Maryland
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore sees steady approval rate into second year on the job
BALTIMORE — Maryland Gov. Wes Moore still enjoys a high approval rating from his constituents as his second year on the job gets underway, according to new poll data.
The Gonzalez Poll released Tuesday is the first test of the governor’s approval this year. Moore was inaugurated as the state’s first Black governor in January 2023.
The poll, conducted by Gonzales Polls, Inc., surveyed registered voters in Maryland from Dec. 20 through Dec. 30, 2021.
The latest approval rating is within the margin of error of October’s 60% approval rating.
Broken down along party lines, it’s no surprise Moore received overwhelming support among Democrats compared to high disapproval ratings from Republicans.
Of the Democrats surveyed, 74% approve of Moore’s performance, as do 52% of independent voters. Among state Republicans, 57% disapprove, but only 36% “strongly” disapprove.
The poll also took a look at key issues highlighted in Moore’s State of the State speech last week and Maryland’s Legislative Session, which is well underway.
Pollsters asked how Marylanders are feeling about taxes to fund transportation, stricter gun laws and mandatory prison time for dealing fentanyl.
Polling participants were asked if they would support raising the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent to fund transportation projects, which have been cut across the state due to Maryland’s budget deficit. Of those surveyed, 37% said they support the tax increase, while an overwhelming 60% oppose it.
Much like last year, pollsters found a staggering 88% of Marylanders agree that the possession of a stolen firearm should be a felony in Maryland. It is currently a misdemeanor to possess a stolen firearm in the state.
Finally, pollsters asked respondents if they would support a mandatory penalty of at least 10 years in prison for anyone convicted of selling drugs laced with fentanyl if the drug results in a death. A massive 83% would support the penalty, while 13% oppose it.
Read the full results here.
Part two of the Gonzales Poll, released Wednesday, asks about Marylanders’ views on national political figures and policies.
Maryland
Maryland residents question new paint can fee amid growing costs
MARYLAND (WBFF) — A trip to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) left some drivers stunned by higher costs that they say are piling up across the state.
Tony Joshua said he walked away when he saw what it would cost to register his vehicle.
“Sticker shock? (laughs),” he said. “I turned right around and got out of the line. I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have it.”
ALSO READ | Maryland’s new paint fees spark outrage as recycling nonprofit isn’t registered in state
The cost of registering, titling and inspecting a vehicle in Maryland doubled last year, but the fee increases don’t stop at the MVA. The Maryland legislature has approved more than 300 new fees in the past two years including a tire tax, a tech tax and a vending machine tax.
“It’s just like greed more than anything,” Baltimore resident Clifton Parrot said.
Baltimore resident Sheila Bowling questioned how the additional funding is being used.
“This is the million dollar question. Nobody knows what those fees are doing. Everything is high in the city,” she said.
If I’m dodging potholes, where is the money going?” Joshua asked.
One of the latest fees will be attached to every gallon of paint sold in Maryland and will go to a nonprofit organization that will manage Maryland’s paint recycling program. But FOX45 News has learned that the nonprofit, PaintCare, isn’t registered as a nonprofit in the state of Maryland, even though it’s set to receive a dollar fee for every gallon of paint sold in the state.
Joshua said the growing costs have him questioning whether he can stay in Maryland.
“It flabbergasts me where the money is going. Sometimes I’m like ‘dude, do I stay here?’” he said.
Bowling said, “This shouldn’t be happening in 2026 this shouldn’t be happening.”
For many Marylanders, the rising fees have strained budgets and morale, with some saying they can no longer afford the increasing price of driving.
“I’m just at my wits end about it. I’m like when do we, the taxpayers get a break?” Joshua asked.
Maryland
Deadly motorcycle crash closes busy stretch of Connecticut Avenue in Montgomery Co. – WTOP News
A deadly crash involving a motorcycle shut down a stretch of Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland, early Tuesday.
A deadly crash involving a motorcycle shut down a stretch of Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland, early Tuesday.
Montgomery County police said officers responded around 6:15 a.m. to a report of a crash involving a car and a motorcycle at Manor Road and Connecticut Avenue.
A motorcyclist was found in serious condition. Police said the man died at the scene.
A woman driving the car was hospitalized with minor injuries.
Connecticut Avenue is closed in both directions between Jones Bridge Road and Manor Road as police investigate the collision.
The crash is the latest in a series of deadly motorcycle incidents across Maryland, including a deadly hit-and-run in Charles County that left one man dead Saturday.
A map of the area is below.
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Maryland
Maryland House passes bill to end automatic charging of some juveniles as adults
MARYLAND (WBFF) — Maryland lawmakers have approved a bill that would end the automatic charging of certain juveniles as adults and is now on its way to the governor’s office for review.
The Youth Charging Reform Act passed the House of Delegates on Monday after clearing the Senate last week. The bill aims to end the automatic charging of 16- and 17-year-olds as adults for certain drug, assault, and gun offenses.
ALSO READ | Bill to end automatic charging of some juveniles as adults inches closer to passage
The bill drew significant opposition from several top prosecutors in Maryland, including Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson, Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy, and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess.
For months, they’ve warned that the change could weaken accountability and pose public safety risks.
“DJS is not equipped to deal with these increased violent offenders, and the legislature should defer the implementation of this bill until the programs are in place,” McCarthy said.
Maryland sheriffs also joined the pushback, including Carroll County Sheriff Jim Dewees, who previously said, “This is not a smart move, by any means, I don’t like it because, and I think by and large, law enforcement doesn’t like it, because we don’t have a whole lot of trust in the juvenile court system and the DJS system.”
ALSO READ | FOX45 sends video of prosecutors’ concerns to lawmakers backing juvenile justice bill
Supporters of the bill argued that most cases end up in the juvenile system regardless, and therefore, it makes sense to start them in the Department of Juvenile Services.
“They’re already ingesting that work anyway; they’re already doing that workload anyway,” Sen. Will Smith, lead sponsor of the legislation, previously told FOX45 News. “We’re just wasting time and money by sending them to the adult system first.”
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The bill now awaits at Gov. Wes Moore’s desk for a final decision.
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