Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Baltimore, MD
Baltimore, MD
50°
Cloudy
FOLLOW US:

Politics

Councilmember Cohen applauds PSC decision on BGE gas regulators

Councilmember Zeke Cohen on Tuesday applauded the Public Service Commission’s Decision regarding the placement of BGE gas regulators. Cohen states that the decision puts the power back in the hands of the people. Throughout his statement, Cohen expressed a variety of emotions, diving into his respect for PSC Chair Hoover and perhaps lack of for BGE.

 

Congress returns with government shutdown looming as GOP weighs impeachment inquiry

After months of struggling to find agreement on just about anything in a divided Congress, lawmakers are returning to Capitol Hill to try to avert a government shutdown, even as House Republicans consider whether to press forward with an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. A short-term funding measure to keep government offices fully functioning will dominate the September agenda, along with emergency funding for Ukraine, federal disaster funds and the Republican-driven probe into Hunter Biden’s overseas business dealings.

 

Change comes to the state elections board as DeMarinis takes the helm

In 2013, soon after the passage of an overhaul of state campaign finance law, Jared DeMarinis was handed a badge. DeMarinis, then the state’s director of candidacy and campaign finance, was part of an overhaul of campaign finance laws in Maryland in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United three years earlier. The new law also gave DeMarinis and his office wider latitude to issue civil violations.

MTA has launched a new express bus to speed trips crosstown. So I rode it to see if it was faster.

Fall service changes from the Maryland Transit Administration went into effect recently, adjusting certain bus routes. Most notable was the addition of QuickLink 40 — a tweaked and rebranded version of the old QuickBus 40 — that connects Westgate and Essex through downtown. With plans for the Red Line — a future east-west transit line that Gov. Wes Moore officially resurrected in June — still unknown and years away, the express bus line will serve as the crosstown answer for the time being.

How a series of errors cut off Baltimore’s access to $10 million in housing grants

In early June, a staff member in the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services asked her supervisor for help crafting a sensitive, and potentially explosive, email. Due to a cascade of challenges within the city agency, it had missed a consequential federal reporting deadline, staffer Camille Wathne wrote in the email draft. Without the report, the department couldn’t submit a request for financial reimbursement from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says door hasn’t closed on presidential run

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan hasn’t completely ruled out running for president with an independent party if former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden are front-runners as Republican and Democratic nominees early next year, he said on CBS News on Sunday. Robert Costa of “Face the Nation” asked whether Hogan is open to running as a candidate with No Labels, the party he co-chairs.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Black and silver solar panels
Vogel says energy needs can create jobs

Del. Joe Vogel said addressing climate issues and energy needs should translate into job opportunities for Western Maryland. Vogel, 26, a Democrat, announced in the spring his intention to seek the 6th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. David Trone. Trone announced in May he would not seek reelection and would instead run for U.S. Senate and the seat held by Sen. Ben Cardin, who is retiring after serving 16 years.

Moore administration supports delaying initial emissions tests for new cars by 3 years

Starting as soon as next month, Marylanders may not have to bring their new cars in for state emissions testing until they are six model years old — instead of three. The matter will come before the state Board of Public Works next Wednesday, as it votes on a contract modification for the company that conducts the emissions checks for Maryland. If the Board of Public Works approves the change, the company likely will need a few weeks to make the adjustments.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Carroll commissioners defend proposed ‘nuisance’ police calls law during public hearing

Carroll County commissioners held a public hearing Thursday to discuss a proposed county law that would fine homeowners and businesses who make too many “nuisance” calls to police. Only two members of the public came to the meeting to give their opinions, but commissioners said they had been reading a lot of comments on social media about the proposed law. There was no vote on the ordinance Thursday.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Where did Wes Moore go? In first months, governor crisscrossed Maryland, spent time in D.C. and called Obama

He’s donned yarmulkes in synagogues and talked about his faith in churches, sat with grieving families and rallied crowds of thousands, toured small businesses and met with executives in the United Kingdom, cheered at Orioles games and spent evenings at the White House. Gov. Wes Moore has had a whirlwind first six months in office as Maryland’s 63rd chief executive and, by all accounts, a rising star in national Democratic politics.

Read More: Baltimore Sun

The Morning Rundown

We’re staying up to the minute on the issues shaping the future. Join us on the newsletter of choice for Maryland politicos and business leaders. It’s always free to join and never a hassle to leave. See you on the inside.