Politics

Maryland lawmakers are considering legislation that would increase the penalty for crimes that occur at “sacred places.” A house committee heard testimony Tuesday on a proposed bill that would tack on as much as 10 years in prison to a felony conviction on a violent crime that happens at a school, hospital or place of worship.

Federal lawmakers say they are having conversations “at the highest levels of the Pentagon” to try to convince the Air Force to preserve a flight mission at Martin State Airport in Middle River, home of the Maryland Air National Guard’s 175th Wing. The Air Force is phasing out its A-10 “Warthog” attack aircraft over the next five years.

Baltimore County residents will have at least two chances to give their opinion on all legislation prior to a County Council vote, according to new rules proposed to improve public participation and transparency. Led by Democratic Councilman Pat Young, a group of council members on Tuesday reiterated their support for a resolution that would amend the council’s rules of procedure.

With support from the legislature’s presiding officers and Attorney General Anthony Brown, state lawmakers are hoping this session to establish a comprehensive data privacy law after several years in which proposals failed. Enforcement of the new law would fall to the Office of the Attorney General, which Brown said.

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.