UNION DEMANDS BEEFED-UP SAFETY EFFORTS AFTER DEATHS OF TWO HIGHWAY WORKERS: Union officials expressed optimism that a meeting Thursday with state Transportation Secretary Kathryn Thomson will lead to improved safety for highway workers. Meeting with state transportation leaders comes after two workers are killed in separate incidents this week. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters.
COULD GUTTING OF VOTING RIGHTS REINVIGORATE STALLED REDISTRICTING PLAN? Wednesday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision to virtually gut a key provision within the federal Voting Rights Act lit a fire under various Maryland elected officials — some are praising new state-level voting protections while others are arguing more needs to be done, and fast. Sarah Petrowich/WYPR-FM
LEGISLATURE’s REDISTRICTING FIGHT DERAILED REFERENDUM ON SPECIAL ELECTIONS: As in other states, the question of whether to redraw congressional district lines for a partisan advantage in this year’s midterm elections was one Maryland legislators had to grapple with this year. The debate pitted the General Assembly’s two chambers against one another and defined much of the session that ended April 13. Ceoli Jacoby/Bethesda Today.
FROST PUTS A CHILL ON SPRING AND SUMMER SELLING SEASON FOR FARMERS: The frost that coated the Mid-Atlantic on April 21 is making for a bleak season ahead for vintners and farmers who experienced losses of up to 90% of their crops. Kate Ryan/Maryland Matters.
MAY DAY PROTESTS EXPECTED TO DRAW THOUSANDS ACROSS STATE: Thousands of worker-centered demonstrations are popping up across the country for May Day, including nearly two dozen in Maryland, as organizers say cost-of-living concerns mount for working people. Darreonna Davis/The Baltimore Banner.
UMD HIRING FREEZE RAISES QUESTIONS AS TOP ATHLETICS COACHES, CHANCELLOR EARN OVER $1M: As the University of Maryland, College Park braces for a 10% reduction in state funding, a new hiring freeze and plans to eliminate at least 150 positions are drawing scrutiny over how taxpayer dollars are being spent — particularly as top athletics coaches and university leadership earn salaries in the millions. Jeff Abell/WBFF-TV News.
MOORE: CLOSED PRIMARY ELECTION SYSTEM ‘HAS RUN ITS COURSE’: Closed political primaries like Maryland’s disenfranchise voters and should be “reevaluated,” Gov. Wes Moore (D) said in a recent television interview. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters.
COURT RULING OVERSHADOWS, BUT WON’T OVERRULE, NEW VOTING RIGHTS LAW: Baltimore County Democrat Sen. Charles Sydnor co-sponsored the state bill, which Gov. Wes Moore signed into law on Tuesday, and has been connected to the cause since disputing a Baltimore County redistricting proposal that resulted in a 2021 lawsuit.. John-John Williams IV/The Baltimore Banner.
MOTHER OF KEY BRIDGE VICTIM’S DAUGHTER MAY BE DEPORTED: A 7-year-old girl who lost her father after the Key Bridge collapse could soon be separated from her mother, who is facing deportation. Breana Ross/WBAL-TV News.
RESIDENTS REACT TO STATE’S DECISION TO CUT TIES WITH KEY BRIDGE CONTRACTOR: Fallout continued Wednesday after the state announced its decision to cut ties with a contractor involved in Phase 1 of the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild. David Collins/WBAL-TV News.
AG CRACKS DOWN ON EVENTS COMPANY OWING CRUISE CUSTOMERS OVER $642K: More than 100 customers are still waiting on over $642,000 in refunds after music-themed cruises never took sail, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said. Darreonna Davis/The Baltimore Banner.
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.
HOMELESSNESS DROPS IN MO CO SAYS SURVEY: Homelessness fell 26% in Montgomery County from last year, according to a recent survey. . This year’s numbers stand in marked contrast to the decrease for families experiencing homelessness was even steeper, at 47%e county’s previous survey, which found a 32% increase in unhoused people living within its borders in 2025 compared to 2024. Ginny Bixby/The Baltimore Banner.
B’MORE LEADERS FACE PROTESTS OVER DIRT BIKES, NOISE AND SAFETY: Baltimore residents rallied outside City Hall on Thursday, pressing city leaders for tougher enforcement on quality-of-life offenses they say are eroding daily living in neighborhoods like Federal Hill — even as officials insist efforts are already underway. Racquel Bazos/The Baltimore Sun.
FORMER SILVER OAK ACADEMY WORKER ALLEGES CULTURE OF FEAR; YOUTH CALL IT A ‘HELLHOLE’: A former Silver Oak Academy mental health employee said violence inside the rural Carroll County facility was not rare but routine when she was there, adding new pressure to a privately run program already under state scrutiny, alarming local law enforcement, and prompting calls from elected officials to shut it down. Gary Collins/The Baltimore Sun.
CARROLL BUSINESS OWNER SUES STATE’S ATTORNEY ALLEGING DEFAMATION: Anthony Birdsong, 41, of Hampstead, alleges that Carroll State’s Attorney Haven Shoemaker, Special Counsel Allan Culver and Community Education Liaison Timothy Weber coordinated to “destroy” his reputation by implying he was guilty of assault and got “lucky” with his judge assignment, according to the lawsuit filed in Carroll County court Tuesday. Brendan Nordstrom/The Carroll County Times.
PACKAGE OF BILLS TO BOOST CHILDCARE PROVIDERS IN PG CO: Prince George’s County, Maryland, is taking what it hopes is a big step to make childcare more affordable and accessible, with a new set of bills that council leaders say could help both families and small business owners across the county. John Domen/WTOP-FM.
MOORE: Closed political primaries like Maryland’s disenfranchise voters and should be “reevaluated,” says Gov. Wes Moore (as reported by Maryland Reporter).
GREN WHITMAN: NO! Let each party hold a primary to pick their candidate AND PAY FOR IT. Otherwise, let each party hold a nominating convention. There is no reason to have any sort of “open (i.e., non-partisan) primary.”