VOTE ALLOWING FIREFIGHTERS TO USE CANNABIS WHILE OFF-DUTY DELAYED, FIERCE DEBATE: There was a fierce debate on the Maryland Senate floor over a bill that would let firefighters and rescue workers use medical cannabis while off-duty. The discussion became so intense that they postponed a full Senate vote until Friday as some legislators voiced concerns over public safety. David Collins/WBAL-TV News.
VAN HOLLEN URGES GOP SUPPORT TO SHIELD CONSUMERS FROM DATA CENTER ENERGY COSTS: Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Thursday he is seeking Republican Senate support for legislation he considers critical to ensuring Americans aren’t paying the tab for massive amounts of energy required by new data centers. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ADVOCATES SEEK ‘SENSIBLE’ PROVIDER PAYMENT BOOST AMID WORKFORCE SHORTAGE: Advocates know Maryland lawmakers are working with a tight budget this year but worry that another year without rate increases for behavioral health professionals will worsen a 34,000-person workforce shortage and threaten the services that struggling Marylanders need. Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.
MD JOINS TWO DOZEN STATES CHALLENGING TRUMP’S SECOND TARIFF PUSH: Maryland was one of two dozen states that asked a federal court to block the tariffs that President Donald Trump instituted last month after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down his previous tariffs. Jerod MacDonald-Evoy/Maryland Matters.
PRIVATE OWNER OF ELKRIDGE ICE FACILITY SUES HO CO, ELECTED OFFICIALS: The private owner of a planned U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Elkridge is suing Howard County, claiming officials interfered with and obstructed the federal government’s authority to enforce immigration law and open detention sites. Lillian Reed/the Baltimore Banner.
- Howard County’s top official is looking to ban permits for privately owned detention centers after an inspection of an office building in Elkridge raised concerns, according to a news release. Sara Ruberg/the Baltimore Banner.
ECONOMISTS SPLIT ON MOORE’S PROPOSAL TO RESTRICT GROCERY STORE PRICE FIXING: Consumers could potentially spend less on groceries if the General Assembly passes Gov. Wes Moore’s legislation that seeks to limit how stores fix their prices, economists say. But others argue the governor’s proposals risk driving business out of Maryland. Tinashe Chingarande/The Baltimore Sun.
LGBTQ+CAUCUS TARGETS LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR REST OF 2026 SESSION: With slightly more than a month left in the 2026 General Assembly session, the Maryland Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus laid out its priorities Thursday and assessed its progress on bills, some of which it conceded remain a heavy lift. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.
EASTERN SHORE CAPTAIN SAYS MOORE ABANDONED WATERMEN AFTER PROMISE: During his first official visit to Maryland’s Eastern Shore as governor, Wes Moore stood before a group of local leaders and watermen and reflected on the state’s coastal identity. Among those listening was Capt. Robert Newberry, a multigenerational fisherman and volunteer chairman of the Delmarva Fisheries Association. Newberry said conditions have rapidly declined under the Moore-Miller administration. Gary Collins/The Baltimore Sun.
MD, SOUTH CAROLINA LOSE BID TO TRY PFAS CONTAMINATION CASES IN STATE COURTS: Maryland and South Carolina will have to press their cases for PFAS damages against 3M Co. in federal court, after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear their petition to have the lawsuits returned to their respective state courts. Staff/Maryland Matters.
MO CO OFFICIALS ANTICIPATE INCREASE IN FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES: Montgomery County officials say they are bracing for an uptick in federal immigration enforcement activity statewide, but much is still unknown about when and where additional agents are expected to arrive. Ceoli Jacoby/Bethesda Today.
B’MORE MAYOR SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER LIMITING IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT: Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott signed an executive order that he says will protect the rights and safety of the city’s immigrant communities. It also clarifies how local officials will respond to federal immigration enforcement. Wambui Kamau/WYPR-FM.
MOUNT AIRY PASSES FIVE YEAR WATER RATE HIKES FOR MOSTLY BIG USERS: The Mount Airy Town Council approved legislation on Monday that will increase water and sewer rates for at least the next five years. The rate hike package, which the council has been discussing since November, comes as the town has been operating its water and sewer system in a $257,000 annual deficit. Lily Carey/Carroll County Times.
SENATE GOP PUSHES BILL TO ROLLBACK VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE HIKES: Maryland Senate Republicans are pushing legislation to roll back recent vehicle registration fee increases, noting that the change would provide financial relief to drivers and small businesses already facing rising costs. Mennatalla Ibrahim/The Baltimore Sun.
EX-JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER EMPLOYEE NOW CHARGED WITH ABUSING 11 CHILDREN: A former employee at a state-run juvenile detention center in Baltimore County is facing an additional 22 charges that allege he sexually abused another child. Ronald Neverdon is now charged in Baltimore County Circuit Court with a total of 117 counts of child abuse, perverted practice and sex offenses relating to 11 children. He maintains his innocence. Dylan Segelbaum/The Baltimore Banner.
It turns out the Ho Co ICE detention center was started and approved under the Biden Administration. Here we are again with more lies by the Dems about ICE enforcement. There is a lot of fair criticism to be had but they ruin it every time more facts on a situation came out. This has been in the works for years and literally has nothing to do with Trump or his administration. This is how crazy these people are that they will just take anything to claim its all Trump and that everything is his fault or he is overzealous. Get your heads out your butts. In fact it was the Dems and Biden administration the entire time. Just like the children in Cages got started under Obama and then got blamed on Trump. He inherited that shit. No fair criticism and remember it always OK for Dems to violate your rights, they always get a free pass. No fair criticism at all.