MD PAYS OVER $58 MILLION OVER STALLED STATE CENTER PROJECT: The 20-year legal battle over a stalled redevelopment project in West Baltimore came to a close on Wednesday with a $58.5 million settlement between Maryland and the developer originally tasked with completing the project. Katie Shepherd/The Washington Post.
BLUEPRINT BOARD APPROVES ANOTHER 15 SCHOOL DISTRICTS: The board overseeing implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future education reform plan approved plans from another 15 school districts Thursday, allowing those schools to receive 25% of Blueprint funds that had been withheld from this year’s budget. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
AACO BOE RENEWS CONTRACT FOR TWO CHARTER SCHOOLS: The Anne Arundel Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday to renew the seven-year charter contracts for Monarch Academy Annapolis and Chesapeake Science Point Charter School. Bridget Byrne/The Baltimore Sun.
FEDS ROLL OUT 2025-26 FAFSA FORM AHEAD OF SCHEDULE: The 2025-26 form to apply for federal student aid is now available to all students and families, the U.S. Department of Education said Thursday. The department used a staggered approach to launch the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid — better known as FAFSA — to address any issues before the form became available to everyone at a later date. Shauneen Miranda/Maryland Matters.
SCHOOL BUDGET CRISIS STARTING IN HARFORD CO: The superintendent’s proposed school budget hasn’t been published yet, but he’s already warning the community that hard decisions are ahead. The school system is facing a $60 million deficit “after two years of nearly unchanged funding from the county,” Kristen Griffith/The Baltimore Banner.
MO CO SCHOOL BOARD DELAYS APPROVAL OF BOUNDARY STUDY CONTRACT: A decision on hiring a vendor to conduct a boundary study impacting 19 public high schools was postponed Thursday after several Montgomery County school board members raised concerns over the contract’s lack of clarity and whether the company has the ability to conduct diverse community engagement. Ashlyn Campbell/MoCo360.
CARROLL COMMISSIONERS FORMALLY OPPOSE PIEDMONT TRANSMISSION PROJECT: Carroll County commissioners have put in writing their official opposition to the controversial Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project, a proposed 70-mile high-voltage transmission line through Carroll, Frederick and Baltimore counties. Sherry Greenfield/Carroll County Times
KEY BRIDGE REPLACEMENT COULD BE TALLER THAN ORIGINAL: Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge could be 45 feet taller when rebuilt, according to preliminary renderings from the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA). In August, the agency submitted an application to the U.S. Coast Guard, including its initial plans for the rebuild. JT Moodee Lockman/WJZ News.
CHILDREN IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COME WITH TRAUMA AND ABUSE: According to a new report, more than 70% of adults incarcerated in Maryland for crimes they committed as children were physically abused before being locked up. Rachel Baye/WYPR.
PG AND BA CO POLLS ON WOULD-BE COUNTY EXEC REPLACEMENTS: As political insiders in Baltimore and Prince George’s counties anticipate the looming fights to replace their departing county executives, a new poll shows that voters in the two jurisdictions don’t know a lot about their likeliest successors. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
BA CO COUNCIL WILL RELEASE NAMES OF COUNTY EXEC CANDIDATES: The Baltimore County Council will release the names of those applying to become county executive on Dec. 2. The application period for the the two-year position will close Nov. 29. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.
HARFORD COUNCIL LAWYERS DEMAND COUNCILMAN FILE A LAWSUIT OR MOVE ON: Newly hired attorneys for the Harford County Council are demanding that a former council member decide if he will follow through with a threatened lawsuit over his ouster, and that he stop trying to contact current council members in the meantime. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters.
COUNTIES SPLIT ON TRUMP’S DEPORTATION PLAN: Maryland counties are sharply divided over whether to assist President-elect Donald Trump with what he says will be the largest deportation program in American history. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
***Maryland Reporter is happy to join with the Community Foundation of Howard County in honoring our long-time colleague and friend Jean Moon, our friends at HoCoPoLitSo (the Howard County Poetry & Literature Society that Jean co-founded 50 years ago), and major local philanthropists Greg and Roberta Kahlert and their Kahlert Foundation at the Community Foundation’s Annual Dinner and Celebration of Philanthropy on Dec. 10 at Turf Valley. Individual tickets are sold out, but sponsorships are still available. Contact Dan Flynn via [email protected].***
UMBC POLLS SHOWS 4% of TRUMP VOTERS IN BA CO ALSO VOTED FOR ALSOBROOKS: University of Maryland, Baltimore County released a battleground exit poll, having surveyed more than 1,100 Baltimore County voters. Of the voters surveyed, 60% voted for Kamala Harris. Amanda Engel/WMAR-2.
SEVERAL B’MORE CATHOLIC CHURCHES CELEBRATE FINAL MASS THIS WEEKEND: More than a dozen parishes in the Archdiocese of Baltimore will celebrate their final Mass this weekend, after a years-long process of consolidation called “Seek the City to Come.” Cody Boteler/The Baltimore Banner.
HEARING ON B’MORE CREMATORIUMS BRINGS TWO VIEWS ON RACIAL DISPARITY: As Councilman Mark Conway sees it, his bill to regulate crematoriums in Baltimore takes a middle path. It would prohibit future crematoriums from being operated in parts of Baltimore zoned C-2, meaning areas where small businesses can operate near residences. Fern Shen/The Baltimore Brew.
JUDGE STANALONIS TO LEAD ST. MARY’S CIRCUIT COURT: Chief Justice Matthew J. Fader of the Supreme Court of Maryland has appointed Judge Joseph M. Stanalonis as county administrative judge for the Circuit Court for St. Mary’s County, effective November 20, 2024. Judge Stanalonis has been serving as acting county administrative judge following the passing of Judge Michael J. Stamm on Oct. 2. David M. Higgins/Southern Maryland Chronicle.
