In Session 2018 - Opening Week of the General Assembly

Hosts Colin McGuire and Danielle E. Gaines are joined by News-Post political reporter Kelsi Loos, who calls into the studio from Annapolis to discuss the first few days of the Maryland General Assembly. The team provides an update on the override of Gov. Hogan's vetos of the paid sick leave bill as well as a bill that prohibits colleges from using the criminal history information of applicants. Join us every week as we break down all the goings on during the General Assembly in Annapolis.

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In The Booth- Roger Wilson, candidate for alderman

As Roger Wilson continues his day job working for Frederick County, he hopes to add member of the Frederick Board of Aldermen to his résumé in November.

Wilson, 45, currently serves as Frederick County’s director of government affairs and public policy, and he plans to keep his position if elected to the board. He has been juggling the job and his political campaign since filing in May, and earned the third-highest number of votes in the Democratic primary, which was also the highest of all the non-incumbents in the race.

Wilson joins hosts News-Post city reporter Mallory Panuska and city editor Danielle Gaines to discuss his candidacy.

In The Booth- Derek Shackelford, candidate for alderman

Derek Shackelford wears many hats, and come November, he hopes to add another one designating him as a member of the Frederick Board of Aldermen.

The 47-year-old teacher, minister, consultant, and NCAA basketball official wants to serve on the board to help all city residents benefit from the positive direction the city is going.

Shackelford joins hosts News-Post city reporter Mallory Panuska and city editor Danielle Gaines to discuss his candidacy.

In The Booth- Kelly Russell, candidate of alderman

From helping to draft better legislation to fixing neighborhood issues, Democratic Alderwoman Kelly Russell said she has plenty left to do as an elected city official.

The 58-year-old retired Frederick police officer is running for a third consecutive term on the Board of Aldermen. She earned the second-highest number of votes in the Democratic primary, just one vote less than fellow Alderwoman Donna Kuzemchak.

Russell joins hosts News-Post city reporter Mallory Panuska and city editor Danielle Gaines to discuss her candidacy.

In The Booth- Nate Power, candidate for alderman

Nate Power is concerned about the direction the city of Frederick is going and wants to change its path from the City Hall dais.

The 65-year-old military contractor is a Republican candidate for the Board of Aldermen. He was one of four party candidates who filed on the last day of the filing period in July and, like all of the Republican candidates, avoided a primary and went straight on to the general election.

Power joins hosts News-Post city reporter Mallory Panuska and city editor Danielle Gaines to discuss his candidacy.

In The Booth- Ben MacShane, candidate for alderman

Proud father, business owner and young progressive are three characteristics that Ben MacShane, a Democratic candidate for the Frederick Board of Aldermen, says he is proud to possess.

The 36-year-old owner of Frederick-based Principled Contracting, a construction business that does commercial renovations, is a political newcomer who broke into the scene with a bid for the Board of Aldermen this year. He earned the fourth-highest number of votes in the Democratic primary and is running an aggressive general election campaign.

MacShane joins hosts News-Post city reporter Mallory Panuska and city editor Danielle Gaines to discuss his candidacy.

In The Booth- Donna Kuzemchak

From rallying for better and safer schools to sitting behind the City Hall dais addressing important municipal issues, Alderwoman Donna Kuzemchak has spent years fighting for what she believes is right.

The 57-year-old Realtor, grant writer, office assistant and sitting Democratic alderwoman is seeking re-election to a second consecutive term on the Frederick Board of Aldermen. But her experience on the board dates back further than that, as she was first elected in 1998 and served consecutively until 2009. In the September primary, she received more votes than any other aldermanic candidate. She has also raised the most money of any candidate for alderman.

Kuzemchakjoins hosts News-Post city reporter Mallory Panuska and city editor Danielle Gaines to discuss her candidacy.

In The Booth- Alan Imhoff, candidate for alderman

When former Frederick Alderman Alan Imhoff realized on the last day of the filing period for the 2017 city election that only one Republican had filed for alderman, he decided to come out of retirement and try his hand once again at public office.

