STATE HOUSE PUT ON LOCKDOWN: Maryland’s iconic state capitol building in Annapolis shut down Thursday about 5 p.m. as troopers responded to a reported security threat. People at the scene were told to lock doors and turn out the lights. Katie Shepherd and Erin Cox/The Washington Post.
- Officials declared the situation safe around 7 p.m., with no injuries reported, about two hours after a caller dialed the main line of the Annapolis Police Department and “said something about coming in and shooting up the place,” Chief Ed Jackson said. Alex Mann/The Baltimore Sun.
SENATE PANEL CONSIDERS CREATING FIREARM VIOLENCE PREVENTION CENTER: A few hours before the Maryland State House went on lockdown Thursday, the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on legislation to create a Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention. Senate Bill 475 is part of a package released in January by Gov. Wes Moore (D) and led by the legislature’s presiding officers. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
MD. SENATE GRANTS PRELIMINARY APPROVAL TO JUVENILE JUSTICE BILL: One day after the Maryland House of Delegates granted preliminary approval to a juvenile justice reform bill, the Senate did the same on Thursday. Senate Bill 744 contains 12 amendments adopted by the Judicial Proceedings Committee earlier this week, with many matching the House version. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
OPINION: THE MISSING LINK IN JUVENILE JUSTICE REFORM: In a followup column in the Baltimore Sun on a panel discussion on juvenile justice reform that he moderated, Armstrong Williams said what was missing from Gov. Wes Moore’s “equation” in discussing juvenile justice is the family structure … fatherless homes … family breakdown … mothers raising these kids alone … moral advice and learning “what it means to be a man.” How do we rebuild the institution of the family? Williams asked. Richard Vatz/The Baltimore Examiner.
‘SHOCK AND GRIEF’ OVER LOSS OF FRIEND PROMPTS OPIOID BILL: Del. Vaughn Stewart (D) of Rockville authors legislation on hospitals’ response to opioid overdoses after the death of his childhood pal. Louis Peck/MoCo 360.
FREDERICK CO. DELEGATION REQUESTS $27.5 MILLION FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS: Members of Frederick County’s state delegation have made 30 requests totaling $27.5 million for capital project funding for fiscal year 2025. State lawmakers file bond bills to get funding for projects in their districts. Of the $27.5 million in funds requested by the Frederick County delegation as of Thursday evening, $14 million was on behalf of the Frederick County government. Ceoli Jacoby/The Frederick News-Post.
WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSION ON AGING SEEKS 68% FUNDING BOOST: Citing increased needs for a graying population, the Washington County Commission on Aging is seeking a 68% funding boost from the county government in the fiscal2025 budget, which would bring the county’s total contribution to the agency to nearly $1.8 million. Tamela Baker/The Hagerstown Herald-Mail.
DECLINING DOWNTOWN REAL ESTATE VALUES HURT BALTIMORE’S TAX BASE: Baltimore’s financial position has improved somewhat in recent months, a lift that comes even as the city has taken a few major hits from vacancy in its downtown business district. Baltimore has seen its property tax base shrink by $181 million since last July, largely a consequence of updated appraisals to major commercial properties that have lost business and tenants since the pandemic, Deputy Finance Director Bob Cenname told the City Council on Thursday. Adam Willis/The Baltimore Banner.
STATE’s RELATIONSHIP WITH CORRECTIONS’ HEALTH PROVIDER IS UP IN THE AIR: Maryland has about a month to decide whether it will continue to do business with YesCare Corp., a correctional health care provider that has drawn a flurry of lawsuits from currently and formerly incarcerated people over alleged malpractice. Meanwhile, a cascading series of events in a related Texas bankruptcy case has thrown the viability of YesCare into question. Ben Conarck/The Baltimore Banner.
OPINION: ALSOBROOKS AND TRONE TRY TO WOO VOTERS AT ANNAPOLIS BREAKFAST CLUB: Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Rep. David Trone made separate appearances at Almost 7:30 Democratic breakfast club meetings in their bids to win the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Maryland. Rick Hutzell/The Baltimore Banner.
OPINION: HOW A HARFORD SENATOR DEALS WITH BUDGETS, CRIME AND OTHER ISSUES: My persistence in ensuring that Harford County is financially secure and supported by the state is demonstrated by the county getting $26.9 million more this year over last year. This despite the state reducing its budget by more than $1.12 billion. the budget and its support of Harford County, a few bills I am sponsoring or co-sponsoring, and the critical efforts to bring down juvenile crime. Sen. Mary-Dulany James/The Aegis.
