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The Hill
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Maryland governor on Trump remarks: ‘I don't listen to criticism from chicken hawks'
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) hit back at President Trump on Thursday in another tit-for-tat over Trump's recent efforts to crack down on crime in Washington, D.C., deploying the National Guard and asserting command over local police. 'I don't listen to criticism from chicken hawks, people who talk tough and try to utilize people in uniform but have never had the courage to wear the uniform themselves,' Moore told the radio station WTOP. Moore, who served in Afghanistan, has leaned on his military background in criticizing the president's deployment of troops to the nation's capital. 'This decision is being made by people who, frankly, have never worn the uniform themselves,' he said on CNN earlier this week. 'There's a lack of seriousness that is going to the decision-making process about what you are doing and how you are impacting the lives of these men and women and their families.' Moore's criticisms caught the attention of Trump, who mocked the governor on Thursday in the Oval Office. 'They say maybe he'll be a president — he's not presidential temper at all,' Trump said of Moore, who is eyeing a run in 2028. 'I heard him today talking about how the National Guard or the military is not trained in police,' the president added. 'But they're trained in common sense, and they're not allowing people to burn down buildings and bomb buildings and cheat people.' Trump suggested on Monday that he could bring his takeover efforts to other Democratic-led cities, including Baltimore, and many have seen his moves in D.C. as a test case. The president attempted to assert his power in Los Angeles earlier this summer when he seized control of the state's National Guard to quell protests over immigration enforcement. A judge is currently weighing the legality of bypassing the governor, who typically commands a state's National Guard reserves.
The Guardian
7 days ago
- The Guardian
Four children and two adults killed in deadliest Maryland house fire in a decade
A fire killed four children and two adults after ripping through a house in Charles county, Maryland, on Sunday, authorities said. Oliver Alkire, the master deputy state fire marshal, told reporters that the blaze was the deadliest fire in Maryland in more than 10 years. 'The house was built in a year when they should've had hard-wired smoke alarms. I can't confirm if they were actually activated. One person managed to escape the fire reported at about 8.40am at the home in Waldorf, about 55 miles (88km) south of Baltimore, the local news outlet WTOP reported. It took about 70 firefighters more than an hour to control the flames. One firefighter was hospitalized and another first responder was treated at the scene for unspecified injuries. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Alkire said the blaze originated on the right side of the home within an enclosed porch. The ages and names of the victims were not immediately released. Alkire said officials didn't immediately know if the residence had working smoke alarms and reminded the public to make sure their homes were equipped with such devices. 'We have no reports of someone hearing a smoke alarm activating, so it just shows you the importance of how important those life-saving devices are,' Alkire said. The Associated Press contributed reporting
Axios
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Virginia Democrats' lieutenant governor race still undecided
We still don't officially know who the Democrats' lieutenant governor candidate is. Why it matters: It's the hottest race on the 2025 primary ticket, and includes two Richmond-area locals. Driving the news: As of Wednesday morning, frontrunners state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi and former Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney were within 1% of each other. What they're saying: Hashmi declared victory Tuesday night, the Democratic party announced her as the winner and opponent Aaron Rouse congratulated her. But Stoney hasn't conceded. The intrigue: If the final margin is within 1% or less, the race would be eligible for a recount. But there's no such thing as an "automatic recount" in Virginia — whoever is behind has to request one. By the numbers: Hashmi, who represents Chesterfield and parts of South Richmond, swept Richmond — the city Stoney was mayor of for eight years — with 58% of the vote, according to unofficial results. Stoney performed better in Chesterfield and Henrico, where he had around 35% of the vote in a six-way race, than he did in Richmond. But Hashmi led overall in the Richmond area. Zoom out: Former Norfolk lawmaker Jay Jones won the Democratic nomination for attorney general, per the AP, which means Virginia could have its first Black AG. What we're watching: When each ticket will first show up together. The GOP nominees have yet to do so in the months since Gov. Youngkin asked lieutenant governor candidate John Reid to step aside earlier this year. In an interview with WTOP this week, Reid said, "I would love to do an event with my ticket mates" and called it "disappointing" that it hasn't happened. Reid also said he hasn't spoken with Winsome Earle-Sears, the GOP nominee for governor, in nearly two months. Other Richmond election results In Richmond, incumbent Colette McEachin is clearly on track to serve another term as commonwealth's attorney with more than 71% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Virginia Department of Elections. McEachin currently doesn't have a Republican challenger. Incumbent Antionette Irving is poised to win the Democratic primary for sheriff with 54% of votes, per unofficial results. Local House races
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Maryland must tackle interconnected land use, housing, transportation, economic challenges
