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Commentary: How to address the democracy deficit caused by legislative vacancies
February 20, 2024 Maryland Matters By Edward Fischman The writer is a member of the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee. For perhaps the first time, activists who have spent years advocating for special elections to fill General Assembly seats are …
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Legislative women’s caucus remains a one-party affair
February 20, 2024 Maryland Matters About 30 members of the legislative women’s caucus — known formally as the Women Legislators of Maryland — gathered earlier this month at a news conference to discuss their priorities for this legislative session. The …
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Maryland lawmakers react to Larry Hogan’s surprise run for Senate: ‘Taken aback’
February 16, 2024 Delmarva Now Larry Hogan’s recent decision to run for U.S. Senate comes as a shock to many of the state’s lawmakers — especially Democrats who worked with the former Republican governor and think he wasn’t all that …
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Wednesday’s Headlines: Snow Day Edition
February 14, 2024 Streetsblog New York City Sure, everyone wanted to talk about snow ... except us! So here's today's non-snow media roundup. The snow was the only thing anyone wanted to talk about yesterday, so we'll spare you all …
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Fate uncertain for ‘compromise’ bill for special elections to fill state legislative vacancies
February 14, 2024 MoCo360 Del. Foley’s bill draws support from reform advocates; Sen. Kagan says more expansive legislation is likely to be shelved Maryland State Sen. Cheryl Kagan, sits at her desk in the Senate Chamber at the Maryland State …
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Former Maryland election board member who stormed US Capitol donated to election deniers, slipped through state’s vetting process
February 1, 2024 The Baltimore Sun Agents involved in the largest federal investigation in U.S. history first received a tip about Salisbury’s Carlos Ayala just seven days after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. By the time they charged …
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Advocates renew press to change how legislative vacancies are filled
January 31, 2024 Maryland Matters Maryland lawmakers this session are again targeting the process by which vacancies in the General Assembly are filled. Changing the system has been a goal of good government groups including the Maryland Public Interest Group …
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Amid police staffing shortages, efforts to change eligibility requirements are considered
January 26, 2024 Fox5 News While police departments across Maryland and in Baltimore City are experiencing staffing shortages, there are new efforts to change eligibility requirements to recruit more officers. "There are a lot of Marylanders who are worried about …
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Climate plan’s out. Now comes the hard part: Paying for it.
January 25, 2024 Maryland Matters Maryland Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain at a meeting of the governor’s cabinet in Carroll County earlier this month. Photo from the Executive Office of the Governor. Now that the Maryland Department of the Environment has …
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Involvement in Jan. 6 attack could become litmus test for some GOP nominees
January 24, 2024 Maryland Matters Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City). Photo by Bryan P. Sears. The leader of the Maryland Senate said Republican appointees to the State Board of Elections will have to answer questions about involvement in the …
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Feds charge member of Md. Bd. of Elections with Jan. 6 crimes
January 11, 2024 Maryland Matters A Republican member of the Maryland State Board of Elections was arrested by federal authorities this week and charged for his alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, the U.S. …
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Maryland election board member resigns after charge related to Jan. 6 US Capitol insurrection
January 11, 2024 Baltimore Sun A Republican member of the Maryland State Board of Elections resigned this week after federal authorities announced his indictment for allegedly participating in the 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Carlos Ayala, 52, of Salisbury, …
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What’s in Store for 2024 Maryland General Assembly
December 21, 2023 Montgomery Community Media The Maryland General Assembly kicks off its legislative session in Annapolis on Wednesday, Jan. 10. The session will run for 90 days. It is set to end on Monday, April 8. This will be …
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Kagan Files Complaint Against Rockville Elections Board
December 18, 2023 Montgomery Perspective Senator Cheryl Kagan has filed an Open Meetings Act complaint against the Rockville Board of Supervisors of Elections. In the complaint, she alleges that the board excluded her from an open meeting in violation of …
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Political Notes: Moore’s staff shakeup and poll numbers, new Bay chief, another CD-3 candidate, giving up the milkshake, and Senate race updates
December 16, 2023 Maryland Matters ... Skip the shake, pass the Corn The invitations for dozens of last-minute fundraisers that will take place just before the General Assembly session starts on Jan. 10 are going out. State lawmakers, along with …
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#MACoCon Recap: 2024 Elections and Beyond…
December 14, 2023 Maryland Association of Counties: Conduit Street At the MACo Winter Conference, an expert panel explored innovative policies and new solutions to advance and promote free, fair, safe, and secure elections. An essential function of Maryland’s county governments is to …
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CASA scrambles to save political, financial support
