Samuel Manas

Maryland Matters — Coverage of a crop of candidates for Baltimore city's central committee, a body tasked with appointing vacant legislative seats and grassroots organization for the city's Democratic party.

Maryland Matters — Rarely does debate between candidates for elected office take place in front of a mountain of beer, nor is there usually an abundance of formalwear in a brewery. But that was the scene Wednesday evening at Peabody Heights Brewery on 30th Street in Baltimore, which played host to a forum for the candidates for Baltimore City state's attorney.

Maryland Matters — As the clock ticked closer and closer to midnight Monday, things looked bleak for the Drug Cost Commission bill that had made its way the House of Delegates just a week before. The bill, already pared down on its journey through the House, would have created a commission to explore the cost...

Maryland Matters — By Samuel Manas Fresh off the successful enactment of a law limiting generic and off-brand prescription drug price increases, Vincent DeMarco, president of the Maryland Citizens' Health Initiative, is pushing for greater limitations on name-brand drugs. His organization's ideas, he says, are popular - and he has the numbers to show it.

marylandmattersonline.info — By Samuel Manas Paul Butler realized things had to change when he was charged and prosecuted for a misdemeanor he hadn't committed. A lawyer who had prosecuted people in the very courtroom his trial was held in, Butler was had little reason to worry. "Things worked out fine, because I had the best lawyer in...

marylandmattersonline.info — By Samuel Manas The Maryland Redistricting Reform Commission held its first public meeting since November 2016 in Baltimore Monday, updating a small audience on the status of a Supreme Court case centered on partisan gerrymandering and taking comments. But it's unclear whether the commission, which was assembled two years ago by Gov.

marylandmattersonline.info — By Samuel Manas Krishanti Vignarajah, a former policy director for Michelle Obama, formally announced her candidacy for governor of Maryland Tuesday afternoon, laying out a wide platform and striking out at Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on his relationship with President Trump. Hammering the governor on his response to Trump's policies, Vignarajah criticized Hogan's stances on...

marylandmattersonline.info — By Josh Kurtz Former Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) turned up unannounced at a meet-and-greet event in Baltimore last week for Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker (D), who is running for governor in 2018. Dressed casually in jeans and an open-neck shirt and dripping wet from the rainstorm outside, O'Malley hugged Baker and showered him...

marylandmattersonline.info — By Samuel Manas Donald F. Norris, the director of the University of Maryland Baltimore County's School of Public Policy and a leading commentator on Maryland and national politics, will retire Friday after 28 years at the university. Norris, who has headed the School of Public Policy since 2007, also served as director of the university's...