NEED-TO-KNOW NEWS — For Friday Feb. 28
[Scroll down for full week’s compendia]
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY — IN BRIEF
A Voice of Baltimore compendium, local and beyond. Your weekday morning look (with links) at late-breaking news, current events, and what will be talked about wherever you may go on Friday:
Political operative Julius Henson was sentenced Thursday to four months in jail for violating his probation on a 2012 ‘robocall’ conviction.
• HENSON VIOLATES PROBATION, GETS FOUR-MONTH
JAIL SENTENCE; SAYS HE WILL CONTINUE TO RUN
Political consultant Julius Henson — who was convicted in May 2012 on a conspiracy charge for his role in sending automated robocalls on Election Day 2010 to persuade Baltimore and Prince George’s County Democrats to stay home and not vote for Gov. Martin O’Malley — was sentenced Thursday to four months in jail for violating his probation by filing last week to run for State Senate.
Henson filed papers and announced in an email Feb. 17
his intention to challenge five-term East Baltimore Sen. Nathaniel J. McFadden, the president pro tem of the Maryland Senate, in the June Democratic primary.
In imposing the four-month sentence, Baltimore City Circuit Judge Emanuel Brown chided Henson for having “a more cavalier approach to being on probation than is healthy” and noted that the sentencing judge had barred Henson from working “in any capacity” on a campaign, which would include his own.
Henson has been serving three years’ probation, which was set to end in 2015, under the provision that he “shall not work in any political campaign paid/volunteer during probation.”
On Thursday, Brown ended Henson’s probation, noting that he had completed 300 hours’ community service, and stayed the four-month sentence for 30 days to allow Henson time to file an appeal, which Henson argued comes down to the definition of “work.”
As a candidate for election, he maintained that since “there’s no compensation, no payment,” nor is he “a volunteer,” his candidacy should not be defined as “work” and therefore does not violate his probation.
The judge disagreed.
Henson’s attorney, Russell A. Neverdon — who himself is a candidate for Baltimore City State’s Attorney — expressed confidence following the hearing that the judge’s decision will be overturned on appeal and that Henson will be permitted to continue his run for State Senate, an uphill battle at best, according to most political observers.
“The chances of him winning are close to zero,” said University of Maryland Law Professor Larry Gibson, a longtime observer of city politics who served as chief adviser to former Baltimore Mayor Kurt L. Schmoke.
“Julius Henson committed what is probably an unpardonable sin to African-American voters in Baltimore,” Gibson explained.
“He would have a better chance of winning if he had been convicted of bank robbery.”
Read More at: Maryland Daily Record | WBAL-TV (Channel 11) | Baltimore Sun
• UNDER ARMOUR CEO WANTS TO BUILD LUXURY HOTEL ON RECREATION PIER
A development group backed by Kevin Plank would turn the dormant Fells Point property into a 128-room boutique hotel, complete with restaurant and swimming pool.
Read More at: Baltimore Business Journal
• STATE SENATE VOTES TO MAKE HOME POKER GAMES LEGAL
A bill passed unanimously by the Maryland Senate Thursday would lift the ban on friendly penny-ante poker games played in Free State households.
Read More at: WBAL-TV (Channel 11)
• MD.’S HEALTH EXCHANGE GLITCH COULD COST $30.5M
A report released Thursday says a glitch in the system could cost taxpayers as much as $30.5 million — $17.8 million in fiscal year 2014 and $12.7 million in fiscal 2015.
Read More at: WBFF Fox45-TV
• BROWN PROPOSES COLLEGE LOANS FOR CHILDREN OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
The lieutenant governor, who is running for the state’s highest office, wants Maryland to provide low-interest college loans to the children of workers who are in the United States illegally.
Read More at: WBAL-Radio (1090AM)
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NEED-TO-KNOW NEWS — For Thursday Feb. 27
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY — IN BRIEF
A Voice of Baltimore compendium, local and beyond. Your weekday morning look (with links) at late-breaking news, current events, and what will be talked about wherever you may go on Thursday:
An FCC commissioner called Wednesday for cancellation of a ‘study’ to invade U.S. newspaper and broadcast newsrooms.
OF ‘STUDY’ TO INTERROGATE JOURNALISTS
The Federal Communications Commission plan to invade newsrooms throughout the country to grill editors and reporters about their “news philosophy” came under intense criticism this past week, leading at least one commissioner to express fear that simply “tweaking” the planned study “is just not enough.”
FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly said in a statement released Wednesday that “if any value was ever to come from this particular exercise, that ship has sailed.
“It is probably time to cancel the CIN study [Multi-Market Study of Critical Information Needs] for good.”
Mounting criticism of the proposed study included another of the agency’s commissioners, Ajit Pai, who accused the FCC of taking a “first step” toward “newsroom policing.”
O’Rielly and Pai are the two Republican members of the five-member commission, which is chaired by Tom Wheeler and includes two additional Democrats.
Read More at: Columbia Journalism Review | Voice of Baltimore
• COURT RULES GROUND-RENT LAW UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Ground-rent owners’ rights were violated by the legislation, the state’s highest court ruled Wednesday.
Read More at: Baltimore Sun
• SENATE COMPROMISES ON DOG-BITE BILL
After an hour and a half of intense debate, the Maryland State Senate voted preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill dealing with dog owners’ liability when their pet bites someone.
