Maryland
Maryland to vote on enshrining abortion law
Next week, Maryland voters will be asked to decide if the state should enshrine reproductive freedom in its constitution.
The ballot measure comes two years after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and the constitutional right to abortion.
If passed, the measure would confirm the fundamental right to reproductive freedom around decisions to prevent, continue or end pregnancy. The amendment says the state may not interfere with that right “unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”
“It’s important to advocates that we make sure that the right to reproductive healthcare remains with a person and their doctor,” said Erin Bradley, chair of Freedom in Reproduction Maryland.
A University of Maryland, Baltimore County poll last month found about 69% of Maryland voters support it.
Currently in Maryland, abortion is legal under “very protective” policies, according to the Guttmacher Institute.
Gov. Wes Moore signed a shield law last year that offers protection for medical providers from out-of-state investigations.
State law holds that parents of minors must be notified of an abortion, with some exceptions.
“There is no serious effort to take away abortion rights in Annapolis, and so we think it’s just unnecessary,” said Jeffrey Trimbath of the Maryland Family Institute. “It’s an unnecessary distraction from what Marylanders really care about.”
The group Health Not Harm MD has been putting up signs saying, “Vote no on Question 1. No sex change surgeries on children without parental consent.”
The group told News4 it wishes the ballot measure would spell out that minors need to notify their parents before making decisions. It also says the amendment isn’t specific in its wording and worries “decisions around preventing pregnancy” could equate to transgender surgeries.
“We are concerned that by giving children the same rights as adults to obtain any types of drugs or surgeries related to their reproductive system, that is taking away a parent’s involvement in their child’s decisions for healthcare and education,” said Health Not Harm MD Chair Deborah Brocato.
Reproductive rights activists say Maryland laws wouldn’t change and minors would still have to notify parents. They also say the ballot measure doesn’t speak to transgender surgeries.
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A University of Maryland (UMD) football player was arrested for harassment, according to the Harford County Sheriff’s Office.
Dontay Joyner, a defensive back and rising senior at UMD, was charged with telephone misuse for making repeated calls, electronic communications harassment, and violating release conditions, a misdemeanor offense, according to court records.
Joyner’s attorney is calling the ordeal “outrageous,” saying “[Joyner] has been locked in a cage in Harford County for seven nights after being charged with a misdemeanor for telephone misuse for texting his longtime girlfriend during an argument. This is simply outrageous.”
Joyner’s attorney, Former Attorney General Douglas Gansler, said the 21-year-old has never been in trouble with the law and does not own a handgun. According to Gansler, Joyner’s girlfriend is “fully supportive of him and does not want to press charges.”
According to the UMD Terps website, Joyner is a Lakeland, Florida, native who previously attended Arkansas State. In the spring, Joyner was given the Nick Cross Defensive Back Award in a tradition that honors “past terrapin greats.”
According to court records, Joyner was held without bond.
WJZ has reached out to UMD officials for comment.
In Maryland, residents can find parades, concerts, history programs, fireworks, volunteer opportunities and family-friendly celebrations leading up to Independence Day.
America250, the national semiquincentennial initiative, is encouraging communities to take part through local commemorations, block parties, service projects and July 4 events. State and local commissions, historical societies, museums, libraries, parks departments and civic groups are also hosting events tied to the milestone.
Open primaries advocate Jeremy Gruber says nearly 100,000 independent voters in D.C. remain locked out of primary elections despite voters overwhelmingly approving open primaries in 2024. On The Final 5 with Jim Lokay, he blames the D.C. Council for refusing to fund the change and says similar efforts are gaining momentum in Maryland, where more than one million independents are also excluded from primaries. Gruber argues that in many one-party jurisdictions, the primary is effectively the election, making voter access even more critical.
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