MOORE SAYS TAX CUTS GIVE ‘BREATHING ROOM’ FOR MIDDLE CLASS: Gov. Wes Moore said the fiscal 2026 budget needs to give a tax break to middle-class taxpayers, but he sidestepped questions on whether the plan currently steaming through the legislature provides meaningful relief. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters.
- Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is defending the state budget that’s moving forward with tax increases as “deeply responsible,” and brushing off Republican concerns that it’s bad for business. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
ONE YEAR AFTER KEY BRIDGE TRAGEDY, OFFICIALS FACE SCRUTINY: State officials have said the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse was the “sole fault” of the owner and operator of the Dali cargo ship. Government records show the six deaths could have been prevented. One year later, it’s still not clear why the men working on the Key Bridge that night were never warned — and what, if anything, has changed to prevent a tragedy like this one, which killed six of the workers and left the two survivors reeling. Katie Mettler and Teo Armus/The Washington Post.
LOSS OF BRIDGE DISRUPTS COMMUTES, INCREASES CONGESTION: When the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed, it didn’t just disrupt traffic, it altered the daily routines of countless Maryland residents. Since the bridge collapsed on March 26, 2024, the southeast corridor of I-695 closed indefinitely, forcing commuters to take alternative routes. As a result, I-95, I-895 and both harbor tunnel crossings have become more congested. This caused significant disruptions in the lives of people who counted on the bridge to get to work, go to medical appointments or to see friends. Charlotte Kanner and Mira Beinart, Capital News Service/Maryland Reporter
WHAT WILL THE NEW KEY BRIDGE LOOK LIKE? The new Francis Scott Key Bridgewill have a different appearance and provide a slightly different driving experience than the 1977 bridge which was struck on March 26, 2024, by the container ship Dali, causing much of the bridge to collapse into the Patapsco River. Neal Augenstein/WTOP NEWS.
MOORE TO TAKE A TRADE TRIP TO JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA: Gov. Wes Moore will travel to Japan and South Korea on an economic development trip in April after the legislative session ends in Annapolis. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND WAS ASKED FOR INFO ON CHINESE STUDENTS: A congressional committee asked the University of Maryland, College Park’s president for detailed information about Chinese students in a letter to the school’s president last week, prompting students and faculty to petition Darryll J. Pines not to comply with the letter. Dan Belson/The Baltimore Sun.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE SALES LAG, COMPANIES COULD PICKUP COSTS: Two years ago, Maryland began a years-long effort to phase out sales of gas-powered vehicles, part of its fight against climate change. Now it might become the first state in a national coalition to ease the pressure on car companies to electrify. Adam Willis and Daniel Zawodny/The Baltimore Banner.
FEDERAL BILL HONORING MOM CYCLIST KILLED WILL HELP FUND ROAD SAFETY EFFORTS: A congressional bill that aims to free up some federal funds to help communities pay for road safety improvements is named in memory of a Bethesda mom who was struck and killed in 2022 while cycling in Montgomery County. Ginny Bixby/Bethesda Today.
MD TO BEAR BRUNT OF FED HEALTH CUTS: Of the 82,000 people who work at the federal health department known as HHS, about 32,000, or about 40%, of them are based in the state. Meredith Cohn/The Baltimore Banner.
TWO MOTHER’S TESTIFY ON STILLBIRTH TAX CREDIT BILL: Lawmakers are considering a bill that would offer a tax credit to help ease the burden of the unexpected costs associated with one of the hardest days a parent could experience — the stillbirth of a child. Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.
RANDALLSTOWN NAACP PRESIDENT ABRUPTLY RESIGNS: Ryan Coleman, a towering figure and outspoken leader of the Randallstown NAACP during his six years at its helm, resigned Wednesday amid friction with the state conference. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.
ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATOR ‘DISHEARTENED’ BY STRICTER VOTING REQUIREMENTS: Maryland’s elections administrator reaffirmed that legally cast mail-in ballots must be counted, following President Donald Trump’s executive order imposing stricter voting requirements. Marcus Dieterle/Baltimore FishBowl.
- Maryland’s top election official, Jared DeMarinis, said Tuesday that the state is reviewing President Donald Trump’s recent executive order aimed at tightening election rules nationwide. David M. Higgins II/Southern Maryland Chronicle.
COLUMBIA ASSOC. EYES TAKEOVER OF COMMUNITY’S VILLAGE CENTERS: Village leaders are questioning what would happen to building revenue that they rely on to hold festivals, flea markets, pool parties and other events. Merely considering such a change to the way Columbia operates has prompted spirited debate. Jess Nocera/The Baltimore Banner.
Key Bridge did not “collapse”; it was knocked down by a container ship. And the people with daily routines interrupted were not “countless”; it’s just that no one’s counted them yet. Please be accurate.