CONTINUING STRUCTURAL DEFICIT THREATENS ANY ‘FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:’ Gov. Wes Moore is touting his “fiscal responsibility” along with a balanced budget proposal, which some lawmakers and economists say ignores Maryland’s most pressing issue ahead: billions of dollars in structural debt. The Department of Legislative Services projects a nearly $3 billion structural deficit in fiscal year 2028, growing to roughly $4 billion by fiscal year 2. Patrick Hauf/The Baltimore Sun.
HOUSE, SENATE STILL WORKING TO CREATE ENERGY PACKAGE: With soaring energy bills a prime concern for voters in an election year, House and Senate leadership want to unite around a single energy package. But when they’ll do so, and what the package will look like, remains a mystery more than halfway through the 2026 legislative session. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.
NURSES SEEK ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES IN FOSTER CASES: Pediatric emergency department nurse Melanie Lee has seen foster youth remain for months after they’re ready for discharge, living in tiny, windowless rooms awaiting a home or facility that will take them. With the kids’ mental health deteriorating by the day, Lee said nurses will quiz social services workers on what exactly they’ve done to find somewhere for them to go. “We wanted a list of what they had tried, to hold them accountable,” said Lee, who was among those who testified last week in favor of a bill that proponents say would do just that. Jean Marbella/The Baltimore Sun.
HOW MUCH GAMBLING IS TOO MUCH? After years of expanding gambling in Maryland — including making sports betting available on phones — the General Assembly is confronting the next frontier: whether to let voters decide if online casino games like blackjack, roulette, and slots should be legalized. Lawmakers are posing the question: “How much is too much?” Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
LAWMAKERS WEIGH UNUSUAL HORSE RACING BETTING OPTION: A bipartisan group of state lawmakers is pitching an unusual new gambling option in Maryland: allowing people to wager on previously run horse races whose details are concealed until the bet is placed. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.
REPARATIONS COMMISSION TO BE RESTRUCTURED UNDER NEW PLAN: Lawmakers are scheduled to take up a bill this week that would move two Reparations Commission appointments from the governor to legislative leaders, who would also gain the authority to name an additional five members to the commission between them. The bill would also add a representative from the Maryland Commission for African American History and Culture to the panel. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
WHY A FEW GROCERY STORES IN MARYLAND CAN SELL ALCOHOL: Affordable wines from Trader Joe’s and Costco are staples elsewhere in the country, but in Maryland, grocery store alcohol is a delicacy. Even with the statewide ban, a handful of grocery stores in the state sell alcohol. Here’s why and which ones. Clara Longo de Freitas/The Baltimore Banner.
SALISBURY U POSTPONES COLLEGE GOP’s WHITE NATIONALIST SPEAKER: Salisbury University has announced the postponement of a Maryland Federation of College Republicans-hosted event featuring controversial speaker and self-described “white advocate” Jared Taylor due to security concerns. Kyle Orens and Sean Curtis/WBOC.
- Taylor’s talk was originally scheduled for today, but now “requires additional planning and public safety resources that the university is unable to provide on such short notice,” according to a statement shared by university spokesperson Jason Rhodes. University leaders said they do not “endorse, sponsor or support the views” of Taylor or the event organizers, an outside group that rented the space on campus. Ellie Wolfe/The Baltimore Banner.
THREE STATE DEPTS EXPRESS CONCERN TO DHS OVER IMPACT OF ICE FACILITY: Three Maryland departments – Natural Resources, Environment and Transportation – wrote a letter to the Department of Homeland Security last week expressing concern over the proposed ICE detention facility in Williamsport in western Maryland. The agencies are concerned about the impact the facility would have on local sewer lines, as it would house 1,500 people and produce more than 187,000 gallons of wastewater a day. Scott Maucione/WYPR-FM.
ICE AWARDED $113M CONTRACT TO PA FIRM TO BUILD OUT MD FACILITY: ICE has awarded a $113 million contract for the build-out and operations of a controversial proposed detention and processing center in Williamsport, in Washington County. Gettysburg, Pa.,-based KVG LLC received the contract Friday, according to USAspending.gov, with an end date listed as May 4, though it is unclear when the facility will be up and running. The contract contains potential future options to grow to as much as $642 million over three years. Daniel Zawodny/The Baltimore Banner.
- All funds have been paid for the contract as of Friday. The facility is located near Hagerstown and is for detention, compliance and deportation operations for ICE. KVG regularly contracts with the federal government for Department of Defense needs. Cheval Pryce/The Baltimore Sun.
- As the Trump administration embarks on a $38 billion plan to convert industrial warehouses into a new breed of large-scale holding centers, it is turning to a crop of relatively untested businesses to rapidly build and operate the facilities. Douglas MacMillan and Aaron Schaffer/The Washington Post.
B’MORE FURNITURE DEALER GETS $25.8M DEAL WITH ICE: Price Modern, a more than century-old furniture dealer in Baltimore’s Remington neighborhood, inked a $25.8 million deal in early February to supply office furniture to federal ICE agents. That didn’t sit well with Fells Point resident Amalia Delony, who felt compelled to call up Price Modern to express disappointment. Others have since followed her lead. Lorraine Mirabella and Steve Earley/The Baltimore Sun.
B’MORE MOVES TO CLEAN UP BRIDGES CHIPPING LEAD PAINT: Baltimore officials are moving to clean up lead paint falling from two city bridges into local waterways, while the Maryland State Highway Administration prepared to close highway ramps to fix some bridges that haven’t been repainted since 1963. The 28th Street Bridge and Orleans Street overpass are under scrutiny after inspections found paint chips potentially contaminating the surrounding environment. Racquel Bazos/The Baltimore Sun.
AREA SCOUT COUNCIL SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE ‘EXISTING PRACTICES:’ Despite Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s demand that Scouting America change its so-called DEI and progressive ways, Kenn Miller, head of the Baltimore Area Council Scout, sent an email to regional Scout leaders that says otherwise. In it, Miller wrote that the council — which includes Howard, Harford, Baltimore, Anne Arundel and Carroll counties and Baltimore City — would continue “existing practices” for applicant validation during member registration. Miller also wrote that Scouting America would continue to “serve all youth.” Gabriella Fine/The Baltimore Sun.
