Maryland Politics & News
Maryland news from The Daily Signal, examining state legislation, crime policy, education battles, and the political dynamics between Baltimore’s progressive leadership and conservative counties.
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- News
How This Maryland Police Department Is Combating the MS-13 Gang
Two years ago, a suburban Maryland county began to see a dramatic rise in killings attributed to MS-13, an international gang with ties to Central America. In response, the Montgomery County Police Department assigned Capt. Paul Liquorie, a 23-year veteran of the police force, to lead a centralized street gang unit dedicated to stomping out…Josh Siegel -
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Why the Maryland Rape Case Is a National Issue, According to One Lawmaker
In the debate over illegal immigrants, sanctuary cities, and walls, there’s a great deal of existing policy undergoing re-examination. Last month, two young men, one 17 and one 18, who allegedly entered the country illegally and were enrolled in the ninth grade were charged with raping a 14-year-old girl at Rockville High School in Rockville,…Sharyl Attkisson -
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Maryland City Considers Sanctuary Status Amid Immigrant Rape Scandal
Rockville, Maryland, the city home to the recent immigrant high school rape scandal, is considering declaring itself a sanctuary city. Although Rockville police have had a longstanding policy neither to question suspected illegal immigrants about their immigration status, or to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, the city is now considering the process of formalizing that informal…Jonah Bennett -
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Meet the Maryland Conservative Who Aims to Take Over the House’s Largest GOP Caucus
Like most Americans, but unlike most of the other 434 members of the House of Representatives, Andy Harris pulls a lengthy commute to work each day. One way and without traffic, the Maryland Republican says he can go door to door in an hour and a half from his home in Cockeysville to his office…Philip Wegmann -
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IRS to Return $30K It Seized From Maryland Dairy Farmers
After more than four years, two congressional hearings, and countless pleas to the IRS and Justice Department, Randy Sowers’ fight with the federal government is finally coming to a close. The Internal Revenue Service is returning the $29,500 it took from the Frederick County, Maryland, dairy farmer, ending his long journey through the civil asset forfeiture…Melissa Quinn -
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Maryland Farmer Who Had $41K Seized by IRS Continues to Fight for Money
Maryland farmer Calvin Taylor has lived his life always trying to do the right thing. Taylor and his wife Debora operate C.W. Taylor Farms in Preston, Maryland, where they grow sweet corn and raise chickens, and run several farm stands, called Taylor’s Produce, across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Through their business, the couple employs a number…Melissa Quinn -
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Senate Confirms Obama Judicial Nominee Opposed by Maryland Police Unions
The Senate confirmed Paula Xinis for a federal judgeship in Maryland by a vote of 53-34, over the protests of major state police unions and outside conservative groups. Xinis, a partner and senior trial attorney at the Baltimore law firm representing the family of Freddie Gray, will serve in what is in effect a lifetime…Philip Wegmann -
- Opinion
New Maryland Reform Makes It Harder for Police to Unjustly Seize Property
Recently the Maryland legislature undertook a historic vote to override Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto of a modest civil asset forfeiture reform package (S.B. 528). On Jan. 21, having attained the necessary three-fifths majority in both the Maryland House and Senate, the reform became law, despite Hogan’s objections. Thanks to the veto override, Maryland citizens are better…Jason Snead -
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Maryland Police Officer’s Act of Kindness Goes Viral
Thanks to social media, one chivalrous act in Maryland has touched far more people than originally intended. Last Wednesday, Police Corporal Che Atkinson was notified that a woman and her small child were sitting outside the Hyattsville City Police Department in Prince George’s County. According to WUSA9, Atkinson–who has served as a police officer for…Leah Jessen -
- Opinion
Maryland Governor Vetoes Forfeiture Reform
Last Friday, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan vetoed State Senate Bill 528, a civil asset forfeiture reform measure that had been passed nearly unanimously by the State Senate. S.B. 528 would have closed the “equitable sharing” loophole that perversely incentivizes Maryland’s law enforcement agencies to circumvent state forfeiture laws for financial gain. Property owners caught up…Jason Snead -
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Maryland Might Ban Fracking for 2 Years
Legislation that would prohibit hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in Maryland for two years was recently sent to the governor’s desk. The Senate approved the bill in a 45-2 vote earlier this month. If signed into law, it would institute a moratorium on fracking in the state through October 2017. The Maryland House of Delegates passed…Kate Scanlon -
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This Couple Lost $30K to the Government. Now Maryland Lawmakers Are Pushing Reform.
Earlier this month, the Maryland House of Delegates took a big step forward in the push for civil asset forfeiture reform. By a margin of 81-54, the House approved H.B. 360, which proposes dramatic changes to Maryland’s forfeiture program. Though noble in intention, forfeiture laws have skewed law enforcement incentives and weighted the system too…Jason Snead -
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The Loophole That Could Liberate Maryland From Common Core Testing
As millions of students across the nation begin taking Common Core-aligned standardized tests for the first time, Maryland finds itself in a unique position to opt-out. A loophole discovered by a state lawmaker gives the governor the power to withdraw Maryland from tests created by Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC),…Kelsey Bolar -
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Maryland Questions Its Taxpayer Subsidy for ‘House of Cards’
Maryland politicians cast their film incentives program as the only way to lure productions such as “House of Cards” and boost the state’s economy. Yet, a new report suggests, it could be that star-struck politicians and Hollywood producers are deceiving taxpayers just like the characters do in the popular fictional television show, which dramatizes the cunning…Kathryn Watson -
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Maryland School District Removes Religious Holidays From Its Calendar
A school board in Maryland this week voted to remove the names of Christian, Jewish and Muslim holidays from its school calendar. According to the Washington Times, the Montgomery County Public Schools “still will be closed on the holidays, but the board voted 7-1 to move the religious references from the calendar.” The newspaper reports the Montgomery County Board…Kate Scanlon -
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Maryland Republicans on Lookout for Voting Machines That ‘Flip’ Democrat
Kerry August can debunk any excuse an election judge may have for why her votes switched from Republican to Democrat right before her eyes: Her hands are tiny, her nails aren’t long and she definitely didn’t vote with an elbow. Still, while voting early last week in Montgomery County, Md., August watched as three…Melissa Quinn