fall with Mayor Brandon Scott sinking City Council President Nick Mosby’s plan at the last minute, one council member is proposing to take the process out of the hands of politicians. Under changes proposed by Councilman Zeke Cohen, the once-in-a-decade task of drawing and approving new district lines would go to an independent commission comprised mostly of community representatives.

Friday is the last day for City Hall hopefuls to file a run for office with the state elections board. Candidates have until 9 p.m. to file their paperwork to appear on primary ballots. The following candidates had submitted their paperwork as of 9 p.m. Friday. The Banner will update this page throughout the day. All names are as they were submitted to the State Board of Elections. The primary election is May 14. Early voting begins May 2 and mail ballots will be sent out by April 1.

In the continuing debate over addressing juvenile crime, Senate Democrats grew frustrated Friday afternoon as some Maryland state’s attorneys pressed for a legislative fix to constituent concerns with minimal data to back up some of their points. “Juvenile crime — while it’s happening — is a minor portion of overall crime,” Sen. Charles Sydnor, a Baltimore County Democrat, said at the bill hearing Friday. “I just want to make certain that, within these conversations, we’re not making a minor major and a major minor.”