Latest news with #WesMoore
CBS News
14 hours ago
- Business
- CBS News
Maryland lawmakers to check out Baltimore's Key Bridge demolition progress
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen will visit Baltimore's Key Bridge on Wednesday to check on the demolition progress. Heavy machinery was brought to the Patapsco River in early July to knock down the remaining portions of the bridge still standing 20 months after it collapsed. The state lawmakers will get updates on the Key Bridge's replacement process, which is expected to be completed in 2028. The demolition efforts are expected to take several months with the use of heavy machinery, the state warned. Officials said there won't be any controlled detonations during this phase of the demolition, and the remaining sections of the bridge will be taken down piece by piece. The demolition is the first step to getting an economic engine and transportation connector back in Baltimore. It was also an anchor in the city's skyline. Work on the Key Bridge will begin with the removal of the bridge deck over the river, followed by the demolition of sections over Hawkins Point and Sollers Point. Crews will initially remove parts of the collapsed bridge that stand in the way of the alignment of the Key Bridge rebuild, state officials said. Residents in the area of the Key Bridge will see tug and barge operations on the river, with heavy equipment and trucks seen on the remaining bridge structure. Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) officials say boats and people in the waterways should avoid the collapse site during the demolition process. Demolition crews will use excavators, concrete saws, vacuums, cranes, and trucks. Heavy and loud construction work will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Key Bridge reconstruction project will cost about $2 billion, and it will take about four years to complete. Pre-construction activities began in January 2025, which included inspections of nearby properties, riverbed scanning, and soil sample collection. In February, the MDTA authorized three contracts worth $20 million each for construction management and inspection services. A new cable-stay design revealed in February showed that the new structure will visually resemble the original bridge while implementing structural improvements. The new Key Bridge will be taller to better accommodate ship traffic, with the federal shipping channel expanding from 700 to 1,000 feet wide and the base raised by 45 feet to a height of 230 feet. The bridge roadway will still be two lanes wide going in each direction. Other pier support structures will be implemented to secure the structure. According to the MDTA, other bridge features include: "Our new bridge will also be constructed in accordance with the most advanced industry standards and the very best in infrastructure design," Maryland Gov. Moore said. "We are going to use the best materials available and employ many Marylanders to build it." In December 2024, Congress passed a deal on a federal spending package, which allocated $100 billion for disaster relief, including the entire cost of a new Key Bridge. At the time, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said the efforts to complete the work on a new Key Bridge were "on time and on budget." "The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was a national crisis, and meeting the moment would require an act of national unity," Moore said. "Now, we must bring our work to completion by rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge." On March 26, 2024, the cargo ship DALI, a 948-foot vessel managed by Singapore-based company Synergy Marine Group, lost power before crashing into the Key Bridge, according to investigators. Six construction workers performing road work on the bridge died after falling into the Patapsco River. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the ship lost power four times in 12 hours before the collision. The NTSB blamed MDTA for not conducting a critical vulnerability assessment on the Key Bridge, which it said could have identified the structure's risk of collapse. The NTSB review found the level of risk for a catastrophic collapse for the Key Bridge was nearly 30 times higher than acceptable risk levels. "The MDTA would've had information to proactively identify strategies to reduce the risk of a collapse and loss of lives associated with a vessel collision with the bridge," NTSB chair Jennifer Homendy said.
New York Post
17 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Dem Gov. Wes Moore says party ‘just gave up' on certain parts of US in 2024 campaign
Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md., said the Democratic Party gave up on certain parts of the U.S. in the 2024 election, lamenting the party's focus on certain states. Former DNC chair Jaime Harrison spoke to Moore on his podcast 'At Our Table' and asked the Democratic governor if there was anything former Vice President Kamala Harris or the campaign should have done differently. Moore replied, 'I don't know…. It's always challenging if such a large percentage of the country, rightly or wrongly, feel the country is going in the wrong direction. It's just difficult to be the vice president, to come into that. I don't know what she could have done differently, or whatever happened. 'The thing I think we have to remember to do though, is, I've been deeply disappointed where it feels like there are certain areas and communities that we almost seemingly just gave up on.' He added, 'We just stopped competing. We stopped making the case. We came up with this philosophy where, listen, it all comes down to three states.' 3 Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md., speaks during a taping of FOX News Channel's Special Report with Bret Baier, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Washington. AP Harrison agreed and added, 'We cede ground.' 'And it's like, do you know who hears this thing is only going to come down to three states? The other 47. Like, 'we don't even matter, man.' When we hear, 'We need to make sure we go after the working voter in Pennsylvania,' and that's the key, do you know who hears that? Everybody you're not talking about. And I just think we ceded a lot of ground,' Moore said. Moore argued that a lot of key Democratic voters felt taken for granted in 2024. 3 President Joe Biden waves with Vice President Kamala Harris at the Pennsylvania Democratic Party's 3rd Annual Independence Dinner in Philadelphia, Friday, Oct. 28, 2022. AP 'And then we get upset, and then we're like, what happened with this group? What happened with that group? And they're saying like, 'Yo, what happened to the party?' I think there needs to be a real level setting about who is our base, man. And who are we fighting for? 'This is not a game for people. This is not game theory. This is not checkers. They're real life. These are real lives,' Moore continued. Moore spoke to Fox News' Bret Baier earlier this month and said he was not considering running for president in 2028. 3 Governor of Maryland Wes Moore speaks onstage during the 2025 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture presented by Coca-Cola – Day 3 at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 06, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Getty Images for ESSENCE 'And the thing is, I think that anybody who's talking about 2028 is not taking 2025 very seriously,' he added. Harrison recently spoke to Gov. Tim Walz, former Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate in 2024, about the Democratic Party. Walz wondered why the party comes off as being anti-success during their conversation. 'We, as Democrats, we want people to pay their fair share, but why are we against people being successful like that? We can't be. Why are we against? We should talk about businesses. Not all businesses exploit their workers, and we get ourselves stuck in that. And I think we lose them,' Walz said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Political notes: Hale mulls party switch, Moore gets a new gig, Shetty, Schumitz get fellowships