The 70-year-old retiree and part-time professor entered the world of politics as a Democrat in 2001 with an unsuccessful run for mayor. In 2005, he switched his party and desired office and was elected as a Republican to the Board of Aldermen. In both 2009 and 2013 he ran again for the board on the Republican ticket but lost both years in the general election.

Imhoff joins hosts News-Post city reporter Mallory Panuska and city editor Danielle Gaines to discuss his candidacy.

In The Booth- Hayden Duke, candidate for Alderman

Hayden Duke is hoping the second time is the charm in a bid for the Frederick Board of Aldermen on the Republican ballot. The 38-year-old long-term substitute teacher and graduate student ran for office in 2013 but lost in the Republican primary. This year, he is one of five Republican candidates who moved straight to the general election and was the first to file for office over the summer.

Duke joins hosts News-Post city reporter Mallory Panuska and city editor Danielle Gaines to discuss his candidacy.

In The Booth- Bryan Chaney, candidate for Alderman

Republican Bryan Chaney is not only the newest candidate to enter the race for the Frederick Board of Aldermen but also the newest city resident on the ballot.

Chaney joins hosts News-Post city reporter Mallory Panuska and city editor Danielle Gaines to discuss his candidacy.

Rep. Delaney's bid for the Oval Office 8/3/17

News-Post political reporter Danielle Gaines spoke via phone with Rep. John Delaney D-6th to talk about his recently-announced bid for President of the United States. Delaney, who announced he would not seek reelection to his seat in congress said early reaction to campaign announcement has been positive.

In Session- 4/12/17

With the General Assembly no longer in session and News-Post senior reporter Danielle E. Gaines back in the newsroom, we put a wrap on the In Session (Out of Session?) series, recapping what became of all those bills we discussed over the months.

In Session- 4/7/17

As the General Session nears its conclusion, catch up on the most recent developments in Annapolis with host Colin McGuire and News-Post senior reporter Danielle E. Gaines.

Producer's note: due to an exporting malfunction, a previous version of this episode lacked the Host's microphone channel.

In Session- 3/30/17

With the session nearing its end host Colin McGuire catches up on what's happening in Annapolis with News-Post senior reporter Danielle Gaines. This week we talk about the State budget being passed, which includes funding for the downtown Frederick hotel and conference center, a bill in the senate that would increase the amount of beer breweries can sell on premise but reduces the hours they can serve.

In Session- 3/24/17

In this episode we talk about the importance of "Crossover Day" in the General Assembly and what's going on in an effort to take the state planning secretary's salary out of next year's budget. Other topics include Gov. Larry Hogan's approval rating, congressional redistricting, and capital budget funding for the proposed downtown Frederick hotel and conference center project. 

In Session- 3/17/17

News-Post senior reporter Danielle E. Gaines checks with host Colin McGuire from Annapolis to talk about last week's developments in the General Assembly.

In Session- 3/10/17

Host Colin McGuire and News-Post senior reporter Danielle E. Gaines catch up about the week's developments, including a proposed bill that would require drivers to only use the left lane to pass other cars, a bill that would regulate antique replica firearms, state support for independent films, among other topics.

In Session- 3/3/17

Host Colin McGuire catches up with News-Post senior reporter Danielle E. Gaines about the week's developments in Annapolis. Topics covered this week include the Governor's proposal for non-partisan redistricting, his approval rating, the reprimanding of a delegate, paid sick leave and a quick note about the touching moment a Frederick resident who had been jailed in Gambia was reunited with family at Dulles International Airport.

In Session- 2/26/17

Halfway through the 90-day General Assembly, senior reporter Danielle E. Gaines checks in with host Colin McGuire to talk about developments in Annapolis, including transportation funding, frog dissection, immigration enforcement and you guessed it- ethics.

In Session- 2/17/17

This week on In Session News-Post senior reporter Danielle E. Gaines calls in to discuss with host Colin McGuire the odd series of events that led to carbon copies of a bill being submitted in the Maryland Senate which precipitated a public rebuke by Sen. Ronald Young whom wrote the language.

Also, the story behind HB 666 and the fate “mark of the beast” bills over the years.