Politics

A special magistrate recommended Monday that the Court of Appeals deny all four cases challenging Maryland’s new state legislative map. All four petitions contended that the maps passed by the General Assembly earlier this year violate the Maryland Constitution’s requirement that legislative districts be compact and respect natural and political boundaries.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. pitched a slate of new Baltimore County Police positions on Monday and another pool of money for hiring bonuses, calling public safety one of government’s most “sacred” responsibilities. Flanked by Police Chief Melissa Hyatt, Olszewski described the proposals as a way of further strengthening the police department through improved officer wellness, quicker investigations and more data analysis.

Maryland appears set to become the second state to ban declawing of cats, something animal welfare advocates consider a “barbaric” practice. Critics say declawing is already rare, though, and that the measure would infringe on the judgment of veterinarians. The General Assembly approved a bill Monday that would outlaw any procedure removing a portion of a cat’s claws or paws, except in the case of a medical condition compromising the animal’s well-being. It would not affect practices to file or trim cat claws.

The issue of Maryland’s congressional district maps is back in court. The latest hearing on Friday was strictly on the new map lawmakers approved this week. Judge Lynne Battaglia heard two hours of evidence on the map, but then said she will not rule on the merits. That’s because Battaglia’s ruling from last week throwing out an old map is being appealed.  The judge did hear from experts who say this new map is more compact and addresses her concerns in last week’s decision, though some of the plaintiff’s attorneys questioned why a part of Baltimore City went from the heavily Democratic 7th District into the Republican 2nd District.

As crab season begins, small seafood businesses in Maryland are getting extra help with the release of additional visas to hire temporary migrant workers. U.S. senators from Maryland, Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, have announced that 35,000 temporary nonagricultural worker visas will soon be available. These are vital to the small businesses that make up Maryland’s crab and seafood industries. “The Maryland seafood industry depends on this seasonal labor,” Van Hollen told WTOP. “This, we hope, will provide some really important relief to Maryland seafood.”

Maryland employees could get up to three months of paid leave to support their family or take care of medical issues if Republican Gov. Larry Hogan chooses to sign the bill that won final approval in the Senate Thursday. The Time to Care Act (SB275), previously approved by the House of Delegates, is now on Hogan’s desk for his possible signature. By sending the bill to Hogan by Friday, lawmakers have time before the end of their 90-day session to override a possible veto.