November 10, 2023 Maryland Matters Members of CASA rally on Lawyers Mall in Annapolis earlier this year in favor of a bill that would have expanded health care for undocumented immigrants. Photo by Bryan P. Sears. These should be heady …
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Rockville Elects First Person of Color as Mayor
November 8, 2023 Montgomery Community Media Councilmember Monique Ashton is the new mayor of the City of Rockville, according to unofficial results. She will be the city’s first mayor of color and succeeds outgoing Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton. Ashton received …
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Kagan, development-friendly PAC send out endorsement mailers
November 7, 2023 MoCo360 Voters will choose new Gaithersburg, Rockville city councilmembers Tuesday A state senator and a developer-friendly PAC have made endorsements in the Rockville and Gaithersburg City Council races and paid to send out mailers to constituents. In the Rockville …
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Kagan Sends Mailer in Rockville Elections
October 20, 2023 Montgomery Perspective Many elected officials endorse other candidates. Some contribute to the candidates they have endorsed. But few go further by financing independent expenditures for those candidates, such as mailers. That’s because they are not Senator Cheryl …
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New law could help cut wait times in Maryland’s hospitals
October 6, 2023 WTOP Maryland’s emergency rooms have the longest wait times in the nation. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the average wait time in Maryland emergency rooms is three hours and 48 minutes. A new law …
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Governor Moore and Lieutenant Governor Miller Attend 46th Annual J. Millard Tawes Crab & Clam Bake
9/27/2023 Press Release ANNAPOLIS, MD — Today, Governor Wes Moore and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller attended the 46th annual J. Millard Tawes Crab & Clam Bake. The event, attended by elected officials from across the state, was held at Somers Cove Marina …
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Leaders Pushing For A National Legislative Caucus
September 27, 2023 The NonProfit Times A Democratic state senator from Maryland is spearheading a bipartisan movement to create a National Nonprofit Legislative Caucus of state-level lawmakers to ensure nonprofit issues aren’t neglected when new legislation is being considered. The …
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Congregation Har Shalom member Sen. Cheryl Kagan On Her Passion for Folk Music
September 21, 2023 Washington Jewish Week
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Should the ballot box be 18-plus? Maryland advocates are pressing for a lower voting age in local elections
September 15, 2023 Maryland Matters Common Cause Maryland is encouraging local officials to allow more young people to vote in local elections. The nonprofit advocacy organization, based in Annapolis, posed a question in a recent mass email: “Do you agree …
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Legislators Eye the Vital Role of Nonprofits in Addressing Difficult Issues
September 5, 2023 Governing Demand for nonprofit services is on the rise, and legislators are paying more attention to ways they can support the sector. In Brief: Nonprofit organizations met critical needs during the pandemic. While the need for their …
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PSC chair wants to ‘lower the temperature’ on siting disputes over renewable energy projects
August 30, 2023 Maryland Matters The new leader of the Maryland Public Service Commission said Tuesday that he plans to convene meetings with interested parties over the next few months to discuss the increasingly controversial issue of where to place …
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#MACoCon Goes Beyond Books to Talk Libraries and All They Offer
August 23, 2023 Maryland Association of Counties: Conduit Street At the 2023 MACo Summer Conference, an expert panel discussed the evolving role of libraries, like providing wraparound services and workforce development. The 2023 MACo Summer Conference panel, “Books and Beyond: …
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In Focus: National Nonprofit Legislative Caucus
August 21, 2023 National Council of Nonprofits | Nonprofit Champion National Nonprofit Legislative Caucus Nonprofits play vital roles in communities yet are too often overlooked in legislation and policymaking. The National Nonprofit Legislative Caucus is an open, bipartisan, and bicameral group of state …
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911 call centers struggle with staffing shortages, mental health, burnout
August 2, 2023 Maryland Matters In medical emergencies, house fires, or other dangerous situations, most Americans understand to call 911 for immediate help from a call specialist. The dispatcher will talk someone through a tough situation and may coordinate first …
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More Withdrawals From Voter Data Group ERIC Likely
June 20, 2023 National Conference of State Legislatures 8 Republican-controlled states so far have cut ties with the multistate consortium, which helps to ensure accurate voter rolls, citing concerns over privacy and transparency. The problem ERIC addresses is that voter …
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Maryland Board of Elections chooses new administrator after 25-year run
June 8, 2023 Washington Post Longtime state election board staffer Jared DeMarinis replaces Linda H. Lamone, who is stepping down after more than 25 years administering Maryland elections For the first time in a quarter-century, the Maryland Board of Elections …
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Maryland State Board of Elections taps longtime employee Jared DeMarinis as administrator
June 8, 2023 Baltimore Sun The Maryland State Board of Elections has hired a new elections administrator, selecting a longtime employee for the top job. Jared DeMarinis was chosen by a unanimous vote during a brief virtual meeting of the …
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DeMarinis is unanimous pick to lead the State Board of Elections
