Wednesday, October 30, 2024 | Baltimore, MD
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Politics

Wes Moore Creates Fundraising Committee Ahead of Possible Run for Governor

Wes Moore, the Baltimore-based nonprofit executive, is one step closer to entering the 2022 Democratic primary for governor. Moore created a campaign fundraising committee with the State Board of Elections on Wednesday, Wes Moore for Maryland, which enables him to begin raising money for a possible bid. Sources said that Moore, who disclosed in late February that he was “seriously considering” a run for governor, isn’t quite ready to announce his candidacy yet. But the new fundraising entity is another sign that he is preparing to become a candidate, with a final decision likely within the next few weeks.

Biden declares ‘America is rising anew’ as he calls for expansion of federal programs on scale not seen in decades

President Joe Biden declared Wednesday night that “America is rising anew” as he called for an expansion of federal programs to drive the economy past the pandemic and broadly extend the social safety net on a scale not seen in decades. In his first address to Congress, he pointed optimistically to the nation’s emergence from the coronavirus scourge as a moment for America to prove that its democracy can still work and maintain primacy in the world.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
WINNER: Pokuaa “PK” Owusu-Acheaw of MSEA

PK Owusu, Managing Director of Political and Legislative Affairs for the Maryland State Educators Association (MSEA), came away from the 2021 legislative session with huge wins for Maryland educators and students. From resisting Governor Hogan’s veto of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, to securing critical protections for COVID-vulnerable educators, PK and her team worked with legislators to hold the line on historic successes and advocate for educators in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

None of this would have been possible without the hard work, dedication, and collaboration of Team MSEA, especially the Government Relations Team, MSEA Governance, and the entire membership of MSEA members, 75,000 strong, who have tirelessly shown up on the frontlines to make sure that Maryland students receive a quality education, regardless of their zip code,” PK Owusu-Acheaw.

The county where Black women hold power — a few miles from the White House

The hallway was lined with sharply dressed Black women, awaiting the new administration’s first cabinet meeting. Who are they, the deputy fire chief wondered that December day in 2018. She had attended such sessions for eight years, but had never seen the foyer look like this. As the women took their seats at the table, she read their names and titles. These women, she realized, were in charge.

WINNER: Gene Ransom and MedChi

Gene Ransom, CEO and Executive Director of MedChi (The Maryland State Medical Society) approached the 2021 session with one goal: deliver for MedChi membership on Maryland issues after more than a year with physicians in the national spotlight. Whether that meant a massive increase in physician payment for Medicaid, preservation of payments for telehealth services post-pandemic, or successfully resisting changes in state code that would have lowered the standard for the term “physician,” the MedChi team was relentless in the interest of Maryland physicians.

3 Maryland families for years criticized David Fowler’s rulings as medical examiner. Then came Derek Chauvin’s trial.

For years, the families of Anton Black, Karreem Ali and Tyrone West have tried to get someone — anyone — to listen. They filed lawsuits, held vigils and investigated, all in hopes of making people take another look at former Maryland Chief Medical Examiner David Fowler’s conclusion that police weren’t responsible for their loved ones’ deaths. Earlier this month, Fowler testified that the Minnesota police officer who knelt on George Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes had nothing to do with Floyd’s death. Fowler blamed carbon monoxide, drug use, a heart condition and other factors, contradicting other medical experts in the trial who said there was no question that former Officer Derek Chauvin killed Floyd.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
How Black female lawmakers led Maryland’s historic effort to transform policing

Maryland’s Senate president told the House speaker that the legislature couldn’t wait any longer. Lawmakers should pass the police-accountability bills quickly, he said, so they’d have enough time to override expected vetoes from Gov. Larry Hogan (R). But after 10 months of work on the issue and nationwide protests, House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-Baltimore County) wasn’t having it.

Prince George’s public defender launches bid for state’s attorney

Prince George’s public defender Stanford Fraser will be challenging incumbent Aisha Braveboy in the Democratic primary for state’s attorney next year, running on a platform of prosecutorial reform that he says is informed by his “experiences firsthand with mass incarceration.” Fraser, 29, was born in the U.S. Virgin Islands but grew up in Prince George’s County. He joined the public defender’s office in 2017, after earning his undergraduate degree at Howard University and his law degree from Harvard University.

WINNER: Delora Sanchez-Ifekauche, Esq. and Cornerstone Government Affairs

The legislative session is over, and The Lobby’s inaugural season is in the books! Every day this week, we’re highlighting the winners of the 2021 Maryland legislative session. Delora Sanchez-Ifekauche, Principal at Cornerstone Government Affairs, took on the unique challenge of a virtual 2021 session with the same passion she does every other legislative session. With a solid team of professionals and a network of connections, Delora delivered wins for clients with Capital projects across the state.

Prince George’s executive says two top police officials will leave after officer is charged with tax evasion

Prince George’s County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D) unexpectedly announced the departure of two of her top public safety officials Friday after news broke that a veteran police officer with the force had been charged in federal court with tax evasion related to his private security business that employs other off-duty police. Alsobrooks said in a news release that she had asked for and accepted the resignation of Mark Magaw, a former police chief and the current deputy chief administrative officer for public safety and homeland security.

The Morning Rundown

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