State Roundup: WalletHub study finds Maryland pandemic recovery among slowest states
Lighthouse at Sandy Shoal
WALLETHUB: MARYLAND RECOVERY RANKS NEAR BOTTOM: Maryland ranks near the bottom among states in terms of the pace of its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, according to a recent study. The WalletHub study was released on Tuesday. Bryan Renbaum of Maryland Reporter said that the study found that Maryland is the state with the 10th slowest recovery from COVID-19. South Dakota has the fastest recovery of any state and Michigan has the slowest recovery of any state.
HBCU PRESIDENTS OUTLINE SPENDING PLANS: The presidents of Maryland’s four historically Black universities Morgan State, Coppin State, Bowie State and the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore are crafting plans for the $577 million in extra funding coming from the state in the next decade. The money, they say, will pay for scholarships, help fund high-demand programs in STEM fields and free up financing
Redbud in spring. MarylandReporter.com photo
HOGAN LAUNCHES COVID VAXX PSA: Gov. Larry Hogan Friday touted the state’s launch of a 30-second public service announcement video that features six Maryland doctors who discuss the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, Bryan Renbaum of Maryland Reporter writes. “Research shows that people feel more comfortable getting a vaccine when they hear about the experience directly from someone they know and trust,” Hogan said in a statement.
POLICE REFORM ADVOCATES SPEAK OUT ON BILLS: Reform advocates like Fred Chavis of the Washington County NAACP say that they are cautiously optimistic to see that some of the change they sought became reality in the halls of the State House. But they emphasized the reform bills are just the beginning, and local activists will need to watch to ensure police accountability trickles down to their communities, report Madeleine O’Neill of USA Today Network and Kelly Powers of Salisbury Daily Times.
State Roundup: Hogan launches new statewide vaxx initiative targeting seniors, college students, companies
The State House in Annapolis (MarylandReporter.com file photo)
HOGAN LAUNCHES NO ARM LEFT BEHIND VAXX INITIATIVE: Gov. Larry Hogan said Wednesday that the state is launching a new set of initiatives aimed at increasing access to coronavirus vaccines to seniors, college students and companies across Maryland, writes Bryan Renbaum of Maryland Reporter. “Today we are launching a series of No Arm Left Behind initiatives which will involve every state agency, private industries in every demographic, and an all-hands-on-deck effort to make sure that every Marylander who wants a vaccine can get access to one as quickly as possible,” Hogan said.
Downtown Baltimore will get a boost from 3,3000 state employees being moved there. Image by Bruce Emmerling from Pixabay
HOGAN TO MOVE 3,300 STATE WORKERS TO B’MORE DISTRICT: In an attempt to help revitalize Baltimore’s downtown central business district the state plans to relocate more than 3,000 of its employees to offices in that area of the city, Gov. Larry Hogan said Monday. In all the proposal will affect 3,300 state employees from a dozen agencies and will be funded with $50 million in federal funds, Bryan Renbaum reports in Maryland Reporter.
The state on Monday issued a request for proposals for 105,000 square feet of office space within the central business district. The plan calls for the relocation of about 700 employees of the Department of Human Services from space on West Saratoga near Lexington Market, Bryan Sears reports for the Daily Record.
State Roundup: As session closes, big ticket items, including pandemic recovery, pass
Gov. Larry Hogan spoke to reporters outside the governor s mansion Monday. I think it was a terrific session. I want to thank legislative leaders and legislators on both sides of the aisle for their hard work over the past 90 days. I would say this was by far our best legislative session ever in seven years, Hogan said. Governor s Office photo
END OF SESSION FOCUS: PANDEMIC RECOVER, REFORMS: Senate President Bill Ferguson kicked off the final day of the 442nd session of the Maryland General Assembly on Monday afternoon by expressing gratitude that this year, unlike last year, the coronavirus pandemic did not stop lawmakers from completing the regular 90-day legislative session, Bryan Renbaum reports for Maryland Reporter.