j b jennings

• Politics

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan won't release funds for symphony, school construction, Baltimore youth jobs

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan won’t release any of the funding legislators sought to add to the state budget.

• News

Proposal to revive shuttered Baltimore County power plant stirs questions about climate change

Environmental and community groups are opposing plans to reopen the C.P. Crane power plant in Baltimore County.

• Maryland

Harford County's key takeaways from the 2019 legislative session

Maryland’s 90-day legislative session came to a conclusion Monday, with several major initiatives gaining approval. Here are some the key takeaways for Harford County residents from this year’s legislative session.

• Politics

Maryland senators pray for safe return of Sen. Will Smith, heading to Afghanistan with Navy Reserve

Maryland lawmakers bid farewell to Sen. Will C. Smith as he headed out on a deployment to Afghanistan with the U.S. Navy Reserve.

By Pamela Wood

Mar 29, 2019

• Politics

Maryland Senate rejects nominees to handgun permit review board, citing board's rate of granting appeals

The Maryland Senate has refused to confirm Gov. Larry Hogan’s appointment of three members to a board that reviews decisions by state police on permits to carry concealed handguns, with several senators citing the board’s rate of granting appeals.

By Pamela Wood

Feb 23, 2019

• Politics

M, F or X: Democratic senator's bill would allow gender-neutral option for Maryland driver's licenses

A bill is moving forward in the Maryland General Assembly that would give the state’s residents a third option for gender on their driver’s license or identification card: “unspecified.”

By Pamela Wood

Feb 21, 2019

• Politics

After Frederick Douglass school shooting, Baltimore delegate resurrects bill to arm school police officers

State Del. Cheryl Glenn has reintroduced legislation to authorize Baltimore school police officers to carry guns inside schools — a move she calls necessary after a shooting at Frederick Douglass High School. Glenn had withdrawn the measure after the school board opposed it.

By Luke Broadwater

Feb 20, 2019

• Politics

Maryland Republicans from suburbs push to allow Baltimore school police to carry guns inside buildings

Republicans in Maryland’s Senate on Wednesday introduced legislation that would require Baltimore school police officers to carry their guns inside school buildings.

By Luke Broadwater

Feb 13, 2019

• Politics

Maryland Senate approves bill to undo Gov. Hogan's order to start school after Labor Day

The Maryland state Senate passed a bill Tuesday that overturns Gov. Larry Hogan’s order that public schools must start their year after Labor Day.

By Pamela Wood

Feb 12, 2019

• Maryland

Harford legislators, county executive react to Hogan's State of the State address

Harford County leaders were glad to hear Gov. Larry Hogan strike a bipartisan message in his State of the State speech for 2019, but some have concerns about the economic impact of his calls for tax cuts.

By David Anderson

Jan 31, 2019

• Opinion

Hey 7th District, can we talk about Rick Impallaria?

Del. Rick Impallaria has proven yet again that voters of the 7th District can really do better than have him as their representative.

• Maryland

Editorial: A call for continued bipartisanship in Maryland's 2019 legislative session

Given the partisan tones of nearly everything exuding from Washington, D.C., these days, bipartisanship is welcome in our state capital as legislators return for the 90-day session, even if there is sure to be heated debates and occasional finger-pointing among our representatives.

• Politics

Maryland lawmakers to start 90-day session with conflicting messages on bipartisanship

As Maryland’s 188 lawmakers prepare to head into their annual 90-day session, political party leaders gave them conflicting messages about bipartisanship.

By Pamela Wood

Jan 8, 2019

• Maryland

Schools, health care high on Harford agenda in General Assembly

Harford County's 11-member legislative delegation, with one new senator and two new delegates, expects to tackle a range of issues, from education funding to health care, even legal hemp cultivation, when they return to Annapolis Wednesday for the 2019 Maryland General Assembly session.

By David Anderson

Jan 8, 2019

• Maryland

Maryland Senate GOP re-elects Jennings as minority leader, Hershey as whip

Maryland Senate Republicans re-elect J.B. Jennings as minority leader and Steve Hershey as whip.

By Michael Dresser

Nov 27, 2018

• Politics

After Hogan victory, what's next for Maryland politics? Democrats say they see bright future in new leaders

Tuesday’s election results mean that in 2019 Democrats will hold the top job in seven of Maryland’s eight largest jurisdictions. Meanwhile, Republicans — still riding high from Hogan’s historic win over Democrat Ben Jealous — looked around the state to see their bench had been decimated.

