State Roundup: On cusp of new session, Republicans see opportunities as state deficit looms; Moore’s public education spending plan leaves question hanging; 3 sworn in to fill Delegate vacancies

WITH ANOTHER STATE DEFICIT, REPUBLICANS SEE NEW OPPORTUNITIES: For the second straight year, Maryland legislators are arriving in Annapolis with a budget shortfall of more than $1 billion. In the eyes of the GOP, the minority party in both House and Senate, the deficit presents a new opportunity to hone a small-government message. “Government has out-sized itself,” said Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey (R- Upper Shore). “We’ve gotten to the point where there’s more government than people need.” Christine Condon and Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.

MOORE’s EDUCATION SPENDING HIKE LEAVES MAJOR QUESTION UNANSWERED: Gov. Wes Moore is proposing billions in spending while the state stares down a widening fiscal hole — and when pressed repeatedly about where the money is coming from, the governor offered a response, but not an answer. Last week, Moore unveiled what his administration touted as a $10 billion education agenda for Maryland’s public schools in 2026, pushing K-12 spending to record levels for the fourth consecutive year. Meanwhile lawmakers enter the legislative session facing an estimated $1.4 billion deficit. Gary Collins/The Baltimore Sun.

MOORE FACES PERIL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ANNAPOLIS AND MARYLAND: Gov. Wes Moore has plenty on his to-do list for the General Assembly session that starts Wednesday: increase funding for schools, tweak existing programs to boost the state’s flagging economy, send more aid to local police departments. But his aspirations are about to run head-on into a series of obstacles: a $1.4 billion state budget deficit, a tense relationship with the Senate president, a new House speaker, ongoing assaults from the Trump administration, pressure from national Democrats to redraw the state’s congressional districts, state lawmakers willing to buck his ideas in favor of their own. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.

MANY WOULD GIVE MOORE SECOND TERM, DESPITE SLIDE IN POLL NUMBERS: Roughly half of Maryland voters said they would vote to reelect Gov. Wes Moore to a second term, even as the first-term Democrat’s job approval numbers continue a downward trend. The poll released Tuesday by Annapolis-based Gonzales Research & Media represents a mixed bag for the governor. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.

MOORE FILLS THREE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE VACANCIES: Gov. Wes Moore appointed three new delegates Monday to fill the last three vacancies in the House, just two days before the General Assembly convenes for 90-day legislative session. Moore named Gabriel M. Moreno of Howard County to fill the District 13 seat vacated by Vanessa Atterbeary; Derrick Coley was tapped in District 24 seat in Prince George’s County that was held by Jazz Lewis; and Darrell Odom Sr. will replace Kevin Harris in District 27A, which straddles Prince George’s and Charles counties. William Ford/Maryland Matters.

DEL. YOUNG RESIGNS B’MORE POST AFTER ASSAULT CHARGE: Baltimore Del. Caylin Young has resigned from his job as deputy director in the Office of Equity and Civil Rights in Mayor Brandon Scott’s administration, a week after he was charged with second-degree assault and just days before the start of the 2026 legislative session. Young is not resigning from his elected post representing East and Northeast Baltimore. Emily Opilo and Dylan Segelbaum/The Baltimore Banner.

PUBLIC DEFENDER LAUNCHES PARTNERSHIP TO ADDRESS CRIMINAL JUSTICE: Maryland Public Defender Natasha Dartigue stressed that the launch Monday of a new partnership to change the state’s criminal justice system is not just another “task force.” “This launch is a call to action,” Dartigue said. “The work will be difficult at times, and it will be long. We won’t solve the problems in weeks or even months, but as long as we stay committed and keep impacted communities at the center of every decision … we can make significant change in Maryland.” William Ford/Maryland Matters.

GLEN BURNIE MAN CHARGED WITH STEALING HUNDREDS OF U.S. HOUSE CELLPHONES: A former congressional staffer has been arrested after allegedly stealing hundreds of government cellphones from the U.S. House of Representatives. He is accused of using his position in IT to ship the phones to his house in Maryland before pawning them, U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro said in a news release Monday. Jasmine Golden/The Washington Post.

• Christopher Southerland, 43, of Glen Burnie, is charged with one count of theft of government property. He was indicted in October, and his charging document was unsealed Thursday. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. Alex Mann/The Baltimore Banner.

REPORT FINDS NO SCHOOL ITEMS STOLEN FROM HARFORD SUPERINTENDENT: No school-issued items were stolen from Harford County schools Superintendent Sean Bulson while at an education conference in New Orleans in 2024, according to a report the Maryland Office of the Inspector General for Education. The report comes after Harford’s school board requested an investigation after audio of an alleged 911 call purportedly from Bulson became public, in which the caller said he’d been robbed by a woman whose name he didn’t know while he was sleeping. Kristen Griffith/The Baltimore Banner.

MARYLAND WOMAN REMAINED IN ICE CUSTODY AS TEEN SON DIED OF CANCER: A Maryland man is navigating two devastating blows to his family after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested his wife just days before their 15-year-old son’s death from cancer. Right now, there’s not much Rigo Mendoza-Lopez can do but sit on his Salisbury front porch and grieve. He’s left to mourn the death of his 15-year-old son, Kevin Martinez, alone after his wife was arrested by ICE agents. WBOC/CNN Newsource.

COMMUNITY EFFORT TO SAVE HISTORIC BLACK CEMETERY IN ANNAPOLIS: Annapolis’ Brewer Hill Cemetery is steeped in local and national history. But like other historic — and predominantly nonwhite — cemeteries across the state, it’s at risk of falling further into disrepair. The ground is uneven, the landscaping overgrown. And hidden among the brush, in places, are gravestones that have gone untended so long they’ve sunk into the ground or fallen over. But just next door, the perfectly manicured, professionally maintained Annapolis National Cemetery is a sharp contrast. Cody Boteler/The Baltimore Banner.

CHILD WITH MEASLES TRAVELED THROUGH MARYLAND: A Northern Virginia child with measles traveled through Philadelphia as well as Maryland and D.C. while contagious after contracting the disease internationally, public health officials said. Jenna Portnoy/The Washington Post.