Traffic on the Capital Beltway near the American Legion Bridge. Surveys show Marylanders want housing near jobs, but state policy doesn't always make that easy. (Photo by Dave Dildine/WTOP) Maryland is well-known for innovative state policies and reforms, including smart growth, but the state missed key opportunities this year to build on that legacy. While approving a half-billion-dollar package to close a major transportation funding gap, the legislature (primarily the Senate) failed to adopt bills that would ensure the funds shift the state in a new direction toward abundant and affordable housing and transportation choices. Maryland's land use, high housing costs, transportation challenges and economic doldrums are interconnected. They require new approaches, not just patching budget holes to fix. Homes are expensive in part because Maryland communities allow too little housing near transit, services and jobs. This contributes to sprawling, car-dependent development, further fueled by too much public spending on oversized roads and highways. The result is long commutes, more driving to reach stores and services, and higher transportation costs for families. The average new car in the U.S. costs almost $50,000, and last year 17% of American drivers said they had to take on a second job to help pay for their car. Instead of funding more of this status quo, Maryland needs to help families stay here, with affordable access to opportunity. Fostering walkable, vibrant activity centers with good transit and a range of housing types and prices near jobs will help current residents and also attract the next generation of skilled workers and industries. Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@ We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. The House of Delegates passed several valuable smart growth bills: Transit-oriented development (House Bill 80) to remove obstacles to building housing and mixed-use development near rail stations; Transportation and Climate Alignment Act (House Bill 84), ensuring the state's transportation investments support its climate change goals while giving residents more travel options; Metro Funding Modification Act (House Bill 467), fixing dedicated state capital funding for the D.C.-area Metro system to account for inflation; and Gov. Wes Moore's Housing for Jobs Act (House Bill 503), which would have required the state's job centers to address housing needs, although it was watered down into largely a study bill. Unfortunately, the Maryland Senate did not advance any of these bills to a vote. The Senate, to its credit, did pass: Split-rate property tax enabling legislation (Senate Bill 472) that would allow local governments to create tax structures that capture the value of land near assets like rail stations while incentivizing new development, though the House did not pass it; and Accessory dwelling unit bill (House Bill 1466) that will require local governments to allow construction of a smaller independent home on a lot with a single-family detached house. The House concurred with the final bill and the governor signed it. We know that legislators had a lot on their plates, with a sizable budget gap and chaotic federal backdrop. However, most of the smart-growth bills that didn't pass would have cost little or nothing to government coffers – and would actually save the state money over time through reduced infrastructure and service costs. Realizing this vision provides interconnected benefits. For example: Smart growth has been key to attracting and retaining Fortune 500 firms like Marriott and Choice Hotels in transit-oriented locations. Maryland families on average would save over $3,000 per year in transportation costs if the state provided more opportunities for transit, walking, biking and accessible living. State-owned transit-oriented development sites could support 5,000 new housing units in the Baltimore region and 2,600 new housing units along the MARC Penn Line. These Penn Line sites could generate $800 million in new state and local revenue. Marylanders want these opportunities; 76% support more homes in job-rich areas. Before the next General Assembly session, the Moore administration can make progress: The Maryland Department of Transportation can adopt changes to its Chapter 30 project prioritization process to better maintain existing infrastructure, recognize good land use planning as a transportation solution, and ensure affordable and sustainable travel choices for residents. The Department of Housing and Community Development can provide further analysis on the state's housing shortage and the benefits of new homes in accessible locations. It could also work with local governments to improve land use review to reduce time and complexity, allowing more new homes to be built faster in transit-accessible locations. During the 2026 session, the General Assembly will have the opportunity to pass legacy-making legislation ahead of the elections. Gov. Moore, with the support of state senators and delegates, can help Marylanders address the everyday needs of housing and transportation in lasting ways, which also help the state's finances, climate resilience, and economic opportunity.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Annual Salvadoran festival in Montgomery County canceled over ICE raid concerns
ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in a file photo from 2019. (Photo courtesy Immigration and Customs Enforcement) By Jose Umaña The D.C. region's largest Salvadoran festival — and one of the area's largest Latino heritage events — has been canceled due to fears surrounding immigration policies put on by the Trump administration. Organizers for Salvadoreñisimo Festival told WTOP the annual event, which was set to take place at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds in Gaithersburg, has been canceled for this year. It normally takes place in September around the time of Independence Day in El Salvador, Sept. 15, and Hispanic Heritage Month. Organizers told WTOP they did not want to put those in the audience in danger of possible raids from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. The event welcomes thousands of people for musical performances, comedic skits and food. The festival was set to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. The D.C. region is home to one of the largest Salvadoran populations in the country. The U.S. Census reports Salvadorans represents more than a quarter of the Latino population in Maryland and D.C. Local outlet Telemundo 44 was the first to report the event's cancellation. Concerts and events around the country have been affected because of immigration policies being pushed by the Trump administration. In April, Michelada Fest — a two-day music festival in Chicago — was canceled after performers experienced issues with visas. – As part of Maryland Matters' content sharing agreement with WTOP, we feature this article from Jose Umaña. Click here for the WTOP News website.