By Luke Broadwater

Nov 9, 2018

• Maryland

The Aegis offers its opinion on the 2018 General Election

The Aegis offers its opinion on the 2018 General Election

• Politics

Who's invited to the governor's Orioles and Ravens skyboxes? Politicians, charities and Hogan Co. executives

Gov. Larry Hogan has used Maryland’s suites at sports stadiums to entertain family, reward state employees and honor charities — especially those focused on fighting cancer. The Republican governor also has invited executives of his private real estate business.

By Luke Broadwater

Jul 31, 2018

• Politics

While he's been governor, Larry Hogan's real estate business has continued to thrive — prompting questions

Gov. Larry Hogan's business dealings have drawn criticism from Democrats, who have sought to tie Hogan to President Donald Trump, and renewed a debate about the lengths to which businessmen-turned-politicians should wall themselves off from their private enterprises.

By Luke Broadwater

Jul 13, 2018

• Politics

Maryland's strict gun laws could not prevent Capital Gazette shooting, spurring talk of changes

Though Maryland has some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country, none of them could have prevented the massacre of five people in the Annapolis Capital newsroom Thursday. The weapon police say was used, a pump-action rifle, isn't regulated by state law.

By Scott Dance

Jul 2, 2018

• Opinion

Baltimore County legislative endorsements

The Sun makes endorsements in the Democratic and Republican primaries for legislative seats in Baltimore county.

• Maryland

Early voting for primary begins Thursday

Eight days of early voting in Harford County begins Thursday. Democratic and Republican voters can cast their ballots in statewide and local races ahead of the June 26 primary election.

• Politics

Maryland legislature approves plan to stabilize state's Obamacare market with new tax on insurers

State lawmakers have finalized a bipartisan measure to collect $380 million in taxes from health insurers next year, use the money to help hold down surging premiums for 150,000 Marylanders — and potentially prevent an Obamacare marketplace from altogether collapsing.

By Scott Dance

Apr 4, 2018

• Politics

Maryland bill would put an armed officer in every public school

Determined to pass meaningful legislation in the wake of the Parkland and Great Mills high school shootings, Maryland lawmakers are considering a measure to put an armed school resource officer in every public school.

• Politics

Maryland Senate passes school construction proposal that Gov. Hogan has promised to veto

The Maryland Senate voted Thursday to overhaul the way the state approves funding for school construction projects, ending a legislative flurry that has provoked Gov. Larry Hogan and Comptroller Peter Franchot to direct sharp accusations of cronyism at the legislature.

By Scott Dance

Mar 29, 2018

• Maryland

Linda Norman fills remainder of late husband's term in Maryland Senate

Linda Norman takes her late husband, Wayne Norman's seat in the Maryland Senate this week. Gov. Larry Hogan appointed her Tuesday, and she was sworn in Friday.

By David Anderson

Mar 20, 2018

• Politics

Senators pass bill stripping 'Maryland, My Maryland' of 'official' status

Senators on Friday approved a bill stripping "Maryland, My Maryland" of its status as the state's official song, instead relegating it to be known as a "historical" state song.

• Politics

Maryland lawmakers mourn state Sen. Wayne Norman, who died Sunday

The Maryland Senate on Monday mourned the death of Sen. Wayne Norman, a Harford County Republican who died Sunday.

By Scott Dance

Mar 5, 2018

• Maryland

Harford state Sen. Wayne Norman, described as a 'good man,' dies Sunday

Wayne Norman, a Bel Air attorney, former state delegate and current state senator, died Sunday, the county executive's office announces.

By David Anderson

Mar 4, 2018

• Maryland

Harford Republicans have a number of contested primaries this year

Mike Perrone and Barry Glassman will be Republican primary opponents in this year's race for Harford County executive, as the candidate field is set for the June primary.

By David Anderson

Feb 28, 2018

• Maryland

Harford candidates rush to file for primary election, Perrone challenges Glassman in GOP county executive primary

As the final hours approached for Tuesday night’s deadline to file for most county and state elected offices in the June 26 party primary election, there was the usual last minute flurry of filings for Harford County offices.

• Politics

Maryland Senate votes to delay paid sick leave until July, days before law set to take effect

Maryland's new mandatory paid sick time law is schedule to take effect Sunday, but state lawmakers are fighting about whether to delay it for five months so businesses can get ready.

By Erin Cox

Feb 8, 2018

• Politics

Maryland lawmakers poised to advance bill to end parental rights of rapists

After nine past legislative failures, Maryland lawmakers seeking to let courts terminate the parental rights of rapists are advancing this year's bill quickly — but are still contending with potential complication that has doomed the measure before.

