ANOTHER PURPLE LINE SNAFU FLOODS APARTMENTS: Reports that construction on the light-rail Purple Line from Bethesda to New Carrollton was on track to be completed by the new 2027 deadline have been reassuring to county officials. But on July 25, a Purple Line contractor hit an unmarked, abandoned water pipe, affecting a nearby active water main in Silver Spring. That caused water to flow from the construction site into the nearby Wayne Manchester Towers apartment building, according to officials. The flooding resulted in the displacement of 50 of the building’s residents. Four apartments were condemned after the flooding, and three others will require extensive repairs, according to county officials. The Purple Line is paying for the damage, the officials said. Ginny Bixby/Bethesda Today

STATES SCRAMBLE TO COMPLETE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS: The abrupt termination of tax credits for clean energy projects is perhaps the most drastic blow that President Donald Trump has struck in his campaign against wind and solar electricity. As states brace for the uncertainty ahead, they are scrambling to get pending projects off the ground before the tax credits expire. Alex Brown/Maryland Matters.

DESPITE RECENT MURDERS, HOWARD CO. IS ‘EXTRAORDINARILY SAFE PLACE’ TOP PROSECUTOR SAYS: State’s Attorney Rich Gibson Jr. insists, “Howard County is a safe place. Numerically speaking, just by the data,” he said in a long-interview. “We are an extraordinarily safe space. Crime is down across the country, right? So just generally speaking, per the numbers, mathematically speaking, crime is trending downward everywhere. Howard County is no exception.” Len Lazarick in The Business Monthly/Maryland Reporter

NONPROFIT HANDLING $56M IN TAXPAYER FUNDS FACES TRANSPARENCY CONCERNS: A Maryland nonprofit that has received more than $50 million in taxpayer funds through the Baltimore City government faces a series of transparency concerns from some accounting experts, according to a Spotlight on Maryland investigation. Patrick Hauf/The Baltimore Sun.

WIND WARS: OC CHALLENGES PERMIT IN TWO DIFFERENT VENUES: Ocean City is pursuing every avenue in its ongoing fight to block an offshore wind farm — including one avenue that didn’t appear to exist until a month ago. That’s when the Environmental Protection Agency told the state that it erred when it said appeals of the air quality permit it granted for the US Wind project could only be challenged in court. The proper venue is the agency’s Environmental Appeals Board (EAB), said the EPA, which ordered the state to rewrite its notice. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.

NEO-NAZI GETS 20 YRS. FOR POWER GRID PLOT: Calling him “profoundly dangerous,” a Maryland U.S. District judge sentenced a founder of a neo-Nazi group to the maximum 20 years in federal prison and a lifetime of supervised release for his role in a plot to blow up Baltimore’s energy grid. Justin Fenton/ The Baltimore Banner.

• The man who conspired to damage or destroy electrical facilities across the state has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, officials said Thursday. Kate Amara/WBAL-TV. 

STATES SCRAMBLE TO COMPLETE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS:The abrupt termination of tax credits for clean energy projects is perhaps the most drastic blow that President Donald Trump has struck in his campaign against wind and solar electricity. As states brace for the uncertainty ahead, they are scrambling to get pending projects off the ground before the tax credits expire. Alex Brown/Maryland Matters.

OPINION: HOGAN DESCRIES MORE GERRYMANDERING: “I said it when I vetoed Maryland’s last gerrymandered map: this is not how democracy is supposed to work. I told Marylanders that gerrymandering, by either party, undermines confidence in our elections. It distorts representation, rewards the extremes, and leaves voters with fewer real choices. That remains true today. The idea that we should redraw maps not because of census data or legal requirements, but because another state did it first, reflects a dangerous mindset. It turns elections into a contest of tricks rather than a debate about ideas. … This is not a ‘fight fire with fire”’ moment. It’s a chance to stop the fire from spreading. It’s short-sighted and illogical for Annapolis Democrats to punish the people of Maryland for the perceived sins of Texas.” Former Gov. Larry Hogan/The Baltimore Sun

TAX-FREE SCHOOL SHOPPING WEEK COMING SOON: The state will forego its usual 6% sales tax on certain clothing items and shoes this Sunday through Aug. 16. The annual event, which usually occurs during the second week of August, gives consumers a chance to stock up on essentials and benefits businesses with extra sales. Clara Longo de Freitas/The Baltimore Banner. 

