STATE TO CONTINUE HIRING DESPITE ‘ENORMOUS’ PROJECTED BUDGET DEFICIT: An “enormous” projected budget deficit over the next five years will not slow down efforts to fill vacant state jobs, the state budget secretary said Wednesday. Budget Secretary Helene Grady, speaking to the Joint Committee on Fair Practices and State Personnel, acknowledged the looming fiscal challenge but said, when questioned by committee members, that those challenges will not sidetrack efforts to “rebuild state government.” Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
BOWSER SAYS MARYLAND HOLDING UP STADIUM DEAL FOR BRIDGE FUNDING: D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser on Wednesday said leaders in neighboring Maryland are holding up a deal that could pave the way for the Washington Commanders football team to build its next stadium at the RFK Stadium site by linking that deal to the state’s pursuit of its other priorities, including separate legislation promising that the federal government will fully fund efforts to rebuild the collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. Sam Fortier, Erin Cox and Michael Brice-Saddler/The Washington Post.
HEALTH SECTY SAYS SHE WAS MISLED ABOUT INMATE VIOLENCE: Maryland Health Secretary Laura Herrera Scott said Wednesday that top staffers had “misrepresented the facts” about troubling complaints of violence at the state’s only maximum security psychiatric hospital, delaying a more robust and immediate response that might have abated some of the facility’s problems. Katie Mettler/The Washington Post.
- “I received a very broken agency,” Herrera Scott told the committee. “It took me a little time for me to figure out that I was not being told the truth, and when I figured that out we started making changes in leadership and expectations and reporting requirements.” Danielle Gaines/Maryland Matters.
CORRECTIONS SECTY SAYS MEDICAL CARE FLAWS DATE TO HOGAN ADMIN: Maryland lawmakers on Tuesday expressed deep frustration with corrections leaders as they grilled them about flaws in health care for inmates on Tuesday. Carolyn Scruggs, secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, sought to assure lawmakers that she was focused on providing care to incarcerated individuals. She attributed flaws with prior medical care contracts to the administration of former Gov. Larry Hogan. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
PROGRAM SEEKS TO BOOST BUSINESS EXPORTS: State commerce officials have launched a program to connect Maryland companies with international markets. The state’s Soft Landing Exchange Program, announced Monday, was designed to connect companies with overseas business incubators and accelerators at reduced costs. Maryland was the 26th largest state exporter last year, with goods valued at more than $18 billion and, in 2021, exports from Maryland supported an estimated 54,000 jobs. Lorraine Mirabella/The Baltimore Sun.
FIVE CANDIDATES REMAIN; COUNCIL TO PICK BA CO COUNTY EXEC: Five candidates are advancing to the final round of a process to select the next Baltimore County executive, the County Council announced Wednesday. They are state Sen. Katherine A. Klausmeier; former state Sen. Jim Brochin; former county parks director Barry F. Williams; former county environmental protection head George G. Perdikakis Sr.; and civic activist and entrepreneur Yara Cheikh. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.
- The finalists will make their case to the County Council on Monday night. Each has been asked to prepare a 15 minute speech. In a statement, Council chairman Izzy Patoka, a Democrat, said the five candidates “stand out in their experience and accomplishments.” Twelve people applied for the position. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
SEN. WASHINGTON TO RUN FOR PRINCE GEORGE’S EXEC: The crowded field for Prince George’s County executive just got more crowded. State Sen. Alonzo Washington (D-Prince George’s) told a crowd of supporters on Wednesday night that he will run to succeed Sen.-elect Angela Alsobrooks, who resigned as county executive last week before moving to the Senate. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
CARROLL SCHOOLS TRANSGENDER POLICIES CLASH WITH STATE ED DEPT: Carroll County schools are required to notify parents if a student wishes to change their pronouns or otherwise identify as a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth. This policy contradicts guidelines published by the Maryland State Department of Education, which does not require schools to share information on a student’s sexuality or gender with their parents or guardians. Daranee Balachandar, Shaela Foster and Dylan Jaffe of Capital News Service/MarylandReporter.com.
SHERIFF JENKINS VOWS TO SUPPORT TRUMP MASS DEPORTATION PLAN: Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins, a staunch advocate of immigration enforcement, said his office would wholeheartedly support President-elect Donald Trump’s deportation plan. “I absolutely, positively will support that very much. It’s going to be a mass deportation of criminals,” Jenkins said. “Every chief, every sheriff in this country should stand up to support this.” Glynis Kazanjian/The Baltimore Sun.
MOORE ON MANGIONE: ‘COLD BLOOD’ KILLING WON’T SOLVE ISSUES: Gov. Wes Moore spoke briefly about the case of Luigi Mangione, the Maryland man who has been charged in the shooting death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. “I was 3 years old when my dad died in front of me because he didn’t get the health care he needed. And so the brokenness of the healthcare system is something I’ve lived with. …” said Moore, whose father died from a rare, but treatable virus. “I also know that the way we solve things is not by killing people in cold blood.” Childs Walker/The Baltimore Sun.
JUDGE SAYS SNYDER MUST REPRESENT HIMSELF: A federal judge denied Stephen L. Snyder’s request to be represented by an attorney ahead of his federal extortion sentencing, saying it “rings hollow” and was designed to disrupt and delay the case. At a hearing Tuesday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Sullivan said he observed that Snyder was continuing to try to control his case and repeatedly interrupted his proposed attorney, whose skill as a lawyer he criticized. Snyder, 77, represented himself at his trial on charges that he sought to extort the University of Maryland Medical System for $25 million in 2018. Justin Fenton/The Baltimore Banner.
BREWSTER BOOK ON C-SPAN: Watch a discussion of the book Self-Destruction by former Baltimore Sun reporter John Frece that detailed the life and career of World War II veteran, Maryland Democratic Senator, and alcoholic, Daniel Brewster. Senator Brewster’s son, former Delegate Gerry Brewster, joined this discussion hosted by the Maryland Center for History and Culture. The book has just been named an Amazon Top 10 Political Best Seller. Here is Maryland Reporter’s March review of the book.
