FILLING THE DEFICIT A TOUGH CHALLENGE FOR GOV. MOORE: After a two-year sprint that’s taken the political newcomer in Maryland’s governor’s office from an Oprah Winfrey-featured inauguration to a primetime speech at the Democratic National Convention, Gov. Wes Moore is about to face his most formidable challenge yet, one that has deep implications for the rest of his term and beyond. A $3 billion hole in the next state budget — and an even worse five-year forecast — has, as everyone acknowledges, no easy solutions. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.
- Gov. Wes Moore (D) on Friday identified one strategy behind the $2 billion in cuts he plans to make to close the state’s massive budget deficit: stopping state agencies from overpaying for commonplace items such as laptops. Katie Shepherd/The Washington Post.
MOORE TALKS EFFICIENT, MODERN GOV’T IN CALVERT VISIT: Gov. Wes Moore chose a modern, state-of-the-art building in rural Calvert County to begin his effort for “government modernization.” Aware he was addressing Calvert’s leaders who are all Republican, Moore, a Democrat, talked about bi-partisanship as a component for making Maryland’s government “the most efficient in the country — make sure we’re good stewards of taxpayer dollars.” Marty Madden/Southern Maryland News.
BIRD FLU FOUND IN COMMERCIAL MARYLAND CHICKENS: Bird flu outbreaks have been detected at three poultry operations in Maryland and Delaware, impacting more than 500,000 chickens and leading to heightened alert among officials in the Washington region. Dana Hedgpeth/The Washington Post.
- The Maryland Department of Agriculture on Friday said it detected bird flu in commercial broiler chickens in Caroline County through routine sampling. Every broiler flock that goes to harvest is tested for bird flu, said Maryland State Veterinarian Jennifer Trout. The infected broilers were ready for harvest and were supposed to leave next week, but through routine testing, the disease was found. Abby Zimmardi/The Baltimore Banner.
- State officials have quarantined the affected properties, which are undergoing “depopulation” procedures – meaning chickens, usually thousands, will be killed in order to prevent the spread of the disease.That’s important, say state officials, public health researchers and farmers’ representatives, as bird flu has the potential to evolve into a harder-to-manage virus that, in the worst case, could lead to another pandemic. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
25 STATE AGENCIES OUTLINE CLIMATE CHANGE ACTION PLANS: Twenty-five state agencies in recent weeks have outlined their plans for helping Maryland combat climate change. The documents are in response to an executive order on climate last year from Gov. Wes Moore (D), which among other things directed government agencies to develop climate implementation plans to help reduce carbon emissions in the state. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
COMMENTARY: REPUBLICANS TO OFFER LEGISLATION TO MAKE STATE SAFER: Maryland’s budget deficit looms large as the major issue of the 2025 legislative session, and rightly so. While the members of the Joint Republican Caucus are ready to offer solutions to our budget challenges and fight back against tax and fee increases, this will not be our sole focus this session. As we have done in the past, the members of the House and Senate Minority Caucuses will offer common-sense legislation that will make our communities safer. Joint Republican Caucus/Maryland Reporter.
INTERIM CEO AT EMBATTLED PERKINS HOSPITAL RESIGNS: The interim CEO of Maryland’s troubled maximum security psychiatric hospital resigned from his post this week, state officials said Friday in an email to employees, just days after the state health secretary met with staff at the facility during a visit that was abruptly cut short. Katie Mettler and Dan Morse/The Washington Post.
EXONERATING THOSE ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT 400 YEARS AGO FACES OBSTACLES: A joint resolution was introduced on the first day of the 2025 Maryland General Assembly session to exonerate settlers accused of witchcraft nearly 400 years ago. Del. Heather Bagnall, an Anne Arundel County Democrat, is the sole sponsor on the resolution, which would require the state government to formally apologize to colonists who faced witch trials prior to the nation’s independence. Gary Collins/The Baltimore Sun.