UMD RENAMES DIVERSITY OFFICE AMID FED DEI SCRUTINY: The University of Maryland, College Park, has renamed its Office of Diversity and Inclusion to Belonging & Community at UMD, according to a statement posted to its website. Mathew Shumer/The Baltimore Sun.

B’MORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER FEDERAL INVESTIGATION: The federal Department of Education opened an investigation Thursday into alleged antisemitic conduct at Baltimore City Public Schools after the Anti-Defamation League filed a complaint against the district last week. Racquel Bazos/The Baltimore Sun. 

STATE INVESTIGATION PUTS HO CO SPECIAL ED STAFFING SHORTAGES IN SPOTLIGHT:  According to one of the OIGE’s findings, two classes at Cedar Lane School were not being taught by a certified teacher. Dennis Valera/WJZ-TV. 

THE ALMANAC OF AMERICAN POLITICS ON SHIFTING CHALLENGES, FACES AND POWER BASES: Maryland continued to vote strongly Democratic even in 2024, a good election cycle for Republicans nationally and one in which core Democratic minority groups nudged rightward. But Maryland is thick with government employees, contractors and highly educated professionals, meaning it faces an uncertain future under a second Donald Trump administration. The Almanac of American Politics/Maryland Matters.

MO CO LEADERS MOURNING DEATH OF JOSEPH GRIFFIN, REGISTER OF WILLS: Montgomery County leaders are mourning the death of Joseph “Joe” M. Griffin (D), the county’s register of wills, who died this week at age 60. The Register of Wills Office did not immediately respond Thursday concerning questions regarding the date or cause of Griffin’s death. Elia Griffin/Bethesda Today. 

IN AA CO, DRONES MAY BE ON THE SCENE BEFORE POLICE: People who call 911 in Anne Arundel County might soon hear the buzz of a drone before they see a police officer. Mirroring a controversial nationwide trend in law enforcement, the Anne Arundel County Police Department is expanding its use of “uncrewed aerial systems,” or drones, to support officers. Alex Mann/The Baltimore Banner. 

OPINION: ANNAPOLIS CAN DO MORE TO ATONE FOR ITS RACIST PAST: Thirty-two years ago, Orlando Ridout IV organized the rescue of the Maynard-Burgess House in Annapolis as a form of reparations. Known to many as Lanny, Ridout was a former state delegate who understood history. Rick Hutzell/The Baltimore Banner.

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LAID OFF FEDERAL WORKERS PROGRAM PAUSED AMID HIRING FREEZE: The Moore administration’s plan to hire laid off federal workers is not happening right now. The decision comes after Republicans blasted the initiative as hypocritical because the state is in the middle of a hiring freeze and offering buyouts. David Collins/WBAL-TV. 

MD RECORDS MOST FLASH FLOOD WARNINGS SINCE 2020: Severe thunderstorms across Maryland on Thursday brought torrential rainfall reaching up to 6 inches in some areas, causing thousands to lose power and requiring several water rescues in Harford County after multiple cars were trapped by rising water. Sam Gauntt/Maryland Matters.

• July ended with a child’s death, water rescues, submerged cars, road closures and power outages after massive storms ripped through Central and parts of southern Maryland. Darreonna Davis and Clara Longo de Freitas/The Baltimore Banner.

JULY MARKS FIVE-YEAR HIGH IN HEAT-ILLNESS HOSPITALIZATIONS: High temperatures this summer have resulted in the deaths of 19 individuals and more than 1,200 Marylanders landing in the emergency room with heat-related illnesses. Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.

LEGISLATIVE AUDIT CASTS DOUBTS ON LEASED OFFICE SPACE SAVINGS: A new legislative audit is casting doubts on hundreds of millions of dollars in savings claimed earlier this year by Gov. Wes Moore. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters.

AUDIT SKEWERS DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENT LEASE, AMONG OTHERS: Auditors panned a $167.1 million lease deal for the Maryland Department of the Environment in a report released Thursday afternoon, arguing the state overpaid to secure a $10 million office renovation budget from its landlord. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters. 

CAROLINE CO. CPS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR INADEQUATE RESPONSE: The Maryland Department of Human Services is investigating Caroline County Child Protective Services after staff failed to respond this summer to a Federalsburg home where state troopers found two children alone, living in human and animal waste. One child was naked, covered in dirt. Glynis Kazanjian and Kate Cimini/The Baltimore Sun. 

