MARYLAND SHERIFFS SUE TO BLOCK STATE COMMUNITY TRUST ACT: The majority of Maryland’s 24 sheriffs filed a civil suit in federal court Tuesday to block the Community Trust Act, which the suit said would hamper sheriffs’ obligation to work with federal authorities to combat illegal immigration. The civil suit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Greenbelt by sheriffs from 17 counties, claims the law would “intentionally obstruct federal law enforcement and thwart Plaintiffs’ obligation to uphold the Constitution of the United States.” William Ford/Maryland Matters.
STATE SEEKS FEDERAL AID FOR FARMERS AFTER EARLY SPRING FREEZE: Gov. Wes Moore petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wednesday for a disaster declaration for Maryland farmers after an early-season freeze in April caused “devastating” crop losses to orchards and vineyards in some counties. Staff/Maryland Matters.
- Some counties have reported losing more than 90% of their apple, peach and barley crops, according to the Maryland Farm Service Agency. The Maryland Wineries Association reported more than one-third of grape acreage “suffered total loss.” Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
NEW LAW RESTRICTING CELL-PHONE USE IN SCHOOLS EARNS HIGH MARKS: Maryland’s new law restricting cell-phone use in schools earned a “B” grade on Phone-Free Schools State Report Card. The state previously received an “F” grade for failing to pass a law during the 2025 legislative session. Aliza Worthington/Baltimore Fishbowl.
AUDIT FINDS QUESTIONABLE MEDICAID PAYMENTS, LACK OF OVERSIGHT: The state agency responsible for overseeing Medicaid payments and services lacked “effective processes” to identify millions in questionable payments made to dead or incarcerated people, according to an audit released this week. The Office of Legislative Audits also found that the Medical Care Programs Administration did not process changes to care plans in a timely manner, possibly delaying care for vulnerable patients. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
FERGUSON FACES A CHALLENGER IN BOBBY LaPIN: Senate President Bill Ferguson is arguably the most powerful lawmaker in Maryland. Schools, roads, bridges are built because he wants them to be. Laws are passed, or not, at his discretion. He’s stood up to Gov. Wes Moore. But these days, Ferguson’s stressing. Some of that is caused by charter boat Capt. Bobby LaPin, part of a wave of populist newcomers seeking to reshape traditional party politics. He’s running against Ferguson to respresent the 46th District in the Senate. Lee O. Sanderlin/The Baltimore Banner.
CAN THE DAN COX REBOOT SHAKE DAN COX 2022? Dan Cox is back on the ballot for governor, and if you squint hard enough, you can almost see the outline of a competent, centrist messaged Republican campaign. The ads are cleaner. The rhetoric is calmer. The culture war flamethrower appears to be in the shop for repairs. If this version of Cox had shown up four years ago, he might have at least made the 2022 general election competitive. Barry O’Connell/The Maryland Wire.
MFUME VS CONWAY A CLASH OVER AGES: In their first-ever candidate forum Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume and Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway clashed over the congressman’s age. Mfume noted that almost five decades in politics have well-equipped him to deliver wins to Baltimore City, but the six-year councilman called for a new generation of leadership. Tinashe Chingarande/The Baltimore Sun.
THE INTERVIEW: ANDREW FRIEDSON, CANDIDATE FOR MO CO EXECUTIVE: The three leading candidates for the Democratic nomination for Montgomery County executive sat down for interviews to talk about themselves and their goals. Andrew Friedson is a 40- year-old Montgomery County councilmember and former deputy chief of staff and adviser to the Maryland comptroller. He says his one clear policy difference with his primary opponents is, “I’m the only person who has consistently advocated against and voted against tax increases. I’m running against colleagues who, to varying degrees, have supported different amounts of tax increases.” Ceoli Jacoby and Louis Peck/Bethesda Today.
ARUNDEL COUNTY EXEC HOPEFULS OUTLINE PLATFORMS AT NAACP FORUM: One Anne Arundel County candidate wants to address youth violence by starting intervention earlier in life, while another feels the solution is to get police more involved in community organizations. That and rent control were among the topics covered in an Anne Arundel County NAACP County Executive forum on Wednesday night. Benjamin Rothstein/The Baltimore Sun.
BA CO GOLF COURSE FUNDS, ONCE REJECTED, MAKE A SURPRISE RETURN: A year ago, the Baltimore County Council rejected $6.6 million in funding for a planned golf course clubhouse renovation, calling the expenditure inappropriate. But the money for the Rocky Point Golf Course’s clubhouse in Essex never actually left the budget, even though the seven-member body had unanimously agreed it should. Instead, the council cut $6.6 million in other funds. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.
BALTIMORE COUNTY SCHOOLS TO RETURN CURSIVE TO 2nd, 3rd GRADES: Baltimore County Public Schools will bring cursive writing back to all second- and third-grade classrooms next school year following a pilot program launched this fall, Superintendent Myriam Rogers announced Wednesday. Rogers said the rollout will not require new spending because the cursive materials are already included in the elementary English Language Arts curriculum from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt’s Into Reading program. Racquel Bazos/The Baltimore Sun.
So glad to hear that cursive is starting to come back to schools. We took so much away thinking we don’t need certain skills anymore while ignoring how our brains work, and that basic skills without letting computers make us lazy helps form our mind for a better learning future.