
Maryland court strikes down Democratic-drawn congressional map
CNN
A Maryland judge on Friday blocked the state's new congressional map, which could have shut Republicans out of the state's delegation, ruling that it unfairly benefits Democrats.
The map is "a product of extreme partisan gerrymandering" and violates the state constitution, Senior Judge Lynne A. Battaglia wrote in her decision. The Democratic-controlled state legislature will now have until March 30 to draw a replacement map.
There are now five states without active congressional maps for this year as Maryland joins Florida, Louisiana, Missouri and New Hampshire. The primary calendar begins to ramp up in May, but that number could still shift as there are still lawsuits pending against congressional maps in several states.

The two men killed as they floated holding onto their capsized boat in a secondary strike against a suspected drug vessel in early September did not appear to have radio or other communications devices, the top military official overseeing the strike told lawmakers on Thursday, according to two sources with direct knowledge of his congressional briefings.