IN DEPTH: EARLY LOOK AT 2026 RACE FOR GOVERNOR: There may be more than a year and a half until voters make their pick for governor in Maryland, but candidates are preparing to make their pitch already. WBFF STAFF/FOX 45 NEWS. 

ENERGY DEPT. ALLOWS FOR AACO POWER PLANT TO EXCEED LIMITS, AVOID OUTAGES: U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright issued an emergency order that authorized an Anne Arundel County power plant to operate more often than typically allowed, including areas served by the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company — a feat that Maryland conservative lawmakers called “a major win.” Katharine Wilson/The Baltimore Sun. 

TRUMP WANTS DRUGS MADE IN U.S. THIS COMPANY WILL DO IN B’MORE: At the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. government turned to the Maryland company Emergent BioSolutions and its Baltimore plant to quickly produce massive amounts of vaccines. Meredith Cohn/The Baltimore Banner.

ELECTIONS BOARD SEEKS DISMISSAL OF UNAFFILIATED VOTER LAWSUIT: An attorney representing the Maryland State Board of Elections is asking a Circuit Court judge to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the legality of state-funded primary elections that exclude independent voters. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters. 

HAVRE DE GRACE LIVING SHORELINE COMPLETED: Havre de Grace and Harford County officials welcomed the official opening of the Water Street living shoreline project Thursday morning, finishing an almost five-year construction process. Shaela Foster/The Baltimore Sun.

INSPECTORS WRONGLY CLEARED 1500 HOMES OF LEAD PAINT RISK: In recent weeks, residents in hundreds of homes across Maryland received an alarming notice in the mail. An inspection had illegally cleared their home of risks of toxic lead paint, residents learned in the letters. Adam Willis/The Baltimore Banner. 

STATE OFFICIALS LAUNCH 10-YEAR PLAN TO BOOST SUPPORTS FOR GROWING SENIOR POPULATION: Across the United States, health officials are bracing for the rising population of senior citizens expected in the next couple years, as “Baby Boomers” continue to age into retirement and will likely need additional supports to secure affordable housing options, health care and other resources. Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters. 

PERDUE FACES NEW PFAS CONTAMINATION LAWSUIT ON EASTERN SHORE: Two Salisbury residents are suing a Perdue Farms subsidiary over drinking water contamination from so-called “forever chemicals” as a separate proposed class-action lawsuit continues in federal court. Dan Belson/The Baltimore Sun.

PROPOSED MO CO LEAF BLOWER BAN EXEMPTION KILLED IN COMMITTEE: A proposed exemption to Montgomery County’s gas-powered leafblower ban designed to help professional landscapers won’t move forward following the County Council’s Transportation and Environment Committee 2-1 vote against it Monday. Ginny Bixby/Bethesda Today. 

NEW MATH STANDARDS: The Maryland State Board of Education this week approved new math standards for the first time in 15 years. Jessica Calefati/The Baltimore Banner. 

HARFORD SCHOOLS SEEKS FEEDBACK ON VIRTUAL LEARNING FOR OVERFLOW INCLEMENT WEATHER CLOSURES: Harford County Public Schools might implement a virtual learning plan for overflow inclement weather closures if all makeup days are used in the coming school year. Per legislation passed during the 2023 Maryland General Assembly session, local school systems can conduct virtual learning on inclement weather days after all makeup days are exhausted. Matt Hubbard/The Baltimore Sun.

HOTLY DISPUTED HO CO GO-KART TRACK OK’D BY APPEALS BOARD: A local board has given the green light to a hotly debated go-kart track that a homeowner built on his western Howard County property. Jess Nocera/The Baltimore Banner.

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KLAUSMEIER NAMES NEW INSPECTOR GENERAL BYPASSING KELLY MADIGAN: Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier bypassed the first inspector general to serve the jurisdiction and named a former federal official, Khadija E. Walker, to the role — a move that disappointed members of the public and the County Council. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner. 

• Klausmeier announced Khadija Walker is her appointee to fill the role of inspector general. Walker must be confirmed by the Baltimore County Council. Jake Shindel/WBAL-TV News.

MARYLAND’s FEDERAL WORKFORCE SEES BIGGEST ONE-MONTH DECLINE IN 29 YEARS: Maryland’s federal workforce just saw its largest single-month job loss since 1996, according to estimates released by the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Overall, the state’s federal workforce declined by 3,500 in June — far and away the most in the country. Greg Morton/The Baltimore Banner.

