POLICE CUSTODY DEATHS RECLASSIFIED AS HOMICIDES AFTER AUDIT: Local social justice advocates say they are “outraged but not surprised” that the causes of five police-custody deaths that occurred in Montgomery County from 2007 to 2019 were reclassified from accidental or undetermined to homicide following an independent audit commissioned by state officials. The audit examined 87 cases statewide handled by Dr. David Fowler, the former chief of Maryland’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Elia Griffin/Bethesda Today.
- Maryland officials last week released a wide-ranging independent audit of nearly 90 in-custody deaths spanning 2003 to 2019, finding that three dozen cases should have been classified as homicides but were not. The unprecedented review was sparked by a highly critical letter from more than 400 medical professionals raising questions about Fowler’s tenure and were alarmed by his testimony for the defense at the trial of Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd. Ben Conarck, Dylan Segelbaum and Justin Fenton/The Baltimore Banner.
LAWMAKERS SAY THEY CAN OVERRIDE MOORE VETO ON REPARATIONS STUDY: Gov. Wes Moore’s veto of the Maryland Reparations Commission bill came as a shock to lawmakers here, but they are confident they can override the veto, making it little more than a temporary setback for the initiative. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
OYSTERS THRIVING IN THE CHESAPEAKE BAY: Oysters are thriving at the bottom of the Chesapeake Bay, and the news continues to get better for the mollusks and local watermen. In the past 20 years, the oyster population has grown from 2.4 billion oysters in 2004, to 7.6 billion adult oysters, plus 5 billion spat, or young oysters, in 2024, according to an assessment by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Valerie Bonk/WTOP-FM.
STATE TREASURER SUGGESTS BREAK FROM MOODY’S AFTER DOWNGRADE: A financial agency that recently downgraded Maryland’s bond rating drew sharp words Wednesday from Treasurer Dereck Davis (D), and a suggestion that Maryland might break from the company. The state’s decades-long string of AAA ratings from all three bond-rating agencies ended a week ago when Moody’s, one of the three top rating agencies, downgraded Maryland to Aa1. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
STATE SETTLES HOUSING COMPLAINTS TO BENEFIT RENTERS: Maryland’s attorney general announced three settlements to help protect rights for renters. “Every Marylander deserves equal treatment and opportunity, whether in housing, employment, education or public accommodations,” Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said during a news conference on Tuesday. Valerie Bonk/WTOP-FM.
DEM PARTY CHAIR ULMAN TO STEP DOWN: Ken Ulman, chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party, is stepping down and switching to a role boosting Gov. Wes Moore’s “economic growth agenda.” Ulman, a former Howard County executive, is an economic development strategist and president of the Margrave Strategies consulting firm. Ulman will leave his role June 13, with Vice Chair Charlene Dukes serving as acting chair until the election June 21. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
- Gov. Wes Moore (D) intends to nominate Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman (D) to replace Ulman when the state Democratic Central Committee next meets at its regularly scheduled meeting late next month — shortly after the state party holds its annual fundraising gala June 12 in Baltimore County. The party’s first vice chair, Charlene Dukes, does not intend to seek the top job but will remain in her current post. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
STATE HEALTH DEPT PROPOSES REGS TO CUT WASTE, FRAUD: The Maryland Department of Health is proposing a new set of regulations for the behavioral health system that it says will reduce fraud and waste. The proposals are part of a three-phase approach to better oversee the system, which has seen rapid growth in the state in recent years. Scott Maucione/WYPR-FM.
LARGE MARYLAND NONPROFIT UNDER INVESTIGATION OVER DOCUMENTATION PROBLEMS: TIME Organization Inc. is one of Maryland’s largest nonprofits, tasked with helping some of the most vulnerable people in the Baltimore area. 11 News Investigates uncovered information showing the nonprofit failed to fully document what happens to the tens of millions of dollars it receives every year. Officials said that TIME may have broken several state laws and could face a $20,000 fine. Tolly Taylor/WBAL-TV News.
KLAUSMEIER TO TAP ADVISORY PANEL ON NEW IG PICK: In an effort to defuse the firestorm over her decision not to reappoint Kelly Madigan as inspector general, Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier says she will set up a panel to advise her on IG candidates. Mark Reutter/Baltimore Brew.
MOST OF 400 BOOKS REMOVED FROM NAVAL ACADEMY LIBRARY RESTORED: All but a few of the nearly 400 books that the U.S. Naval Academy removed from its library because they dealt with anti-racism and gender issues are back on the shelves after the newest Pentagon-ordered review — the latest turn in a dizzying effort to rid the military of materials related to diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Lolita C. Baldor/The Associated Press.
