Maryland lawmakers worked through bills and meetings to close the 2019 state legislative session on Sine Die, despite the somber mood set by Speaker Michael Busch’s death.
HHS initiative aims to prevent new cases of HIV in Maryland and other “trouble spots”
The US Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with local health departments to help diagnose and prevent new cases of HIV. In Maryland there are three “hot spots:” Baltimore City, Prince George’s County, and Montgomery County.
A new way to relax at the Maryland Zoo with yoga and penguins
Yoga enthusiasts now have a wild alternative to their usual setting. They can relax with an hour-long vinyasa-style class while enjoying the up-close view of the African penguins at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.
Prince George’s initiative aims to help men stop domestic violence
The Men’s Challenge is an initiative by the Prince George’s County Department of Family Services to increase awareness of domestic violence and allow men to have open discussions about their own experiences with the goal of preventing violence before it starts.
Supreme Court hears oral arguments for Bladensburg Peace Cross case
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Wednesday for the Bladensburg Peace Cross, a controversial 40-foot-tall World War I monument. The prosecution says the cross is a violation of the Establishment Clause and separation of church and state. The defense argues the monument serves as a secular memorial for the fallen soldiers.
Advocates prepare for Supreme Court hearing on Maryland’s Bladensburg Peace Cross
The Bladensburg Peace Cross, which honors 49 Prince George’s County residents who were killed in World War I, is being challenged as a violation of the separation of church and state. Plaintiffs say the 40-foot-tall cross, standing on government property, is an endorsement of Christianity. Defenders of the monument argue it is a secular remembrance honoring veterans. Oral arguments will be heard in the Supreme Court Wednesday.
Maryland Senate votes to return school start dates to local school boards
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan signed an Executive Order in 2016, requiring Maryland’s public schools to begin classes after Labor Day. Now, Maryland senators are pushing back, approving legislation giving local public school boards throughout the state the authority, again, to determine the start and end date of the schools in their county. The measure now moves on to the House.
Governor Hogan again urges bipartisanship, sets priorities in State of the State
Republican Governor Larry Hogan, inaugurated for a second term just two weeks ago, told a joint session of the Maryland General Assembly that the state of the state has “never been stronger.”
Governor proposes boost in funding for public charter schools
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says the state’s public charter schools are in need of major improvements. The governor is including $2.6 million for construction and repairs in his 2020 budget, and introducing the Public Charter School Facility Fund Act of 2019 calling for an allocation of $1600 per public charter school student.