Secret Service director steps down after assassination attempt against ex-President Trump

The director of the Secret Service resigned Tuesday in the aftermath of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump that unleashed an outcry about how the agency failed in its core mission to protect current and former presidents . Kimberly Cheatle, who had served as Secret Service director since August 2022, faced growing calls to resign and several investigations into how a gunman was able to get so close to the Republican presidential nominee at an outdoor campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

“I take full responsibility for the security lapse,” she said in an email to staff obtained by The Associated Press. “In light of recent events, it is with a heavy heart that I have made the difficult decision to step down as your director.”

Cheatle’s departure was unlikely to end the scrutiny of the long-troubled agency after the failures of July 13, and it comes at a critical juncture ahead of the Democratic National Convention and a busy presidential campaign season. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have promised more investigations. An inspector general probe and an independent, bipartisan effort launched at President Joe Biden’s behest will keep the agency in the spotlight.

Cheatle’s resignation came a day after she appeared before a congressional committee and was berated for hours by both Democrats and Republicans for the security failures. She called the attempt on Trump’s life the Secret Service’s “most significant operational failure” in decades, but she angered lawmakers by failing to answer specific questions about the investigation.

Biden said in a statement that “what happened that day can never happen again,” and he planned to appoint a new director soon, but he did not discuss a timeline.

Maryland State Fair to hold job fair

The Maryland State Fair will soon be returning to Baltimore County and if you are looking to be a part of its 13-day run, a job fair will be held.

Director of Sales Jeremy D’Angelo said many positions are available.

Applicants must be 18 or older and bring a passport or valid photo ID.

The job fair will be held on July 30 from 3-7 p.m.

The State Fair is back over three long weekends, starting Aug. 22, and will be held at its usual location in Timonium.

Special counsel files notice of appeal in Trump’s classified documents case

Special counsel Jack Smith on Wednesday filed an official notice of appeal of Judge Aileen Cannon’s order dismissing former President Donald Trump’s classified documents case.

Judge Cannon, in a surprising ruling Monday, dismissed the case on the grounds that Smith’s appointment as special counsel was unconstitutional because he was not appointed by the president or confirmed by Congress.

Wednesday’s filing by Smith indicated that he will appeal the decision to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Representatives with the special counsel’s office said they would not be commenting further.

Trump pleaded not guilty last year to 40 criminal counts related to his handling of classified materials after leaving the White House, after prosecutors said he repeatedly refused to return hundreds of documents containing classified information and took steps to thwart the government’s efforts to get the documents back.

Trump has denied all charges.

Maryland Board of Public Works approves nearly $150 million in cuts to state budget.

The Maryland Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved $149 million in cuts to the state budget proposed by Gov. Wes Moore.

Chairing the Board of Public Works meeting in Annapolis, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore proclaimed that he’s managed budgets over his entire career. He added that reductions in the budget are necessary after stagnant economic growth over the last decade.

“When we took office 18 months ago our team realized that Maryland’s business model was broken,” Moore said. “That’s not politics. That’s math.”

Moore said the cuts will free up money for Medicare reimbursements and child care for low-income families. The cuts include $1.5 million to the state police forensic lab and a quarter of a million dollars for a drone security system at the Port of Baltimore.

Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey and Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready issued the following statement in response to the approved budget cuts:

“It is disingenuous for Governor Moore to call this $150 million a cut. When you look beyond the cleverly orchestrated headlines, you will not find a $150 million decrease in overall state spending. What you will find is a fund transfer and budgeting tricks akin to looking for coins in the couch cushions to make up a significant underfunding of Medicaid created by flawed projections. Also, what didn’t make the news cycle was the Moore Administration’s $190 million request to transfer additional money from the Rainy Day Fund to cover that same shortfall.  So, when Governor Moore was proclaiming $150 million in budget “cuts,” he was actually seeking authorization to spend an additional $190 million over the approved FY25 budget.”

“These hidden budget tricks are disappointing especially when you consider Maryland looming $3.7 BILLION budget deficit. This Medicaid shortfall is not going away, nor is the lack of funding for the Blueprint. Marylanders deserve better. Governor Moore’s Administration and Maryland Democrats must address these massive spending mandates that swamp us for the long term before asking for another dime from taxpayers. How does any of this fuzzy math grow our economy, build new pathways to work, wages and wealth for all?”

