Politics

Just one week into their general election campaigns, Maryland’s U.S. Senate candidates Larry Hogan and Angela Alsobrooks are ratcheting up their rhetoric on abortion rights. Alsobrooks, a Democrat, stood in the bright sun in Federal Hill on Thursday morning to declare that Hogan, a Republican, cannot be trusted to protect the right to seek an abortion.

On Thursday, the Baltimore County Council is expected to vote on (and likely pass) Bill 31-24, legislation intended to address overcrowded school districts. In a nutshell, the measure would revise the county’s Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance to gradually restrict development near schools that are judged to be over capacity.

Challenger Zac Blanchard took a 28-vote lead over incumbent Eric Costello in the race to represent South and Central Baltimore neighborhoods in the city’s 11th District as the third day of mail ballot counting closed on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Paris Gray and Jermaine Jones maintained the thin leads they had established since the end of election night in the 8th and 11th districts.

The Wicomico County Council held an open work session on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of eliminating the position of County Executive. The Council says it wants to put the power in the hands of the people, but supporters of the executive position argue that this move is a power grab. A steady stream of Wicomico County voters on both sides of this issue voiced their opinions on this possible charter amendment at the podium.

In his first campaign ad, a week after securing the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in the Maryland primary, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has proclaimed himself an abortion-rights advocate. “Today, with Roe overturned, many have asked what I will do in the United States Senate. I’ll support legislation that makes Roe the law of land in every state, so every woman can make her own choice,” Hogan said in the 30-second ad.

Baltimore elections workers are making their way through thousands of mail ballots, as the outcome of multiple City Council races remains unclear. Counting will continue through the week with provisional ballots and late-arriving mail ballots that were postmarked in time — potentially making for a long and stressful week for candidates who are uncertain of their fates.

Maryland motorists will have to dig a little deeper after July 1 when they renew their vehicle registrations. The cost of registering a passenger vehicle will increase 60-75% under new rates that take effect on July 1. The new fees, passed as part of a budget compromise between the House and Senate, include changes to weight classes of vehicles.

Fewer people showed up to speak at this year’s county budget hearing, but overall, their comments echoed sentiments from last year: They sought more money for schools and the elderly. About a dozen residents spoke during the hearing on the county’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget proposal during the hearing Wednesday at the Washington County Public Safety Training Center on Sharpsburg Pike.