PRISON OFFICERS CLAIM UNDERSTAFFING: The union that represents Maryland correctional officers demanded Thursday that Gov. Larry Hogan (R) increase efforts to fill staff vacancies at state prisons, saying the facilities are short about 1,000 employees, Josh Hicks reports for the Post.
-
Several dozen members and officials of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees gathered outside the Dorsey Run Correctional Facility in Jessup for a news conference at which theyblamed Gov. Larry Hogan for what they called a hazardous level of understaffing, Michael Dresser of the Sun reports.
-
But a spokesman for the state Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services said statistics used by the union are outdated and represent the total number of vacancies with the 11,000 employee department that includes correctional officers, Bryan Sears reports for the Daily Record.
-
Listen to Rachel Baye’s report on WYPR.
DEMS WANT $80M RELEASED: Democrats who control Maryland’s legislature are hoping Republican Gov. Larry Hogan approves spending $80 million that lawmakers have fenced off for education, health care and public safety. But a Hogan spokesman says the governor hasn’t decided yet due to economic uncertainties. The money could be released at the start of the new fiscal year today, according to an AP story at WJZ-TV.