U.S. Rep. Ben Cardin's Senate announcement on Tuesday afternoon, which everyone knew was coming, was quickly overshadowed by the unexpected allegations, revealed in Thursday morning's Washington Post, that another Democratic candidate for Senate, Kweisi Mfume, favored women he was close to with raises and promotions during his former job as president of the NAACP. The allegations, which Mfume denies, are detailed in a confidential NAACP report obtained by the Post. Also, some at the NAACP are saying that Mfume was fired from the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization, despite reports that the split was amicable.
Re: Mfume: The Sun's follow-up to the Post's scoop can be read here. This, of course, will effect Mfume's standing in race to replace retiring Sen. Paul Sarbanes. How so? Not yet known, but Mfume has come out swinging, and says he's still in the race. Read about it in the Post and Sun.
The Baltimore daily's state political editor, David Nitkin, analyzes the initial fallout: Basically, it's damaging, but too early to tell how much so, and it certainly helps U.S. Rep. Chris Van Hollen's chances if he decides to run. The Gazette papers' Thomas Dennison does the same, but his analysis is much more critical, pretty much calling the not "well-organized" Mfume campaign dead.
Re: Cardin: His story's much more boring, so just some coverage of his announcement from the Post and Washington Times, much more in-depth coverage from the Jewish Times' James D. Besser, and a look at who could win his seat from The Sun's Andrew A. Green.
In other Senate race news, the Wash Times may be ignoring the Mfume/NAACP allegations story for now, but it published today a story, by S.A. Miller, about Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele "struggle" to decide whether to run again for his current seat or for Senate.
Finally, next year we get to pick a Democratic candidate for governor, too, but the only news there in the past few days, via the Post, is that Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan has hired Louisiana Democratic strategist Scott Arceneaux to run his gubernatorial campaign.
Oh, and that Steele's potential successor on the Ehrlich ticket, State Schools Superintendent Nancy Grasmick, got a building in Annapolis named after her. And that Gov. Bob got his property tax cut shot down by the state Board of Public Works, on which his ally Comptroller William Donald Schaefer sits. Hmmm. (Wash Times coverage here.)
Friday, April 29, 2005
Horny
They're American bison, dammit!
In case you've been sleeping under a rock, you probably know that a small herd of, ahem, American bison raped and pillaged Pikesville earlier this week. Actually, they just kinda roamed around and (awesome!) jumped tennis nets, but it was a big deal, really. Got covered from Australia and China to, well, Owings Mills and Washington.
Anyway, The Sun was, of course, all over the stampede, with a story about Baltimore County Police Detective Ed "Buffalo Bill" Spragg, the cop that got knocked over, but not injured, by a charging bison; praise for the rest of the officers involved; an explation that, no, a bison jumping a tennis net is not that incredible (spoil sports); and some reminisces about past local tangles with exotic animals.
In case you've been sleeping under a rock, you probably know that a small herd of, ahem, American bison raped and pillaged Pikesville earlier this week. Actually, they just kinda roamed around and (awesome!) jumped tennis nets, but it was a big deal, really. Got covered from Australia and China to, well, Owings Mills and Washington.
Anyway, The Sun was, of course, all over the stampede, with a story about Baltimore County Police Detective Ed "Buffalo Bill" Spragg, the cop that got knocked over, but not injured, by a charging bison; praise for the rest of the officers involved; an explation that, no, a bison jumping a tennis net is not that incredible (spoil sports); and some reminisces about past local tangles with exotic animals.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Stop the Presses
It's been nearly a week since the text of Gov. Robert Ehrlich's complaints against The Sun, and a response from Sun ombudsman Paul Moore, was released on April 21. I was planning on writing something about it, but ran out of time. Suffice to say, Ehrlich's complaints are mostly wrong, and mostly petty when not (there are a few legit gripes), and the Sun's and Moore's responses are mostly evenhanded, and contrite when the paper was inaccurate.
This all, of course, stems from Ehrlich's ban on state employees talking to State House bureau chief David Nitkin and columnist Michael Olesker. Read all about that at this Sun minisite.
Editor and Publisher covers this most recent spat here. And Ehrlich's people respond to the Sun's responses here. He is--shock!!--not happy with them, though it's not clear what would bring satisfaction besides maybe Tim Franklin literally kissing the gov's ass and promising never to print a critical word again. Not likely, that.
Since then, Maryland's first lady, Kendel Ehrilch, called for the suspension of the First Amendment and the jailing of all newspaper reporters at a meeting of lower Eastern Shore Republicans. Well, not quite, but she does think that they "need to be punished." Read local coverage of the first lady's speech here.
Fun stuff.
