parties and movements
- State lawmakers and civil liberties advocates are considering legislation that would regulate police surveillance programs — and require public disclosure — after the Baltimore Police Department ran a secret aerial surveillance program over the city for months.
- Why should it take Hillary Clinton to defend the GOP from the alt-right?
- Republican U.S. Senate candidate is Trump sympathizer with a questionable record on education
- Roger Ailes tenure as the leader of Fox News may be coming to an end, according to a report by Gabriel Sherman of "New York" magazine.
- The Harford County legislative delegation ended the 2016 General Assembly session Monday with the passage of a flurry of bills that will show the county and state's continued support for two slain Harford County Sheriff's Office deputies, allow alcohol to be served in local movie theaters and allow Harford Community College to obtain a license for alcohol sales during community events on campus.
- A heroin bill has been withdrawn; the newest movie theater being built in Harford County is slated to have beer, wine and liquor sales, provided the legislation that would allow them passes the Maryland State Senate, and a bill designed to resolve municipal election ties such as the one affecting Aberdeen's City Council has passed the House of Delegates and moved to the Senate.
- The two inspectors employed by the Harford County Liquor Control Board abruptly submitted their resignations late Wednesday afternoon, right after the board met with a group of lawyers to discuss changes in licensing regulations and other issues that have been a flash point between the board and those it regulates.
- Six lawyers who make regular appearances before the Harford County Liquor Control Board say changes are needed in the board's resident licensee rules, paperwork and personal appearance requirements and in the current setback laws regarding licensed alcoholic beverage establishments and schools.
- A Valentine's Day agreement among the Democrats running for governor to cooperate on setting up debates collapsed Wednesday as his rivals accused front-runner Anthony G. Brown of ducking a third televised encounter.
- The Republicans obviously are hoping Obamacare will dominate the midterm campaign debate. But the Democrats will strive to make income inequality their own class-warfare battleground, trying to swell the turnout of their minority and ethnic constituencies, traditionally less likely to vote in midterm elections.
- Baltimore City Councilman Bill Henry is challenging state Sen. Joan Carter Conway in North Baltimore's 43rd legislative district. He says her power has gone to her head. She says she uses it to help the citizens of Baltimore.
- The hit television show "House of Cards" will stay in Maryland, even though state incentives offered to keep the Netflix series here came up millions short of what the producers wanted.
- An activist I talked to once likened the MDGOP to people serving onboard a submarine. They all breathe the same air, and they only talk to one another. It's time to open the process to everyone willing to be a part of it. I propose that the central committee system be scrapped in favor of state party conventions.
- President Barack Obama's action to expand clemency is welcome but insufficient; Congress needs to step in.
- Making a rare direct reply Tuesday to an attack by a rival candidate for governor, Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown labeled "reckless and irresponsible" Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler's remarks suggesting Brown's service in Iraq was not a real job. Meanwhile, a veterans' organization stepped up its attack on Gansler over the comments, accusing him of "swiftboating" the lieutenant governor.
- Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler revised remarks about his chief political rival's military service Monday after his earlier comments sparked outrage from veterans.
- As I watched Tuesday while the anchors on 'Fox & Friends' leveled unsubstantiated charges against Rep. Elijah Cummings as if they were facts, I couldn't help thinking how much more dangerous Sen. Joe McCarthy might have been in the 1950s if there had been a show like this to amplify his reckless allegations.