September 1, 2020

Maryland official fired for social media posts defends actions, says he will pursue legal options

The Maryland official fired over the weekend for posting “divisive” memes, statements and images on social media — including several supportive of the Kenosha, Wisconsin, shooting suspect — said he does not regret his actions and will seek all possible legal remedies for his termination.

At a Monday news conference held outside a West Baltimore elementary school, Arthur “Mac” Love IV, the former deputy director of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives, said he stands by his constitutional rights to freedom of speech and should not have been penalized for expressing his opinion online.

At issue is Love’s sharing of several posts, both on his personal page and in a Maryland Facebook group about politics, sympathizing with the Kenosha shooting suspect, who is accused of killing two people and injuring another amid unrest at a protest held in support of 29-year-old Jacob Blake, whom Kenosha police shot seven times in front of his children Aug. 23.

Love reposted pictures that appear to show the shooting suspect, 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, cleaning graffiti. The original poster wrote: “I’m grateful that conservatives are rallying behind this kid. He genuinely seems like a good person.” It goes on to denigrate the two men Rittenhouse is charged with killing.

Read more: https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-maryland-official-fired-kenosha-memes-20200831-yzxnl4nslvfsve4eehpqdmn3ui-story.html

September 1, 2020

Maryland House Speaker Jones calls on Gov. Hogan to prevent evictions

As Maryland courts resume hearing failure-to-pay-rent cases this week, Maryland Speaker of the House Adrienne A. Jones on Monday called for Gov. Larry Hogan to increase funding to help tenants at risk of being evicted.

”Throughout this pandemic, you have rightly told Maryland families that they are safer at home,” Jones wrote in a letter co-signed by 77 delegates. “But starting this week, thousands of our neighbors may be evicted from their homes, risking their safety and health and Maryland’s economic recovery efforts.”

The letter said the $30 million Hogan previously committed toward helping renters through the coronavirus pandemic was “woefully inadequate.” Jones also referred to the end of the federal moratorium on evictions as well as the expiration of an extra $600 a week in unemployment benefits, both at the end of July, as putting many renters in dire straits.

“The recent reduction in federal unemployment benefits will push more renters to the brink of homelessness,” she said.

Read more: https://www.capitalgazette.com/politics/bs-md-pol-ga-house-speaker-more-eviction-prevention-funds-20200901-ducqhejewzgzfmlihu5l5wwvf4-story.html
(Annapolis Capital Gazette)

September 1, 2020

State superintendent requirements could force Maryland schools to make last-minute schedule changes

Maryland’s top school official has proposed new minimum lesson requirements that would likely upend the detailed schedules most Maryland districts have created — just as the school year is starting.

State schools superintendent Karen Salmon’s new proposal would require all school systems to offer live instruction five days a week for a certain number of hours. The minimum hours required are on a sliding scale that ranges from three hours for a pre-kindergarten student who is in a full day program to five hours for a high school student.

Salmon made the proposal shortly after an August 14 deadline for school systems to complete their plans to reopen schools.

The state school board is holding a special meeting Tuesday morning to decide on the requirements.

Read more: https://www.capitalgazette.com/education/bs-md-school-reopening-requirements-20200901-rku3nssbpvbzphf4agkpiimtly-story.html
(Annapolis Capital Gazette)

September 1, 2020

Utility Regulator Extends Moratorium on Service Cutoff for One More Month

Following 12 hours of testimony from a broad array of stakeholders late last week, the Maryland Public Service Commission voted Monday to extend the state’s moratorium on utility service shutoffs for an extra month, through Oct. 1.

Four of the commissioners voted for the motion, offered by PSC Chairman Jason M. Stanek. A fifth commissioner, Michael T. Richard, abstained, saying he hadn’t had time to fully digest the motion and preferred a proposal from the Office of People’s Counsel to extend the moratorium indefinitely.

“A lot of this package was cooked over the weekend,” Richard said.

Stanek cast his proposal as a balance between protecting the needs of consumers — many of whom have been hammered financially by the COVID-19 pandemic — and the needs of utilities that have also suffered from the economic downturn.

Read more: https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/08/31/utility-regulator-extends-moratorium-on-service-cutoff-for-one-more-month/

September 1, 2020

Protest seeks restoration of high school sports in Delaware

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Roughly 100 protesters rallied at the state capital to urge Delaware to allow high-school athletes to participate in the fall.

The Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association voted 15-0 to postpone fall sports until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic It is unclear when fall sports like football would be allowed.

Protesters are urging the board to reconsider and allow a limited fall season.