DEMOLITION BEGINS AT PIMLICO RACE COURSE: The long-anticipated transformation of Baltimore’s historic Pimlico Race Course is officially under way, authorities announced Thursday. Alexa Dikos/Fox 45 News.

HOWARD AND MONTGOMERY CRACK DOWN ON PAID HOUSE PARTIES: The Howard County Council convened an emergency meeting Monday to consider increasing the penalties for paid parties at residential properties from $250 to $5,000. The Montgomery County Council last week raised its own penalties for such infractions to $5,000. Lillian Reed/The Baltimore Banner.

UMD MADE THOUSANDS OF UNAPPROVED PURCHASES: A legislative audit filed Thursday found that thousands of purchases made by the University of Maryland, College Park, amounting to millions of dollars, were not properly reviewed. Mathew Schumer/The Baltimore Sun. 

HARFORD SCHOOLS AMONG 7 HEADING TO TRIAL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA LAWSUIT: A Maryland school district is among six others in the U.S. that were picked to go to trial for a lawsuit that claims several social media companies are contributing to the youth mental health crisis. JT Moodee Lockman and Ashley Paul/WJZ-TV News. 

FORMER LT. GOV. STEELE SAYS TRUMP TAX CUT LIKELY WON’T HELP GOP IN MIDTERMS: Michael Steele, Maryland’s former lieutenant governor and the former chair of the Republican National Committee, said support for the $4.5 trillion tax cut bill President Donald Trump signed into law earlier this month is not likely to help GOP lawmakers in the 2026 midterm elections.  “It’s a killer,” Steele, a frequent critic of the president, said.  Bryan Renbaum/The Baltimore Examiner.

JUSTICE DEPT., CONSERVATIVE LAW FIRM SET SIGHTS ON VOTER REGISTRATIONS: Maryland elections officials face the potential of a federal investigation and a separate federal lawsuit led by local, state, and national Republicans over allegations of improperly maintained voter rolls. Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters. 

LAWYERS DEFENDING B’MORE JAIL REPRIMANDED FOR AI-GENERATED CITATIONS: A federal judge in Alabama this week publicly reprimanded attorneys who had been hired by the state of Maryland to defend conditions at a jail in Baltimore for citing cases that turned out to be made up by the artificial intelligence program ChatGPT. Dylan Segelbaum/The Baltimore Banner. 

MO CO FEDERAL WORKER HIRING PREFERENCE LAW SIGNED: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) signed a bill into law Thursday that will allow the county to give preference to displaced federal workers applying for county government jobs, and will help ease the process of filling those personnel vacancies, according to its sponsors. Ginny Bixby/Bethesda Today. 

COMMUNITY, LAWMAKERS RALLY BEHIND EASTON PASTOR DETAINED BY ICE: Politicians and community members are rallying behind Daniel Fuentes Espinal after his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday, July 21. Lily Tierney/The Star Democrat. 

CARROLL CO. DEPUTIES START SERVING ICE WARRANTS AUG. 1: Deputies in Carroll County will officially start serving ICE warrants next Friday as part of the federal agency’s 287(g) program. Bryna Zumer/The Baltimore Sun.

O.C. WIND FARM BATTLE INTENSIFIES: A coalition of Ocean City business owners are continuing the battle between US Wind and local opponents. A legal challenge questions whether environmental laws and the Administrative Procedure Act were properly followed in the approval process. Jeff Morgan/WMAR-TV News.

INDEPENDENT JOINS RACE FOR WARD 1 SEAT IN ANNAPOLIS: Businessman Tom Krieck recently announced his campaign for Ward 1 alderman, running as an independent and joining the race with four Democrats. Tori Newby/The Capital Gazette.

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NAVAL ACADEMY’S FIRST FEMALE SUPERINTENDENT BEING REASSIGNED:  Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, the first woman and Hispanic person to lead the U.S. Naval Academy, is being reassigned  after just 18 months in the latest Trump-era change at the Annapolis military college, according to USNI News. Ellie Wolfe and Alex Mann/The Baltimore Banner.

IN REVERSAL, SENATORS ADVANCE PLAN FOR FBI IN REAGAN BLDG: The FBI notched a victory Thursday in its quest for a new headquarters in downtown D.C., as a key Senate committee advanced the agency’s request to pay for its relocation with cash set aside to build a suburban campus in Maryland. Erin Cox/The Washington Post. 

