The third most senior official at the Baltimore City Detention Center -- its Security Chief -- is out of the job, as the investigation into a corruption scandal at the jail continues. Anne Arundel County Police Chief Larry Tolliver has given his two-week notice; he'll return to retirement on May 21. Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown plans to officially get into the 2014 Governor's race on Friday. A local hiring mandate is moving forward in the Baltimore City Council. Plus: the "Baltimore Spectator" Trial, sports at Towson University, BWI's record March traffic, a push for Sunday bus service in Frederick County, and more.
Prison Corruption Case: The corruption scandal at the Baltimore City Detention Center has claimed the job of the jail's third most senior official: its Security Chief. The move comes after last month's indictment of 25 people -- including 13 corrections officers -- alleged to be involved in a smuggling ring in which drugs and cell phones were brought into the jail to be used and sold by members of the Black Guerrilla Family gang. State officials tell the Baltimore Sun that the decision to remove the Detention Center's security chief is related to an internal inquriy that followed those allegations.
Tolliver Steps Down: Anne Arundel County Police Chief Larry Tolliver gave his two week notice yesterday, saying he'll leave his post on May 21st. In a letter of resignation submitted to County Executive Laura Neuman, Tolliver said the county needs a chief who can focus solely on the police department's mission, which he said is challenging for him in the current environment. The Baltimore Sun reports that Tolliver cites "constant questioning" of his leadership in recent months, including through anonymous letters; he says it's "taken a toll" on himself and his family.
Brown To Announce Gubernatorial Bid: on Friday, Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown is expected to officially announce that he'll seek the governor's office next year. The Daily Times notes that the Prince George's County Democrat says he'll hold a big campaign kickoff at 4:30 Friday afternoon during what he calls a community cookout at Prince George's Community College in Largo.
Baltimore's Local Hiring Mandate: A local hiring mandate is a step closer to becoming law in Baltimore City, after winning approval from the City Council's Taxation, Finance and Economic Development Committee yesterday. The legislation is sponsored by Council President "Jack" Young... the Daily Record reports that it requires any company receiving a large city contract or tax breaks to hire 51% of its new workers from within the city.
Baltimore Spectator Trial: Frank James MacArthur - the blogger known as "The Baltimore Spectator" - may go on trial today. WYPR's Kenneth Burns says the case raises issues at the intersection of traditional media and new media.
Sports At Towson University: WYPR's Fraser Smith and Julie Scharper of the Baltimore Sun talk about the resolution to the Towson University sports controversy, on this morning's edition of Inside Maryland Politics.
BWI Sets Another Record: Passenger traffic at BWI Thurgood Marshall airport saw a record March, when about 1.92 million people flew in and out of the airport. The Baltimore Business Journal reports that the airport's previous March record was 1.82 million, and set last year.
A Call For Sunday Bus Service In Frederick County: Frederick County's TransIT bus system could begin operating on Sundays, if County Commissioner Billy Shreve gets his way. Shreve tells the Gazette that expanding bus service would be a "big deal" for working people... and the director of the TransIT system says that bus riders have been supporting such an expansion for years. It's unclear how much the move would cost, but it appears that there is federal and state grant money that could help defray the expense.
Baltimore Baseball: the Orioles won yesterday's game against the Kansas City Royals; the score was 4 to 3. The O's look to do it again tonight, in a home game set to start at 7:05pm.
Maryland Lacrosse: A number of local lacrosse teams are getting set for the start of the NCAA Tournament this weekend. Maryland will host Cornell in College Park on Sunday afternoon. Defending national champion Loyola plays at Duke on Sunday evening. Towson is also on the road for a meeting with Ohio State in Columbus on Sunday.