MOORE DEMANDS QUESTION 3 FOES PULL LOOKALIKE AD: A new ad that urges residents to vote against a constitutional amendment that would loosen standards for congressional redistricting has drawn the attention of — and a cease and desist demand from — Gov. Wes Moore. The ad, produced by the super PAC Truth for Maryland, uses fonts and colors similar to those used by the Moore campaign in an attempt to trick voters, lawyers for the governor said. The ad asks voters to oppose ballot Question 3 — which the governor supports. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
- Moore’s legal team has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Truth for Maryland PAC, saying the group’s TV ad and website are “a cynical ploy” to misinform voters. The letter demands the ads and website be taken down by Thursday. Moore, a Democrat, has been a chief proponent of redistricting and the statewide ballot measure, known as Question 3. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.
ADVOCATES SEEK FEDERAL INTERVENTION IN STATE MEDICARE APPEALS: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is reviewing allegations that Maryland failed to process appeals for disability services within 90 days, which is a violation of federal rules. That’s according to an email sent by a CMS employee to Jonathan Martinis, a lawyer representing Connor Feron, a Lutherville resident who has autism and other medical conditions. Brooke Conrad/The Baltimore Sun.
SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES FEAR IT’S ‘BLUEPRINT’ FOR RED INK: Maryland’s school board candidates are running in this year’s election because they want to make their school districts better, a goal echoed in the objectives of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. But nearly halfway into the 10-year-long, $30 billion plan to establish a “world-class education system” in Maryland, many candidates are concerned about the feasibility of the sweeping education reform plan. Maya Nachman/Capital News Service.
MOTHER OF FOSTER TEEN WHO DIED ALONE SUES MOORE, HOTEL CHAIN: The mother of a foster teen who died alone last year in a Baltimore hotel has filed a federal civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit against Gov. Wes Moore, former Maryland Secretary of Human Services Rafael López, the Marriott hotel chain and others claiming their negligence cost a vulnerable girl her life. The lawsuit seeks an unspecified amount of compensatory and punitive damages as well as attorney’s fees. Jessica Calefati and Lee O. Sanderlin/The Baltimore Banner.
UMB AWARDED TAX BREAK FOR B’MORE ‘COLLEGE TOWN’ PROJECT: The University of Maryland, Baltimore, was awarded a city tax break Wednesday that will abate $80 million over the next 25 years for a proposed “college town” development the university has planned. The tax discount, known as a payment in lieu of taxes or PILOT, will support a $160 million development that includes a high-rise residential and retail building near the heart of the university’s downtown campus. Emily Opilo/The Baltimore Banner.
BALTIMORE SUN STATEWIDE VOTERS GUIDE: Who’s running in Maryland’s Nov. 3, 2026, general election and where do candidates stand on the issues? To inform your vote, The Baltimore Sun and Capital Gazette surveyed almost 500 candidates in key races including Maryland governor, attorney general, comptroller, General Assembly and competitive races for county executive, council, school board, state’s attorney and sheriff in the Baltimore area and Wicomico and Worcester counties. Staff/The Baltimore Sun & Capital Gazette.
DEMS SEEK A SUPERMAJORITY ON ARUNDEL COUNCIL: Eight years ago, Democrats in Anne Arundel County rode a national “blue wave” and flipped a County Council district, securing a 4-3 majority. Allison Pickard, the Democrat who flipped that seat, is now running for county executive — and the party is aiming to secure a supermajority on the council by flipping District 5, which includes Arnold and Severna Park. Cody Boteler and Matti Gellman/The Baltimore Banner.
THE LONE RACE FOR HOWARD COUNTY COUNCIL: Most of Howard County’s local elections were settled in the spring primary, since no one stepped forward to challenge the Democratic primary winners. But one County Council race remains competitive. In council District 5, which spans Howard’s westernmost district, Republican Ryan O’Connor and Democrat Cat Carter are vying to replace longtime council member David Yungmann, a Republican who is leaving office by the end of the year to focus on his real estate career. Lillian Reed/The Baltimore Banner.
MAYOR SCOTT FACES QUESTIONS OVER STAFF ACCOUNTABILITY: One senior Baltimore official sent workplace messages threatening to kill colleagues and crack a coworker’s skull, according to city investigators. Another promised city services in an unauthorized letter urging a judge to shorten the sentence of a prisoner who was charged in the killing of a 12-year-old girl days after his release. A third faces federal charges in an alleged multimillion-dollar pandemic loan fraud scheme. The three cases are raising questions about how Mayor Brandon Scott’s administration holds employees accountable. Chevall Pryce/The Baltimore Sun.
UM STUDENT REPORTERS COVERING COACH DEPARTURE CONFRONTED BY POLICE: Two student journalists went to the University of Maryland football facility Wednesday, hoping to get players to talk about coach Mike Locksley’s departure. They got little from the players. However, police visited them. Neither reporter was cited or arrested. Michael Howes/The Baltimore Sun.
- Nolan Rogalski and Jude Wilkenfeld, both journalism students and editors for the Testudo Times, a student-run sports publication, said an employee with Maryland Athletics emerged from the building, stood about 50 feet away and took photos of them. Minutes later, an officer with the University of Maryland Police Department arrived by foot. The two said they began to walk away moments later, but when the officer started to follow them, they turned around to speak with him. Sara Ruberg/The Baltimore Banner.