This all, of course, stems from Ehrlich's ban on state employees talking to State House bureau chief David Nitkin and columnist Michael Olesker. Read all about that at this Sun minisite.
Editor and Publisher covers this most recent spat here. And Ehrlich's people respond to the Sun's responses here. He is--shock!!--not happy with them, though it's not clear what would bring satisfaction besides maybe Tim Franklin literally kissing the gov's ass and promising never to print a critical word again. Not likely, that.
Since then, Maryland's first lady, Kendel Ehrilch, called for the suspension of the First Amendment and the jailing of all newspaper reporters at a meeting of lower Eastern Shore Republicans. Well, not quite, but she does think that they "need to be punished." Read local coverage of the first lady's speech here.
Fun stuff.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
In This Week's City Paper
On the cover, Washington City Paper's Jason Cherkis joins a son's search for the killer of his father, a Randallstown door-to-door salesman who was killed on his route in D.C. No further links here, so on to . . .
Mobtown Beat, in which Stephen Janis waits and waits for the construction of the Enoch Pratt's Southeast Anchor Library in Highlandtown. And The Nose starts sniffing around the recent of suspension of Sam Daniels, chief inspector at the Baltimore City Board of Liquor License Commissioners, for doing his job, stemming from a March 9 City Paper story in which he escorted a reporter on a Texas hold 'em raid. The Sun's coverage of the story can be found here.
In Arts & Entertainment, John Barry poses with avant-garde playwright Erik Ehn, who's penning a suite of short plays, 13 Christs, for Hampden's Run of the Mill Theater. For more on Ehn, check out his CalArts School of Theater page and The RAT Conerence.
Mobtown Beat, in which Stephen Janis waits and waits for the construction of the Enoch Pratt's Southeast Anchor Library in Highlandtown. And The Nose starts sniffing around the recent of suspension of Sam Daniels, chief inspector at the Baltimore City Board of Liquor License Commissioners, for doing his job, stemming from a March 9 City Paper story in which he escorted a reporter on a Texas hold 'em raid. The Sun's coverage of the story can be found here.
In Arts & Entertainment, John Barry poses with avant-garde playwright Erik Ehn, who's penning a suite of short plays, 13 Christs, for Hampden's Run of the Mill Theater. For more on Ehn, check out his CalArts School of Theater page and The RAT Conerence.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Know Your Rights
In yesterday's Sun, Sumathi Reddy reports that several local anti-gay groups are working hard to get the four gay-friendly bills passed during this year's state legislative session vetoed, overturned by referendum, whatever. The Associated Press, via The Washington Times, covers the story here. And Baltimore GayLife goes over those bills in detail here.
To encourage the governor to ignore the bigots and to sign those bills, we recommend writing a thoughtful letter. If you're short on time, however, just click here.
On a brighter, sappier note, read Eartha Melzer's story in the Washington Blade about Del. Doyle Niemann (D-Prince George’s County) and his daughter Cassi, who he sort of outed while explaining to his colleagues why he was voting for the Medical Decision Making Act. Awwww.
To encourage the governor to ignore the bigots and to sign those bills, we recommend writing a thoughtful letter. If you're short on time, however, just click here.
On a brighter, sappier note, read Eartha Melzer's story in the Washington Blade about Del. Doyle Niemann (D-Prince George’s County) and his daughter Cassi, who he sort of outed while explaining to his colleagues why he was voting for the Medical Decision Making Act. Awwww.
Capitol Steps
Cellular Division: It's a long way till next year's gubernatorial Democratic primary election, but Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan, realizing he's far behind in the polls, isn't letting that stop him from taking potshots at his main Democratic rival, Mayor Martin O'Malley. In today's Post, John Wagner reports that Dunan is blaming the mayor for the demise of the stem cell bill, saying hizzoner was silent on the subject till way-late in the legislative session; O'Malley's people pooh-pooh the allegations, of course.
Speaking of The Sun Poll, ombudsman Paul Moore defends its use, front-page play, etc., in his Sunday column. He gets it pretty much right, though former Poynter Institute president Jim Naughton's warning about the ever-increasing unreliability of polls, due to folks' reluctance to answer their phones, should have gotten better play. Minor complaint, however.
Back in Black: Not exactly a political story, but yesterday's announcement of overstuffed city ($37.5 million), state ($400 million), and county ($90 million) coffers, despite the ailing economy, should provide pols some pork to toss around.
On the Road: Not satisfied with the outcome of General Assembly 2005, Gov. Robert Ehrlich is hitting the road (Monday Post story), namely Republican-friendly employers, to promote his agenda. And here's today's Sun's version.
