Politics

When Wes Moore, a Democratic candidate for Maryland governor, raised over $4 million and topped a crowded primary field in fundraising last year, the campaign tapped into millions in out-of-state contributions to help build its foundation. Along with the out-of-state funding, Moore, a political newcomer, raised more money than any candidate from Maryland donors, propelling his campaign to be one of the most well-financed in the race.

The Maryland General Assembly advanced bills on Friday that would ban the sale and ownership of unserialized firearms, or “ghost guns.” The Senate preliminarily approved a ghost gun bill introduced by Attorney General Brian Frosh (D) and Sen. Susan C. Lee (D-Montgomery) during a floor session on Friday morning, while the House of Delegates gave final approval to a bill with different provisions. In the Senate, Sen. Johnny Ray Salling (R-Baltimore County) and Sen. J.B. Jennings (R-Baltimore and Harford) asked questions about the policy, but there was no debate.

A federal grand jury in Baltimore issued a superseding indictment against Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn J. Mosby (D) on Thursday, adding new details about false statements on a mortgage application for a second vacation home in Florida. The new indictment includes details of money-shifting between Mosby and her husband, Baltimore City Council President Nick J. Mosby (D). According to federal prosecutors, Marilyn Mosby submitted a false gift letter with the application for a $428,400 mortgage for a condominium in Long Boat Key, Fla.

After four hours of debate and a series of failed attempts to amend it, a sweeping climate change bill won preliminary approval in the Maryland Senate on Thursday. The Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022 would set a statewide goal, for 2030, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60% of emission levels recorded in 2006. For 2045, it would set the emissions goal to net-zero.

Maryland’s already swollen bank accounts are expected to grow by $1.6 billion, state forecasters said Thursday, setting the stage for renewed debate on how to spend the state’s historic surplus. Democrats have pushed extra funding for schools, child care and tax breaks on necessities such as diapers and medical equipment. Republicans have called for across-the-board tax breaks for retirees.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday embraced calls for an international war crimes investigation of Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, citing the “atrocities” of bombing civilians, including a maternity hospital. Speaking alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda at a press conference in Warsaw, where she is demonstrating U.S. support for NATO’s eastern flank allies, Harris expressed outrage over the bombing Wednesday of the maternity hospital and scenes of bloodied pregnant women being evacuated, as well as other attacks on civilians. She stopped short of directly accusing Russia of having committed war crimes.

Anne Arundel and Howard county executives said their constituents’ health and quality of life have been negatively affected by changes to flight paths at BWI Marshall Airport. At a hearing Wednesday, they advocated for a bill that would create a commission to study the impact the airport has on neighboring areas. The bill, co-sponsored by Sens. Clarence Lam, Sarah Elfreth, Guy Guzzone, Katie Fry Hester and Ed Reilly, would create a Maryland Aviation Infrastructure Impacts Commission to study the health and environmental impacts of the airport. The Senate Finance Committee met Wednesday to discuss the proposed commission, which would be composed of residents from Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard and Montgomery counties.