The Daily Dose

State health officials say the new COVID-19 vaccine is here. Two more primary races in Maryland are now settled. Baltimore’s mayor says he’s ashamed, following another violent crime weekend in the city and we’ll hear from Baltimore’s new deputy mayor for public safety on how he’ll work with the city’s leaders to restore Baltimore to a place he’s always loved.

We’re far from the November general election, but Baltimore City already has a new top prosecutor. Baltimore County’s incumbent State’s Attorney appears to have fended off his Democratic primary challenger. The race for Anne Arundel’s county executive in the Republican primary still hasn’t been called as elections officials were still counting ballots. Police in Middle River tried to calm nerves at a community meeting last night over a shooting involving a major drug dealer. Baltimore’s Health Commissioner defends the city’s Monkeypox vaccine supply and a new regional hotline aims to help those experiencing a mental health crisis.

State health officials say Maryland’s COVID positivity rate remains dismal. Baltimore’s Health Commissioner defends the city’s handling of the Monkeypox vaccine. The City Council held a hearing today on what to do about the number of squeegee workers at busy intersections. Two races still undecided in Baltimore County’s democratic primary. We’ll have those headlines and more, plus climate change and environmental equity in Black and brown communities.

Baltimore has a new democratic nominee for City State’s attorney who also promised to crack down on violent crime. Violence over the weekend pushed Baltimore to another grim milestone in its homicide rate. Two settled, one to go in Baltimore County’s three democratic primary races. Wes Moore, Maryland’s democratic nominee for Governor says voters have a choice between “unity” and “division.” Governor Larry Hogan says Trump backed nominee Dan Cox does not stand a chance in the general election. And Maryland’s COVID positivity rate continues to climb amidst the looming BA.5 variant and concerns about the spread of Monkeypox. I have a conversation with an epidemiologist who breaks down the latest.

Well the sun has set on night three after Maryland’s primary and many races are still up in the air but several news outlets are projecting non-profit exec and Rhodes Scholar, Wes Moore as the winner of the Democratic contest, but that’s not official. Elections boards across Maryland are busily counting hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots received, so it'll be a few more days, at least before final outcomes are known. Maryland’s GOP establishment is left wondering what to make of Dan Cox’s near certain primary victory. If you didn’t notice, there’s a heat wave gripping Maryland and much of the country. Some city parents are already turning their attention to the upcoming school year and the headaches they’ll face with new start times and we’ll get a check in with Dr. Leana Wen on Monkey Pox and the BA.5 COVID variant.

Well folks, it’s the day after the primary, but despite a low voter turnout there were some big surprises… and some cliffhangers even in big races that may not be decided for another week or so. In this special election edition…we’ll have a roundup from our reporters of what happened and what’s next.

Primary day in Maryland is upon us! But between redistricting, the delayed elections, and a late counting of mail-in ballots, elections officials warn we may not know the winners in tomorrow’s key races for a while. Baltimore’s incumbent State’s Attorney says she is the right person for reducing the city’s violent homicide rate…despite facing a federal trial on perjury charges. Maryland’s COVID positivity rate is continuing with grim numbers. A 15-year old city squeegee worker has been denied bail and we’ll get out on the Chesapeake Bay where our oyster population is making a comeback.

The DOJ has opened an investigation into the Maryland State Police over allegations of racial discrimination in its hiring and promotion policies. An arrest made this week in a homicide involving a motorist and a squeegee worker in Baltimore…The attorney for the 15 year old says it was in self-defense. The widows of two Baltimore firefighters gave emotional testimony at a city council public hearing on what to do with the city’s abandoned dwellings. An audit of Maryland’s Social Services agency finds kids in foster care are not getting all the care they need. We’ll have all those stories plus…Midges! What they do and why they are hurting some eastern Baltimore County businesses.

In Maryland, the number of COVID hospitalizations are down, but only slightly, and the CDC warns of a new fast spreading variant. A city council meeting this week brought heated discussion about Baltimore’s squeegee workers and a recent homicide and Mayor Brandon Scott says while violence and harassment can not be tolerated, there can’t be a one-step solution to clear the city of panhandlers.

Maryland’s COVID positivity rate remains above nine-percent. Testing for monkeypox began today at Mayo Clinic laboratories. Early voting underway in Maryland is so far…underwhelming. And, what are called the “lungs” of Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay get a close examination by Smithsonian researchers.