• Republican senators in Congress squashed Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s attempt to keep the Trump administration from using funds set aside for the FBI headquarters for anywhere other than a relocation to Greenbelt. Brenda Wintrode/Baltimore Banner

MOORE SIGNS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ORDER, AMID FEDERAL ANTI-DEI PUSH: In 2022, Maryland released its Environmental Justice Screening tool, a map that allowed users to view data on pollution burdens and health metrics Census tract by Census tract. In an executive order signed Thursday at Baltimore’s Living Classrooms campus in Harbor East, Gov. Wes Moore (D) ordered his administration to “use this new, improved, data-driven map to inform their policy work and to inform the decisions of their agencies and departments.” Speakers called it a first-ever executive order in the state on environmental justice. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.

•  It was a busy public schedule for Maryland Gov. Wes Moore on Thursday as he made his way from Baltimore before ending in Annapolis to talk taxes. Kate Amara/WBAL-TV.

MOORE GIVES $50 MILLION IN GRANTS FOR B’MORE’S VACANT BUILDINGS: So far this month, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has announced nearly $58 million in grants across the state, most of which comes from a renewed push to clean up vacant properties in Baltimore City. Carson Swick/The Baltimore Sun.

PIEDMONT POWER LINE LANDOWNERS REMAIN FIRM IN OPPOSITION: With more legal filings expected as PSEG seeks to gain access to private property as part of its power line proposal, state legislators and area landowners remain firmly opposed to the project, angered by how the efforts have unfolded so far with the utility company. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.

HUNDREDS BRING ‘GOOD TROUBLE’ RALLY TO STATE HOUSE STEPS: Carl Snowden looked out at the crowd of hundreds of peaceful, sign-carrying protesters gathered on Lawyers Mall in the oppressive heat of a late July afternoon and liked what he saw. And he thought John Lewis would have liked it, too. Sam Gauntt/Maryland Matters.

NAACP LEADERS SUSPENDED AMID FINANCIAL SCANDAL, FACING YEARS-LONG BANS: The NAACP is facing turmoil as two of Maryland’s top leaders have been suspended amid financial allegations. At a community meeting in West Baltimore, residents learned of the latest leadership losses within the organization. Jeff Abell/Fox News. 

POLITICIANS WANT MORE TAXPAYERS TO CLAIM TAX CREDITS: Top Maryland officials are partnering with a nonprofit research organization to plan a campaign encouraging all eligible Maryland tax filers to claim their Earned Income Tax Credits (EITCs). Hannah Gaskill/the Baltimore Sun. 

• Maryland’s chief tax collector said she is focused on returning tax dollars to the tens of thousands of low-income families who are failing to claim tax credits for which they are eligible. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters. 

EX AACO RESERVE OFFICER CHARGED WITH THREATENING MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE FAMILY: A former Anne Arundel County reserve officer was arrested Thursday on charges that he made threatening calls to the Georgia offices of Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press/The Baltimore Banner. 

FREDERICK BILL COULD BE ‘PANDORA’S BOX’ OF DATA CENTERS SAY OPPONENTS: A bill before the Frederick County Council intended to limit data centers could open Pandora’s Box according to opponents, and force the county to rely on the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project. Nathanael Miller/WYPR-FM. 

HOW MO CO WILL ENFORCE ITS NEW HOUSE PARTY LAW: Montgomery County Councilmembers Andrew Friedson (D-Dist.1) and Dawn Luedtke (D-Dist. 7) joined with county officials and police Thursday in Rockville to tout the council’s passage of a law with stricter regulations for commercial events held in private residences and other venues and higher fines for those who violate them. Max Schaeffer/Bethesda Today. 

HO CO SCHOOLS DESCRIBE REDISTRICTING OPTIONS AMID COMMUNITY PROTEST: A crowd gathered in front of the Howard County Department of Education Thursday, urging the Board of Education to “keep Centennial schools together” ahead of a report outlining three potential redistricting scenarios. Kiersten Hacker/The Baltimore Sun. 

$12.6 MILLION FEDERAL GRANT FOR HO CO HEAD START: The Community Action Council of Howard County received a $12.6 million federal Head Start grant, allowing it to provide Early Head Start for the first time, the organization announced Wednesday. Kiersten Hacker/The Baltimore Sun. 

