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.
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Howard County Executive updates Ellicott City flood mitigation efforts
Ellicott City has endured two deadly floods just within two years. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball updated efforts to deal with the town’s flooding problems on Thursday saying they are considering alternatives to a plan that calls for tearing down a number of the buildings on Main Street.
Local officials team up to push for hike in state’s minimum wage
Several county executives and the mayor of Baltimore joined together on Thursday to urge the legislature and Governor to support an effort to increase the statewide minimum wage to $15. Governor Larry Hogan says he’s open to the conversation but isn’t convinced it’s needed because of concerns of the impact it would have on some businesses.
White House protest calls on Trump administration to issue report, apply sanctions for the murder of Washington Post journalist
February 8th is the deadline for President Trump’s administration to provide a report on what happened to slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and how the U.S. will respond. On Thursday the Committee to Protect Journalists and other organizations gathered in front of the White House to demand that President Trump hold Saudi Arabia accountable for the murder of Khashoggi.
Maryland lawmakers have mixed reviews of 2019 State of the Union
One day after President Trump’s 2019 State of the Union Address, Maryland’s two senators and its lone Republican congressional representative offer differing views on the President’s comments on investigations, funding the government, and the southern border.
Legislation would mandate activity for all elementary public school students in Maryland
A House committee heard testimony on Thursday for a bill that would require more than two hours of physical activity every week for students in public elementary schools around the state.
Mothers take on State House to push for additional gun control
They call themselves “Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America” and members of the Maryland chapter came to Annapolis on Thursday to push for new gun control provisions. The moms and their supporters say they want the legislature to ban “ghost guns” and 3D printed guns as well as require background checks for anyone wanting to buy a shotgun or long guns.
Senate committee hears testimony on governor’s Judicial Transparency Act
Members of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee heard heated testimony for and against Governor Hogan’s proposed Judicial Transparency Act of 2019. The bill would require a state Sentencing Commission to publish an annual report that includes detailed, judge-by-judge information about the sentences handed down to convicted violent offenders.
Testimony presented defining eSports in Maryland, permitting prizes
Montgomery County Delegate Eric Luedtke says eSports is a “multi-billion dollar industry” and that Maryland’s laws need to catch up with the growing market. Luedtke, a sponsor of the legislation defining eSports and allowing prizes for those who play them, told a House Committee on Thursday that eSports could benefit the state with the dollars that it brings in.
Lawmakers React to Governor Hogan’s State of the State
State House Democrats and Republicans may have their differences but Montgomery County Senator Susan Lee (D) says Governor Hogan’s State of the State showed his willingness to work with both parties. But the Democrats say they are concerned about the Governor’s proposed half-billion dollars in additional tax relief and his failure to support an increase in the minimum wage.