Latest news with #HouseBill176
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Family, loved ones of Davis Martinez honored during final bill signing of 2025
Blanca Garcia-Martinez, mother of slain parole agent Davis Martinez, attends an event for the signing of a bill, named after her son, to boost protections for state workers. (Photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters) Family, loved ones and colleagues of Davis Martinez gathered in Annapolis Tuesday for a bittersweet occasion – to witness the signing of a law named to honor the slain parole agent's memory by boosting protections for state workers. 'His family and his loved ones turned that pain into purpose,' Gov. Wes Moore (D) said before signing the Davis Martinez Public Employee Safety and Health Act. 'They came to Annapolis to advocate the legislation that would help ensure what happened [to Martinez] would never happen again.' It was just one of 181 bill signed into law Tuesday in the final bill signing session after a challenging 2025 legislative session. The measures ranged from the mundane to the major — the fiscal 2026 budget — and included moments of personal reflection from House Speaker Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County) and pure elation from long-suffering advocates finally seeing victory. Martinez became the first parole agent killed in the line of duty when he was brutally slain on the morning of May 31, 2024, while making a routine check on a parolee at a home in Silver Spring. Martinez's supervisors did not check on him until well into the evening, after coworkers noticed him missing and expressed concern for his well-being. Police found Martinez dead with multiple stab wounds at the home of the parolee, Emanuel Edward Sewell, who was arrested a day later in West Virginia and has since been charged with first-degree murder in Martinez's death. Martinez's family and labor unions called on the legislature to boost protections for state employees in the wake of the killing, which led to Senate Bill 26 and House Bill 176, which passed with unanimous approval. The legislation, now law, will provide better oversight of state workplaces and create a unit within the Division of Labor and Industry focused on public employee safety and health. Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said Martinez represents thousands of Maryland's 'dedicated state workers that show up to work every single day to serve others.' 'We are so deeply sorry for your loss, and we hope that this piece of legislation … is one small step to honor your loved one's memory,' he told Martinez's family. Tuesday's bill signing began with Moore and legislative leadership looking back on a legislative session filled with challenges – including a multibillion-dollar budget deficit and rapid-fire policy changes at the federal level. In spite of those challenges, Moore signed House Speaker Adrienne Jones' (D-Baltimore County) bill combining several current state offices to create a new Department of Social and Economic Mobility. Jones believes that her legislation House Bill 1253 runs 'in stark contrast' to the Trump administration's efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs. 'When we say social and economic mobility, let's be very clear on what we're talking about,' Jones said Tuesday. 'We're talking about the strength of our diversity. We're talking about promoting equity and we're talking about creating inclusion in all spaces. I'm not afraid to say it.' She noted that the bill was personal for her as a Black woman. 'I've walked on to an unleveled playing field. I've been kept out of rooms, meetings and buildings solely because of my race and gender,' she said. 'We've come a long way since these times … and I refuse to let us go back today.' Jones extended that promise to Maryland's immigrant community, much of whome feel unsafe from the Trump administration's increased deportation efforts on undocumented immigrants. She highlighted House Bill 1222, which directs the Maryland Attorney General to develop guidelines that clarify how officials at 'sensitive locations' — which include public schools, places of worship, courthouses, hospitals and similar locations — should interact with federal immigration enforcement agents. 'The fear felt in Maryland's immigrant communities is real right now,' Jones said. 'Marylanders should feel safe while seeking medical care, pursing education and going to church … But as we see the suspension of the process and as we see a continued erosion of basic human dignity in our immigrant communities, we know this work is far from over.' The Tuesday bill signing also included the approval of the 2026 budget and a dense energy package, two heavily debated topics over the legislative session. But despite the weighty topics, there were also some moments of celebration during the event. Longtime health care advocate Vincent DeMarco celebrated the governor's signature on House Bill 424 and Senate Bill 357, which will expand the authority of the state's current Prescription Drug Affordability Board to help bring prescription drug costs down for all Marylanders. Currently, the board only looks at the cost of drugs for state employee health plans. During the bill signing, Moore gave a shout-out to DeMarco as someone who 'has been a champion for affordable health care for decades.' DeMarco later said he was 'ecstatic' about the board's expansion. Moore also signed off on one of his priority bills, to reform the state's procurement process – a topic that he admitted was 'not sexy' but is 'absolutely essential in delivering economic growth and building pathways to work, wages and wealth.' House Bill 500 reworks several parts of the state's procurement laws to support more minority-owned businesses and veteran-owned businesses, increase oversight of procurements, along with other changes. Moore said that the bills signed Tuesday were reflective of the hard work the legislature, his administration and advocates put into the bills during the challenging 2025 session. 'We had to be nimble in the face of uncertainty and be courageous in the face of chaos,' Moore said. 'If there is one thing we're able to prove in this session is this: That in Maryland, we can look at challenge squarely in the face and refuse to blink.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Two arrested at vape shops on Mansfield Rd, during SPD warrant operation
