GOP PARTY UNITY SEEMS HARD TO FIND AFTER COX WIN: The nomination of Dan Cox as the Republican candidate for governor has some GOP candidates running away from the top of the ticket and campaigning instead with current Gov. Larry Hogan. It’s complicating the gubernatorial nominee’s hopes of uniting his party in time for the general election. Bryan Sears/The Daily Record.
- Hogan went so far as to say he’s not sure which candidate will get his vote for governor in November, mentioning that there is a Liberatarian candidate in the race. “That’s a great question,” Hogan said. “I guess we’ll find out in November.” Staff/WBAL-AM.
MD GUN CARRY PERMIT REQUESTS GO UP: After a Supreme Court ruling prompted Gov. Larry Hogan to suspend part of the state’s concealed gun carry permit requirements, applications have shot up. From June 23 to July 11, the Maryland State Police received 7,165 applications compared to 1,014 for the same period last year. Penelope Blackwell/The Baltimore Banner.
HOPKINS STUDY LOOKS AT THREATS, HARASSMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS: More people believe threatening public health officials for their role in public health closures is justified, a Johns Hopkins study has found. The survey results noted a significant percentage of 1,086 adult respondents, 21%, believed that threatening public health officials for business closures to slow COVID-19 transmission was justified, compared to about 15% in Nov. 2020. D’Paul Nibber/Conduit Street.
GOP LT GOV NOMINEE CORRECTS HER OWN CLAIM SHE WAS THE FIRST: Maryland Republican Lt. Governor nominee Gordana Schifanelli had to repost her twitter bio after readers called her out for a claim that she was the first woman elected Maryland Republican lieutenant governor nominee. She is actually the fourth woman nominee selected by Maryland voters. Brian Griffiths/The Duckpin.
MORE WOMEN CANDIDATES PROJECTED FOR MO CO COUNCIL: The Democratic field for Montgomery County Council continues to take shape, with six more candidates — half of them women — projected to win the nominations. This could substantially change the makeup of a nine-person council that now has only one female member. Karina Elwood/The Washington Post.
THREE-VOTE DIFFERENCE PROMPTS RECOUNT REQUEST IN FREDERICK COUNTY COUNCIL RACE: Frederick County Council President M.C. requested a recount Thursday in her primary election race, which an official count from the Frederick County Board of Elections showed she lost by three votes. Jack Hogan/The Frederick News-Post.
SECOND GENTLEMAN VISITS BALTIMORE FOR TREE PLANTING: The husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, second gentleman Doug Emhoff, visited an AmeriCorps Service project in Baltimore on Thursday. Emhoff teamed up with AmeriCorps workers to plant trees on a vacant lot at the corner of Rory and Calhoun streets. Robert Lang/WBAL-AM.
OPINION: GOP SHOULDN’T STAND BEHIND PEROUTKA: The Maryland GOP is supporting for attorney general Michael Peroutka, a retired debt-collection attorney who has stated that “God’s law” trumps state and federal statutes. When first confronted with his affiliation to the League of the South, which has been dubbed a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, Peroutka doubled down and only left the group later for “private reasons.” Yet, former Gov. Bob Ehrlich is supporting Peroutka in the current election for AG. Dan Rodricks/The Baltimore Sun.
TWO LEADERS DISCUSS FUTURE OF NEW LGBTQ AFFAIRS COMMISSION: The Baltimore Banner sat down with two leaders of a new state commission for LGBTQ Affairs, Joe Toolan and Jeremy Browning, who have both been deeply involved in the group Annapolis Pride. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
RELIEF FUNDS To HELP WITH CITY NEIGHBORHOOD CLEANUPS: The city of Baltimore carved out $14.7 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act coronavirus pandemic relief funds for trash clean up efforts in longtime neglected neighborhoods. During the height of the pandemic related lockdown, the city’s public works department had a worker shortage that still continues years later. Bethany Raja/WYPR-FM.
CHIEF OF STAFF FOR LATE U.S. REP. CUMMINGS DIES AT 64: Vernon L. Simms, chief of staff for the late U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings and the owner-operator of a home improvement business, died July 16 at Gilchrist Hospice Center in Towson. The longtime Gwynn Oak resident was 64. Frederick N. Rasmussen/The Baltimore Sun.
