WILL JAWANDO EXITS U.S. SENATE RACE: Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando is dropping out of the race for the Democratic nomination in next year’s election to succeed longtime U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland. Jawando, a civil rights attorney and author who previously worked in the administration of former President Barack Obama, fell behind other Democratic candidates in soliciting both money and endorsements for his campaign of nearly six months. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun
- ‘I cannot remain in a race I do not believe I can win,’ Jawando said. His departure narrows the field to primarily Trone and Alsobrooks. Erin Cox/Washington Post
- “But after thinking long and hard about this race in particular, I frankly no longer see a path for myself to victory,” Jawando said in a statement and a campaign video. Pamela Wood/Baltimore Banner
COMMITTEE CHAIR VOWS CATHOLIC CHURCH AND BOY SCOUTS WILL PAY FOR ABUSE: Facing sex abuse claims, the Catholic Church and the Boy Scouts filed for bankruptcy. A man who grew up in Baltimore and has sex abuse claims against both organizations has been elected chair of the creditors’ committee in the church’s bankruptcy case. Jean Marbella/The Baltimore Sun
U.S. AWARDS MILLIONS TO EXPAND LONG-COVID CARE: The Kennedy Krieger Institute, a nonprofit health organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, will receive a total of $5 million over the course of five years from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to expand care for children with Long COVID symptoms, especially in underserved communities. Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.
BLUEPRINT BOARD OKS PLAN TO INCREASE STUDENTS ENROLLING IN COLLEGE: The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Accountability and Implementation Board approved a plan Thursday that seeks to improve student enrollment in college and career readiness programs as part of the state’s education reform initiative. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
TASK FORCE FINALLY MEETS TO DISCUSS OPENNESS OF STATE’S ATTORNEY’S OFFICES: A legislative work group established to assess data collection and policies of Maryland state’s attorney’s offices met for the first time Wednesday, but will have two months to provide recommendations on what information prosecutors should make public. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
SEVEN MOCO SCHOOLS NAMED FOR ENSLAVERS COULD BE RENAMED: The first meeting to discuss and gather input from the school community about renaming the schools was held Thursday evening. Elia Griffin/MoCo360
BALTO. TOUTS SUCCESS OF SQUEEGEE PROGRAM: City Administrator Faith Leach touted Baltimore’s squeegee collaborative program at an international gathering of mayors, policymakers and consultants Thursday, positing it as one of Mayor Brandon Scott’s top achievements. The collaborative has resulted in an 83% decline in squeegee-related calls for service, Leach said at the Bloomberg CityLab conference in Washington, D.C. Emily Sullivan/Baltimore Banner
TWO AFFORDABLE HOUSING COMPLEXES IN ANNE ARUNDEL WILL BE RENOVATED: Two affordable housing complexes in Glen Burnie and Odenton for older adults and those with disabilities will soon be getting face-lifts. The combined $60 million in renovations will start at the end of the year with completion expected around January 2026. Dana Munro of the Capital Gazette/Baltimore Sun
NEW EXPUNGEMENT LAWS MAKE MORE MARYLANDERS ELIGIBLE TO CLEAR RECORDS: Scores of Baltimore residents came to the third annual expungement clinic hosted by Maryland Legal Aid and Baltimore Gas & Electric in Baltimore’s Mondawmin Mall on Thursday. New state laws reducing expungement waiting periods and legalizing adult cannabis possession have made more Marylanders eligible to remove convictions from their records. Steph Quinn of Capital News Service/Maryland Reporter.
BALTO. MAYOR BRANDON SCOTT HOLDS FUNDRAISER: A fundraiser for Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s re-election bid attracted about 130 people to the CFG Bank Arena, including a smattering of elected officials, including Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr., four House delegates and four of the city’s 14 Council members. No marquee name figures showed up to stand with the Democratic incumbent. Mark Reutter/Baltimore Brew.
SHEILA DIXON FUNDRAISER DRAWS FANS AND NEWCOMERS: The former Baltimore mayor is seeking financial support for her latest bid to return to City Hall. Fern Shen/Baltimore Brew.
OPINION: WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO CLEAN UP THE BAY: The Chesapeake Bay cleanup efforts are shifting closer to shore. On Thursday, the Democratic governor Gov. Wes Moore (D) reiterated the shift after being named president of the Chesapeake Executive Council, which helps guide policy for the multistate bay cleanup program. Rick Hutzell/The Baltimore Banner
