After enduring a quarter century of relentlessly increasing water bills, the 200,000 residential and business customers of Baltimore City’s water system are getting a break of sorts – a smaller rate hike over the next three years. Effective July 1, the Scott administration proposes a 3% increase in water and stormwater usage and 3.5% for sewage. The increase will add about $3.75 a month to a “typical household bill” of $118 a month for city customers, according to a Department of Public Works (DPW) spreadsheet.

The Carroll County state’s attorney’s race will be decided in the primary election in July, with two Republicans and no Democrats vying for the position. Republicans Haven Shoemaker, a state delegate, and David Ellin, a private practice attorney, will face off in the primary, scheduled for July 19. Interim State’s Attorney Alan Culver took over the position from Brian DeLeonardo in June 2021. At that time DeLeonardo was appointed by Gov. Larry Hogan as a Carroll County Circuit Court judge.

Gov. Larry Hogan (R-Md.) tells Axios he envisions a 2024 presidential primary field with 15 or more Republicans — not necessarily including former President Trump — scrambling for Trump’s base, while “I want to go in a completely different direction, and I think that lane is wide open.” We spoke with Hogan ahead of his speech tonight at the Reagan Library in California. In prepared remarks reviewed by Axios, he doesn’t say he’s running but tells fellow Republicans, “We won’t win back the White House by nominating Donald Trump or a cheap impersonation of him. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”

At least 2,000 real estate officials, attorneys, politicians and developers from across the state are heading to Las Vegas this month amid efforts to jumpstart Maryland’s retail landscape at the International Council of Shopping Centers ReCon. The annual in-person event had been postponed since 2020 but will resurface in full force on May 22-24.

Maryland’s electoral landscape remains in flux as state elections officials sort out the effects of a court ruling affecting new legislative maps. Nearly 500 people filed to run for 47 seats in the Senate and 141 House of Delegates seats. But with the July 19 primary election approaching, some candidates may end up changing districts. “Redistricting is an ongoing process,” said Jared DeMarinis, director of candidacy and campaign finance for the Maryland State Board of Elections.

The Baltimore County Council has postponed a vote on legislation creating a police accountability board after community groups said the bill was rushed. The council was scheduled to vote Monday, but Council Chairman Julian Jones said at a meeting that delaying the vote would give residents time to review and weigh in on possible changes to the legislation.

A draft opinion suggests the U.S. Supreme Court could be poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide, according to a Politico report released Monday. A decision to overrule Roe would lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states and could have huge ramifications for this year’s elections. But it’s unclear if the draft represents the court’s final word on the matter — opinions often change in ways big and small in the drafting process.

There are decades of governmental experience and public service among them. Connections they’ve established with voters and relationships with powerful allies have deep roots. Millions in campaign donations are flowing their way. Maryland’s 10-man field is set in the race for the Democratic nomination for governor. But in such a crowded pack of viable candidates, the race is anything but settled less than three months before the July 19 primary. The Democratic candidates — more than half of them reasonably well-funded or boasting substantial political résumés — are vying to be the party’s nominee with hopes of retaking the governorship after eight years under Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who is finishing his second and final term.