MOODY’S DOWNGRADES MARYLAND’s TRIPLE-A BOND RATING; A FIRST SINCE 1973: Maryland lost its triple-A bond rating from Moody’s on Wednesday, a rating the state has cited for more than 50 years as a sign of strong fiscal stewardship. Moody’s downgraded the state’s credit rating to Aa1. Maryland had received a triple-A bond rating from Moody’s since 1973. The state has benefitted from the higher rating by paying the lowest rates when it sells bonds to pay for infrastructure, likes roads and schools. Brian Witte/The Associated Press.
- Moody’s downgraded Maryland’s bond rating to Aa1 — the second-best category for credit risk — but raised its long-term outlook to stable from negative, where it had been for about a year. The rating agency said that the rating downgrade was driven by “economic and financial under performance” compared with other states that have a triple-A bond rating. The report said that is expected to continue as Maryland faces rising costs and falling revenue because of federal policy changes. Katie Shepherd/The Washington Post.
- In a forceful response to the downgrade, the state’s top five Democrats — Gov. Wes Moore, Senate President Bill Ferguson, House Speaker Adrienne Jones, Comptroller Brook Lierman and Treasurer Dereck Davis — laid the blame on the White House doorstep of Republican President Donald Trump. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
OVERDOSE DEATHS DROP IN MARYLAND, NATIONALLY: Maryland recorded 746 fewer overdose deaths in 2024 than in 2023, a 29.2% drop that mirrored a sharp decline nationally, according to preliminary data released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
STATE SEEMS TO AGREE THAT B’MORE CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE UNDERFUNDED: Baltimore City charter school leaders say they are owed $30 million more for next school year than the city schools has budgeted to give them. The ongoing dispute between Baltimore’s school system and its 31 charter schools came to another turning point this month when Maryland State School Superintendent Carey Wright sent a memo to the state’s school systems telling them to follow certain rules when deciding how to fund charters. Liz Bowie/The Baltimore Banner.
FLOODS IN WESTERN MARYLAND CAUSE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE: Flood waters sweeping through Western Maryland left many residents with extensive damage and a big cleanup. Some vehicles are still trapped in several inches of water, mud and debris. Floodwaters still fill parts of Western Maryland, which even caused one elementary school in Allegany County to evacuate. Tori Yorgey/WBAL-TV News.
- Members of Congress from both political parties are calling on the Trump administration to unfreeze funding for a grant program that helps local communities better prepare for natural disasters. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) was one of the organizers on a letter, signed by more than 80 lawmakers, including Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-3rd). It comes as parts of Western Maryland are grappling with severe flooding that has swamped homes, schools and businesses. Jennifers Shutt/Maryland Matters.
TWO FEDERAL MURDER CASES IN MARYLAND UNDER REVIEW FOR DEATH PENALTY: Two murder cases nearing trial in Maryland’s federal courts are getting a new review by federal officials over whether to seek the death penalty, following an executive order issued earlier this year by President Donald J. Trump. e state of Maryland has banned the death penalty since 2013, but it has remained in effect on the federal level and applied sparingly. Justin Fenton/The Baltimore Banner.
GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE TO CHALLENGE MOORE: Green Party candidate Andy Ellis will throw his hat into the ring of growing challengers to Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, as he seeks to inspire progressive change in Annapolis for years to come. Carson Swick/The Baltimore Sun.
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COLUMN: VAN HOLLEN’s DAILY DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACY: It’s hard to imagine anyone, politician or not, giving a better answer than Sen. Chris Van Hollen to the twisted suggestion that concern for the unlawful detention of Kilmar Abrego Garcia translates to callous disregard for the late Rachel Morin. Dan Rodricks/Baltimore Fishbowl.
ALSOBROOKS CONTINUES TO SLAM HHS SECRETARY KENNEDY: U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks squared off against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a testy Capitol Hill hearing Wednesday, continuing her campaign against the controversial cabinet head. “Sir, you are the wrong person for this job,” Alsobrooks flatly told Kennedy. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
- Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. didn’t receive a warm welcome to Capitol Hill from two Maryland Democrats. Both Sen. Angela Alsobrooks and Rep. Steny Hoyer had contentious exchanges on Wednesday with Kennedy. Ben Mause/The Baltimore Sun.
JUDGE BLOCKS DEPORTATION OF TWO WHO FILED CLASS ACTION SUIT: Two undocumented women are filing a class action lawsuit against the federal government over conditions they experienced in the Baltimore ICE holding rooms. On Wednesday, a federal judge issued an injunction blocking their deportation for as long as that case is being litigated. Emily Hofstaedter/WYPR-FM.
- The lawsuit, filed by the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights and the National Immigration Project earlier this month, is on behalf of the two women — one Guatemalan and one from El Salvador — who attorneys say were residing in Maryland lawfully. John-John Williams IV and Daniel Zawodny/The Baltimore Banner.
PETITIONS MOUNTED TO REINSTATE HAYDEN TO LIBRARY OF CONGRESS: At least three petitions have been launched calling for Dr. Carla Hayden to be reinstated as the Librarian of Congress, following her abrupt dismissal last week by the Trump administration. Ed Gunts/Baltimore Fishbowl.
- In a rare bipartisan effort to defend its institutional authority, Congress is quietly resisting President Donald Trump’s attempt to assert control over the Library of Congress — a move that experts say threatens the separation of powers and the integrity of the legislative branch’s premier research body. Paul Kane and Meryl Kornfield/The Washington Post.
MOST ON BA CO COUNCIL WANT TO KEEP MADIGAN AS IG: A majority of the members of the Baltimore County Council want Inspector General Kelly Madigan to keep her job, after she was told that she must reapply. That’s significant because while County Executive Kathy Klausmeier nominates the inspector general, the pick needs to be confirmed by the county council. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
- Council Chair Mike Ertel of Towson; fellow Democrats Izzy Patoka and Pat Young; and Republicans Todd Crandell, David Marks and Wade Kach expressed surprise and disappointment that Klausmeier declined to reappoint Madigan. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.
MO CO PROPOSAL WOULD KEEP DISPENSARIES 100 FEET FROM RESIDENCES: A proposed zoning change introduced in the Montgomery County Council meeting on Tuesday would prohibit licensed cannabis dispensaries within 100 feet of residential buildings and lots zoned for residential use. Ginny Bixby/Bethesda Today.