Read More at: Maryland Daily Record
• ‘INCORRECT, INAPPROPRIATE AND UNNECESSARY’
The Baltimore County Police Chief said Wednesday the actions of an officer recorded on video during an altercation with a man attempting to record an arrest in Towson violated police procedure.
Read More at: WBAL-Radio (1090AM)
• MD., VA. AND D.C. TO SPEND $75M ON METRO UPGRADES
The two states and the District will chip in $25 million each to add more trains and buses and to expand two Washington, D.C. subway stations.
Read More at: WBFF Fox45-TV
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NEED-TO-KNOW NEWS — For Wednesday Feb. 26
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY — IN BRIEF
A Voice of Baltimore compendium, local and beyond. Your weekday morning look (with links) at late- breaking news, current events, and what will be talked about wherever you may go on Wednesday:
A JHU study says that most violent crime in Baltimore occurs within radius of a liquor store. However liquor store owners claim they are not to blame.
A Johns Hopkins University study identifies liquor stores as the common denominator in violent crimes commit- ted in Baltimore City.
Read More at: WJZ-TV (Channel 13)
• LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TESTIFY ON MARIJUANA LAWS
Several Maryland police chiefs were among more than 100 people who came to Annapolis Tuesday to testify before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee on three pot-related bills. The police chiefs want to keep the drug illegal.
Read More at: Maryland Daily Record
• BALTIMORE NUNS WAGE LEGAL WAR AGAINST OBAMACARE
The Little Sisters of the Poor want full religious exemption from some of the Affordable Care Act’s mandates, specifically objecting to the contraception mandate that requires employers to provide policies covering birth control.
Read More at: WBFF Fox45-TV
• MORE SNOW COMING TO BALTIMORE
Another 1-2 inches of the white stuff is expected to fall between Tuesday night and noontime Wednesday.
Read More at: WBAL-TV (Channel 11)
• CITY ORDERED TO REPAY $3.7M HOMELESS GRANT
The federal government on Tuesday ordered Baltimore to make the payback because the city and its subcontractors cannot sufficiently account for how the money was spent.
Read More at: Baltimore Sun
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NEED-TO-KNOW NEWS — For Tuesday Feb. 25
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY — IN BRIEF
A Voice of Baltimore compendium, local and beyond. Your weekday morning look (with links) at late-breaking news, current events, and what will be talked about wherever you may go on Tuesday:
Former prosecutor Page Croyder is running for City Circuit Court Judge.
FILES FOR CITY CIRCUIT COURT
In announcing her candidacy for Judge of the Circuit Court of Baltimore, Croyder singled out Chief Judge Alfred Nance as her primary opponent, citing the 17-year judicial veteran for what she termed “inappropriate behavior” on the bench, including “subtle sexual harassment of women.”
Read More at: Maryland Daily Record
• SNOW REMOVAL FIRMS GET $3.6M FROM CITY
Baltimore plans to award $3.6 million in additional work to five snowplow contractors at Wednesday’s weekly Board of Estimates meeting.
Read More at: Baltimore Sun
• MARYLAND GETS ADDITIONAL $20M IN UTILITY BILL HELP
The supplemental benefit was made possible by a higher than expected award from the Federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and an increase in proceeds from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.
Read More at: The (Annapolis) Capital
• CANAVAN NAMED HARFORD CO. PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT
Barbara P. Canavan has served as interim superintendent since last summer when she succeeded Robert M. Tomback on a one-year contract. She was previously executive director of middle school performance for the county.
Read More at: WBAL-TV (Channel 11)
• LOLLAR FILES FOR GOVERNOR, NAMES RUNNING MATE
Charles County businessman and Tea Party Republican Charles Lollar filed Monday for the GOP nomination for governor of Maryland and named conservative political activist Kenneth R. Timmerman as his running mate.
Read More at: WBFF Fox45-TV
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NEED-TO-KNOW NEWS — For Monday Feb. 24
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY — IN BRIEF
A Voice of Baltimore compendium, local and beyond. Your weekday morning look (with links) at late-breaking news, current events, and what will be talked about wherever you may go on Monday:
Absent any terrorism, the 2014 Winter Olympics closed Sunday.
Heavy security in Sochi precluded feared attacks by Islamic militants who threatened to target the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.
Read More at: Washington Post
• ANOTHER RAVENS PLAYER BUSTED
Barely a week after Ray Rice was arrested for knocking his fiancée unconscious in an Atlantic City casino, wide receiver Deonte Thompson was busted in Gainesville, Florida for possession of 29 grams of marijuana.
Read More at: WJZ-TV (Channel 13)
• 50 APPLICANTS SEEK ARUNDEL SCHOOLS POST
The school system plans to vote on the next superintendent in April.
Read More at: Baltimore Sun
• BILL SEEKS TO RELIEVE CREDIT RATING PROBLEMS
The proposed legislation would cut the amount of time a bank is allowed to seek a deficiency judgment.
Read More at: Maryland Daily Record
• MOVIE COMPLEX CLOSES IN GLEN BURNIE
Regal Cinemas closed its movie theater at Marley Station at week’s end.
Read More at: The (Annapolis) Capital
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