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Shreveport police announced the arrests of two people following the closure of a south Shreveport vape shop. Police say they arrested Alshameri Ali and Marie Ketterman during the closure of smoke and vape shops located at 9126 Mansfield Road and 9312 Mansfield Road. SPD stated that the arrests occurred on April 23 as part of 'Operation Curveball,' an enforcement operation. Investigators learned that the businesses were selling street drugs as well as unregulated products that are not FDA-approved. They believe that some of the items have made their way into local high schools. 'These types of businesses, when operated without proper oversight, place our children in jeopardy,' Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. 'We are committed to protecting our community from those who seek to profit at the expense of public safety.' 118 warrants served, 60 arrested made during 'Operation Curveball' Ali was booked on two counts of distribution of narcotics and possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance. Ketterman was arrested for the distribution of narcotics and the introduction of contraband into a penal facility. Legislators on the criminal justice committee voted to favorably pass House Bill 176, authored by Representative Gabe Firment, that would provide more stringent regulation of certain hallucinogenic chemicals in products that are packaged in ways that appeal to youth. If passed, HB176 would criminalize the production, manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to produce, manufacture, or distribute products intended for human consumption that contain beta-phenyl-GABA, muscimol, ibotenic acid, or any analog thereof. The aforementioned chemical compounds all have psychoactive effects. Chief Smith stated in an SPD news release that his department is collaborating with city administrators and state legislators to explore legislation that would restrict the sale and availability of these products, particularly to minors. A Louisiana sheriff who testified in support of the bill detailed being called for a male who had taken psychotropic medication with his girlfriend, and after taking a higher-than-recommended dose, experienced a mental episode that required medical attention. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Unlimited wolf hunting bill dies quietly on final Legislative vote
A gray wolf in snow. (Eric Cole/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) After a relatively subdued floor debate — at least as far as wolf-related bills go — the Montana Senate on Friday voted to pass three wolf-hunting bills that originated in the House. One bill would extend the current wolf hunting season to align with the spring black bear season, one would allow the use of thermal and infrared scopes, and the third would have required an unlimited hunting season for wolves when the statewide population is more than 550 wolves. The latter bill, House Bill 176, drew the most attention during multi-hour committee hearings and on the House floor, where it was amended to change a 'shall' to a 'may,' merely stating that the Fish and Wildlife commission would have the option to create an open season. But that change was reversed with an amendment in the Senate committee. But during the weekend, seven Senators changed their minds on the bill, and during Monday's final vote on HB 176, the measure failed 23-27, after previously passing 26-24. Two senators, Sen. Gregg Hunter, R-Glasgow, and Shelley Vance, R-Belgrade, changed from nay votes to supporting the bill, while Sens. Jason Ellsworth, R-Hamilton, John Esp, R-Big Timber, Josh Kassmier, R-Fort Benton, Gayle Lammars, R-Hardin, and Sue Vinton, R-Billings, all opposed the bill on their final vote. Sen. Greg Hertz, a Polson Republican, carried all three wolf bills on the Senate floor, and opened his talking points by referencing the documents that originally delisted the gray wolf back in 2009, and estimated that the entire wolf population between Idaho, Montana and Wyoming would be around 1,100 individuals. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks estimates the state's numbers are around 1,100, Idaho's is roughly the same, and Wyoming has around 350 wolves. 'We've shown that we've reintroduced the wolves, and they have far exceeded where our expectations are,' Hertz said. 'So I think some of these new requirements and allowances on wolf hunting should be allowed.' But opponents said the bill was overly broad by applying to the entire state, rather than the northwest region where wolves are most heavily concentrated, and that overhunting wolves could set the state's management plans back. 'From a livestock part, we do worry, our associations do, that if we overdo this thing, there's a great likelihood that the wolves will get back on the Endangered Species list,' Sen. Butch Gillespie, R-Ethbridge, said, adding several livestock groups had opposed the bill in committee. 'Also, it's been my goal all along to get the grizzly bears off the Endangered Species list, and this also makes that a lot more complicated, if we reduce our wolf population too much.' Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, echoed Gillespie's comments, and said that a more targeted management approach would be a better option, and that frustrations that FWP wasn't doing enough to reduce the population should be addressed through other avenues than legislation. Their comments on the floor didn't seem to dissuade many senators, as the bill initially passed by two votes, but the final tally showed a much stauncher opposition. The vote put to bed the biggest legislative directive regarding wolves for the 2025 session. The two other bills passed on Friday sailed through their final readings with no vote changes, and will head back to the House for a final vote on Senate amendments. House Bill 258, extending the hunting season, was amended to remove a carve-out limiting hunting quotas near Yellowstone National Park — a change originally made by Democratic Representative Scott Rosenzweig of Bozeman to make the bill more appealing to the House. House Bill 259, expanding the use of night scopes, was amended to soften the directive from a 'shall' to a 'may.' The House has yet to schedule either bill for a floor vote. One other wolf-related bill passed the Senate earlier last week, allowing for hunters who lawfully kill wolves to be reimbursed for their hunting or trapping costs. [subhead] FWP adopts final wolf management plan [/subhead] Even as the Legislature has continued debating how it wants the state's wildlife agency to manage the wolf population, FWP announced last week it had adopted the final version of its wolf management plan. The new plan is the first comprehensive update to the state's management plan since 2003, and the department drew upon 20 years of 'management experience, evolution in conflict management, new laws, social perspective and public input,' according to an FWP press release. More than 24,000 comments were submitted during the multi-year drafting process. 'The former wolf plan served us well, but it was time to make sure our management plan contained the evolutions we've made in wolf research, monitoring, conflict management, and the changes to the legal framework we operate under today,' FWP Director Christy Clark said in the release. According to the department, the foundations for the management plan include: recognizing wolves as part of Montana's wildlife heritage; approaching wolf management similar to other wildlife species; managing wolf populations across the state with flexibility; and addressing and resolving conflicts. 'The overwhelming success of gray wolf recovery, to date, speaks to its importance and central role in the culture of Montana,' the record of decision for the plan states. 'FWP will continue to ensure the long-term presence of gray wolves in Montana.' One of the biggest shifts in the 2025 plan is a change in a 'key counting metric' for a minimum population benchmark. The old plan used the federal recovery baseline of having 15 breeding pairs of wolves, while the new baseline uses an estimate of the number of wolves that support 15 breeding pairs. FWP's new plan established 450 wolves as the 'benchmark to ensure' 15 breeding pairs, but emphasizes that 'this is not FWP's declared population target.' Instead, the plan states the wolf population may fluctuate anywhere within the 'estimated population size identified during the 2021 Legislative Session,' when a law was passed seeking to reduce the number of wolves to a 'sustainable population' of not less than 450. 'Wolf management discussions continue to draw a lot of attention from people in Montana and around the world,' FWP director Clark said. 'The 2025 Wolf Plan will ensure those conversations can be grounded in current science and the research FWP is doing every day.'
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
After stalled WWAMI termination bill, Idaho Legislature introduces medical education bill
Since 1972, Idaho has been part of the WWAMI program to send students to the University of Washington's medical school. (Courtesy of the University of Idaho) The Idaho Legislature introduced a new bill Wednesday that would cut Idaho's medical education seats through a partnership with University of Washington, or UW, and instead expand other medical education seats. The bill, which is expected to be posted on the Idaho Legislature's website within the next day, is an alternative to another bill that would end Idaho's decades-long participation in the WWAMI partnership — with a slew of rural Western states — that carves out state-subsidized slots for Idaho students to attend UW's highly regarded medical school. House Bill 176, the Idaho WWAMI termination bill, has stalled for weeks after wide backlash from doctors. Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello, and Idaho House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, cosponsored both bills. 'I think there's a lot of discussions that we're going to have in the coming days about these proposals moving forward, and which one makes the most sense for Idaho,' Manwaring told the House Education Committee. 'Part of what I heard in the last few weeks was … some folks wanted both. They wanted to try to keep an attachment to the University of Washington and WAMMI, while we build out a different program.' Idaho ranks 50th in the nation for the number of active physicians per capita. