Maryland college campuses are required to revamp their policy for dealing with sexual assault by the end of this year. We look at what the new policy contains. Plus: public financing, Harbor Point, Cove Point, a fence at the War Memorial, and more.Sexual Assault Policy At MD Colleges: Maryland college campuses are required to revamp their policy for dealing with sexual assault by the end of this year. WYPR’s Maureen Harvie attended a meeting of the Board of Regents’ Committee on Education Policy and Student Life yesterday to find out what the new policy contains.
Craig, George Fail To Qualify For Public Financing: Maryland’s primary election is now less than three weeks away. And two of the Republican gubernatorial hopefuls who’d been looking to use money from the state’s public financing system to get out their message in advance of the June 24th vote will not be able to do so. Harford County Executive David Craig and Anne Arundel County Delegate Ron George had hoped to get matching funds. But state elections officials tell the Washington Post that neither candidate raised enough “seed money” to qualify. However, Republican Larry Hogan’s gubernatorial campaign will be getting matching funds. Elections officials say that the founder of Change Maryland will be getting about $275-thousand in the coming days. On the Democratic side, Montgomery County Delegate Heather Mizeur has qualified for about $460-thousand in matching funds. Earlier this election season, Delegate Mizeur became the first gubernatorial candidate in two decades to take part in the state’s public financing system.
Harbor Point Construction Set To Start Later This Month: Construction will soon be underway at Harbor Point. Developers say that by the middle of June, workers will begin driving more than 11-hundred pilings into the ground – they’ll be used to support the new 20-story regional headquarters for energy company Exelon. The Baltimore Business Journal reports that once construction gets underway, it’ll take place from 7am to 7pm… and that the work is likely to be loud. The new office building is expected to be finished in spring of 2016.
Fence Going Up At Baltimore’s War Memorial: Baltimore and the state of Maryland hope that a steel fence will deter the homeless from sleeping on the steps of the War Memorial near City Hall. The $450-thousand fence should be in place by mid-month. Advocates for the homeless characterize the move as a "disappointing" reminder of the ways government has failed to serve the vulnerable. But the state Department of Veterans Affairs, which signed off on the fence, tells the Baltimore Sun it’s meant to preserve the "integrity and dignity" of the memorial. The fence will be locked when the memorial is closed.
Cove Point Project Advances, But Not A Done Deal: Even though a liquefied natural gas export facility at Cove Point is one step closer to being built, the controversy is far from settled. WYPR's Senior News Analyst Fraser Smith talks about it with News Director Joel McCord. It’s this morning’s look Inside Maryland Politics.
City Council Backs Unionization For Private Security Guards: The Baltimore City Council says that private security guards deserve higher pay – and should be able to unionize. Earlier this week, the Council unanimously approved a resolution backing unionization for security guards, saying such a move would “allow for improved terms and working conditions.” The Service Employees International Union tells the Baltimore Sun that some of the city’s private security officers are paid as little as $9 an hour, and that many security officers have to rely on food stamps and public health insurance.
Annapolis Bus Routes Face Cuts: Lawmakers in Annapolis are looking to make cuts to the city’s bus routes – in an effort to save money. Earlier this week, the Annapolis City Council’s Transportation Committee put out a plan that would eliminate parts of three different bus routes. The Capital Gazette reports that the plan could save the city $1.8-million. Opponents note that the move would increase wait times by up to 15 minutes.
Baltimore Water Taxi Gets Federal Funds: Baltimore is getting more than $850-thousand from the federal government to pay for the Charm City Circulator Harbor Connector. The money will be pay for the continued operation of the all-electric water taxi and the smart-charging infrastructure that keeps it going. The free water taxi service connects Harbor View with Harbor East. Senator Ben Cardin’s office announced the funding yesterday.
The Baltimore Book Festival: The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts has unveiled its plans for the annual Baltimore Book Festival. This year's festival will be held September 26th through the 28th at the Inner Harbor's West Shore Park and Rash Field. Renovation work on the Washington Monument is forcing organizers to move the event from Mount Vernon Square, where the festival has been held for the past 18 years. The Baltimore Business Journal has more.
Baltimore Baseball: The Orioles took down the Texas Rangers 8 to 3 in yesterday’s game. The two teams play again tonight.
Washington Baseball: The Washington Nationals took down the Philadelphia Phillies last night; the score there was 7 to 0.
Belmont Stakes: It's post-position draw day at Belmont Park in New York. Starting gate assignments and morning-line odds will be set for Saturday's 146th running of the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of horse racing's Triple Crown. California Chrome figures to be the heavy favorite after winning both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, in Baltimore, last month. The horse galloped almost three miles on the main track yesterday morning. The last time one horse won all three legs of the Triple Crown was back in 1978.