The News Journal in Wilmington reports that about two dozen high-school athletes joined the protest Saturday on Legislative Mall. they said sports could be played safely and discussed the importance sports plays in their lives. Parents said athletics help keep students on track with their academics as well.

Read more: https://apnews.com/c3ac7907b41cc7de3707b1d0fab9f0b3

September 1, 2020

Democratic Senate primary: Progressive challenger seeks to upset incumbent

DOVER — Chris Coons and Jess Scarane both agree the 2020 general election is perhaps the most important in American history. Where they disagree is on what comes next.

Sen. Coons, who has been one of Delaware’s two members of the Senate since a 2010 special election, is seeking reelection this year. He’s heavily favored in Nov. 3’s contest — but first he must get past Ms. Scarane.

An unabashed progressive, Ms. Scarane is running on a platform that includes universal health care, a completely revamped criminal justice system, a Green New Deal and a changed economy that shifts power and wealth from the richest few to the masses.

In her view, the United States places far too much emphasis on profits, and the Donald Trump presidency combined with coronavirus have revealed just how deep the problem runs.

Read more: https://delawarestatenews.net/government/democratic-senate-primary-progressive-challenger-seeks-to-upset-incumbent/

September 1, 2020

California moves to consider reparations for slavery

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California lawmakers are setting up a task force to study and make recommendations for reparations to African Americans, particularly the descendants of slaves, as the nation struggles again with civil rights and unrest following the latest shooting of a Black man by police.

The state Senate supported creating the nine-member commission on a bipartisan 33-3 vote Saturday. The measure returns to the Assembly for a final vote before lawmakers adjourn for the year on Monday, though Assembly members overwhelmingly already approved an earlier version of the bill.

“Let's be clear: Chattel slavery, both in California and across our nation, birthed a legacy of racial harm and inequity that continues to impact the conditions of Black life in California,” said Democratic Sen. Holly Mitchell of Los Angeles.

She cited disproportionate homelessness, unemployment, involvement in the criminal justice system, lower academic performance and higher health risks during the coronavirus pandemic.

Read more: https://www.phillytrib.com/news/across_america/california-moves-to-consider-reparations-for-slavery/article_66362bd2-edee-58c2-9005-ba2e4ac0b7eb.html

September 1, 2020

Wiping surfaces is fine for the coronavirus, but the main risk is through the air. How to tell if

Wiping surfaces is fine for the coronavirus, but the main risk is through the air. How to tell if your ventilation is OK.

by Tom Avril


Once an hour, sometimes more, employees at Weavers Way Co-op grocery stores diligently wipe disinfectant on all “high-touch” surfaces: the checkout counters, the banisters, the plastic nozzles that dispense gourmet granola. At Whole Foods Market, workers sanitize even more often, wiping the credit-card readers between every customer.

“Deep cleaning” is the coronavirus catchphrase of the moment as more retailers, schools, and offices increase their indoor operations. And in at least one case, the goal seems to be deep and long-lasting: Witness American Airlines’ plan to use a cleaning spray that is said to keep surfaces virus-free for seven days.

There is nothing wrong with good hygiene, and for goodness’ sake keep washing your hands, especially as COVID-19 is joined in the coming months by the flu. But as more indoor spaces prepare to reopen this fall, infectious-disease experts say we don’t need to be quite as fanatical about cleaning surfaces — at least not to the extent that it distracts from the main route of coronavirus transmission: through the air.

That means continuing to stick with methods that work. Wear masks. Practice social distancing — an effective safeguard against larger virus-laden droplets that fall to the ground within a few feet. And when going indoors — given that smaller viral particles can remain aloft — consider the ventilation.

Read more: https://www.inquirer.com/health/coronavirus/covid19-ventilation-deep-cleaning-transmit-schools-reopen-20200831.html

September 1, 2020

More Pa. state agencies agree to provide up to six weeks of paid parental leave for their employees

Workers employed by the three statewide row offices will soon be provided a paid parental leave benefit that Gov. Tom Wolf announced on Monday he will be giving to commonwealth employees who work under his jurisdiction, starting next month.

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale issued a statement saying his office would be providing six weeks of paid parental leave to his agency’s employees similar to the new benefit the governor is extending to the tens of thousands of workers who work for him.

“Welcoming a new child is an incredible experience, and all parents should be able to afford spending some time at home,” DePasquale said in a news release announcing this new benefit. “I am thrilled to allow our employees this opportunity.”

Treasurer Joe Torsella’s spokeswoman indicated Treasury too plans to provide that benefit to his employees.

Read more: https://www.pennlive.com/news/2020/08/more-pa-state-agencies-agree-to-provide-up-to-six-weeks-of-paid-parental-leave-for-their-employees.html