Maryland

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore hosted the 16th annual Buy Local Cookout at the Maryland Department of Agriculture in Annapolis last evening, sampling dishes prepared by local chefs with local ingredients, live music and exhibits featuring Maryland Department of Agriculture programs. Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, agricultural leaders, producers, chefs, and local and state officials joined the governor at the event to officially kick off Maryland Buy Local Week and the Buy Local Challenge, which runs today through July 31.

“Buying local is good for our state—it supports our small businesses and keeps our state’s economy competitive,” said Gov. Moore. “We encourage all Marylanders to buy local and enjoy the premium quality and broadly diverse offering that Maryland’s growers, producers, farmers, and watermen have to offer.”

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore today welcomed the 156th class of the Maryland Department of State Police during a graduation ceremony held at Lifepoint Church in Reisterstown. The governor delivered the keynote address to the department’s 26 new members and their families and friends, in addition to law enforcement leadership and local officials in attendance.

“Whether this day was something you hoped would come since you were little or a day that didn’t seem possible just a few years ago: You’ve shown us what it means to serve,” said Gov. Moore. “It’s not just that your service is impressive and inspiring—it’s that your service is a choice. You will make that choice again, and again, and again—to serve in the face of hardship; serve in the face of doubt, and risk, and fear—and I know you are ready to take on the challenge.”

Per the State of Maryland: During an Eastern Shore “Bay Day” tour, Governor Wes Moore today announced a major policy shift in how Maryland will deploy state resources to improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways to restore the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays. At points throughout the day, the governor was joined by Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 3 Administrator Adam Ortiz, and various state, local, and federal officials to learn more about the impact of policies on local communities and industries.

“Our administration is focused on working in new and collaborative ways to reduce the pollution reaching our bays and providing our local communities and farmers with the opportunities and resources they need to succeed,” said Gov. Moore. “Now is the time to embrace the lessons we’ve learned in the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays over the past 40 years and evolve our strategy to reflect that.”

Per the Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Maryland’s boating and swimming season is in full swing and the Maryland Natural Resources Police is urging Marylanders to take proper precautions to ensure safe enjoyment of Maryland’s waterways this summer. So far this year, Maryland Natural Resources Police have responded to more than five boating-related deaths and eight non-boating related drownings, including four fatal incidents during the July 4 holiday weekend.

“Maryland is one of the nation’s leading destinations for summertime water recreation,” Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz said. “With the increased enjoyment of our waterways, state parks, rivers, and streams, it is essential that residents and visitors adhere to safety protocols and regulations that keep our recreational waterways safe and enjoyable for everyone.”

Martin O’Malley served as the 61st governor of the State of Maryland. Prior to being elected in 2006 and serving two terms from 2007-2015, he was appointed as Assistant State’s Attorney for the City of Baltimore in 1988; served on the Baltimore City Council from 1991-1999; and served as Mayor of the City of Baltimore from 1999-2007.

First Lady Judge Catherine O’Malley was appointed as Assistant State’s Attorney in the Baltimore County District Court, where she served for ten years. In 2001, Judge O’Malley was appointed as Associate Judge of the District Court of Maryland, from which she retired in 2021. She now serves the District Court of Maryland as a senior judge.

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other law enforcement partners nationwide – including Attorneys General from all 50 states and the District of Columbia – announced a new crackdown on illegal telemarketing targeting operations responsible for billions of calls to U.S. consumers.

The joint state and federal “Operation Stop Scam Calls” initiative builds on the efforts of Maryland and other state and federal partners to combat the scourge of illegal telemarketing, including robocalls. This initiative targets telemarketers and the companies that hire them, as well as lead generators who deceptively collect and provide consumers’ telephone numbers to robocallers and others, falsely representing that these consumers have consented to receive calls. It also targets Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers who facilitate tens of billions of illegal robocalls every year, most of which often originate overseas.

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown filed an amicus brief on Monday, July 17, 2023, supporting Anne Arundel County’s suicide prevention measures in the case of Maryland Shall Issue, Inc., et al v. Anne Arundel County, Maryland, currently before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The amicus curiae brief emphasizes the importance of targeted efforts to increase awareness of suicide risk factors and available resources at the point of sale of firearms and ammunition.

Firearms account for approximately 45% of suicide deaths in Maryland, making them the leading method of suicide both in the state and nationally. In Maryland, suicide disproportionately impacts children, ranking as the second leading cause of death among five to 14-year-olds and the third leading cause among 15 to 24-year-olds. In addition, the brief underscores the significant impact of firearm suicides on veterans, as firearms are used in 68% of suicides among this vulnerable group.