MARYLAND, DOD AGENCY LAUNCH QUANTUM PARTNERSHIP: Maryland is partnering with a Department of Defense agency in a multi-million dollar effort aimed at making College Park the global “capital of quantum,” an emerging field of computer science that some believe could be revolutionary. Lorraine Mirabella/The Baltimore Sun.
PSC ORDERS SMARTENERGY TO REFUND $6.5M TO 32,000 CUSTOMERS: Maryland regulators ordered electricity supplier SmartEnergy Holdings on Monday to refund $6.5 million to more than 32,000 customers, the latest development in a six-year case alleging deceptive marketing. Lorraine Mirabella/The Baltimore Sun.
D.C. & COMMANDERS REACH DEAL FOR MOVE FROM MARYLAND: D.C. and the Washington Commanders have reached a $3.7 billion deal to transform the dilapidated RFK Stadium site on the banks of the Anacostia River into a new home for the NFL team surrounded by retail, housing and park space — a generational development project likely to shape the legacies of Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) and Commanders owner Josh Harris. Meagan Flynn, Sam Fortier and Nicki Jhabvala/The Washington Post.
- Maryland leaders expressed disappointment Monday at the Washington Commanders’ departure from the state, but said the football team is committed to ensuring that Prince George’s County will not be left with “blight” when the team leaves its current stadium. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
- Gov. Wes Moore said that while he made “a strong effort” to keep the team playing in Prince George’s, he understands the desire to move. And in the end, he said, the community will benefit from new development at the stadium site. When asked what he would say to those who had hoped the team would stay, Moore said: “For folks who are living in Landover, I would say: Better days are ahead.” Pamela Wood and Lee O. Sanderlin/The Baltimore Banner.
- The team talked to officials in Maryland, the District and Virginia about a move. Despite putting together what Gov. Moore called “a very competitive offer” to keep the team at its current site, most were like House Majority Whip Jazz Lewis (D-Prince George’s), a lifelong fan, who said he understands the historical connection some fans have to the team being in D.C. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
***Join Maryland Reporter at the Annual Spring Party of the Community Foundation of Howard County on Thursday, May 15, 5-8 p.m. in Columbia for food, drink, socializing and networking. Help raise critical operating funds for the foundation’s mission to connect people, places and organizations to worthy causes across Howard County and beyond. Click here for more information and tickets.***
100 DAYS OF TRUMP: MARYLAND OFFICIALS PUSH BACK: In the first 100 days of the Trump administration, Maryland officials have pushed back against many of the changes and cuts that it has made. Earlier this year, Gov. Wes Moore pledged to guide the state through turbulent times caused by a “new administration in Washington that sows uncertainty, confusion and chaos.” Clara Longo de Freitas/The Baltimore Banner.
- As Trump approaches 100 days in office, Attorney General Anthony Brown has led or joined more than two dozen lawsuits filed by Democratic attorneys general across the country challenging the rapid-fire policy pronouncements of the new administration. Brown’s office created a tab on its website called “Federal Actions Response,” which provides Marylanders resources and other information on immigration, human rights, LGBTQ and federal employment for those impacted by Trump administration actions. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
- Former Gov. Martin O’Malley, who led the Social Security Administration during the final year of President Biden’s term, said we are already seeing dings to customer service. “You’ve seen now all of the timeliness indicators, you know the time to get an appointment, the time to answer the phone, the time to process a claim, all of those that had been going in a much much better direction last year, you’ve seen all of them reverse,” O’Malley said. “They’re all starting to spike in the wrong direction.” John Lee/WYPR-FM.
BAY MARSH BECOMES A CLIMATE CHANGE CRYSTAL BALL: This Chesapeake Bay wetland could be an environmental crystal ball. With infrared lamps pointed down at marsh grasses — and heating cables placed beneath them — the environment is 5.1 degrees Celsius hotter than the surrounding area, simulating a future world warmed by climate change. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.
STATE WARNED B’MORE ON CAMP SMALL FIRE DANGER: Months before a massive fire swept through Baltimore’s Camp Small last year, a blaze that took days and multiple fire companies to extinguish, Baltimore was warned by state inspectors of a fire hazard on the site as well as conditions that could hamper an emergency response. Emily Opilo and Adam Willis/The Baltimore Banner.
CARROLL SCHOOLS REACH DEAL ON BLUEPRINT CHANGES: Carroll County officials reached an agreement on Monday to delay implementing aspects of a state law that would cut 92 employees by next school year and relocate another 90 staff to other schools, according to the Accountability Implementation Board, which is the state entity that holds the power to withhold state education funding if requirements for the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future are not met. But the AIB granted the Carroll school system a waiver to provide the district with more flexibility to meet those requirements. Thomas Goodwin Smith/The Carroll County Times.
DEB JUNG ANNOUNCES RUN FOR HO CO EXECUTIVE: Howard County Council member Deb Jung, a Democrat, kicked off her campaign tonight for county executive. She is the first announced candidate for the post. The general election is in November 2026. Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, also a Democrat, was first elected to office in 2018 and is finishing his second consecutive term. He cannot run for a third term. Kiersten Hacker/The Baltimore Sun.
