Baltimore mayoral challengers question mayor’s spending of ARPA funding

A challenger to Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott leveled harsh criticism over the spending of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal pandemic aid through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Democratic primary mayoral candidate Thiru Vignarajah on Thursday accused Scott of using Baltimore’s allocation as “a personal slush fund.”

He’s calling for an independent forensic audit to get to the bottom of “unilateral” and “nebulous” distributions to dozens of nonprofit organizations, as well as $2 million to the Service Employees International Union, $15 million to Clean Corps to clean trash in city neighborhoods and $5 million to Lexington Market.

“It’s a thinly veiled political payback in a city that has had it pay-to-play culture for too long,” Vignarajah said.

Fellow Democratic primary challenger and former Baltimore mayor, Sheila Dixon, questioned why Scott didn’t use ARPA funds for roads and bike lanes and to synchronize traffic lights.

“I agree with some of the criticism. It’s clearly a missed opportunity, and it clearly shows the mismanagement of this current administration,” Dixon said. “(The money could have been used on) getting those pools open, recycling would not have stopped. I would have met hiring the private sector to partner with the city while we build up our revenue and our inventory of new trucks, EMS, fire trucks fire stations. There’s a disconnect. It’s about accountability, and it’s about management.”

WBAL-TV 11 News reached out to Scott for an interview. His City Hall office called this a political issue. His re-election campaign office said Vignarajah has not offered “any viable vision” for how he would use ARPA funding.

A US company is accused of illegally hiring children to clean meat processing plants

 U.S. authorities have accused another sanitation company of illegally hiring at least two dozen children to clean dangerous meat processing facilities, the latest example of illegal child labor that officials say is increasingly common.

The Labor Department asked a federal judge for an injunction to halt the employment of minors by Tennessee-based Fayette Janitorial Service LLC, saying it believes at least four children were still working at one Iowa slaughterhouse as of Dec. 12.

U.S. law prohibits companies from employing people younger than 18 to work in meat processing plants because of the hazards involved. The Labor Department alleges that Fayette has used underage workers in hazardous conditions where animals are killed and rendered. The agency says children sanitize dangerous equipment, including head splitters, jaw pullers and meat bandsaws.

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Police suspend investigation into Ravens WR Zay Flowers, no charges filed

Baltimore County police suspended an investigation into Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers without filing charges, according to documents obtained by WBAL NewsRadio.

An investigation started in January over an alleged domestic incident. On Tuesday, a mostly redacted report showed a detailed timeline of the investigation.

On Jan. 21, police officers in Acton, Massachusetts, contacted Baltimore County police, saying they received a report of an assault that happened in Owings Mills on Jan. 16.

According to the report in Acton, the woman said she was bruised in an assault, and she told police she was hesitant to provide information because the person involved was a high-profile NFL player. The woman told police the brother of the person involved pulled out a gun.

A woman is heard crying on a 911 call before she told the operator she is OK and hung up.

The woman never responded to detectives who were investigating the incident. Through his attorney, Flowers declined to talk to the detectives handling the case.

The report indicated the case was suspended as of last Friday. Investigators do not intend to press charges.

Since the investigation is suspended, if the department feels charges are warranted later, the case could be reopened.

Maryland bill backed by Gov. Moore seeks to protect election officials from threats

Maryland lawmakers are considering legislation to enable authorities to prosecute people who threaten to harm election officials or their immediate family members, as threats are on the rise across the country.

The Protecting Election Officials Act of 2024, which has the support of Gov. Wes Moore, would make threatening an election official a misdemeanor punishable by up to three years in prison or a fine of up to $2,500.

“This has been a phenomenon which has occurred across the country,” said Eric Luedtke, Moore’s chief legislative officer, at a bill hearing Wednesday. “It’s a phenomenon that has targeted election workers, regardless of political affiliation, race, gender, what roles their filling.”

Ruie Marie LaVoie, who is vice president of the Maryland Association of Elections Officials and now serves as director of the Baltimore County Board of Elections, testified about her experience being threatened during the 2022 election. She testified before the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee that the measure would help ensure the safety and security “of those at the forefront of preserving our democratic processes.”

“We are struggling with recruitment, not only hiring election judges, but filling vacancies in our offices,” she said.

The measure would prohibit someone from knowingly and willfully making a threat to harm an election official or an immediate family member of an election official, because of the election official’s role in administering the election process.

Sarah David, Maryland’s deputy state prosecutor, said the measure contains language that already has been defined in case law. For example, the word harm in the bill would include emotional distress, she said.

“This is important legislation to address the modern reality of elections, the role of social media’s impact on election judges and other personnel, and would ensure that the integrity and fairness of our elections is maintained,” David said.

Jared DeMarinis, Maryland’s elections administrator, said state elections officials are on the front lines of democracy, and they already are experiencing vitriol for doing their jobs.

Keefe D’s Trial Moved Back to November After Hiring New Attorney

Duane “Keefe D” Davis appeared in court on Tuesday (February 20), where he learned that he is now scheduled to go to trial on Nov. 4 for the murder of 2Pac. 

This comes as Davis’ new attorney, Carl “E.G.” Arnold, requested more time to review the discovery material in the case. Arnold also stated after the hearing that he’s confident that Davis will make bail, adding that he’ll have to put up $75,000 and potentially qualify for house arrest. Arnold stated, “He’s upbeat that he can possibly get out of here real soon.” 

Former NFL star Marshawn Lynch reaches deal in Las Vegas DUI case

Former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch has reached an agreement with city prosecutors to bring an end to a Las Vegas DUI case from 2022.

Las Vegas Municipal Court records show a hearing for Lynch took place Wednesday morning to enter the agreement, about an hour before his case was scheduled to head to trial.

Lynch submitted to a misdemeanor count of DUI. Other charges for operating an unregistered vehicle and failure to drive in a travel lane were consequently dropped.

Under the agreement, Lynch will serve 200 hours of community service, complete a victim impact panel class and DUI school, and stay out of trouble. He also has to pay a $1,140 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for May 21.

FDA warns against smartwatches and rings that claim to measure blood sugar without needles

Smartwatches and rings that claim to measure blood sugar levels for medical purposes without piercing the skin could be dangerous and should be avoided, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Wednesday.

The caution applies to any watch or ring, regardless of brand, that claims to measure blood glucose levels in a noninvasive way, the agency said. The FDA said it has not authorized any such device.

The agency’s notice doesn’t apply to smartwatch apps linked to sensors, such as continuous glucose monitoring systems that measure blood sugar directly.

Roughly 37 million Americans have diabetes. People with the disease aren’t able to effectively regulate their blood sugar because their bodies either don’t make enough of the hormone insulin or they have become resistant to insulin.

Beyoncé becomes first Black woman to claim top spot on Billboard’s country music chart

 Beyoncé made history once again: The superstar singer has become the first Black woman to top Billboard’s country music chart.

The Grammy winner achieved the feat after her new single “Texas Hold ‘Em” reached No. 1 on the country airplay chart this week. She dropped the song on Feb. 11 — during the Super Bowl — along with her other single “16 Carriages,” which debuted at No. 9 on the same chart.

Both songs are expected to be featured on Beyoncé’s upcoming, country-themed album, which is referred to as “act ii,” on March 29. It’s a follow-up offering to her 2022 album “Renaissance,” which is frequently referred to as “Act I: Renaissance.”

Beyoncé announced the full-length new album after a Verizon commercial she starred in aired during the Super Bowl this month.

Beyoncé is also the first woman to claim the top spot on the Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts since both began in 1958, according to Billboard. The only other acts who have topped both include Justin Bieber, Billy Ray Cyrus and Ray Charles.