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Their new bill calls for Idaho to add 10 medical education seats each year outside of WWAMI, beginning with the academic year that starts in 2026. Under the bill, Idaho would continue that expansion each year until the incoming class size reaches 30 students. The bill doesn't name a medical school that would fulfill that requirement. But as Manwaring presented the bill to the committee Wednesday, he hinted at options. He said he's seen strong interest in University of Utah to stand up a program with University of Idaho, and said Brigham Young University is starting a medical school, and referenced Idaho State University's exploration of buying the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, as reported by Idaho Education News. The committee introduced the bill, teeing it up for a full committee hearing in the coming days — before it would be considered by the full House and Senate. But several committee members had concerns. Rep. Mark Sauter, R-Sandpoint, voted against introducing the bill, saying he believes Idaho should 'keep WWAMI whole and build a good program going forward.' 'I do think that we need to have some leadership in the building and also recognize that there's a lot of things that we don't know,' he said. The bill also directs Idaho to cut at least 10 seats in the WWAMI program starting in the 2027 academic year. In the meantime, the bill directs the Idaho State Board of Education to appoint a working group to develop a plan for Idaho medical education due in January 2026 to the Legislature and Idaho governor. The bill's fiscal note estimates boosting non-WWAMI Idaho medical education seats would cost $512,400 in fiscal year 2027. To become law, Idaho bills must pass the House and Senate, and avoid the governor's veto. Since 1972, Idaho has been part of the WWAMI program to send students to UW's medical school. Through the partnership, Idaho can send 40 medical students to UW each year. But for years, Idaho lawmakers wanted more seats — and some have wanted assurance from the medical school that it is not teaching abortion-related care. The day the Idaho WWAMI termination bill passed committee, UW signed a statement saying it doesn't use Idaho taxpayer dollars 'for abortions or abortion-related activities,' Idaho EdNews reported. After passing a House committee in mid-February, the Idaho WWAMI termination bill has not been voted on by the Idaho House for weeks. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Conservative rural Idaho doctor says WWAMI dissolution feels ‘political'
My WWAMI medical school and residency education gave me the ability to practice rural, full-spectrum family medicine, writes guest columnist Lance Hansen. (Getty Images) I am a fiscally and socially conservative family physician practicing at Franklin County Medical Center in Preston, Idaho. I was raised on a potato farm west of Blackfoot, and my family has been rooted in Idaho agriculture for generations. Growing up, my family physician was WWAMI graduate Dr. Kirt McKinlay. I'm writing because I am concerned that politics are clouding sound judgement when it comes to House Bill 176, a bill that would sever medical education ties with the University of Washington School of Medicine. With a proven track record of excellent medical education and a commitment to Idaho, why are we entertaining the notion of cutting ties of a 53-year-old partnership with the WWAMI program for a lot of uncertainty and unknown? Idaho doctor: WWAMI is 'vital' for state's students, residents and health care With the way that House Bill 176 is structured/worded, there are only a few possibilities and a lot of uncertainty. To me this feels very political rather than rational. As a graduate of the WWAMI program, I never participated in or felt pressured to learn anything about abortion or physician assisted suicide. The education at the University of Washington School of Medicine is outstanding; WWAMI is continually ranked as one of the top medical schools in the nation for primary care. When I went through medical school, there were only 18 WWAMI slots for Idaho medical students and today there are 40. I know, firsthand, that the mission of the University of Washington School of Medicine is to truly prepare physicians to serve the WWAMI region. Since 2012, I have volunteered thousands of hours teaching WWAMI medical students and serving on the Idaho WWAMI admissions committee where we selected applicants who were committed to rural Idaho and its health care needs. I have never been paid for any of this. I simply have a great appreciation for what the WWAMI program has accomplished and a strong confidence in what it will accomplish in the future. More than half of Idaho WWAMI medical students choose to practice here, which is better than the national average of 39-40%. When you include all WWAMI medical students, more than 70% end up in Idaho. Training in Idaho entices students from Alaska, Montana, Washington and Wyoming to stay here. My medical career started in Bear Lake County where I practiced for 11 years. It's difficult to find physicians who are comfortable with practicing in these truly rural environments without specialist support nearby. My WWAMI medical school and residency education gave me the ability to practice rural, full-spectrum family medicine – including obstetrics with C sections, colonoscopy/EGD, emergency medicine, intensive care, hospital medicine, clinic treatment and more. WWAMI provides the rural emphasis, exposure, opportunities, knowledge and confidence necessary for me, and other graduates, to serve people in rural areas. When I came to Franklin County Medical Center two years ago, it had been recruiting for more than four years. For smaller hospitals like ours, it is more cost effective to have broadly trained family physicians like those that come out of the WWAMI program with rural experience. Our family medicine training also means patients are likely to have better outcomes because they don't have to travel longer distances for medical care. One of my favorite parts of medicine is participating in the miracle of life when newborn babies come into this world. Most people I know love babies — so I ask that our state lawmakers not throw out the baby with the bathwater on this issue of medical education in Idaho. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
