Sunday, May 19, 2013
What advice did the first lady give graduates? Will electricity rates go up - again? Get all the Maryland news with one click on Patch.
By Patch Staff It was a big news week in Maryland last week, with a visit by the first lady, a commuter nightmare in Montgomery and a heads up for a sixth casino in the state. All the headlines from 48 Patch sites across Maryland: Berliner Calls for Better Electricity Service with 'Utility 2.0' Montgomery County Council Member Roger Berliner asked the Maryland Public Service Commission to require that substantial changes be made to electricity services in the state. Meanwhile, Pepco is asking for permission to raise rates. Michelle Obama to Bowie State Grads: It's Time to Feel Hungry Again In a speech rich with historical references, the first lady reminded the BSU class of 2013 why education is important. Report: Quince Orchard Students…
Friday, May 17, 2013
High-profile Maryland bills on firearms and funding state transportation projects became law.
Two of the most controversial bills Maryland state lawmakers grappled with this session became law Thursday. Gov. Martin O'Malley, flanked by Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller, House Speaker Michael Busch and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, signed 268 bills into law. Among them were the Transportation Infrastructure Investment Act of 2013 which increases the state's gas tax, and the Firearm Safety Act of 2013, a restrictive gun control bill. The gun control measure was an important part of O’Malley’s legislative priorities, but was widely contested by Republicans in the General Assembly. Under the law, more than 40 types of guns are banned in Maryland including most semi-automatic rifles. In addition, digital fingerprints of gun owners are …
Thursday, May 16, 2013
The plan includes tax increase, more cops in schools and more food resources for the poor.
No one went hungry in the $4.8 billion budget Montgomery County Council members tentatively approved Thursday. Key county agencies, including police, fire and rescue, schools and health and human services will receive more aid and new positions, according to an outline of the tentative spending plan released by the council. The council is scheduled to hold a final vote on the budget May 23, the last council session before a three-week recess. All nine council members voted to give tentative approval to the plan for fiscal 2014, which begins July 1. "Budgets are a reflection of our values. There are always more needs, and more wants, than there are resources available," Council President Nancy Navarro (D-Dist 4) of Silver Spring said in a …
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The New England College poll previewing the 2016 Presidential primary shows Hillary Clinton with a commanding lead.
Gov. Martin O'Malley finished last among a field of 2016 Democratic Presidential hopefuls, according to a poll released by New England College. The poll released Tuesday by the New Hampshire-based college found that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton led the field with 65 percent of those surveyed saying they would vote for her in 2016. O'Malley finished last among the field of six with zero percent saying they would vote for the two-term Democratic Maryland governor. Rounding out the field is Vice President Joseph Biden with 10 percent, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren with 5 percent, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo with 4 percent and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick with 3 percent. The college surveyed 314 New Hampshire Democratic …
Monday, May 13, 2013
Blue Alert Act would create a national network to help catch violent criminals who injure or kill police officers, similar to the Amber Alert system.
ROCKVILLE—U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin marked National Police Week with a visit to Rockville’s new police station Monday, where he touted a national law enforcement initiative called the Blue Alert Act of 2013. The Blue Alert Act would create a national network similar to the Amber Alert system to help catch violent criminals who injure or kill police officers. Maryland is already among 18 states to implement such a system. Gov. Martin O’Malley signed an executive order creating Maryland’s Blue Alert system shortly after the death of Maryland State trooper Wesley Brown. Brown was murdered outside a Forestville, MD restaurant in June 2010. “We have no national coordination,” Cardin said. “We don't have a way to share best practices. What you're …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
From crime - hear about the backhoe bandits? - to politics and new places for Mexican food, be well-informed with one click.
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Sunday, May 12
By Patch Staff Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown Kicks Off Gubernatorial Bid In a speech highlighting his military and government service, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown announced in his home county of Prince George's Friday night that he is running for governor of Maryland in the November 2014 election. Dan Bongino’s Home Burglarized Wednesday Night While Family Slept A spokeswoman says computers, purses and a wallet were taken from the Severna Park home of Bongino, the former Secret Service agent who ran for U.S. Senate in 2012. Report: Anne Arundel County Top in State for Generating Tourism Money The county saw a more than 7 percent increase in money from tourism between 2010 and 2011, according to a new report. Businesses Look to Marketplace Fairness…
Friday, May 10, 2013
Hundreds gather at Prince George's Community College in Largo, MD for Brown's gubernatorial campaign announcement.
Follow @UMarlboroPatch for live coverage of Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown's announcement.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Four Democrats thought to be competing for governor have joined labor unions in picketing the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee's Spring Ball.
This year's Spring Ball for the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee would be an apt time to wrangle answers from those thought to be competing for Maryland governor in 2014. All of the early contenders have announced they'll be outside picketing the event, though, not inside campaigning. Takoma Park's Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Dist 20), Howard County Executive Ken Ulman (D) and Attorney General Doug Gansler (D) are expected to join Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (D) in a boycott and picket of the ball on May 11, according to a release from local unions reported by political blog Maryland Juice. All four of the politicians are thought to be running for governor. Brown, a native of Prince George's County, is expected to announce his …
Many Democratic leaders are boycotting the event because they side with the police union that's upset with the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee.
This year's Spring Ball for the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee, set for May 11, has become a rallying point for Montgomery County's police union and many state and local party leaders to express their unhappiness with the committee. Union backers and some Democratic leaders have said they will boycott and picket the annual fundraising event because the central committee backed a referendum question last year that limited police bargaining rights. However, Montgomery County Councilman Craig Rice (D-Dist 2) said that he will not join the picketers, who will count among their number Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and state Del. Heather Mizeur (D-Dist 20), of Takoma Park. Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35…
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Four Maryland lawmakers will run for re-election
Maryland Sen. Nancy J. King and Dels. Charles Barkley, Kirill Reznik and Shane Robinson are running for re-election as the District 39 Team Slate, the candidates announced last week. Maryland’s 39th legislative district covers Germantown and parts of Montgomery Village. King serves on the Senate Budget and Taxation Committee. Barkley is a subcommittee chairman on the House Economic Matters Committee. Reznik serves on the House Health and Government Operations Committee. Robinson is a member of the Environmental Matters Committee. Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett has endorsed the slate, according to a statement released by the candidates: “The District 39 team does an excellent job balancing the needs of Montgomery County and those…
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11:01 pm on Sunday, May 19, 2013
Welcome to Maryland the state that doesn't acknowledge or allow rights granted by the 2nd amendment unless you are a criminal.....of course. Does anyone actually think that making it illegal or difficult for law abiding citizens to own guns will actually stop the daily shootings that go on in Baltimore city?????? I'll vote against every politician that supported this idiotic bill!!!!!!!   more ›