Politics

The appeal of a decision by an Anne Arundel County Circuit Court judge upholding the rejection of an early voting site in Hancock could be heard in early February, according to the attorney representing the Washington County Board of Elections. The local board is not named in the suit, which was filed against state elections officials after the Maryland State Board of Elections formally rejected the site during an emergency meeting Nov. 3. That meeting came after the state board declined to approve the site at its Oct. 26 meeting.

If current economic trends and spending levels continue, Baltimore could face a cumulative budget shortfall of $1.8 billion over the next decade. That was the sobering message city finance officials gave to City Council members at a budget hearing Thursday. “That’s a scary picture,” Council President Nick Mosby said, looking at a chart depicting how the projected deficit could balloon between now and 2034.

The state’s attorneys from two of Maryland’s largest jurisdictions proposed a raft of changes to criminal laws, including recent juvenile reforms, they say will help them hold offenders accountable and enhance public safety. Democrats Ivan Bates of Baltimore and Prince George’s County prosecutor Aisha Braveboy made the announcement in Annapolis weeks ahead of a legislative session where revisiting juvenile justice requirements will be a top issue.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is tapping a veteran of the city’s health department to head the massive agency that has been without a permanent leader for more than seven months. Dr. Ihuoma Emenuga will take over as city health commissioner Jan. 22, if confirmed by the Board of Estimates. She will replace Dr. Letitia Dzirasa, who became deputy mayor for health, equity and human services.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Wednesday that he believes a new lease agreement with the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards is “imminent,” as an end-of-the year deadline approaches. Moore spoke to reporters after a meeting of the state’s Board of Public Works, which would need to approve a final deal. The governor spoke about the negotiations after his administration announced Friday that it would address concerns expressed by the state Senate president about a proposed agreement.

The memory from the grocery store still stings more than six months later. Vanessa Fleeton kept her eyes trained straight ahead as the line behind her kept growing and her card kept being declined — soon realizing almost $2,500 in food assistance had been stolen from her. When the Department of Human Services approved her claim for reimbursement the next week, she was initially relieved. But that quickly gave way to fear and panic when the agency refunded only $46, less than 2% of the theft.

A state delegate from Baltimore is proposing an increase in the state sales tax that could be dedicated to paying for transit. Del. Robbyn Lewis (D-Baltimore) floated the increase during a meeting Tuesday with Baltimore-based Transit Choices. Lewis, the only “car-free” lawmaker in the General Assembly, said she has had discussions with at least one other lawmaker about “whether we could raise revenue for transit through a statewide ballot initiative.

Ahead of a challenging budget year, Maryland lawmakers evaluated the potential costs and savings of expanding health care benefits to residents that do not have access to coverage. Much of the discussion at a House Health and Government Operations Committee meeting Tuesday involved how much it might cost Maryland taxpayers to provide health care coverage to the state’s undocumented populations.

At the Frederick County Council, local landowners, conservation groups and recreational users Tuesday pleaded their case for and against proposed zoning changes to Sugarloaf Mountain ahead of a scheduled vote next week. For a year, the mountain, known for its scenic views and sprawling trails, has been the subject of an intense zoning battle between Frederick County and Stronghold Inc., the nonprofit owners of the 3,400-acre mountain and the surrounding 20,000-acre land.