MARYLAND CANCELS BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, SEEKS NEW BUILDER: Maryland’s plan to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge hit a major setback Tuesday, as state officials abruptly canceled a key construction contract, undercutting Gov. Wes Moore’s repeated claim that the project was the nation’s “fastest-moving” large infrastructure effort. Gary Collins/The Baltimore Sun.
- State transportation officials vowed Tuesday to keep reconstruction of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on track, even as they begin the search for a new contractor. State officials said Tuesday that the decision to part ways with Kiewit Infrastructure as the project enters phase two, came down to a disagreement on price for completing the project. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
- The state will have to find another builder, which means the new bridge will likely be delayed beyond the 2030 timeline announced last fall when officials also said the cost would more than double — potentially reaching $5.2 billion. Moore had initially promised a fall 2028 opening, an ambitious timeline that would have aligned with a speculated White House run. Now, if he wins a second term as governor, he probably still won’t see the project through. Lee O. Sanderlin and Hayes Gardner/The Baltimore Banner.
KANAIYAH’S LAW AMONG BILLS TO PROTECT FOSTER KIDS SIGNED BY MOORE: Gov. Wes Moore (D) and legislative leaders signed more than 200 bills into law Tuesday, but only one led to an extended hug from the governor for a grieving mother. Kanaiyah’s Law named in memory of Kanaiyah Ward, a 16-year-old who died in a Baltimore hotel while in state custody last September from an apparent overdose of an over-the-counter allergy medicine. House Bill 980 is one of several measures that aim to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
WORK BEGINS NOW TO CHANGE SCHOOL RATING SYSTEM: Work will begin immediately on a new school rating system to replace the current one- to four-star system that officials said does not adequately reflect the quality of a school and shortchanges schools with high numbers of low-income students. The work was authorized by passage of House Bill 1582, one of several school system-backed bills passed in the just-ended General Assembly session. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
PENSION BOARD SEEKS PUBLIC TRUSTEES: The Board of Trustees for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) is seeking two trustees, one each from Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. Public Trustees serve a three-year term, from July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2029. The Board holds fiduciary oversight of the ERS for the sole benefit of members and beneficiaries. County residents interested in serving must submit a statement of qualifications and resume, by 5:00 p.m. on May 27, 2026 to [email protected]. For more information, contact [email protected] or (301) 454-1415 or
visit us at ers.mncppc.org.
McCLAIN DELANEY BETS ON HER EXPERIENCE FOR RE-ELECTION WIN: When April McClain Delaney started her term in Congress in January 2025, she thought she knew how to handle the partisan divides in Congress. She had spent plenty of time on Capitol Hill while working for the Commerce Department in President Joe Biden’s administration and as director of the group Common Sense Media before that, and during her husband John Delaney’s term in Congress from 2013 to 2019. Ryan Marshall/The Frederick News-Post.
COMMENTARY: WHY SPELLING MATTERS: Anne Arundel Circuit Court Candidate Rowena Nelson has committed one of the most embarrassing political gaffes I have ever seen. Nelson’s campaign has deployed 4×8 signs promoting her candidacy across Anne Arundel County. The only problem? The signs misspell “Anne Arundel.” Brian Griffiths/The Duckpin.
POLL: TIGHT 3-WAY, DEMOCRATIC RACE FOR ARUNDEL EXECUTIVE: Less than two months before the June 23 primary election, no obvious front-runner appears to have emerged in the contest to succeed County Executive Steuart Pittman, a Democrat who is term-limited. But a new poll by the Center for the Study of Local Issues at Anne Arundel Community College offers some clues as to how the race is going, even if the sample size for the local contest is fairly small. Cody Boteler/The Baltimore Banner.
JUDGE CONSIDERS QUESTIONS ON $100,000 SEALED BA CO SETTLEMENT: A Maryland judge has raised the question of whether a $100,000 taxpayer-funded Baltimore County settlement should remain sealed, ordering both sides in the current challenge to make their case for or against continued secrecy in a move that could ultimately force portions of the record into public view. The dispute centers on a 2024 lawsuit involving Patrick Murray, a former top aide to then-County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. The county sued Murray, then eventually settled with him for $100,000, and later asked the court to seal the case and all related documents. Brian Carlton/The Baltimore Sun.
STATE SCHOOL BOARD DISMISSES CHALLENGE TO BA CO SCHOOL BUDGET: Maryland’s top education panel dismissed a challenge to the Baltimore County school board’s $2.5 billion budget, ruling the group that filed the appeal lacked the legal standing required to bring the case. Brian Carlton and Racquel Bazos/The Baltimore Sun.
MO CO COUNCIL BANS ALL OFFICERS FROM WEARING MASKS ON DUTY: Law enforcement officers including federal immigration agents will be banned from wearing masks while on duty in Montgomery County under a new law unanimously passed by the County Council on Tuesday. Ceoli Jacoby/Bethesda Today.
HOW THE SCOTT ADMIN SECURED MILLIONS FROM A NONPROFIT FOR YOUTH: Internal documents show how Mayor Brandon Scott’s administration worked behind the scenes to secure millions of dollars from a taxpayer-funded nonprofit meant to support grassroots youth programs, bypassing the group’s typical grant process and drawing criticism from city leaders. Patrick Hauf/The Baltimore Sun.
WHITE URBAN PLANNER SUES B’MORE CITY AFTER FIRING: A white urban planner filed a federal lawsuit on Monday, accusing Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott and other city leaders of orchestrating his firing based on race and alleging violations of his constitutional rights. Todd Karpovich/The Baltimore Sun.
