8,000 MARYLANDERS DOWNGRADE ACA COVERAGE AS FEDERAL BREAKS EXPIRE: As fewer Marylanders qualify for federal tax breaks that used to keep health care costs down, state officials report that higher monthly premiums have led thousands to opt for lower-coverage healthcare plans than in previous years. Approximately 8,000 Marylanders who previously selected gold plan coverage opted to take on a bronze plan this year, according to healthcare officials. That’s higher than the previous estimate initially reported to lawmakers in January of roughly 5,000 people downgrading their plans. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
STATE SUPREMES BAR RELEASE OF NAMES OF UNINDICTED CLERGY: The Maryland Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Attorney General’s Office cannot publish the names of Archdiocese of Baltimore clergy and staff who were cited in a grand jury probe of sexual abuse of children, but never charged. William Ford/Maryland Matters.
DNR TO STUDY GILL NETS FOR HARVESTING INVASIVE BLUE CATFISH: Gov. Wes Moore signed new legislation this year that allows the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to explore using gill nets for the commercial harvesting of blue catfish due to the species’ invasive nature. Blue catfish are considered a threat to the Chesapeake Bay’s ecosystem with their unyielding appetites — particularly towards the Maryland blue crab — their high reproductive rate and potential harm to native species. Sarah Petrowich/WYPR-FM.
COMMENTARY: FERGUSON WANTS TO END INSPECTOR GENERALS: Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson has been out to destroy the office of Inspector General not only in Baltimore City but all the Inspector General offices throughout the state of Maryland. It is not mystery why he wants to do this. Political leaders like Ferguson always talk about accountability but when they or their political allies are being investigated, suddenly inspector generals are the Antichrist. John Dedie/Maryland State Politics & Government Substack.
STATE PROPERTY DATABASE BACK ONLINE AFTER TWO WEEKS: Maryland’s property ownership database is back online as of Monday after a nearly two-week hiatus because of a cybersecurity incident. After state officials detected suspicious activity on their servers, they took down the state officials took the State Department of Assessments and Taxation website on April 14, in order to contain the threat and begin an investigation. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.
CONWAY CHALLENGES MFUME TO DEBATE: Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway challenged U.S. Rep Kweisi Mfume to a debate in the latest development in the race for Maryland’s 7th District. “If he is ready to defend his record, he should welcome a debate on these issues. If he refuses, the people of Baltimore will have their answer,” Conway said Monday. Tinashe Chingarande/The Baltimore Sun.
JOLSON IMPERSONATOR WHO PERFORMED IN BLACK FACE SEEKS DELEGATE SEAT: A Baltimore County man who for years performed in blackface as the 1920s entertainer Al Jolson is running for the Maryland House of Delegates. He’s listed on the ballot as Bobby Al Jolson Berger. Berger said he stopped performing as Jolson in blackface in 2016. Berger is running as a Republican for one of three House seats representing District 6. Three GOP incumbents are running for those seats as well — Ric Metzgar, Bob Long and Robin Grammer. John Lee/WYPR-FM.
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.
NIMBY ARUNDEL RESIDENTS FIGHT LONG PROMISED COUNTY RIVER PARK: Anne Arundel County has done little to turn a wooded 28-acre waterfront parcel in Crownsville into the park it promised when it purchased the land eight years ago. While the property is technically open to the public, there’s nowhere to park, no place to use the bathroom, no easy way to get to the serene Valentine Creek, which feeds the Severn River. Instead, the park effectively serves as a private playground for three nearby neighborhoods whose residents have created trails through the forest. Now the county is moving forward with the park, and neighbors are pushing back — hard. Alex Mann/The Baltimore Banner.
WHAT HAPPENS TO B’MORE NOW THAT IT HAS LOST $152M IN OPIOID FUNDS? A Maryland Supreme Court decision vacating a $152 million opioid verdict is not expected to change Baltimore’s immediate budget plans, city officials said Monday, even as the ruling removes a potential source of future funding for overdose response efforts. Chevall Pryce/The Baltimore Sun.
SPACE X SEEKS TO SET UP SITE IN WESTMINSTER: Elon Musk’s SpaceX, an aerospace company, is taking steps to establish a site in Westminster. Westminster Mayor Mona Becker said SpaceX purchased a property at 1121 Independence Way. SpaceX filed building permit applications with the city and paid the associated fees on April 21. As of Monday, state property records still showed that Conewago Contractors Inc., a real estate company based in Pennsylvania, owned the property. Gabriella Fine/The Carroll County Times.
ARSON CONFIRMED AT VACANT SPRINGFIELD HOSPITAL BUILDINGS: The Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office has confirmed that fires Saturday morning at two vacant buildings in Sykesville’s Springfield Hospital Center were acts of arson. The historic hospital site was first established in 1896, and the men’s group buildings — where the fires were set — were completed in 1898. The building that suffered the most damage was the administration building in the men’s group. Gabriella Fine/The Carroll County Times.
