MASSIVE UPGRADE AT CALVERT CLIFFS SET AFTER AMAZON POWER DEAL INKED: Constellation, the owner of Maryland’s Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant, plans to move forward with massive upgrades at the facility after signing a 20-year power purchase deal with data center operator Amazon. While the financial specifics of the deal remain confidential, Constellation officials said that because of the funding pledge from Amazon, the company now plans to spend $3 billion on “state-of-the-art improvements” for the facility, located in Southern Maryland’s Lusby. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.
WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT FLOCK IN MARYLAND: Whether you realized it or not, you’ve almost certainly driven by an automated license plate reader. The futuristic-looking devices are mounted to traffic signals, light posts and overpasses. The cameras can be used to find stolen cars and missing people. But recently rage has riveted on one company, Flock Safety, with news articles highlighting how law enforcement has abused the technology. Flock’s presence in Maryland is growing, even if its technology is hardly novel. Police have been using license plate readers for at least a decade. Alex Mann and Cody Boteler/The Baltimore Banner.
MASKS, ABORTIONS, PRICE-SETTING: LAWS TAKE EFFECT TODAY: Police will no longer be able to wear masks, hospitals will not be able to deny emergency abortions in life-threatening situations and retailers will prohibited from setting different prices for the same item based on shoppers’ personal data, under new laws that took effect today. William Ford and Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
- Also taking effect: Maryland will stop automatically sending some teenagers accused of gun offenses and serious assaults to adult court, a major change in how the state handles juvenile crime that supporters say will speed intervention even as prosecutors warn that the juvenile system already struggles to deliver treatment. Maggie Trovato and Jessica Baugh/The Baltimore Sun.
COMMENTARY: WHY THERE ARE FEWER WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE: This summer, while serving as a research intern with the Maryland General Assembly, I examined a 5.3% decline in women’s workforce participation. Many women are not stepping away from work because they lack ambition or qualifications. Instead, they are navigating systems that often make workforce participation difficult to sustain. Rising childcare costs, caregiving responsibilities, limited workplace flexibility, and interruptions in career pathways can make it challenging for women to remain fully engaged in the workforce. These barriers affect individual families, but they also affect Maryland’s economy. Naina Raju/Maryland Reporter.
THOUSANDS OF IMMIGRANTS TO LOSE MEDICAID COVERAGE; SNAP BENEFITS CUT: Treatments for cancer, diabetes and other conditions could be disrupted for up to 4,500 Maryland residents who will no longer qualify for Medicaid under the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill Act that takes effect today, disqualifying people for Medicaid based on immigration status. Included in that act is a change to the way states are charged for operation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which could end up costing Maryland up to $57 million. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
DATA CENTER SENTIMENT SHIFTS; SO DOES MOORE’s STANCE: For much of Gov. Wes Moore’s first term, he worked to “supercharge” the development of data centers, seeing them as just the kind of rocket fuel Maryland needed for its stagnating economy. But then data center politics rapidly shifted. Now, Moore is trying to balance the allure of an economic driver that has labor support against opposition from environmentalists and community groups. With Moore considered a 2028 presidential contender, his decisions today could be viewed in a different light by primary voters in two years. Adam Willis and Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.
B’MORE TRANSIT DREAMS DASHED AS D.C. GETS FINANCIAL BOOST FROM STATE: Baltimore’s public transit network isn’t expanding anytime soon. And at a state budget hearing Wednesday morning inside City Hall, it was clear that years of Baltimore leaders’ polite advocacy for more dollars are turning into righteous indignation. Meanwhile, Maryland’s D.C. suburbs are projected to see a boost in capital spending for the MARC commuter rail and the 14-mile Purple Line. Daniel Zawodny/The Baltimore Banner.
JAWANDO BACK IN OFFICE, ‘PACING’ HIMSELF AFTER HEART ATTACK: Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando, the democratic nominee for county executive, on Tuesday returned to the council office building for the first time since suffering a heart attack while playing basketball on Sept. 5 — an ordeal he described as a “wake-up call.” “The good news is I’m doing well. I am on track to a full recovery,” Jawando said. “I feel good, but I do want to be clear. I’m pacing myself, and I think that’s an important part of the message too.” Ceoli Jacoby/Bethesda Today.
HARFORD RABIES CASES HITS 28; CLINIC TO DISCOUNT SHOTS: The list reads like a virtual ‘Who’s Who’ of local wildlife, 28 confirmed cases of rabies matching last year’s entire total in Harford County, and recently, an infected, stray cat turned up at the Humane Society. In a bid to protect pets, the Humane Society will be holding a discount vaccine clinic on Saturday, Oct. 24. Jeff Hager/WMAR-TV.
B’MORE SCHOOL COMMISSIONER RESIGNS AFTER FBI SEARCHES HIS NONPROFIT: Mujahid Muhammad resigned from the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners Wednesday after FBI agents searched a building where he operates a nonprofit mental health organization. A spokesperson for Mayor Brandon Scott, who appointed Muhammad to the school board in 2023, said Scott’s office received his resignation letter Wednesday night. Justin Fenton, Liz Bowie and Maya Lora/The Baltimore Banner.
HOWARD JV PROGRAM SUSPENDED AFTER PLAYERS FACE ASSAULT CHARGES: Seven Howard High School junior varsity football players face second-degree assault charges following an incident Friday afternoon. School officials also suspended the program. “This message is to inform you that effective immediately, the Howard High School JV Football program is suspended, pending an investigation of a recent situation involving some team members,” Principal Allen Cosentino wrote in a Monday email to families. Jess Nocera/The Baltimore Banner.
- Howard County Police confirmed Wednesday that officers have charged the students, all between the ages of 14 and 16, via juvenile referral and that the investigation into an incident that occurred Friday is ongoing. They declined to provide additional details. Jacob Steinberg/The Baltimore Sun.
