AFGHAN NATIONAL WHO ONCE WORKED FOR CIA CHARGED IN D.C. AMBUSH; ONE GUARD MEMBER DIES: Federal prosecutors say the suspect in the targeted shooting that wounded National Guard members from West Virginia in Washington is an Afghan national who once worked with the CIA; authorities have lodged multiple charges and the case is being handled at the federal level. Joshua Partlow/The Washington Post.
MASSIVE DEMAND FOR WEED BEFORE THANKSGIVING: : Maryland dispensaries reported massive demand on “Green Wednesday” (the day before Thanksgiving), with some products selling out quickly — part of a national pattern of heavy cannabis sales around the holiday. The story looked at customer lines at a Silver Spring dispensary and broader retail trends. Marissa Lang/The Washington Post
HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE EXAMINES TWO-PARTY AUDIO RECORDING LAWS: The Maryland House Judiciary Committee held a briefing to examine the state’s two-party consent wiretapping/recording statute in light of Ring cameras and cellphone recordings, hearing from law professors and advocates about possible statutory updates or narrow exceptions (elder-abuse and evidence-related proposals discussed). Sarah Petrowich/WYPR
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NEW PG LAW ON POLICE CHASES: A new Prince George’s County law will track police pursuits in the county by requiring an annual report. The law will also modify mutual aid agreements between the county police department and local municipalities to guarantee the same minimum standards for starting a pursuit, according to the bill’s language. The law is in response to the death of a 3-year-old girl as a result of a police chase. Jasmine Golden /Washington Post
SQUEEGEE WORKERS STILL ON THE JOB: Squeegee workers are continuing to wash windshields in Baltimore’s busiest intersections, including zones where the practice is explicitly prohibited, raising fresh questions about whether city leaders are enforcing their own rules. Despite a high-profile 2022 action plan that promised citations, clear restrictions and alternative jobs for youth, a Spotlight on Maryland investigation found the city has issued just one citation in nearly three years. Patrick Hauf/Sun
NEW FED POLICY LIMITS LOANS FOR ADVANCED NURSING DEGREES: A new Department of Education policy could have devastating effects on nurses in Maryland who are hoping to attain advanced degrees to further their careers. The policy delists nursing concentrations from the Education Department’s list of professional degrees. That means federal loans for graduate degrees for nurses will have a lifetime cap at $100,000 or $20,500 a year. These are licenses that allow nurses to study to be practitioners, midwives and other specialized health workers. Scott Maucione/ WYPR
ZONING VIOLATIONS AGAINST MANOR HILL BREWING A Howard County Hearing Examiner has ordered several violations to be issued to Manor Hill Brewing following an appeal by residents who have been in a yearslong fight against the Ellicott City establishment. The violations mean Manor Hill Brewing must obtain additional authorization to sell alcohol and must limit use of its barn and taproom spaces for private events until a conditional use is approved. The sale or production of alcohol that is not made with corn grown on the property as the primary ingredient would also be prohibited. Kiersten Hacker/Sun
BALTIMORE SUES MONEY LENDING APP: While Baltimore sues a money-lending app for preying on the poor, Maryland makes it easier for such apps to do so. Lawmakers made it easier for companies like Money Lion Technologies, Inc. to operate in Maryland, passing an industry-backed bill that exempts companies providing so-called Earned Wage Access (EWA) services from many consumer protection laws. Madeleine O’Neill/Baltimore Brew
BEHIND THE SCENES OF MARYLAND HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOWS: A feature on the logistics, staffing and budgeting behind Brookside Gardens’ major seasonal lights display in Montgomery County, showing how local government and parks staff prepare and run the show. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.