STATE ORDERS ADDICTION CENTER TO END TREATING PATIENTS: PHA Healthcare, a drug addiction treatment provider that enrolls hundreds of Medicaid patients in Maryland each year, has been ordered by the state health department to stop providing services to patients. Alissa Zhu and Meredith Cohn/The Baltimore Banner.
UPTICK IN WATER MAIN BREAKS MEANS LIMITING WATER USE IN TWO COUNTIES: About 1.9 million customers in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties are being urged to limit water use because of an uptick in water main breaks with the cold weather. Dana Hedgpeth/The Washington Post.
HARFORD COUNCILMAN VOWS TO FIGHT REMOVAL ORDER: A Harford County Council member is vowing to fight a court order that would remove him from office because of his employment with the county sheriff’s department. Harford County Council member Aaron Penman (R) said a ruling issued Friday by Circuit Judge Richard S. Bernhardt Sr. would require his immediate removal from office if left to stand. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
VIRUS PATIENTS FILL HARFORD’s ERs, COUNTY WARNS: Rick Ayers, director of emergency services in Harford County, has warned county residents that a spike in viruses has caused local hospital emergency rooms to be “busier than usual.” He wrote that the ERs at the Univerity of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Centers in Aberdeen and Bel Air are experiencing a surge in positive test results for respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses, including norovirus. Similar norovirus surges have been reported across the country. Brennan Stewart/The Aegis.
NO STAFF CUTS IN HOWARD SCHOOLS $1.2 BILLION BUDGET PLAN: Howard County Schools Superintendent Bill Barnes has proposed a $1.219 billion spending plan for next fiscal year with a narrative much different from last year’s budget season – no staff cuts. Kiersten Hacker/The Baltimore Sun.
THE ANNAPOLIS RESTAURANTS THAT FEED STATE, LOCAL LAWMAKERS: Annapolis is a political hub for local and state lawmakers when the General Assembly is in session, meaning at mealtime area restaurants are there to fuel work that will have an effect on all of Maryland. What restaurants do our lawmakers perfer and why? Megan Loock/The Baltimore Sun.
Karen Taylor holds a portrait of her mother, Vivian Elzie Taylor, who served with the 6888th Battalion during World War II. Photo by Robert Stewart/Capital News Service.
19 MARYLAND WOMEN SERVED IN WWII’s HISTORIC 6888TH BATTALION: Nineteen served during World War II in the 6888th Battalion, the predominantly black postal unit now the subject of the blockbuster film “The Six Triple Eight.” After decades of hearing their stories only as family lore, if they heard them at all, the families of these Marylanders are watching those stories come alive – and enjoying the long-awaited recognition for their service. Robert Stewart of Capital News Service/Maryland Reporter.
MoCo360 RENAMED BETHESDA TODAY: “The daily news service was originally called Bethesda Beat before being changed to MoCo360 in 2023. When Today Media bought the company in February 2024, CEO Rob Martinelli suggested that we rethink the branding. After speaking with readers and advertisers, and having many internal discussions, we decided on a new name: Bethesda Today.” It will continue to cover all of Montgomery County. Jennifer Farkas/Bethesda Today.
DAN RODRICKS RETIRES FROM THE SUN: When I moved to Maryland from Massachusetts in 1976, I had no idea that Baltimore would become my adopted hometown. But my job as a reporter, then columnist for the bygone Evening Sun — and later, the morning Sun — generated close encounters with thousands of generous, brilliant, creative, weird and eccentric people. They made me feel welcome. They taught me a lot about the city and region. I quickly started to feel at home. Dan Rodricks/The Baltimore Sun.
- Few cities are fortunate enough to have a columnist like Dan Rodricks, who is retiring from The Baltimore Sun after more than 48 years of chronicling the area’s stories through deeply reported and beautifully told tales of Baltimore and beyond. His thorough knowledge of this region and lyrical storytelling skills have earned him a dedicated and special following. Dan has long been a vital voice in The Baltimore Sun and a fierce champion of our city and state. Trif Alatzas/The Baltimore Sun.
