Politics

On Thursday, April 28th, the Harford County Chamber of Commerce hosted their Annual Legislative Wrap Up Breakfast at Harford Community College. The event was sponsored by the Greater Harford Committee, Harford County Office of Community & Economic Development, and Harford Community College; the event featured a panel of Harford County’s elected officials. Dr. Jacqueline Jackson, Vice-President of Student Success, Harford Community College, welcomed us to the campus and shared some updates about the campus. Dr. Jackson was able to share that HCC was able to freeze tuition this year.

Following the expiration of a federal summer food assistance program started during the pandemic, Anne Arundel County will spend $1.5 million to continue the program this summer as students are out of school and the free school lunch program becomes less accessible. County Executive Steuart Pittman made the announcement Tuesday that Anne Arundel County would spend the maximum amount allowed to ensure that all recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program with children ages 5 to 17 can get an additional $100 a year of funds on their Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, cards — $30 in June, July and August each and $10 in December.

President Joe Biden said Monday that the “Second Amendment was never absolute” and that, after the Texas elementary school shooting, there may be some bipartisan support to tighten restrictions on the kind of high-powered weapons used by the gunman.

Gov. Hogan allowed nearly 300 bills to become law without his signature on Friday during the last day of this year’s legislative session. The 294 measures will take effect without signature in accordance with Article II, Section 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution, according to a news release.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott called a letter from Gov. Larry Hogan criticizing efforts to reduce violent crime “publicity games.”

For the first time in a decade, Baltimore County State’s Attorney Scott Shellenberger (D) will have a Republican opponent to campaign against — if he can beat Robbie Leonard (D) in the 2022 primary election.

As the U.S. mourns the victims of its latest mass shooting — 19 elementary school students and two teachers gunned down in Texas — Democratic governors are amplifying their calls for greater restrictions on guns.

Wes Moore, a Democratic candidate for governor of Maryland, announced Monday that he has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. Moore, 43, who is seeking the Democratic party’s nomination, revealed on Twitter that he is infected but asymptomatic.