By Scott Dance

Jan 29, 2018

• Business

Maryland governor to pitch $5 billion incentive package to lure Amazon headquarters to Montgomery

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s administration will submit legislation in the next few weeks to pass a $5 billion incentive package for Amazon HQ2, his spokesman Doug Mayer said.

By Erin Cox

Jan 18, 2018

• Maryland

Harford legislators get down to business as 2018 General Assembly session begins

What are the priorities of Harford County's state legislators as they go into the 2018 Maryland General Assembly session, which started Wednesday?

• Politics

Hogan proposes term limits for General Assembly, live-streaming of floor deliberations

Gov. Larry Hogan is proposing term limits for new members of the General Assembly and live-streaming of all of the legislature's deliberations, reforms he said are needed to reduce partisanship, gerrymandering and corruption.

By Scott Dance

Jan 9, 2018

• Maryland

Harford exec has election challenger, council president stepping down, as 2018 candidates keep filing

Who has filed for office in county and state legislative races for 2018?

By David Anderson

Jan 9, 2018

• Politics

Hogan proposes 'corruption' investigator for Maryland's public schools

Republican Gov. Larry Hogan proposed a new statewide investigator general to probe allegations of grade fixing, corruption and mismanagement in public schools across Maryland. Several Democrats and the state school board association rejected the idea.

• Politics

Taxes, health, homicides top General Assembly session agenda

Maryland's state lawmakers will convene in Annapolis next week with the daunting task of re-writing the state's tax code in an election year, stabilizing a health insurance market with skyrocketing premiums and reducing violent crime in Baltimore.

• Education

Hogan refuses to sign off on Maryland education plan

Governor says he won't sign Maryland education plan

• Politics

Top adviser to Maryland lawmakers to retire

Warren Deschenaux, one of the most knowledgeable people about Maryland’s government and budget, plans to retire from state government this year.

By Pamela Wood

Aug 15, 2017

• Politics

Treasurer won't pay two Hogan Cabinet secretaries who weren't confirmed

Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp is refusing to pay the salaries of two of Gov. Larry Hogan's Cabinet appointees who failed to win Senate confirmation this year.

By Michael Dresser

Jul 12, 2017

• Politics

Maryland attorney general: No paychecks for unconfirmed members of Hogan cabinet

Maryland's top lawyer says it's illegal for two of Gov. Larry Hogan's cabinet secretaries to keep getting paychecks.

By Erin Cox

Jul 7, 2017

• Harford

State money secured for McComas School, Epicenter

Funds to preserve the historic McComas School Museum in Joppa and to establish a new manufacturing sciences center partnership with the U.S. Army were secured by Harford County legislators during the recently concluded General Assembly session.

By David Anderson

May 2, 2017

• Maryland

Collective bargaining for Harford sheriff's deputies fails in waning hours of General Assembly session

Harford County's legislators got a handful of local bills through the 90-day 2017 Maryland General Assembly session which ended late Monday, but legislation to give sheriff's deputies collective bargaining rights failed in the waning hours of the session.

By David Anderson

Apr 11, 2017

• Politics

Despite veto threat, Maryland lawmakers send Hogan bill to limit school reforms

The Maryland Senate advanced a bill forbidding controversial education reforms. Gov. Larry Hogan renewed his promise to veto it.

By Erin Cox

Mar 28, 2017

• Politics

More medical marijuana licenses would be awarded in deal reached by Maryland legislative leaders

General Assembly leaders have coalesced around a plan to issue an additional five medical marijuana growing licenses and increase the likelihood several of those lucrative deals went to minority-owned companies.

By Erin Cox

Mar 23, 2017

• Harford

Fracking problems would affect whole state, opponents tell Harford forum

About 55 people attended a community forum on fracking at Harford Community College Wednesday night, where people learned that fracking in Western Maryland could cause harm statewide.

By David Anderson

Mar 16, 2017

• Harford

Harford legislators push to dedicate Aberdeen overpass to Sgt. Alfred Hilton

Two Harford legislators have filed legislation in the House and Senate to dedicate the Route 22 overpass across I-95 in Aberdeen in honor of Sgt. Alfred B. Hilton, Harford County's only native-born recipient of the Medal of Honor.

By David Anderson

Mar 3, 2017

• Politics

Maryland Senate stays on track to rescind call for constitutional convention

The Maryland Senate turned back an effort Thursday to thwart a proposed resolution that would rescind the state's decades-old calls for a national constitutional convention.

By Michael Dresser

Mar 2, 2017