STATES ORDERED TO CERTIFY DEI BAN OR LOSE FUNDS: The U.S. Department of Education demanded in a letter to state education leaders on Thursday that they certify all K-12 schools in their states are complying with an earlier Dear Colleague letter banning diversity, equity and inclusion practices if they want to keep receiving federal financial assistance. Shauneen Miranda/Maryland Matters.
TARIFF FALLOUT: FINANCIAL IMPACT LOCALLY: Marylanders are bracing for the impact of U.S. tariffs after President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping charges on imports. The president said he believes the tariffs are needed in order to “ensure fair trade, protect American workers and reduce the trade deficit.” Tommie Clark/WBAL TV.
- Baltimore-based sports apparel company Under Armour saw its shares decline by more than 18%, to $5.36, as markets closed Thursday. Hayes Gardner/The Baltimore Banner.
HEARING FRIDAY ON MAN DEPORTED TO EL SALVADOR: A judge will hear arguments Friday afternoon from both the Department of Homeland Security and counsel for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Salvadoran resident of Beltsville whom the government said this week was deported after an “administrative error.” Daniel Zawodny, John-John Williams IV and Clara Longo de Freitas/The Baltimore Banner.
MARYLAND OFFICES ACCOUNTED FOR A QUARTER OF HHS LAYOFFS: Marylanders accounted for more than a quarter of the 10,000 people the Trump administration cut from the Department of Health and Human Services workforce. About 2,750 people were laid off from Maryland HHS offices at the end of March, according to data from the Maryland Department of Labor. Scott Maucione/WYPR.
SECOND LOOK ACT APPROVED, SENT TO GOVERNOR: Just hours after the Senate approved the Second Look Act, the House on Thursday quickly accepted Senate amendments to the bill that gives a second chance to long-serving incarcerated individuals and sent the measure to the governor for his signature. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
- By the narrowest of margins Wednesday, the Senate voted to amend the Second Look Act, which gives long-term incarcerated individuals a second chance at life, to make it unavailable to those convicted of killing a first responder. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
- The bill allows select incarcerated individuals serving lengthy prison sentences to have early release hearings before a judge. Gov. Moore’s office declined to take a position on the bill Thursday when The Baltimore Sun reached out requesting a comment. Glynis Kazanjian/The Baltimore Sun.
THE FIGHT OVER REDEVELOPMENT IN AA CO: Anybody who’s driven Route 3 through Crofton knows the road, also known as Crain Highway, has a lot of traffic, so residents’ concerns about a redevelopment bill before the Anne Arundel County Council seemed reasonable. Alex Mann/The Baltimore Banner.
B’MORE NONPROFIT SUES EPA FOR $180 MILLION: A Baltimore nonprofit focused on lead remediation and childhood asthma is suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, alleging that the Trump administration has illegally canceled and frozen tens of millions of dollars in grant funding in its attack on programs that support poor and overlooked communities. Adam Willis/The Baltimore Banner.
MEDIA CHALLENGE REDACTION OF NAMES IN MOSBY LEGAL DEFENSE FUND: Media organizations’ challenge to the city’s redaction of the names of donors to a legal defense fund for Nick and Marilyn Mosby moved ahead this week, when the Appellate Court of Maryland heard oral arguments in the case. Fern Shen/Baltimore Brew.
19 STATES SUE TO BLOCK TRUMP’S ELECTION ORDER: Democratic officials in 19 states, including Maryland, filed a lawsuit Thursday against President Donald Trump’s attempt to reshape elections across the U.S., calling it an unconstitutional invasion of states’ clear authority to run their own elections. Lindsay Whitehurst/The Baltimore Sun.
MO CO AWARDS $1.2 MILLION IN ANTI HATE SECURITY GRANTS: The Montgomery County government announced Thursday it is awarding $1.2 million in security grants to county-based nonprofits, faith-based organizations and houses of worship that have demonstrated they face a risk of being targeted for hate bias incidents. Ginny Bixby/Bethesda Today.
CARROLL COUNTY LAWMAKER SEND AG A LETTER AFTER REPARATIONS BILL PASSES: A Carroll County lawmaker is suggesting that Maryland’s attorney general begin compiling historical data on slavery in the state not only for the future statewide reparations commission to consider, but also for the office to initiate legal action against the Maryland Democratic Party. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.