There are no layoffs, but several state agencies will keep unfilled positions vacant.

Second judge recuses herself from YSL, Young Thug RICO case citing former court deputy’s involvement

Two days after she was assigned to take over the case against Young Thug and his alleged associates, Fulton County Judge Shukura Ingram recused herself. Ingram said because her courthouse deputy had a romantic relationship with a co-defendant in the case, Christian Eppinger, it could create an “appearance of impropriety.”

She issued an order on Wednesday recusing herself and asking that the case be reassigned.

Ingram was randomly assigned to take the helm of the 19-month-old racketeering and gang case after after Judge Ural Glanville was removed. Eppinger’s case was severed from the rest of the YSL defendants last year after it was alleged the deputy tried to sneak contraband to him in jail with the help of one of his family members. RELATED: Judge recused in Young Thug, YSL trial, documents show Referring to that episode, Judge Ingram wrote the deputy “could be called as a witness in any future proceedings in this case” and so she might “be called upon to assess this deputy’s credibility, or rule on matters related to her criminal prosecution.” “This may undermine the public’s confidence in the impartiality of the proceedings,” Judge Ingram wrote. “While the Court does not regard the aforementioned situation as creating any actual bias for or against any party to this case, the Court does view this as a matter that could cause a reasonable person to question the Court’s impartiality and reasonably give rise to the appearance of impropriety should the Court remain on this case.”

Sen. Bob Menendez convicted in trial that featured tales of bribes, gold and a car

U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez has been convicted of accepting bribes of cash, gold and a luxury car from three New Jersey businessmen.

The jury’s verdict was still being read Tuesday at a federal courthouse in New York City.

Over a nine-week trial, prosecutors said the New Jersey Democrat abused the power of his office to protect allies from criminal investigations and enrich associates, including his wife, through acts that included meeting with Egyptian intelligence officials and helping that country access millions of dollars in U.S. military aid.

Menendez did not testify, but insisted publicly he was only doing his job as the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said gold bars found in his New Jersey home by the FBI belonged to his wife.

The conviction comes four months before Election Day and potentially dooms any hope Menendez had of campaigning for reelection as an independent candidate.

Person shot by police near Republican National Convention venue

Police have reportedly shot and killed a person near 14th and Vliet streets in Milwaukee, which is about 1.2 miles from Fiserv Forum, the main Republican National Convention venue.

There is a large police presence, including an ambulance at the scene, including the Secret Service.

Witnesses told Milwaukee sister station WISN that two men were fighting in King Park, and one of them pulled a knife out. The witnesses said the men were startled when so many officers responded. Witnesses say the man with the knife was fired on by numerous officers. This has not yet been confirmed by police.

The officers involved in the shooting are not from the Milwaukee Police Department, but are from Columbus, Ohio.

A statement from the Columbus Fraternal Order of Police said no officers were injured.

Police from 63 departments in 24 states and Washington, D.C., along with 44 Wisconsin agencies are in Milwaukee this week for the Republican National Convention.

Dallas officer accused of posting ‘aim better’ online after Trump assassination attempt

Following an assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump, a Dallas police sergeant has been placed on administrative leave after being accused of posting “aim better” on social media over the weekend.

The Dallas Police Department issued a news release stating they received an internal complaint on Saturday, July 13, regarding Sgt. Arturo Martinez’s alleged comment on a social media platform.

The post was believed to have been related to the shooting at Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, which was an incident that wounded Trump and two spectators and resulted in two deaths, including the shooter.

As a result of the allegations, Martinez was placed on leave pending the outcome of an internal affairs administrative investigation.

According to The Dallas Morning News, Martinez has been with the Dallas Police Department since 2010 and is assigned to the robbery unit. He’s listed online as secretary of the Dallas National Latino Law Enforcement Organization, one of the department’s largest officer associations.

Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia released a statement following Martinez’s leave on Monday.

