Status review: Moore meets with Biden, says port canal will open by June 10; A company selling concert tickets rejects an antitrust lawsuit

MEETING WITH BIDEN, MOORE SAYS PORT CHANNEL WILL BE OPEN IN JUNE: Gov. Wes Moore left a meeting with White House officials on Tuesday, saying plans to restore the federal canal by June 10 after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse were intact and that he expected the first large container ships to return around the same time. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.

Concert ticketing company rejects AG antitrust lawsuit: Live Nation Entertainment Inc. pushes back against antitrust lawsuit brought by the Justice Department and 30 attorneys general, including Maryland’s case. The lawsuit makes “absurd” claims and will do little to benefit consumers. But Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown (D-Md.), who joined the lawsuit last week, said Live Nation and Ticketmaster, targets of the lawsuit, control too much of the market to the detriment of consumers. William Ford/Maryland matters.

MORE VETO FIVE BILLS: Gov. Wes Moore sent letters this month to House Speaker Adrienne Jones, D-Baltimore County, and Senate President Bill Ferguson, D-Baltimore, informing legislative leaders of their veto decisions. “Pursuant to Art. II section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, I vetoed Senate Bill 380 — Police Recruitment and Retention Working GroupMoore wrote to Ferguson in the first sentence of one of the veto letters, in a line similar to the one in three other letters to lawmakers. Dwight Weingarten/The Hagerstown Herald Mail.

5 COUNTIES WILL DONATE $16.7 MILLION FOR CLEAN SCHOOL BUSES: As part of its ongoing effort to replace diesel-powered school buses, the Biden administration said Wednesday it would give about $1 billion to about 530 school districts in almost all states to help purchase clean school buses. The White House announced that five Maryland counties – Allegany, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Charles and Prince George’s – will share $16.7 million in the program. Shauneen Miranda/Maryland matters.

HARRY DUNN FOR JOE BIDEN’S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN: Harry Dunn, a former Maryland Capitol Police officer who defended the building during the Jan. 6 riot, will join former police colleagues in campaigning for President Joe Biden in battleground states. Dunn recently lost his bid in the congressional primary to state Sen. Sarah Elfreth. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.

COMMENT: STUDENTS TALK ABOUT FREE DRIVERS ED: In January 2024, I had the honor of speaking at Career Day with Mrs. Riddle’s class at Achievement Academy High School. While sharing my journey as an electrician, entrepreneur, and Maryland state senator, I asked students, “If you were a senator for a day, what would you change or implement?” Their responses highlighted the need for free driver education in public schools. Senator Cory McCray/Afro.

CECIL EXEC SAYS LOSING ELECTION ‘is tantamount to fraud:’ Cecil County’s third-elected executive said her re-election loss in the Republican primary was due to a “scheme” she called “tantamount to fraud,” but said she would accept the results. County Executive Danielle Hornberger (right) ended her re-election bid in a concession announcement posted Friday on her personal Facebook account. In this message, she congratulated her main challenger. Bryan Sears/Maryland matters.

MORGAN WILL RECEIVE A GRANT OF $1.05 MILLION: Morgan State University received a three-year, $1.05 million grant this month from Ripple, a San Francisco-based company that offers blockchain and cryptocurrency solutions. The university is the only historically black college and university in the Ripple University Blockchain Research Initiative, which supports over 50 universities around the world, many of which are Ivy League and elite schools. Bria Overs/Baltimore Banner.

BILATERALITY RANKINGS IN CONGRESS: The latest ranking of the most bipartisan lawmakers in Congress ranks among the least productive in the country’s history. U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin (D) finished 55th in the bipartisan Senate rankings, while U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D) finished 67th out of 98 senators. In Maryland’s House delegation, Republican David Trone (D-6), who touted his ability to work across the aisle during his last Senate campaign, ranked 27th among the House’s 436 members in bipartisanship. Jennifer Shutt/Maryland matters.

DAVID SMITH FACILITIES: David Smith, owner of the Baltimore Sun and Sinclair Broadcast Group, used his money to finance two lawsuits, one against the school system, and to push for major changes in Baltimore city government, which were not always successful. What happened when he was finally overthrown by the Baltimore City school system? Lee O. Sanderlin/Baltimore Banner.