NO SURVIVORS FOUND IN CRASH BETWEEN MILITARY HELICOPTER AND JET OVER POTOMAC: An American Airlines regional jet carrying 64 people collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter late Wednesday near Reagan National Airport in Virginia just across from the District of Columbia, plunging both aircraft into the Potomac River. Ariana Figueroa and Ashley Murray/Maryland Matters.
- The head of Fire and Emergency Medical Services for Washington, D.C., said Thursday morning that hundreds of first responders deployed to help following the plane crash in the Potomac River. Around 300 first responders have aided in the efforts after a helicopter and plane collided Wednesday night, and roughly a third of those first responders came from Maryland. Tolly Taylor/WBAL-TV.
- The ice skating community in Maryland and nationwide is reeling in the aftermath of the deadly midair collision. The passengers included athletes, coaches and family members flying into Washington from the national figure skating championships in Wichita, Kansas. Alissa Zhu and Clara Longo de Freitas/The Baltimore Banner.
MD SENATORS WARNED ABOUT OVERCROWDING DC AIR SPACE MONTHS BEFORE FATAL CRASH: Almost nine months before Wednesday night’s midair collision at Ronald Reagan National Airport, Maryland’s two U.S. senators warned about the safety implications of overcrowding the airspace around the airport. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.
STARTING MARCH 3, NO CELL PHONES FOR STUDENTS IN HO CO SCHOOLS: The Howard County Board of Education voted Thursday to prohibit the use of cellphones during the school day for all students at all levels, amending school system’s personal technology policy in place since 2020. Kiersten Hacker/The Baltimore Sun.
ADVOCATES URGE LAWMAKERS TO PROTECT ‘SENSITIVE LOCATIONS’ FROM IMMIGRANT RAIDS: With a historic church as a backdrop, advocates for Maryland’s immigrant population Thursday called on lawmakers to protect schools, churches and other community spaces from potential raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.
- Maryland’s immigrant community told state lawmakers they are living in fear during a gathering of educators, community leaders and legislators Thursday. Legal residents said they are worried about getting caught up in the Trump administration’s round up of undocumented immigrants who are suspected criminals. David Collins/WBAL-TV.
- Maryland advocates are urging state lawmakers to pass a bill that would restrict the reach of immigration raids authorized by the Trump administration in places such as schools and hospitals. WYPR-FM.
- In an effort to fight misinformation surrounding the changing landscape of immigration laws, the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center is working to inform and prepare the Eastern Shore community at risk of deportation. Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado /The Star Democrat.
INCREASED REPORTS OF ICE SIGHTINGS STOKE FEAR: What’s played out across the country is happening in Baltimore — threats of mass deportations have many on edge, and not just members of immigrant communities. Misinformation and unverified reports of ICE activity have run rampant in Maryland and across the nation, which immigrant advocates say is exacerbating fear among documented and undocumented immigrants alike, upending the daily routines of many concerned with facing arrest or questioning. Daniel Zawodny and John-John Williams IV/The Baltimore Banner.
POLL: MOORE’S TAXES ON THE WEALTHY AND CANNABIS ARE POPULAR: Maryland voters broadly support Gov. Wes Moore’s proposed budget-balancing tax increases for high-income earners, sports betting and cannabis sales, according to a Washington Post-University of Maryland poll. Scott Clement, Emily Guskin, Dana Munro and Erin Cox/The Washington Post.
WITNESSES BRING EMOTIONAL TESTIMONY FOR, AGAINST SECOND LOOK ACT: The bill, sponsored by Sen. Charles Sydnor III (D-Baltimore County), would allow a person who has served at least 20 years of a prison sentence to petition the court for a sentence reduction. If denied, they could petition again after three years. An inmate could not file more than three petitions. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
AA CO POLICE, TEACHERS MAKE PLEA FOR MORE RESOURCES IN ‘TIGHT’ COUNTY BUDGET: The Anne Arundel County Council and County Executive Steuart Pittman are beginning their planning for the 2026 fiscal year budget amid a chorus of pleas for increased pay and to fill out the workforce for first responders and public school employees. James Matheson/The Capital Gazette.
BILL SEEKS TO STOP STORAGE OF DREDGED MATERIAL FROM B’MORE HARBOR: In the wake of public outcry about a storage option for dredged material from the Baltimore Harbor, an Anne Arundel County lawmaker is seeking to stop the construction of confined aquatic disposal cells near communities that have been overburdened by pollution. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.
LAWMAKER USES OFFICIAL STATIONARY TO BLAST CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBER: Del. Gary Simmons (D-Anne Arundel) wrote a letter to state and local Democratic leaders earlier this month on his official legislative stationery, seeking retribution against a member of the Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee from his district. Then he withdrew the letter. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
MO CO BACKYARD BIRD FLOCK TESTS POSITIVE FOR AVIAN INFLUENZA: A backyard bird flock in Montgomery County has preliminarily tested positive for the H5N1 avian influenza, also known as the bird flu. The Maryland Department of Agriculture, which announced the case Thursday afternoon, has quarantined all affected premises and depopulated the birds to prevent the spread of the disease. Ellie Wolfe/The Baltimore Banner.
AFTER BODIES PILED UP AT A CREMATORY, MOORE ASKS FOR REVIEW OF OVERSIGHT AGENCY: Following the discovery of stockpiled bodies at a Southern Maryland crematory, Gov. Wes Moore is ordering an independent review of the state board that oversees the industry. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
GOP BILL WOULD BAN SNAP RECIPIENTS FROM BUYING JUNK FOOD: A U.S. House bill introduced earlier this month would bar those on food stamps from using them to buy soft drinks, candy and more. About 850,000 Marylanders use SNAP, according to the Maryland Department of Human Services. Carson Swick/The Baltimore Sun.
BLADENSBURG WILL DROP ATTEMPT TO ANNEX VALUABLE HOSPITAL PROPERTY: The Town of Bladensburg is dropping its attempt to annex a valuable piece of property owned by Prince George’s County and promised to the neighboring Town of Cheverly. Bladensburg said in a statement Wednesday that it was abandoning the annexation process after receiving assurances that its officials and residents would have meaningful input into the future development of the hospital property. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
GUTHRIE ASKS SUPREME COURT OF MD TO RULE ON HIS REMOVAL FROM COUNTY COUNCIL: Former Harford County Council member Dion Guthrie has asked the Supreme Court of Maryland to review rulings from Harford County Circuit Court that have prevented him from regaining his seat on the council following his plea of no contest to felony theft charges last year. Matt Hubbard/The Baltimore Sun.
