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Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says rebuilding Baltimore's Key Bridge will be challenging and expensive. An Alabama Democrat flips a state legislature seat and former Connecticut senator Joe Lieberman dies at 82.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

MD: Budget Policy & Priorities

Nationally, it's estimated 38 million family caregivers provide unpaid labor worth approximately $600 billion per year. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Assembly considers grants to assist MD family caregivers

Advocates are calling on Maryland lawmakers to fund a grant program to help family caregivers. A 2021 study indicated about 760,000 family …

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Last year, Income Driven Repayment programs resulted in student loan cancellation for more than 800,000 borrowers nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, March 25, 2024

Program could bring student debt cancellation for some MD borrowers

Marylanders with student debt may have an opportunity to have some or all of it forgiven but time is running out. The average student loan debt of …

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Ellicott City flooding in 2016 and 2018 were both described as one-in-1,000-year flood events. (Cheryl Crumm/Adobe Stock)
Bill would require fossil fuel companies to help pay for climate impacts

Advocates are asking Maryland lawmakers to establish a superfund to help hold fossil fuel companies accountable for the costs of climate change…

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AARP reports 62% of Maryland voters in 2022 were 50 or older. (Sergey Novikov/Adobe Stock)
Lobby Day brings advocates to Annapolis to focus on Maryland seniors

Advocates will head to Annapolis today as AARP Maryland conducts its annual lobby day. The group's staff and volunteers will meet in person with …

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Insurers would be prohibited from charging for access to the online real-time benefits system. (Adobe Stock)
MD Assembly considers reforms to health-insurance coverage

Committees in both chambers of the General Assembly are hearing testimony on a measure to change how health insurance companies in Maryland make treat…

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The last federal government shutdown from December 2018 to January 2019 lasted 35 days. (Adobe Stock)
Rally calls on Congress to fund government, raise federal employee wages

Federal employees rallied in Washington D.C. this week calling on Congress to raise their wages and avoid a government shutdown. With more than 120,…

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New one- and two-family homes and townhouses would be required to have at least one EV-capable parking space. (Herr Loeffler/Adobe Stock)
'Better Buildings Act' would mandate electrification in new construction

With Maryland's commitment to be carbon neutral by 2045 on the horizon, the General Assembly is taking up the issue of building codes. During this …

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More than 600,000 Marylanders participate in SNAP in an average month. (Adobe Stock)
One-year extension of farm bill buoys food insecure in MD

The November continuing resolution included a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill, marking a temporary reprieve for Marylanders relying on …

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The Environmental Working Group published a peer-reviewed study in 2020 estimating more than 200 million Americans could have PFAS contamination in their drinking water. (Adobe Stock)
Advocates: Proposed EPA Cuts Would Slow PFAS Cleanup

Environmental advocates said proposed budget cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency will slow cleanup of toxic "forever chemicals," per- and poly…

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More than 7 million Americans are receiving Supplemental Security Income. (Adobe Stock)
Social Security Administration Raising Awareness of SSI in Maryland

The Social Security Administration wants to make sure Marylanders know about the Supplemental Security Income program. Supplemental Security Income …

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The new Kids Count Data Book indicates 54% of 3- and 4-year-olds in Maryland were not enrolled in preschool programs between 2017 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)
Report: Maryland Ranks 21st for Child Well-being

The new Kids Count Data Book found the child care system still struggling in the wake of the pandemic. The Annie E. Casey Foundation report showed …

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Estimates indicate Maryland will lose $69 million of federal funds per month. (Piman Khrutmuang/Adobe Stock)
MD SNAP Benefit Reductions Will Total Nearly $700 Million in 2023

With the end of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotments, hunger advocates are sounding the alarm over food insecurity …

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