BWI, REAGAN, NATIONAL AND DULLES FACING FAA FLIGHT CUTS: Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport will see a 10% cut in flights as part of federal plans to slash airline capacity due to the government shutdown. So will Ronald Reagan Washington National and Washington Dulles International. Clara Longo de Freitas/The Baltimore Banner.
- The 40 airports set to see a 10% reduction in flights during the government shutdown nearly matched the list of the nation’s busiest airports, according to a preliminary list, potentially leading to thousands of flight cancellations across the country. Jacob Fischler/Maryland Matters.
- BWI Marshall Airport is among 40 major U.S. hubs that will see flight capacity reduced by 10%, a move that could disrupt travel plans as the busy holiday season begins. Todd Karpovich/The Baltimore Sun.
MARYLAND SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FOR ‘ILLEGAL’ ACTION TO KEEP FBI IN D.C.: The state of Maryland and Prince George’s County sued the Trump administration Thursday over its plans to keep the FBI headquarters in downtown Washington, D.C., a move that they said would “unlawfully sabotage a multiyear collaborative effort” to relocate the facility to Greenbelt. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
- The state of Maryland on Thursday filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration over its decision to keep the FBI’s headquarters in D.C. instead of relocating the agency to Prince George’s County under plans that were approved by the Biden administration. Katie Mettler and Lateshia Beachum/The Washington Post.
MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING POSES MORE RISK THAN REWARD, FERGUSON WARNS: Redrawing Maryland’s congressional districts mid-decade could imperil, rather than aid, Democrats’ chances of retaking the U.S. House next year, Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) warned this week. Bruce Depuyt/Maryland Matters.
- After announcing earlier this week that he was creating an advisory commission to recommend new congressional district lines in advance of next November’s mid-term election, Gov. Wes Moore (D) pressed his case Wednesday, declaring, “I think people want to make sure that we have fair maps, and … I’m committed to making sure in Maryland that we will see this process through.” Louis Peck/Bethesda Today.
- Maryland General Assembly Democrats’ objective was clear following the 2020 census: to redraw U.S. House district maps so the party could more easily defeat conservative Rep. Andy Harris, the only Republican in the state’s congressional delegation. The effort flopped. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
MD NATIONAL GUARD CREATING CROWD AND RIOT CONTROL ACTION FORCE: The Maryland National Guard is set to establish a crowd control reaction force by April, following an order from a top military commander requiring every state, territory and the District of Columbia create a “quick reaction force” that provides crowd and riot control as well as use riot batons and shields. Kate Cimini/The Baltimore Sun.
B’MORE NATIVE NANCY PELOSI WON’T RUN FOR REELECTION: Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emeritus of the House of Representatives, announced Thursday that she will not run for reelection. Pelosi, a Baltimore native with deep political ties to the city, plans to leave her congressional seat in 2027 after nearly 40 years in office. Kim Dacey/WBALTV.
OUTGOING EXEC DIRECTOR TORRES URGES CASA ADVOCATES TO PUSH THROUGH CHALLENGES: The 40th anniversary celebration was held at CASA’s Baltimore Welcome Center, which was filled with well over 100 advocates and lawmakers. Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.
GOV. MOORE PROMISED TO SEND MORE POLICE TO B’MORE. WHAT HAPPENED? Moore devised his own plan to fight crime in the city, which is in a three-year stretch of historic decreases. The plan was big news — it made the front page of The Washington Post — even if it wasn’t original. The two police forces already operate in Baltimore, and past governors including Larry Hogan had ordered similar surges. Lee O. Sanderlin/The Baltimore Banner.
FREDERICK CO. LEADERS BRAINSTORM COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS AMID SHUTDOWN: More than 40 Frederick County leaders from various sectors gathered on Thursday to discuss affordability and uncertainty amid the federal shutdown and funding cuts. Marwa Barakat/The Frederick News Post.
ANTHONY BARKSDALE, DEPUTY MAYOR, FORMER DEPUTY POLICE COMMISSIONER DIES: Anthony Barksdale, Baltimore’s deputy mayor for public safety and a former deputy police commissioner whose tenures in both roles corresponded with steep declines in gun violence, died Thursday, according to two former mayors. He was 53. Emily Opilo and Justin Fenton/The Baltimore Banner.
IS A MAGA DEMOCRAT RUNNING FOR HO CO OFFICE? Howard County Council candidate Jean Xu doesn’t like labels like conservative, liberal or moderate. Lately, people seem determined to assign her one anyway. Lillian Reed/The Baltimore Banner.
