Congressman Chris Van Hollen is calling for more scrutiny of the National Security Agency, and for reforms of the Patriot Act. More than 150-thousand Maryland kids are going back to school today, in Frederick and Prince George’s Counties; Washington County schools open on Wednesday, and most other public schools start class a week from today. Plus: the latest on the 2014 Governor’s race, the creation of a task force to study the idea of regional transportation authorities, the Maryland context of Eric Holder's sentencing policies, and demolition of Baltimore’s vacants. And more.
Van Hollen Calls For More Scrutiny Of NSA: Congressman Chris Van Hollen was critical of the National Security Agency, on yesterday’s edition of CNN's State of the Union. Van Hollen argued that the NSA should undergo more scrutiny about how it uses the data it collects about Americans’ telephone calls and e-mail messages.
Back-To-School Season Gets Underway: Kids in Frederick County and Prince George’s County are going back to school today. Washington County schools get their academic year underway a little earlier; they open on Wednesday of this week. Most other schools start on Monday of next week – including those in Baltimore City; some city students began to prepare for the return over the weekend at a back-to-school rally, where the Baltimore Sun reports that more than 2000 free backpacks, loaded with school supplies, were given out. Baltimore County schools also get underway on Monday of next week; when they re-open, FOX reports that 13 more schools will have speed cameras. In related news, Baltimore County Schools Superintendent Dallas Dance says that he’s putting a high priority on technology and world languages in the coming year; WBAL has more here.
2014 Governor’s Race: Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown announced on Friday that he’s won the endorsements of 23 more county elected officials, including four members of the Baltimore County Council. The Baltimore Sun reports that Brown’s gubernatorial bid has received the endorsements of scores of other Maryland politicians over the summer. A campaign strategist for Attorney General Gansler tells the Washington Post that the AG will get his own share of endorsements; Gansler hasn’t officially entered the governor’s race, but is expected to do so next month. Montgomery County Delegate Heather Mizeur is also in the race for the Democratic nomination… and Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger tells the Washington Post that he’s also considering getting into the race. On the Republican side, Larry Hogan, who served as appointments secretary on former Governor Bob Ehrlich’s cabinet, tells the Washington Post that he’s looking closely at the governor’s race, and will decide whether or not to mount a bid this fall. The GOP field is also crowded, with Harford County Executive David Craig and Delegate Ron George already officially in the race, and Charles County businessman Charles Lollar expected to announce his candidacy next month.
O’Malley Forms Task Force To Study Regional Authorities For Transportation: Governor Martin O’Malley has created a task force that’ll study the idea of creating regional authorities to finance transportation projects. The Washington Post reports that the task force will be led by O’Malley’s former Chief of Staff Matthew Gallagher; Transportation Secretary Jim Smith will also sit on the 11 member panel, which will make its recommendations at the end of the year so that lawmakers can consider them during next year’s General Assembly session. The idea of regional authorities was pushed by State Senate President Mike Miller during this year’s session; such authorities could have the ability to impose local taxes to raise money to pay for transportation projects.
The Maryland Context Of Eric Holder's Sentencing Policies: WYPR's Fraser Smith and David Gray of the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law talk about the U. S. Attorney General's announced changes to the way federal prosecutors may charge non-violent drug offenders and what it means for Maryland.It’s this morning’s edition of Inside Maryland Politics.
Baltimore-Bound Plane Diverted To Philadelphia: Airport officials are trying to determine the source of smoke that forced a Boston-to-Baltimore plane to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia. No one aboard the Jet Blue flight was injured and the emergency landing did not affect airport traffic. The Baltimore Sun reportsthat the flight was diverted to Philadelphia at around six o’clock last night after the crew reported smoke in the cockpit.
Baltimore Tourism: Tourism is on the rise here in Charm City; it’s being led by a high number of convention bookings… and Tom Noonan with Visit Baltimore says visitor spending in the fiscal year that ended June 30th was a record: $5-billion. And Noonan tells WJZ that the upward trend in tourism is likely to continue in the years to come.
Tearing Down The Vacants: Baltimore City officials say they’re about to step up the demolition of the city’s blighted and vacant rowhouses. The city plans to tear down some 15-hundred abandoned houses in the next two and a half years. And the Baltimore Sun says hundreds will come down in the coming months. Baltimore has budgeted some $12.4-million to demolish vacants this year; nearly three quarters of that cash comes from settlement money the city is getting as part of a national lawsuit against mortgage servicers.
Baltimore Baseball: the Orioles won yesterday’s game against the Colorado Rockies; the score was 7 to 2. The O’s start a three-game set with the Tampa Bay Rays this evening; first pitch is scheduled for 7:05, at Camden Yards.