GOVERNOR’S BUY LOCAL COOKOUT HIGHLIGHTS THE SHORE: Moore and attendees had the opportunity to visit each stall to try the local fare. Guests were given a small red festival ticket to vote for their favorite dish, and at the end of the night, Faidley’s Seafood of Baltimore came out on top with their crispy Maryland catfish sliders. Lily Tierney/The Star Democrat. 

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DESPITE SERIOUS CASES, B’MORE OVERDOSES CONTINUE DECLINE: The mass casualty event in Penn North that saw at least 25 people hospitalized on Thursday underscored the persistence of Baltimore’s overdose crisis, despite a recent drop citywide. Mathew Schumer/The Baltimore Sun.

• A suspected “bad batch” of street drugs swept through West Baltimore on Thursday morning, leaving men and women slumped and unconscious in the streets and sending rescue crews scrambling to search the back alleys and vacant homes for more victims. Alissa Zhu, Darreonna Davis, Clara Longo de Freitas, Aline Behar Kado and Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Banner.

GOVERNOR OFFERS STATE WORKERS $20K PLUS $300 PER YEAR OF SERVICE TO QUIT: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s administration is offering state workers a lump sum of $20,000, plus $300 for each year they’ve worked, as an incentive to resign. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner. 

GARCIA COULD BE DEPORTED TO MEXICO OR SOUTH SUDAN: The Trump administration hasn’t decided where it would deport Kilmar Abrego-Garcia if he is freed from a Tennessee jail, but a U.S. immigration official said Thursday that Mexico and South Sudan could be willing to accept the El Salvador native. Ben Finley and Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press/The Baltimore Banner.

• A top U.S. immigration official testifying in federal court Thursday did not give details of the Trump administration’s plans to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia if he is released from pre-trial detention next week in Tennessee. Ariana Figueroa/Maryland Matters. 

GRIM FUTURE FOR FOOD BENEFITS WITH SNAP CUTS: It won’t happen immediately but advocates and state officials are predicting that changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in the budget reconciliation bill signed last week will deliver “a devastating blow” to many of the 680,000 Marylanders who get SNAP benefits. Sam Gauntt/Maryland Matters.

MD MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SPEAK ABOUT INSIDER TRADING: Maryland lawmakers’ decisions about proposed stock trading restrictions are personal because many are invested in the market. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.

SENATE VOTES TO FUND GREENBELT FBI HEADQUARTERS: The Senate Appropriations Committee voted on Thursday to preserve $1.4 billion in funds for use at the Greenbelt site for the new FBI headquarters, disrupting President Donald Trump’s administration’s plans to use the funds to move the headquarters to downtown Washington, D.C. Ben Mause/The Baltimore Sun. 

• Sen. Chris Van Hollen fought back against the Trump administration’s plans to keep the FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., by hitting them right where the money is — in Congress. For the moment, he won. Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.
• The Trump administration’s plan to relocate the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters to the Ronald Reagan building in the District of Columbia, and not a previously selected location in suburban Maryland, hit a roadblock Thursday. Jennifer Shutt/Maryland Matters. 

RAVENS COACH HARBAUGH AND BROTHER MEET WITH TRUMP: Ravens coach John Harbaugh and his brother, Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, met Thursday with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, a White House official confirmed. Jonas Shaffer/The Baltimore Banner. 

THIRD COVID FRAUD REPORT ISSUED IN BALTIMORE CO.: Baltimore County Inspector General Kelly Madigan has found that a third county corrections officer with ties to Nigeria committed fraud by obtaining a federal COVID loan for a business that did not exist. Rona Kobel/The Baltimore Banner. 

B’MORE CITY SCHOOLS DON’T USE WATER FOUNTAINS DUE TO LEAD: Nearly twenty years ago, Baltimore City schools shut off the majority of its drinking fountains to eliminate the risk of lead poisoning — instead opting to use five-gallon water jugs. That switch has caused a lot of relief, but it also comes with a new set of issues. Bri Hatch/WYPR-FM.

AACO BOAT RAMP CLOSES TO PUBLIC DESPITE $2 MILLION INVESTMENT: Arundel County residents can no longer use a boat ramp that cost taxpayers $2 million to build and maintain over the past decade. Jeff Morgan/WMAR- TV News. 

