The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear two key challenges to state-level gun control laws, allowing Maryland’s ban on assault weapons and Rhode Island’s restriction on high-capacity magazines to remain in place — at least for now. By turning away the appeals, the high court avoided — temporarily …
Read More »Alsobrooks Leads Hogan in Tight Maryland Senate Race, Poll Finds
Jimmy Williams Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) holds a slight lead over former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) in the race for the state’s Senate seat, according to a new poll. Conducted by Gonzales Research & Media Services, the survey found Alsobrooks leading Hogan by 5 percentage points, …
Read More »Federal Appeals Court Upholds 2013 Maryland Assault Weapons Ban
Bryan P. Sears, Maryland Matters Local and national Second Amendment rights advocates say an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is likely, following an appeals court decision Tuesday that upholds a 2013 Maryland law banning assault weapons. The 10-5 split decision by the full 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals …
Read More »Maryland Gov. Wes Moore Pardons Over 175,000 Marijuana Convictions
Jimmy Williams Maryland Governor Wes Moore issued a sweeping executive order on Monday, pardoning more than 175,000 marijuana convictions. The order specifically impacts misdemeanor charges for individuals found guilty of possessing small amounts of marijuana. Of the pardoned convictions, over 150,000 are for simple possession of cannabis. Another 18,000 are …
Read More »Maryland Is The First State In The Country With A Plan To Replace Stolen SNAP Benefits With Federal Funds
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. …
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