Ed Hale insists he still plans to run for governor next year, but the lifelong Democrat is not sure what party he'll run in. (File photo by Angela Breck/Maryland Matters) Two months ago, Ed Hale announced his candidacy for governor, with plans to challenge incumbent Wes Moore, a Democrat. Hale said he still plans to file, but he has to answer one big question first. Will he remain a Democrat? In a brief phone interview, Hale said he plans to conduct polling later this summer and 'looking at what the best path is for me.' When he announced his intentions in May, Hale, 78 and a lifelong Democrat, said the plan was to challenge Moore in the Democratic primary next year. Moore is expected to pose a formidable challenge in 2026. He's a prodigious fundraiser, a frequent guest on national and local TV and radio and is rumored to be a potential 2028 presidential candidate (speculation he repeatedly but so far unsuccessfully has attempted to quiet). Hale's entry into the race as a Republican could give him a bit of a leg up if he can parlay his business connections into a powerful fundraising machine. Currently, there are two Republicans in the gubernatorial primary: John Myrick, who previously ran an unsuccessful campaign for U.S. Senate; and Carl A. Brunner Jr., a Carroll firearms instructor. Another potential entrant is Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan. Hogan has been quiet about his intentions, but speculation persists that he might run for his old job. Hale said he has no plans to talk to Hogan as part of his decision-making process as he considers a run as a Republican or independent candidate. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX He has time. The deadline to file is in February, and the primary election is not until June. Hale said he hoped to make a final decision about his path and party affiliation later this year before he files. Hale, who is recovering from 'back fusion surgery' said he does plan on attending the Maryland Association of Counties annual convention in Ocean City next month. Gov. Wes Moore (D) got another title to add to his resume Saturday: vice chair. More specifically, the governor was elected to serve in that position for the National Governors Association during its summer meeting in Colorado Springs, Colo. The post also make him the association's 2026-27 chair-elect. Part of Moore's duties as vice chair will include leading the association's work to identify innovative policy solutions through bipartisan collaboration and research. Moore replaces Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), who was elevated to the NGA chairmanship for 2025-26. Moore will also lead the association's Center for Best Practices, which conducts hands-on research and development, offers pilot projects and workshops with a goal to create bipartisan policies and solutions for states in 10 areas, including health, infrastructure and education. Earlier this month, the association and a national nonprofit group called Third Sector Capital Partners selected Maryland, Idaho, North Carolina and South Carolina to participate in a policy academy to strengthen SNAP E&T (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Employment and Training). The program, slated to run through February, will have cohorts from those states establish an action plan to meet goals to expanding access to SNAP and employment and training programs, provide coaching support and host webinars to engage in peer learning as plans are being developed. Moore will also work alongside Stitt as part of initiative the Oklahoma governor announced Saturday called 'Reigniting the American Dream.' Throughout the year, Stitt will lead a series of meetings with governors, private-sector leaders and 'changemakers' with a focus on three policy priorities: unlocking economic opportunity, empowering every learner and energizing the future. 'We all want to create a brighter future for our states, and the nation. When we get together at the National Governors Association, we're focused on whether an idea is good, not on where the idea came from,' Moore said in a statement. 'I'm looking forward to collaborating with my fellow governors to build stronger on-ramps to opportunity so every person in our states has a shot at success – no matter how they define it.' Two Marylanders will be part of the National Women's Law Center's first fellowship focusing on advancing gender justice at the state level. Del. Emily Shetty (D-Montgomery) and Kali Schumitz, vice president for external relations with the Maryland Center on Economic Policy, will represent the first cohort as part of the center's State Gender Policy Collective. The 18-month program that began this week and ends in December 2026 includes Shetty and seven other state legislators, and Schumitz joins nine other individuals who work at various nonprofit organizations. Besides Maryland, the other fellows are from Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and South Carolina. According to a summary of the collective, its goal will be to facilitate peer learning to help fellows grow their knowledge on gender justice issues such as reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ and child care. 'States are on the frontlines of the fight for gender justice, and they are already leading progress by protecting their communities from abortion bans and attacks on LGBTQ+ rights, advancing their own equal pay protections, and investing in child care and Black maternal health policies,' Fatima Goss Graves, president and CEO of the National Women's Law Center, said in a statement. 'We are thrilled to be working with state policymakers and advocates to harness our collective power to restore our democracy in advancing gender justice.' Schumitz works at the center that advocates annually for various statewide policies that includes health, worker protections and criminal justice. In addition, the center is a member of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's annual Kids Count data book. Shetty, who was elected in 2018, had several bills signed into law this year including House Bill 881, which begins a phase-in for 100% of monthly child support payments 'pass through to the family' who seek assistance in a Family Investment Program. The bill was also sponsored in the opposite chamber by Sen. Cory McCray (D-Baltimore City). Shetty, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, said in a text message Friday on in the fellowship, 'It's wonderful and I'm so honored to have the opportunity to participate.'