WHO IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION TO MO CO COUNCIL IN 2026?: With the Maryland gubernatorial primary less than one year away, races for local offices are heating up, offering the possibility that the membership of the Montgomery County Council could look very different by the end of 2026. Ginny Bixby/Bethesda Today. 

U.S. SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATOR TOUTS TRUMP BUDGET IN B’MORE: U.S. Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler visited Checkerspot Brewing Co. in Baltimore on Thursday, touting several measures in President Donald Trump’s budget. One measure touted by Loeffler was a tax break for workers who get tips or overtime. Breana Ross/WBAL-TV News. 

INTEREST REVIVED FOR STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS IN SAVE PROGRAM: About 13.5% of Maryland residents carry student debt, a fairly typical number among states, according to the Education Data Initiative. But the average debt carried by those residents was second-highest in the nation, trailing only the District of Columbia. Shauneen Miranda /Maryland Matters. 

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MASSIVE TAX BREAK AND SPENDING CUT BILL PASSES: U.S. House Republicans cleared the “big, beautiful bill” for President Donald Trump’s signature Thursday, marking an end to the painstaking months-long negotiations that began just after voters gave the GOP unified control of Washington during last year’s elections. Jennifer Shutt and Ariana Figueroa/Maryland Matters. 

• Republicans notched their first major legislative victory of President Donald Trump’s second term Thursday, passing a mammoth tax and immigration bill the GOP hopes will reshape the U.S. economy and unwind many of the Biden administration’s accomplishments. Jacob Bogage and Marianna Sotomayor/The Washington Post.
  
• It would add more than $3 trillion to the national debt. It now heads to the president to be signed into law. Alicia Parlapiano, Margot Sanger-Katz, Aatish Bhatia and Josh Katz/The New York Times.
• A Republican tax and spending bill headed to President Donald Trump’s desk includes unprecedented Medicaid cuts that could threaten health coverage and services for thousands of rural Marylanders, advocates and elected officials warn. Sapna Bansil/The Baltimore Banner.
•  The expansive bill will affect nearly every American, regardless of their stage in life or income level. By Julie Zauzmer Weil, Yasmeen Abutaleb and Jacob Bogage/The Washington Post. 

WHY ANDY HARRIS CHANGED HIS MIND ON THE ‘BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL’: Before the ink was dry on the Senate version of President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” Rep. Andy Harris made clear: He would vote no. Two days later, he voted yes. Ben Mause/The Baltimore Sun.

HOW EVERY HOUSE MEMBER VOTED ON TRUMP’S BIG TAX BILL: The House passed President Donald Trump’s massive tax and immigration bill in a 218-214 vote Thursday, one day before the Republicans’ self-imposed July 4 deadline. Hannah Dormido, Szu Yu Chen and Nick Mourtoupalas/The Washington Post. 

SNAP CUTS COULD THREATEN SUN BUCKS PROGRAM: Maryland distributed more than $23 million at the end of June to help the families of more than a half-million low-income children afford food this summer while school is out. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.

B’MORE OFFICIALS CALL FOR MORE ACTION TO REDUCE ENERGY BILLS: The Maryland General Assembly spent countless hours on energy reform this session, and emerged with a package of bills aimed at lowering customer costs. But bills are still rising — and not only because of summer heatwaves — and a group of Baltimore policymakers and advocates called for more to be done Thursday. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters. 

B’MORE’S PLAN TO REDUCE DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS BY NEARLY HALF:  A year after Baltimore scored a windfall of new money from settlements with drug companies, leaders unveiled a draft plan this week to chart a course for how the city plans to tackle substance use for the next two years, with a goal of reducing overdose deaths by 40% by 2040. Emily Opilo and Alissa Zhu/The Baltimore Banner. 

EIGHT SHERIFF’S OFFICES PARTNER WITH ICE:  In June, another Maryland county joined an Immigration and Customs Enforcement program that would allow local officers to carry out some of the federal agency’s work, bringing the number of participating counties up to eight. Racquel Bazos/The Baltimore Sun. 

B’MORE COURTS TIGHTEN LAW ENFORCEMENT CHECKS: Law enforcement officers entering the Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. Courthouse, Elijah E. Cummings Courthouse and Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center on official business must first check in with the sheriff’s office, identify themselves and disclose the purpose of their visit, according to a new administrative order. Dylan Segelbaum/The Baltimore Banner. 