“When I received the notification regarding the comment posted, disappointed would be an understatement. If, in fact, true, the comment made has no place in our society and certainly no place in law enforcement. I was appalled at what transpired on Saturday in Pennsylvania. The violence was unacceptable and has no place in our country. We are grateful former President Trump was not seriously injured. Our hearts are with those injured on Saturday and with the family and friends of Corey Comperatore, who tragically lost his life. The comments made, if confirmed, certainly do not reflect the professionalism and dedication of the men and women of the Dallas Police Department.” – Chief Garcia

Federal officials said Trump was only minutes into his speech at the rally when the alleged shooter, Thomas Matthews Crooks, is believed to have opened fire from an elevated position outside the rally venue. As shots rang out, the presumptive Republican nominee was grazed in his right ear and whisked off the stage by Secret Service agents after they fatally shot Crooks.

Shooter seen by some attendees at least one minute before Trump was shot

New video shows some attendees at the Trump rally noticed the gunman on the roof at least one minute before the shooting. The video shows what appears to be at least one law enforcement officer walking around the building. A spokesman for the United States Secret Service told CNN the agency did not personally sweep the building where an attempted assassin shot former President Donald Trump, but instead leaned on local law enforcement to conduct security at that location.

Fireworks: 2024 July Fourth fireworks displays across Baltimore metro

Happy Independence Day! Here’s our list of July Fourth fireworks displays planned across the Baltimore area.

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY FIREWORKS:

Annapolis:

– Parade, 6:30 p.m.

– Fireworks, 9:15 p.m.

Glen Burnie (July 3)

– Sawmill Creek Park, 9 p.m.

BALTIMORE CITY FIREWORKS:

The Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore kicks off celebrations with a 3 p.m. picnic on July 4 at West Shore Park that lasts through 9 p.m.

Then, at 6 p.m., DJ C. James plays music at the Amphitheater, while Avenue 66, a 10-piece variety cover band, will take the stage at 7 p.m.

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will play a concert at Rash Field around 8 p.m., followed by the fireworks and drone show around 9:30 p.m.

A fireworks show is also planned for 9:30 p.m. at Middle Branch Park as part of the Cherry Hill Arts and Music Waterfront Festival.

BALTIMORE COUNTY FIREWORKS:

Catonsville:

– Parade, Frederick Road, 3 p.m.

– Fireworks, Catonsville High School, 9:15 p.m.

Dundalk:

– Parade, 8:15 a.m.

– Fireworks, Grange Elementary Schools, 9:30 p.m.

Fullerton:

– Fullerton Park, 9:15 p.m.

Hereford:

– Hereford High School, 7:30 p.m. festival, fireworks at dusk

Towson:

– Parade, 10:30 a.m.

– Fireworks, Loch Raven Academy, 9 p.m.

CARROLL COUNTY FIREWORKS:

Taneytown (July 3):

– Taneytown Memorial Park, 9:30 p.m.

CECIL COUNTY FIREWORKS:

Charlestown (July 3):

– Avalon Park & Stage, dusk

Chesapeake City (July 5):

– Pell Gardens, dusk

HARFORD COUNTY FIREWORKS:

Aberdeen:

– Ripken Stadium, 9 p.m.

Havre de Grace (July 6):

– Parade, 2 p.m.

– Fireworks, 9:15 p.m.

HOWARD COUNTY FIREWORKS:

Columbia:

– Columbia Lakefront, 9:10 p.m.

KENT COUNTY FIREWORKS

Chestertown:

– Wilmer Park, 9:15 p.m.

Rock Hall:

– Parade, 10 a.m. on July 4, from the lagoon

– Harbor, 9 p.m. on July 3

QUEEN ANNE’S COUNTY FIREWORKS:

Chester:

– Chesapeake Heritage and Visitors Center, 9:15 p.m.

Fireworks law in Maryland:

Maryland Law:
It is illegal to cross state lines and import fireworks for backyard celebrations. Fines may be levied of up to $250 for each firework device. Possession or use of explosive fireworks or large firecrackers such as M-100s or “Quarter-sticks” can carry a felony charge, large fines and time in prison.

For your safety, and that of your guests, fire officials urge Marylanders to keep it safe and only use legal fireworks this season. Leave the fireworks displays to professionals and enjoy one of the many displays in the area.