The cost of raising a child over the span of 18 years in Maryland has surged to $310,040, making it the 4th most expensive state to raise a child, according to a Lending Tree study. Nationwide, the average cost is $297,674 – a 25.3% increase just since 2023. Hawaii is the most expensive at $362,891. Annual expenses including food, education, and clothing have increased 35.7%, and families now spend almost 23% of their income on child-related expenses.
Authorities have a suspect in custody in the arson attempt of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s official residence. Early Sunday morning, the Shapiro family fled the blaze that was started with Molotov cocktails after a break-in. Pennsylvania District Attorney Fran Chardo gave details on the Harrisburg suspect’s charges… “Cody Balmer is in custody. We are preparing a criminal complaint to charge him. This is not of record yet, but the charges will include attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault against an enumerated person.”
The State of Maryland rarely calls for special sessions once the General Assembly concludes in April, but this year may be different. House Minority Leader Jason Buckel says he believes there’s a better than even chance that this year will be one where Governor Wes Moore calls the legislators back to Annapolis in light of ongoing budget uncertainties… “I think it’s probably I would say 60, 66% likely that we’ll have a special session at some point in time this year. We’ve only had special sessions twice in the ten years that I’ve served in Annapolis.”
Maryland’s sports wagering brought in over $4.4 million dollars in tax revenue to the state in March, about $25 million ahead of last year. The state’s share of sports wagering proceeds is directed to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education program. Sports bettors in Maryland wagered over $588 million during March and won back $540 million in prizes, leaving sportsbook operators holding 8.1% of the handle, the second-lowest hold percentage in the last 12 months.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown is among those telling users of genetic information company 23 and Me to delete their accounts. A security data breach that resulted in the company’s bankruptcy with users questioning what could happen to their information. ABC’s Aaron Katersky reports the company says files are safe… “23andMe filed for bankruptcy because it could not recover from a data breach in 2023 that exposed 7 million user profiles. Makers of home DNA kits like 23andMe are not subject to HIPAA laws that ensure medical privacy.”
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen hopes to meet with the President of El Salvador while he is in the United States this week to discuss the return of Maryland father Kilmar Abrego-Garcia. Senator Van Hollen also announced his intent to travel to El Salvador if Abrego-Garcia is not returned by midweek and check on his condition. Abrego’s Maryland Attorney Benjamin Osorio said he was encouraged by recent updates… “I was a little worried that when the government was just claiming knowledge of where he was, that something might have happened to him and that was sort of their cover….
An employee of the West Virginia Turnpike was struck and killed around 11am Monday while doing asphalt work on the turnpike. The worker was struck by a tractor trailer at mile marker 92.5 southbound on Interstate 77. A crew was patching the center section of the Turnpike with the right lane closed when the accident occurred. The driver of the tractor trailer swerved to avoid the work zone but the trailer swung into the work zone, striking the victim. West Virginia State Police are investigating.
A leading Republican official is thinking out loud about former governor Larry Hogan running for another term. Congressman Andy Harris, Maryland’s lone Republican representative in Washington and head of the Freedom Caucus, floated the idea and thinks Hogan could beat incumbent Governor Wes Moore… “Larry Hogan can run for another term; he just can’t run for a third consecutive term. And I think when Governor Moore is done raising taxes by over a billion dollars, they’re going to have to raise taxes more next year and more the year after that – the election year – I think Larry…
The final day of the legislative session is often one of the most intense. As time runs out, many bills that could meaningfully improve our state or address important local issues unfortunately fail to advance. This can be an emotional moment for those who have invested significant effort into these proposals. With tensions running high, words are sometimes spoken in frustration that may later be regretted. That is one reason the Legislature traditionally does not hold interim meetings during the month immediately following the end of session. This year, the first interim meetings are scheduled for June 22 through 24…
Democratic Senator Angela Alsobrooks is in the Western Maryland today. A meeting with Frostburg State University student leaders was taking place this morning before attending a luncheon with the Greater Cumberland Committee in FSU’s Lane Center. Alsobrooks is scheduled to visit Western Maryland works in LaVale before ending her area visit meeting local labor leaders at the UA Local 486 Plumbers and Steamfitters in Hagerstown.