Fox News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Gov. Wes Moore says Democratic governors' frustrations with the NGA are ‘justified'
The National Governors Association (NGA) summer meeting ended with a media availability, in which vice chair Gov. West Moore., D-Md., said Democratic governors' frustrations with the bipartisan group are justified.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Maryland governor, representative respond after denied FEMA aid request for historic flooding
Maryland lawmakers called it an insult after the state was denied federal disaster assistance for the damages caused by the historic flooding in Western Maryland in May. Heavy rain caused significant flooding damage in Allegany and Garrett counties, with residents still recovering. Gov. Wes Moore requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration in June to aid in the recovery effort after the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) found that it could cost nearly $15.8 million. The flooding damaged more than 200 homes, some businesses, roads, and utilities. People were rescued from flooded schools, and some were trapped overnight during power outages. The White House rejected the Presidential Disaster Declaration, which would have allowed Maryland to receive help from FEMA and access funding to repair broken infrastructure. In the rejection letter, FEMA called the aid "not warranted," according to the governor's office. "The day before they denied Maryland, they actually accepted and gave West Virginia over $10 million in support for a storm that had about the same amount of damage," Gov Moore said. "This is petty, it is partisan, and it is punishing." Gov. Moore said in a social media video that the denial of federal assistance funding is "an insult to Maryland and the community still suffering in the aftermath of the storm." U.S. Congresswoman April McClain Delaney, from Maryland, told WJZ that while progress has been made, more work needs to be done Delaney said many residents are frustrated with the president, after he received overwhelming support in Western Maryland in the 2024 election. "We just have to, you know, push back and say, these are the reasons why people pay taxes," Rep. Delaney said. "No matter what your zip code, you should be able to rely on our federal government to deliver when there's an emergency or tragedy." Gov. Wes Moore said the damage and recovery efforts in Western Maryland were catastrophic, and it would need support from the federal government. "After a thorough assessment of the damage, it's clear that additional support is necessary," Gov. Moore said. A Presidential Disaster Declaration would have given Maryland financial assistance from FEMA to help repair infrastructure damage caused by the massive flooding, and provide for those still impacted. "The addition of much-needed federal assistance is necessary to get those affected back to their regular lives and to allow those communities to fully recover in months instead of years," MDEM Secretary Russ Strickland said. According to the governor's office, the estimated $15.8 million cost for recovery surpasses FEMA's threshold for disaster assistance, which in Allegany County is $321,460. In Maryland, that threshold is $11.6 million. "Historically, if the joint damage assessment process demonstrates eligible costs over and above the county and state indicator, disaster assistance has been awarded by the President," Gov. Moore said. President Trump argues that FEMA is unsuccessful and has suggested changes to the agency. He signed an executive order that he said would "begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA," though that action would need approval from Congress. In June, the administration said it wanted to "wean" states off of FEMA aid after the 2025 hurricane season. The administration indicated that governors would be in a better position to respond to disasters in their states. "We want to wean off of FEMA, and we want to bring it down to the state level — a little bit like education, we're moving it back to the states," Mr. Trump said. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said in a social media video that the state is going to appeal the state is going to appeal FEMA's decision to reject federal financial aid for Allegany and Garrett counties. "To our neighbors in Western Maryland, while the federal government is saying, 'You are on your own,' here in Maryland, we are saying, 'We are leaving no one behind,'" Gov. Moore said. Gov. Wes Moore on Sunday visited areas in Western Maryland that are still recovering from the flooding, including Westernport. According to the governor's office, Moore visited the Port West Restaurant, which was directly impacted by and temporarily closed due to flood damage. He met with other state leaders and residents to talk about the ongoing recovery efforts and his administration's plan to fight back for federal disaster assistance. "Today, I once again saw the strength of Western Maryland—a community that mobilized in the wake of disaster," Gov. Moore said. "Our resolve hasn't wavered, and there is no question that our recovery requires more time and resources." Moore continued, "The Trump administration denied our request for federal disaster assistance, even though Maryland met long-standing criteria for FEMA support. This cruel choice by the federal government won't stop us from moving forward. We will appeal their decision and continue fighting for the people of Allegany and Garrett counties."
