Valentine’s Day’s roots are more than candy and roses

Roses, chocolates and cards are how we celebrate Valentine’s Day today, but that isn’t how it was celebrated in A.D. 269. Saint Valentine was known for bringing lovers together but was eventually martyred for it. February 14, the day of his death, is now what we know as Valentine’s Day.

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.

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.

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.

Local non-profit helps with meeting needs of pet owners impacted by government shut-down

It’s not just the humans who’ve been impacted by the government shut-down. Many of their four-legged family members have been as well. One local non-profit is helping to fill the need and help with preparing pet owners if federal workers are hit with a second shut-down.

U.S. Senate votes down two bills to end record shutdown

On the same day that the U.S. Senate rejected two bills that would end the government shutdown, Maryland Senator Ben Cardin again criticized President Trump’s proposal for a wall along the Mexican border. Cardin also said delaying the President’s State of the Union address was the right thing to do because it would not be appropriate to talk about the state of the union while the government is still shut down.

State offers free transportation to workers impacted by shutdown

Governor Larry Hogan announced on Thursday that federal workers who are not being paid because of the on-going government shutdown will be able to get free rides from the Maryland Transportation Administration.

Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh, county executives, call for the end to partial federal government shutdown

Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh and four county executives urged President Trump, and Congress, to work together to end the longest shutdown in U.S. history that is affecting their constituents.