June 8, 2023 Maryland Matters Jared DeMarinis, director of candidacy and campaign finance for the Maryland State Board of Elections, during an April bill signing. File photo by Bryan P. Sears. An 18-year veteran of the Maryland State Board of …
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Board postpones vote on state election administrator as one presumed candidate receives an endorsement
June 5, 2023 Maryland Matters Four members of the Maryland State Board of Elections Monday postponed an expected vote to name a new state elections administrator during a virtual meeting. The vote was delayed until Thursday to allow a fifth …
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Search for new state elections director narrowed to three finalists
May 26, 2023 Maryland Matters The search for a new state elections administrator is now down to three finalists. The five-member Maryland State Board of Elections met Friday to review a tranche of applications for the position and determine which …
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Gaithersburg Book Festival: A ‘Celebration of Books, Writers, Literary Excellence’
May 22, 2023 Montgomery Community Media Fiction. Non-fiction. Children. Young Adult. Science Fiction. Memoirs. Poetry. Sports, History, Current Events. Biographies. The Gaithersburg Book Festival featured all these book genres and many of the authors who wrote them. MyMCM talked to …
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State elections board chair promises to keep elections director out of hiring process
May 5, 2023 Maryland Matters The chair of the Maryland State Board of Elections has promised to limit the retiring elections director’s involvement in the search for her successor. Chair William G. Voelp made the promise following an elections board …
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TheDream.US Celebrates Passage of “Ewa’s Bill” in Maryland
May 3, 2023 TheDream.US New Legislation to Provide More Opportunities for Dreamers to Work as Nurses and in Health Occupations Washington, DC – TheDream.US, the nation’s largest college access and success program for immigrant youth, is celebrating Maryland’s enactment of SB187/HB454 – …
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State elections board wants new administrator in place before Lamone departs
April 18, 2023 Maryland Matters The Maryland State Board of Elections office in Annapolis. Photo by Danielle E. Gaines. Maryland’s long-serving elections administrator will have a hand in setting standards for choosing her successor. Linda Lamone, 80, announced last month …
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Maryland General Assembly’s page program allows high schoolers to view legislative process
April 15, 2023 Maryland Matters Aidan Judge (center) peers over the balcony minutes past midnight on April 11, 2023 after dropping balloons and confetti as the General Assembly adjourned sine die. Photo by Christine Zhu. In the leadup to midnight …
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General Assembly Wraps Session, Approves Health Care Bills
April 11, 2023 Montgomery Community Media The Maryland General Assembly wrapped up its 90-day legislative session on Monday, April 10th. A number of health related bills passed both chambers. The bills are now headed to Governor Wes Moore’s desk for …
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Lawmakers tie up loose ends on Sine Die. Here’s what passed so far
April 10, 2023 WBALTV Maryland state lawmakers spent Monday tying up loose ends as they inched closer to the finish line for bills to become law in the 2023 legislative session. The end of the 90-day session comes at midnight …
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Bills To Promote Prompt Payments Advance
April 6, 2023 Maryland Nonprofits For nonprofits that receive funds from government agencies, payment delays have been a major management problem for years. Nonprofits in Maryland continually face delays in payments on grants or contracts that may extend many months. …
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Maryland State Senator Cheryl C. Kagan: A 911der Woman’s tireless advocacy for emergency services
April 2023 911der Women Not all 911der Women wear headsets – and Maryland State Senator Cheryl C. Kagan is definitely a 911der Woman. She recently received the Government Leader award from the NG911 Institute – for the second time. It’s no wonder …
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General Assembly passes anti-swatting bill to halt prank emergency calls
April 5, 2023 The Daily Record Swatting, a prank emergency call about incidents like an active shooter or bomb threat to prompt an aggressive law enforcement response, will be a misdemeanor crime punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 …
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General Assembly passes anti-swatting bill to halt prank emergency calls
April 5, 2023 The Daily Record Swatting, a prank emergency call about incidents like an active shooter or bomb threat to prompt an aggressive law enforcement response, will be a misdemeanor crime punishable by a fine of up to $2,000 …
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Senate confirms Butler as first Black state police superintendent; Republicans want vote on elections board picks
March 31, 2023 Maryland Matters ... Republicans push for vote on elections nominees Senate Republicans on Friday called on their Democratic counterparts to vote on two nominees to boards of elections. The Senate Executive Nominations Committee voted Monday to hold …
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Maryland Elections Commissioner Linda Lamone is retiring after 26 years
March 31, 2023 LocalToday Maryland News Linda Lamone, Maryland’s longtime election chief, who some officials have described as the state’s “for life” election chief, will step down this year after more than two decades in office. Lamone, 80, who was …
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Montgomery County passes law requiring gas stations to display credit price of regular gasoline
March 30, 2023 The Washington Times The Montgomery County Council in Maryland passed a law Tuesday mandating that gas station owners post both the lowest price and, if applicable, the credit card price for regular gasoline. The law will go into effect …
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