POLL: MARYLANDERS SAY AI OFFERS MORE CHANCE FOR HARM THAN GOOD: Artificial Intelligence offers more chance for harm than good, most Marylanders agreed, based on a new University of Maryland, Baltimore County, poll. More than 90% of respondents said they were either somewhat or very concerned about the spread of misinformation and political propaganda fueled by AI, as well as threats such as identity theft, deepfake videos and impersonation. Karl Hille/The Baltimore Sun.
- “Democrats, Republicans, unaffiliated voters, so everybody’s pretty concerned about this,” said Mileah Kromer, director of the poll produced for the Institute of Politics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Kromer’s poll, released Thursday, found that 54% of those surveyed said they had heard or read “a lot” about AI. Another 32% said they knew “some” and 11% “just a little.” Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
FOOD BANKS SEEING MORE PEOPLE IN NEED: Despite the state pledging $62 million to help feed Marylanders in the face of cuts to federal food assistance, the state’s food banks are seeing more people calling or walking in the door in need of food since the federal program ran out last week. Ela Jalil/The Baltimore Sun.
SOME PG RESIDENTS FIRED BY TRUMP CAN USE $1M RELIEF FUND: Federal workers in Prince George’s County who have been fired or furloughed by the Trump administration can soon tap into a $1 million relief fund announced by County Council Chair Edward P. Burroughs III and a local nonprofit on Wednesday. There’s just one catch: They have to live within a six-mile radius of the MGM National Harbor Hotel and Casino to be eligible for the aid. Lateshia Beachum/The Washington Post.
MARYLAND TO SUE TRUMP ADMIN OVER LOSS OF NEW FBI HQ: Maryland is suing the Trump administration for abandoning Greenbelt in favor of a new FBI headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C. The lawsuit is a last-ditch effort to save years of work by state officials and lawmakers to land the coveted new headquarters, finally succeeding, nly to see the Trump administration dismantle the dream in a matter of months. Ben Mause/The Baltimore Sun.
- Maryland officials thought their victory was secure after the state prevailed over objections from Virginia, which also competed for the FBI, but Trump began to block the project after returning to the White House this year. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
IN A FIRST, STATE SCHOOL BOARD OVERTURNS HARFORD ON BANNED BOOK: Maryland’s school board is reversing Harford County’s removal of a book from public school libraries — the first time the state has intervened in a local decision about what’s appropriate for students to read. The decision Tuesday comes after the Harford County school board banned the young adult graphic novel “Flamer” by Mike Curato last summer. Kristen Griffith/The Baltimore Banner.
FORMER SEN. PAUL PINSKY TO RETIRE FROM STATE SERVICE AFTER 39 YEARS: Paul Pinsky, who went from a back bencher in the General Assembly, out of step ideologically with most of his colleagues, to a major architect of consequential legislation, and who now is a key member of Gov. Wes Moore’s administration, will end his 39 years of state service later this month. Pinsky, 75, informed his staff Wednesday morning that he is stepping down as director of the Maryland Energy Administration, a job he has held since 2023 after three dozen years in the legislature. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.
SOME COUNTIES COOPERATE WITH ICE, OTHERS DON’T: Concerned over potential legal liability and facing growing public opposition, Wicomico County is tabling a proposed partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, citing both the threat of new state legislation and recent guidance from the Maryland attorney general. Other counties with existing ICE agreements say the guidance and potential legislation don’t worry them, and their own partnerships will continue. Josh Davis and Brian Carlton/The Baltimore Sun.
- Upward of 100 angry Baltimore County residents and advocates demanded answers and condemned County Executive Kathy Klausmeier’s decision to cooperate with ICE during a rally Wednesday evening. Céilí Doyle/The Baltimore Banner.
- In August, the U.S. Department of Justice declared Baltimore County a “sanctuary county,” putting it on the federal government’s list of jurisdictions that are violating federal directives to work with immigration officials. Last week, Trump’s Justice Department officials removed the county from the list, saying the county “recently signed” an agreement to collaborate with ICE. Rona Kobell and Céilí Doyle/The Baltimore Banner.
HOGAN BLASTS GOV MOORE OVER REMAPPING PLANS: Former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan accused his successor, Gov. Wes Moore, on Wednesday of succumbing to “his national ambitions” by launching a redrawing of congressional district maps with a commission Hogan said is tilted to Democrats’ advantage. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
COMMENTARY: GOV MOORE SHOULD REMEMBER WHO HE REPRESENTS: Gov. Moore, in your redistricting battle, please remember that you promised to represent all Marylanders, even those who did not vote for you. Marc King/MarylandReporter.
OP-ED: TURNING THE ROADS INTO THE WILD WEST: Under Senate Bill 292, introduced in the 2025 session of the General Assembly, a slew of vehicle and traffic offensives – such as driving without headlights, or without your license plate being lit, changing lanes without signaling or tossing trash from the car would be made secondary offenses, meaning a police officer cannot stop a motor vehicle for these traffic violations. This is just another attempt by the Democrats in Annapolis to throw out common sense. Allan Culver/The Baltimore Sun.
PILES DRIVEN INTO PATAPSCO RIVERBED AS PART OF KEY BRIDGE REBUILD: Construction crews are beginning to drive massive cylindrical piles into the Patapsco riverbed, part of the next stage of the expedited rebuilding Baltimore’s fallen Francis Scott Key Bridge. If everything goes right, some of these steel piles could later form part of the new Key Bridge, engineers said. But mainly, they are test subjects. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.
SEX ABUSE SURVIVORS DEMAND JUSTICE AT ARCHDIOCESE BANKRUPTCY HEARING: During a 2 1/2-hour hearing in the Archdiocese of Baltimore bankruptcy case that was specifically scheduled for survivors to deliver statements, they recounted how the abuse has affected all aspects of their lives. Some criticized the tactics of the archdiocese, as the bankruptcy case has stretched past its second year. It was the third time they had the opportunity to address the court. Dylan Segelbaum/The Baltimore Banner.
AI video is certainly a concern. We really need a law state and nationally that states that AI videos need a disclaimer stating as such. We also need a law stating that we own our own likenesses and and voice, perhaps an automatic copyright law that helps prevent people from using our likenesses without proper compensation or authorization. As time goes on we need stronger and stronger privacy laws and controls to prevent harassment and unauthorized sexual content that uses your likeness.