Two More: Finally, for the Maryland Jewish Alliance's perspective on the session just passed, check out the Jewish Times' legislative wrap-up. And Sun Perspective columnist C. Fraser Smith on the session's biggest winner, Fair Share Health Care lobbyist Vincent DeMarco.
Speaking of The Sun Poll, ombudsman Paul Moore defends its use, front-page play, etc., in his Sunday column. He gets it pretty much right, though former Poynter Institute president Jim Naughton's warning about the ever-increasing unreliability of polls, due to folks' reluctance to answer their phones, should have gotten better play. Minor complaint, however.
Back in Black: Not exactly a political story, but yesterday's announcement of overstuffed city ($37.5 million), state ($400 million), and county ($90 million) coffers, despite the ailing economy, should provide pols some pork to toss around.
On the Road: Not satisfied with the outcome of General Assembly 2005, Gov. Robert Ehrlich is hitting the road (Monday Post story), namely Republican-friendly employers, to promote his agenda. And here's today's Sun's version.
Two More: Finally, for the Maryland Jewish Alliance's perspective on the session just passed, check out the Jewish Times' legislative wrap-up. And Sun Perspective columnist C. Fraser Smith on the session's biggest winner, Fair Share Health Care lobbyist Vincent DeMarco.
News Hole
Speedy Justice: Ryan Davis of The Sun reports that Circuit Court Judge John M. Glynn yesterday ordered that suspects "who do not receive a court hearing within 24 hours of their arrest must be released" from notoriously slow Central Booking. For more on problems at CB and the city jail, check out Erin Sullivan's "The Corrections" City Paper feature from last May.
Move 'Em Out: Underplayed by The Sun, but this seems worth highlighting: City plans to acquire about 130 occupied homes to make way for development in Sowebo's Poppleton neighborhood, just west of of the UMB BioPark and downtown's west side.
Where the Buffalo Roam: Apparently, Pikesville.
Sky's the Limit: In Sunday's Sun, Jill Rosen caught up with Mount Vernon residents protesting the city's plan to raise building-height limits in midtown.
It Ain't Easy . . . being an immigrant in Maryland. At least that's what it seems like from a pair of recent Washington Post stories: On Saturday, Krissah Williams reports on a bill, passed nearly unanimously by the General Assembly, that would crack down on "consultants" who, due to negligence or incompetence, end up getting their clients deported. And today, Williams takes a look at the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation's efforts to go after unlicensed money transmitters, small businesses that delivers immigrants' earnings back home.
What's That Smell? Apparently, "old food spills" (The Third Floor really should clean up our desk), now cleaned up. Sun columnist Dan Rodricks, however, opines that the olfactory sensitive judges and lawyers should have just cracked a window.
Boiling Point: As expected, and now reported by Alan Zibel in the BBJ, Morgan State University is calling foul on Towson University's newly approved MBA program.
In other biz news, Washington (racial slur) owner Daniel Snyder changes his mind about his ownership stake in Six Flags; he's keeping it. Earlier story.
Move 'Em Out: Underplayed by The Sun, but this seems worth highlighting: City plans to acquire about 130 occupied homes to make way for development in Sowebo's Poppleton neighborhood, just west of of the UMB BioPark and downtown's west side.
Where the Buffalo Roam: Apparently, Pikesville.
Sky's the Limit: In Sunday's Sun, Jill Rosen caught up with Mount Vernon residents protesting the city's plan to raise building-height limits in midtown.
It Ain't Easy . . . being an immigrant in Maryland. At least that's what it seems like from a pair of recent Washington Post stories: On Saturday, Krissah Williams reports on a bill, passed nearly unanimously by the General Assembly, that would crack down on "consultants" who, due to negligence or incompetence, end up getting their clients deported. And today, Williams takes a look at the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation's efforts to go after unlicensed money transmitters, small businesses that delivers immigrants' earnings back home.
What's That Smell? Apparently, "old food spills" (The Third Floor really should clean up our desk), now cleaned up. Sun columnist Dan Rodricks, however, opines that the olfactory sensitive judges and lawyers should have just cracked a window.
Boiling Point: As expected, and now reported by Alan Zibel in the BBJ, Morgan State University is calling foul on Towson University's newly approved MBA program.
In other biz news, Washington (racial slur) owner Daniel Snyder changes his mind about his ownership stake in Six Flags; he's keeping it. Earlier story.
Monday, April 25, 2005
Dog Star Years
Though it's dying a slow death, that's no reason not to celebrate Homewood-based Hubble Space Telescope's 15th anniversary. Start with Frank D. Roylance's Sun story. Then check out Wired News, Space.com, National Geographic News, and Slashdot.
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