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Project 2025 author Kevin Roberts cancels talk at University of Maryland law school

Illness cited as reason for abrupt cancellation

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Activists protest outside of the Heritage Foundation in downtown Washington on Jan. 1, 2024. (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

By ELLIE WOLFE | Hours before it was scheduled to take place, Project 2025 author Kevin Roberts canceled his controversial speaking event at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in Baltimore.

The Monday night visit, organized by the Republican Law Society, was the subject of student outcry, counter-events and even a scheduled protest outside the law school building downtown. Though some students and university officials said the event would reinforce freedom of speech, it drew criticism from those who oppose Robertsā€™s stances on marriage equality and abortion access.

Roberts canceled his talk due to an illness, according to a spokesperson for the law school, and itā€™s unclear whether itā€™ll be rescheduled.

The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

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Maryland

Evan Glass running for Montgomery County executive

Former journalist would be first gay person to hold office

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Montgomery County Councilman Evan Glass. (Photo courtesy of Evan Glass)

Evan Glass is running for Montgomery County executive.

He is currently serving his second term as an at-large member of the Montgomery County Council.

Glass has been a councilman since 2018; he is the first openly gay person to hold a seat on the council. Glass has also been its president and vice president. He is now running to succeed incumbent County Executive Marc Elrich, who has reached the end of his two-term limit.

Glass on Wednesday announced he is entering the race for county executive, which, if elected, would make him the first openly gay person to lead Montgomery Countyā€™s executive office.

In an email to the Washington Blade, Glass outlined key campaign priorities, including standing up to President Donald Trump and his ā€œaspiring oligarchs,ā€ supporting vulnerable members of the Montgomery County community as federal budgets are slashed, and protecting residentsā€™ quality of life by ensuring that ā€œMontgomery County remains a place where people can afford to live, raise their families, and retire with security.ā€

Glass is holding a campaign launch event on March 22 at 11:30 a.m. at 7 Locks Brewing in Rockville to officially kick off his bid for county executive, outline his campaign platform, and connect with supporters.

Over the past seven years, Glass has served on several key committees within the Montgomery County Council. These include the Transportation and Environment Committee, where he has worked to implement policies benefiting both public transit users and the environment, and the Economic Development Committee, which focuses on fostering and sustaining economic growth in Montgomery County.

In addition to his committee work, Glass spearheaded the creation of the Anti-Hate Task Force, which aims to ā€œprioritize policies that promote safety and combat hate crimesā€ for marginalized communities, including LGBTQ residents. He also helped organize the countyā€™s first Pride celebrations.

During his tenure, Glass has worked to reduce housing costs in Montgomery County by passing legislation to make it more affordable to build and rent homes, particularly near public transportation. He has also championed policies to address the climate crisis, including securing funding for clean energy initiatives.

Glass has helped pass numerous laws to expand grant opportunities for entrepreneurs, ensure fair wages, and increase oversight, and transparency within Montgomery County Public Schools. He also led efforts to expand the county council from nine to 11 members.

Before entering Montgomery County politics, Glass spent 12 years as a journalist for CNN, covering national politics.

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Maryland

Delivery driver who fatally shot Bel Air trans woman is sentenced to prison

Brian Delen convicted assaulting Meghan Lewis, acquitted of murder

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Meghan Lewis was known her generosity, sense of humor and the catchphrase, ā€˜Stay sparkly.ā€ (Photo by Heather Diehl for the Baltimore Banner)

BY CLARA LONGO DE FREITAS | A food delivery driver who fatally shot a trans woman in the parking lot of her Bel Air condo community was sentenced on Monday to serve 10 years in prison, five without the possibility of parole, for second-degree assault.

Brian Delen, 49, was convicted last November in Harford County Circuit Court of second-degree assault and use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. He was found not guilty of first- and second-degree murder.

Circuit Court Judge Yolanda L. Curtin also ordered Delen to serve a five-year concurrent sentence on the firearms charge. He will be on supervised probation for five years after release.

Delenā€™s attorneys argued at trial that he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed Meghan Lewis, 52, a beloved advocate for LGBTQ rights and avid Grateful Dead fan.

The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

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Maryland

Originally charged with hate crimes, Salisbury University students now face misdemeanor charges

Suspects allegedly attacked man they met on Grindr

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Twelve Salisbury University students who were initially charged with hate crimes are facing trial on misdemeanor charges in the next week. (Photo by Wesley Lapointe for the Baltimore Banner)

The first three Salisbury University students charged in an attack on a man they allegedly lured to an off-campus apartment using a dating app are set to stand trial this week.

Dylan Pietuszka, 20, Logan Clark, 20, and Sean Antone, 19, are among the 15 Salisbury students who in early November were taken into custody in connection with the attack and charged with hate crimes.

All three men standing trial this week are only facing two charges: Second degree assault and false imprisonment, which are both misdemeanors.

The rest of this article can be read on the Baltimore Banner’s website.

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