Advocates for a proposal to increase Montgomery County's minimum wage to $15 an hour -- the Fight for Fifteen -- urged the Council to include increases for tipped workers, among the county's most exploited and poorly paid.

A veteran Maryland lawyer and blogger details how judges and prosecutors are so dependent on police that getting justice in the case of police brutality and misconduct can often be out of reach.

Activists report on the slow, steady lobbying work in this year's General Assembly session of making state laws and practices neutral toward religious faith -- or lack of it. A report card from the Secular Coalition for Maryland.

The hate crime that cost 49 lives in Orlando highlights gains activists have recently made in human rights and the backlash, exploited by politicians, that shadows the gains and requires further struggle.

Immediate news is tomorrow night's Montgomery County Council hearing on a push for a $15 minimum wage and a raise for tipped workers as well. All the info you need to make yourself heard is here -- plus, how to get email notifications of the PM BlogSpace weekly memo.

Howard County can become the second Maryland county to choose limited public financing for elections and begin to get the influence of big money out of local elections. Voters can opt for fair elections on the November ballot.

Coming up this week: pointing toward the June 21 Montgomery County Council meeting and the push to include tipped workers in the Fight for Fifteen, a $15/hr minimum wage. Plus links to recent blog posts.

At a time when pride about advances in tolerance and access for all, regardless of sexuality, should be our emotion we are instead crushed by the heartbreaking mass shooting in Orlando.

Criminal justice, the zoning rewrite, neighborhood intrusions by Walmart, environmental justice and county government are some of the agenda items at Thursday night's Progressive Prince George's meeting.

Tonight Progressive Montgomery members will organize for the Fight for Fifteen in Montgomery County; Thursday Progressive Prince George's members set an agenda for making a difference in the county.