Tuesday, January 14, 2025 | Baltimore, MD
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Politics

Read the results of the Goucher College Poll-Baltimore Banner survey of Baltimore residents

Goucher College Poll, in partnership with The Baltimore Banner, surveyed Baltimore residents about crime, the economy, housing and other issues facing city residents, as well as their thoughts on the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, impact and response. In addition, the poll also surveyed likely Democratic voters on their preferences in the race for mayor and City Council president.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott received money from 9 donors who exceeded $6K limit

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has received campaign donations above the $6,000 maximum from at least nine contributors this election cycle, violating state campaign finance law.Most of the problem donations, which amount to an extra $29,250, are the result of multiple contributions — some made in early 2023, before the mayoral campaign was underway, combined with others made more recently.

 

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Pimlico deal took weekend negotiations, limits to state liability to pass at 11th hour

Plans to revamp Baltimore’s deteriorating Pimlico Race Course have been years in the making, but it took a weekend of negotiations and a bill passing in the waning hours of the legislative session for Gov. Wes Moore’s administration to advance a new deal. State officials hope the deal will spur a declining industry with facility upgrades and year-round racing, provide a boost to communities neighboring Pimlico and other tracks, and keep the Preakness Stakes — one of three annual events comprising thoroughbred horse racing’s Triple Crown — running in Maryland.

Some aldermen say they support noncitizen residents voting in city elections

Three of Frederick’s aldermen expressed support, in varying degrees, Wednesday for a proposal to let city residents who are not U.S. citizens vote in elections for city officials. Frederick could follow existing state voter registration policy in allowing residents of the city who are not U.S. citizens to vote in city elections, Alderman Ben MacShane said at a meeting Wednesday.

Maryland puts restrictions on dairy cow farms to prevent the arrival of avian flu in the state

As avian flu cases among dairy cows are reported in several states, Maryland is taking action to prevent it from spreading into the state. The Maryland Department of Agriculture has issued an order restricting the movement of dairy cows from affected states.“The concern about movement of cattle is that a lot of the outbre aks in multiple states have been linked to one particular farm in Texas, which implies that the movement of cattle is somehow spreading this virus to other states as well,” Dr. Andrew Pekosz, a virus expert who studies viruses such as influenza at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, said.

Read More: WTOP
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown endorses David Trone for US Senate

State Attorney General Anthony Brown has endorsed U.S. Senate candidate and current U.S. Rep. David Trone and appears in a new campaign ad for the fellow Democrat. “I’ve been in the trenches with him sticking up for fairness and standing up for everyday people,” says Brown, the former lieutenant governor, in the television ad. The Trone campaign said the ad began broadcasting statewide on Wednesday.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Legislative ethics panel admonishes Henson for conflict of interest, misuse of official title

A legislative ethics panel has called on an Anne Arundel County lawmaker to apologize to the public, the speaker of the House and other legislative leaders for her involvement in funding requests for a religious organization to which she belongs. The panel further recommended that Del. Shaneka Henson (D-Anne Arundel) not be reassigned to the House Appropriations Committee after what it called an “ongoing practice” to hide her personal and professional relationship with an organization seeking more than $1 million in state bond money.

Baltimore bridge collapse could wipe out emergency federal highway fund

Maryland and Baltimore may jump ahead of states that have waited more than a decade for emergency highway funding, as the federal government swoops in with aid after the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The Federal Highway Administration’s emergency relief fund, which reimburses states for expenses to repair or reconstruct roadways after disasters, has a $2.1 billion backlog of projects and only $890 million on hand, according to data obtained by The Washington Post. (Photo: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post)

The United States Capitol Rotunda
Maryland congressional delegation to launch bipartisan push for funds to rebuild bridge

Maryland’s congressional delegation plans to introduce legislation in the coming days that would require the federal government to cover the costs of rebuilding Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, though lawmakers didn’t have a price tag to cite during a Tuesday press conference — or a firm commitment from GOP leaders in the U.S. House to move the bill through that chamber.

Maryland bill will allow lawsuits against gun industry, but gun tax hike fails

Maryland lawmakers passed a handful of gun bills this year, permitting civil lawsuits against the gun industry and banning devices that turn handguns into machine guns. Top Democrats representing some of the state’s most liberal districts championed the bills. They fought for measures they say are needed to bridge legal gaps, fund trauma centers aiding gunshot victims and improve public safety by preventing gun violence.

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