Danielle E. Gaines Last week, Maryland became the first state to get federal approval for a plan to reimburse victims of food benefits fraud — and Gov. Wes Moore (D) included funding for the effort in a supplemental budget delivered to the General Assembly on Friday. The Maryland Department of …
Read More »Wes Moore Sworn In As Maryland’s First Black Governor
Wes Moore became the 63rd governor of Maryland — and the state’s first Black chief executive — on Wednesday, pledging to throw open the doors of opportunity to all. In remarks offered soon after he was sworn in, Moore acknowledged the inescapable significance of the moment. “As we stand here …
Read More »Maryland Suspends ‘good and substantial reason’ Standard For Concealed Gun Permits
Maryland gun owners are no longer required to prove they have a good and substantial reason to carry a concealed weapon. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Tuesday directed the Maryland State Police to suspend that provision of state law. The governor’s directive makes it easier for legal gun owners to …
Read More »Overriding Governor’s Veto, Maryland Legislators Expand Abortion Access In State
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan‘s veto of a measure to expand access to abortion in the state was overridden on Saturday by the General Assembly, which Democrats control. House Bill 937, titled the Abortion Care Access Act, was overridden in the House of Delegates by a vote of 90-46, and in the …
Read More »As Gas Prices Fall From Record Highs Some States Provide Additional Relief At The Pumps
The price for a gallon of gas continues to slowly fall after hitting a record $4.33 on March 11. The national average for a gallon of gasoline on Tuesday was $4.25, according to AAA. The primary reason for the falling prices is the lower global price of crude oil, which peaked …
Read More »Maryland Primary Election Postponed From June 28 To July 19
The Maryland Court of Appeals on Tuesday issued an order that moves the 2022 Primary Election from June 28 to July 19 as courts weigh challenges to the state’s new legislative and congressional maps. Last month, the deadline for filing certificates of candidacy was extended from Feb. 22 to March …
Read More »Maryland Governor, Legislators Agree To Suspend Maryland Gas Tax For 30 Days
Maryland Gov Larry Hogan and state lawmakers agreed Thursday on legislation to suspend the state’s gas tax for 30 days. The emergency bill will land on the governor’s desk within days, and the gas tax holiday will commence after a special bill-signing ceremony. “Increased revenue projections for this year and …
Read More »Judge Rules Maryland Enhanced Unemployment Benefits Can Continue Until September
A Judge in Maryland ruled this week that enhanced federal unemployment benefits can continue until September. A judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering the state to ensure those qualifying for unemployment to keep getting enhanced federal benefits. Maryland’s Republican Governor Larry Hogan and labor official wanted to opt-out of the …
Read More »Former DNC Chair Tom Perez Enters Maryland Gubernatorial Race
Tom Perez, who recently completed his term as chair of the Democratic National Committee, announced last week that he is running for governor of Maryland. Perez announced his bid on social media, sharing a campaign video in which he vowed to build a Maryland where all residents have access to quality …
Read More »Maryland Joins Other GOP-Led States In Ending Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
Maryland will join two dozen other Republican-led states whose governors have decided to end enhanced unemployment benefits, Republican Gov. Larry Hogan has announced. The move, which takes effect on July 3, will end the $300 supplemental weekly payment that some out-of-work residents have been receiving under the Federal Pandemic Unemployment …
Read More »25 States, Plus Washington D.C., Have Fully Vaccinated At Least Half Of Their Adult Population
According to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 50% of adults are fully vaccinated in 25 states, including Washington D.C. “Across the country, cases of COVID-19, serious illness, and loss of life are all down dramatically,” Andy Slavitt, White House senior COVID-19 adviser, said. …
Read More »States Are Using Vaccine Lotteries To Get More People Vaccinated
States are offering different incentive programs to increase the rate of vaccinations, including vaccine lotteries. On Thursday, both New York and Maryland announced a new lottery. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that any adult who gets vaccinated at any of the ten state-run sites from May 24 to May …
Read More »Maryland Governor Posthumously Pardons 34 Lynching Victims
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan today issued a full posthumous pardon for 34 victims of racial lynching. The lynchings occurred in Maryland between 1854 and 1933. Hogan issued the pardons on the basis that the extrajudicial killings “violated fundamental rights to due process and equal protection of the law.” It is …
Read More »Baltimore Will No Longer Prosecute Drug Possession, Prostitution, Low-Level Crimes
Declaring the war on drugs over in Baltimore, State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby announced Friday she will make permanent her COVID-19 policy to dismiss all criminal charges for the possession of drugs including heroin. “I am… announcing our COVID policies will now become permanent. And America’s failed policies on drugs, on …
Read More »Maryland Governor Signs $577M HBCU Funding Legislation Into Law
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan on Wednesday signed legislation that sets aside $577 million for Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The HBCU legislation becomes law after more than 15 years of court battles, protests, and political fighting. Alumni and boosters of the universities — Bowie State, Coppin State, Morgan State and the …
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