It’s hard to believe that the 2024 November General Election is exactly two weeks away. The Maryland General Assembly increased opportunities for Marylanders to cast their ballots and make their voices heard in recent legislative sessions.
Those reforms included expanding the number of early voting centers throughout the State. As a result of those reforms, there are now eight early voting centers in Baltimore City. Two are located in the 46th Legislative District at the Southeast Anchor Library in Highlandtown and the Farring Baybrook Recreation Center between Brooklyn and Curtis Bay. Early voting begins this Thursday, October 24, and continues through the following Thursday, October 31, every day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The legislature also took steps to make it easier for Maryland citizens to cast their ballots through the mail following its increased popularity during the pandemic. According to Jared Demarinis, the Maryland State Administrator of Elections, the State Board of Elections sent over 787,000 mail-in ballots with over 353,000 already returned as of yesterday. More than 218,000 of those mail-in ballots have already been canvassed in an effort to ensure Marylanders receive clarity on election results in a timely manner. If you have a mail-in ballot and are looking for the most convenient place to return it, a list of Ballot Drop Boxes throughout the City can be found here.
Election Day itself is Tuesday, November 5 from 7:00 a.m to 8:00 p.m. If you need to find your polling place, you can use the State Board of Elections’ lookup tool. Equally as important, jurisdictions throughout the State are still looking for election judges and poll workers. If you’re interested in serving, you can sign up online here.
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Removing Waste Incineration from Maryland's RPS
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Since being elected senator for the 46th Legislative District, I've become increasingly concerned about emissions from the BRESCO incinerator as a public health and environmental justice issue for surrounding neighborhoods. As we take steps to incentivize true, clean energy in Maryland, 2025 must be the year that we remove waste incineration from our Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS).
As I announced on Friday, this Session, I will sponsor legislation to finally remove waste incineration from our State's RPS, a policy I have consistently voted for in my time in the Senate. Working with community leaders, environmental advocates, and members of the Senate Committee on Education, Energy, and the Environment, including Senator Lewis Young who sponsored the bill last year, I look forward to ensuring we only incentivize true green energy moving forward.
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The Maryland Transit Administration will hold five public open houses to update residents on the Baltimore Red Line project. Attendees will learn about the selected transit mode, alignment alternatives under consideration, and the results from the Project team’s analysis, including projected cost, ridership, and implementation schedule.
The two open houses in the 46th Legislative District are:
- October 23 from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. at the Baltimore War Memorial (101 N. Gay St.)
- October 24 from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Creative Alliance (3134 Eastern Ave.)
Meeting materials will be available for review online for those unable to attend the meetings. Please visit redlinemaryland.com for more information and details about the meetings and project.
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Bayview Medical Center Celebrates 250th Anniversary
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I was honored to celebrate Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center's 250th anniversary earlier this month. It was truly inspiring to reflect on Bayview's journey from an almshouse to one of Maryland's leading healthcare institutions. For over two centuries, Bayview has been a beacon of care and compassion, adapting to meet the needs of our community through so many chapters of history.
I’m proud of the State’s ongoing support for this remarkable facility and grateful for the incredible staff who continue to make a difference every day. Congratulations to Bayview on this incredible milestone!
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DACA Recipients to Purchase Insurance through Exchange
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More than 7,000 people living in Maryland under DACA status will be able to buy insurance plans through the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange starting in November thanks to a rule change by the Biden administration. DACA recipients are individuals brought to the United States as children who have since received a high school degree or served in the military. Although these plans are unsubsidized, the Exchange serves as a one-stop shop for those looking to purchase health insurance on the private market.
Maryland’s Exchange is currently open for residents to browse plans and prices in preparation for the 90-day period where people can sign up for insurance or change their plan. Open enrollment runs from November 1, 2024 to January 15, 2025. Plans for DACA recipients may start as soon as December 1.
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Johns Hopkins to Hold COVID Vaccine Clinics
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As the weather is getting colder and we are spending more time inside, that means it’s time to update our COVID vaccines! Johns Hopkins has upcoming free vaccine clinics in the 46th Legislative District in October and November:
- October 25 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Salem United Methodist Church (3405 Gough St.)
- October 25 from 3:15 to 7:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church (600 S. Conkling St.)
- November 1 from 3:15 to 7:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church (600 S. Conkling St.)
- November 7 at a time to be determined at the Julie Center (100 S. Washington St.)
- November 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Salem United Methodist Church (3405 Gough St.)
- November 8 from 3:15 to 7:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church (600 S. Conkling St.)
- November 14 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Casa de Maryland (2706 Pulaski Highway)
- November 15 from 3:15 to 7:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church (600 S. Conkling St.)
- November 22 from 3:15 to 7:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church (600 S. Conkling St.)
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I am grateful to the Signal 13 Foundation for inviting me to Family Day for the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) at the Maryland Zoo. It was an honor to spend time with BPD officers, including Sergeant Kenneth Ramberg, and see this Foundation's incredible support. Signal 13 Foundation provides financial assistance and community support to BPD officers and their families when they need it most. I’m proud to stand with an organization that uplifts those who protect our community.
The Maryland Department of Health is actively working with hospitals, dialysis centers, and other healthcare delivery partners to continue to manage the IV fluid shortage caused by Hurricane Helene storm damage to Baxter, a North Carolina company production facility that provides IV fluid materials nationwide. State health leaders continue to be in close communication with federal partners, hospital leadership, and other State agencies to determine where need is greatest, and to mitigate and respond to this issue.
On Thursday, the Biden administration announced that it will forgive another $4.5 billion in student debt for more than 60,000 borrowers. The latest round of relief is a result of the U.S. Department of Education’s fixes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The number of borrowers to benefit from the program under President Biden’s administration now exceeds one million.
Baltimore City announced that it will seek to terminate its relationship with the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts. Mayor Scott cited the organization’s worsening financial situation and operational challenges as the reason for severing ties with the organization. The decision would take effect in January if approved by the City’s Board of Estimates in November.
The Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) recently received a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Family Services to expand anti-human trafficking efforts. The funding will enhance GBMC’s existing programming which is focused on identifying, supporting, and rehabilitating victims of human trafficking.
Baltimore’s National Aquarium is once again partnering with the Enoch Pratt Free Library to present the Read to the Reef Book Club. Baltimore students in fifth grade or below can earn up to four tickets to the National Aquarium by reading five conservation or aquatic-themed books. Students can visit their local library branch before October 31 and show their library card to receive a special bookmark to get started. When finished reading, children can visit aqua.org/read-tickets to reserve up to four admission tickets to the National Aquarium. Admission is valid through January 20, 2025.
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