Maryland

The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Office of Statewide Broadband is developing a plan for how the funding will be deployed through the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. The Office of Statewide Broadband held four webinars and four outreach conferences this past spring to solicit feedback on what Marylanders and jurisdictions would like to see incorporated into the plan.

“Every Marylander should have access to high-speed Internet, which plays a pivotal role in shaping economic outcomes and is to equitable development today what water and sewer systems have been for the past 150 years,” said Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Secretary Jake Day. “The Office of Statewide Broadband is dedicated to bridging the digital divide and addressing disparities for residents across the state.”

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the overturning of Roe v. Wade:

“One year ago, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a devastating blow to basic rights of Americans by overturning Roe v. Wade in an outrageous and harmful decision that stripped away the fundamental right of individuals to control their own healthcare decisions. This decision set us back 50 years as we continue to witness the erosion of reproductive rights in anti-choice states across the country. The decision increased risks to the health and well-being of people throughout the nation, and erected more barriers to pursuing socioeconomic opportunities, with a disproportionate impact on people of color and those in overburdened communities.

Per the State or Maryland: Governor Wes Moore today addressed the Cannabis Regulators Association’s annual conference in Annapolis, where he reinforced the state’s commitment to promoting social equity and restorative justice in advance of the new adult recreational use cannabis market set to go live on July 1. The conference included 200 state regulators, advocacy organizations, and industry stakeholders.

“In the past, cannabis policy has been used as a cudgel to oppress, jail, and discriminate against our fellow citizens, especially people of color; and the war on drugs didn’t just fail, it made us weaker as a nation,” said Gov. Moore. “But now, we are writing a new chapter in the story of cannabis in America—a chapter focused on equity and economic growth. It’s time we moved away from this false choice that says we must pick an economy that is equitable or an economy that is growing—we can, and we will, do both.”

“Pride is about living openly and joyfully as the person you are and being able to celebrate your identity,” said Lt. Gov. Miller. “This administration has demonstrated through recognition, representation, and above all else, through action, that our LGBTQIA+ community in Maryland is seen, valued, and respected. We will continue to fight hand-in-hand as allies to our LGBTQIA+ community to ensure Maryland is a state where every single person can live proudly as their authentic self.”

During a historic first six months in office, the Moore-Miller Administration has demonstrated support for LGBTQIA+ Marylanders and celebrated the contributions, resilience, courage, and joy of our LGBTQIA+ community.

Per the Comptroller of Maryland: Starting on July 1, 2023, adults can legally use cannabis for recreational purposes. Anyone purchasing cannabis products from a dispensary must show their government-issued ID to demonstrate they are 21 or older. A medical card is still required to purchase medical-use cannabis. Cannabis sales tax update:

If you have a medical-use cannabis card:

“Nobody wants to address violent crime more than the people that actually live in communities suffering from violence. Yet we’ve politicized this issue to a point where we believe it’s us against them. Let’s come together on this and focus on the realities of violence instead of emphasizing the deficiencies of certain communities.”

“Elected officials can underinvest in housing and pull the plug on mass transit projects – but because they enhance sentencing, they’re called champions for public safety in the news. Don’t allow yourselves to get spun. Networks that sensationalize violence miss the full story. You won’t hear them talk about bad policies that limit opportunity and increase violence in our neighborhoods. You won’t hear them talk about pipelines from poverty to prison. You won’t hear them talk about the breakage in the system that allows so many of our young people to fall through the cracks.”

Per the State of Maryland (6.19.23): Governor Wes Moore today proclaimed and celebrated June 19, 2023, as Juneteenth in Maryland. Juneteenth is a celebration to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. On June 17, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, designating Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

Though the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect at the beginning of 1863, many enslaved people did not gain freedom until much later. On June 19th, 1865, Union soldiers traveled to Galveston, Texas, to liberate those who were still enslaved. Newly freed African Americans rejoiced and their celebrations started the tradition that is now known as Juneteenth. In 2021, Juneteenth became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

CSX announced a gift of $5 million to the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) Railroad Museum in Baltimore, MD, towards the museum’s $30 million capital campaign in anticipation of the B&O railroad’s bicentennial anniversary in 2027.

“CSX is proud to support the future of the B&O Railroad Museum and help expand its role in the community,” said Joe Hinrichs, CSX president and chief executive officer. “As the successor to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, CSX has been an integral part of the Maryland economy for generations. We are thrilled to be able to deliver this substantial contribution and serve as a catalyst of growth for this iconic institution and the Baltimore community.”