News you can use -- appearing on Tuesday after a holiday Monday

Yesterday, Indigenous People’s Day, we published a moving message on progress made, progress still to be made.

Today in the news, State Archives Launches Native American Research Tool: The Maryland State Archives launched a new website on Indigenous Peoples’ Day Monday that allows students, residents and visitors to research Native American tribes and events in Maryland history, we learn from The Capital Gazette.

Lots more below, on Marylanders' health, including that of the Bay, our schools and other pressing issues. So press "Read More"...

Yesterday, Indigenous People’s Day, we published a moving message on progress made, progress still to be made.

Today in the news, State Archives Launches Native American Research Tool: The Maryland State Archives launched a new website on Indigenous Peoples’ Day Monday that allows students, residents and visitors to research Native American tribes and events in Maryland history. The Capital Gazette.

The Election

Maryland’s top court has ruled against Dan Cox’s last chance to keep the gubernatorial election undecided – and vulnerable to misinformation – well past Election Day in November. https://www.marylandmatters.org/2022/10/07/marylands-highest-court-upholds-order-allowing-early-counting-of-mail-in-ballots/

From a Brit newspaper, The Guardian, we are reminded that if Wes Moore wins the governorship he will be our first Black governor and only the third in US history. Out of the mouths of Brits... (and Progressive Maryland gets a shoutout, in unusual company, in the article).

Clean Water

We are used to blaming Pennsylvania's management of the Susquehanna watershed for pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, but Maryland won't escape the critique either. Maryland Matters and Capital News Service.

Schools

Making sure the school nurse’s key role in any school is never plagued by vacancy…

And an op-ed about how to improve students’ mental health without disimproving teachers’ mental health – both are from Maryland Matters.

Black Caucus Looking At Equitable Broadband, Tech Access: During the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) several organizations including the National Black Caucus of  State Legislators (NBCSL) and their Executive Roundtable learned more about tech equity and efforts to expand broadband access. The AFRO

Health

Unions And Patient Advocates Are Urging A NO --  The powerful three-member Board of Public Works, which includes the governor, is scheduled Wednesday to vote on expediting contracts that would outsource key functions of the public, long-term-care hospital, which cares for patients with complex conditions who often have been turned away from private facilities. The Washington Post. One employee of the hospital said “said a state Department of Health proposal that seeks expedited procurement approval to find a private entity to provide similar services is a veiled attempt to try to close or privatize the hospital. Maryland Matters.

Maryland Gets $3m In Reproductive Health Research Grants: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced reproductive health research grants worth more than $6 million across the country, with more than half going to Maryland organizations and a university. A $750,000 Title X Family Planning Program grant also went to the Baltimore City Health Department. The Baltimore Sun.

Parents Say State Bungled Covid Relief Program: As state senators questioned her agency’s performance, Secretary Lourdes Padilla emphasized how the Department of Human Services worked diligently to issue benefits during the early days of the pandemic. “And we were very successful in that,” Padilla said, highlighting pandemic relief programs as one of DHS’ key achievements. But a Facebook group filled with Maryland parents trying to get benefits for their children might disagree. The Baltimore Banner.

Poll: Most Marylanders Back Legal Recreational Pot: A large majority of registered voters in Maryland say they support legalizing recreational marijuana use, just weeks before voters will decide the question in the November election, a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll finds. The Washington Post.

And taking a step in that direction last week: The president’s pardon of more than 6,500 Americans with federal marijuana possession convictions, as well as thousands more with convictions in the majority-Black city of Washington, captures only a sliver of those with records nationwide. That’s likely why he has called on state governors to take similar steps for people with state marijuana possession convictions “ Associated Press in WaPo

Other National News from our national affiliate, People’s Action

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival litigation. The Court maintained the status quo for now and ordered the lower court to reconsider the case since the Department of Homeland Security had issued a more formal rule on the program after the initial lower court hearing. This means that current DACA recipients can continue to renew their DACA but no new applications may be processed.

Already scraping to put together next month’s rent or mortgage payment? HUD is designed to help but needs the leadership of Biden appointees being blocked by a retiring GOP senator. Doubt Dr. Oz would be different; the fascists move in herds.

And this is just breaking today (Tuesday):

A proposed rule, long awaited by labor activists, would make it harder for companies to classify workers as independent contractors. NY Times