MO CO TEACHERS UNION TO ENDORSE 2026 CANDIDATES: The Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) is expediting its timeline for endorsements for the 2026 gubernatorial election and expects to release its recommendations on its “Apple Ballot” in December, the county teachers union announced Wednesday. Ashlyn Campbell/Bethesda Today.

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DEMOLITION OF KEY BRIDGE REMNANTS TO BEGIN JULY 7: Fifteen months after the Francis Scott Key Bridge’s main span collapsed into the Patapsco River, the rest of the structure finally has a demolition date.Beginning “on or about July 7, weather permitting,” mechanical destruction of the remnants will begin, the Maryland Transportation Authority said in a news release Thursday. Hayes Gardner/The Baltimore Banner. 

‘TECH TAX’ STARTS TUESDAY. HERE’S HOW IT WORKS: Maryland lawmakers introduced and fast-tracked the 3% tax with limited public input in the final weeks of the 90-day session earlier this year in order to help fill a $3.3 billion deficit. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.

MOORE HIRES EX-WHITMER AID TO HELM CAMPAIGN: Gov. Wes Moore (D) is turning to a strategist with close ties to a potential rival in the 2028 White House election to helm his 2026 reelection campaign in Maryland – and possibly a national campaign beyond that. Josh Kurtz/Maryland Matters.

MOORE ISSUES CALL FOR PROPOSALS TO REDEVELOP AGING STATE CENTER COMPLEX: Efforts to redevelop the aging State Center Complex in Baltimore have spanned decades and seen governors and legal battles come and go. Now Gov. Wes Moore (D) wants to try his hand at fixing up the campus. Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.

LANDOWNERS APPEAL RULING ALLOWING SURVEYS FOR PIEDMONT POWER LINE: About 60 Maryland landowners are looking to block a federal district court ruling that said workers for the proposed Piedmont power line could go on private property to survey for the project without the landowners’ permission. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters. 

• Carroll County Commissioner Tom Gordon III angered his board colleagues Thursday when he made a motion to set aside $100,000 from the budget to fight the 70-mile powerline known as the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project from being built. Sherry Greenfield/The Baltimore Sun. 

GARCIA COULD BE DEPORTED TO A THIRD COUNTRY SAY PROSECUTORS: President Donald Trump’s administration plans to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a country that’s not his native El Salvador after he’s released from jail in Tennessee, a federal prosecutor told a federal judge in Maryland on Thursday. Ben Finley/Associated Press.

PRINCE GEORGE’S cO. LEADERS SEEK TECH TO TARGET ‘SERIAL SQUATTERS’, AD PROFITEERS: Two elected leaders in Maryland’s second-largest county support a proposed bill to prioritize modernizing housing records in Maryland during the upcoming legislative session to combat the state’s squatting epidemic and social media users who profit from spreading the problem. Gary Collins/FOX 45 News.

AACO TEACHERS UNION TAKES HISTORIC STEP INTO ANNAPOLIS COUNCIL RACE: For the first time, the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County has endorsed candidates in the upcoming Annapolis City Council elections. Bridget Byrne/The Baltimore Sun. 

NEW GUN VIOLENCE PLAN AND DASHBOARD UNVEILED: The Maryland Department of Health is launching a new dashboard focused on cataloging firearm violence around the state; it coincides with a  state preliminary plan for an approach to reduce firearm violence. Scott Maucione/WYPR.

• Andrea Chamblee got into politics after her husband, sports reporter John McNamara, was killed in the Capital Gazette’s newsroom in 2018. McNamara was one of five staff members murdered. Maggie Trovato/The Baltimore Sun.

UNDERSERVED HARFORD CO. COMMUNITIES ARE GETTING REVITALIZED: For the past three years, the Southern County Task Force has been working to revitalize some of Harford County’s most underserved communities via safety improvements, community cleanups and other initiatives. Matt Hubbard/The Baltimore Sun.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS IN STORE FOR GARRET CO: The Western Maryland Economic Future Investment Board released the 2024 Annual Report for the Senator George C. Edwards Fund, detailing significant economic development initiatives in Garrett County. Shantelle Malcolm-Lym/Conduit Street (MACo).

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BLACK LEADERS WANT MOORE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, SAY RACIAL WEALTH GAP CAN’T END WITHOUT REPARATIONS: Though Gov. Wes Moore announced actions toward ending the racial wealth gap Thursday, members of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus say that cannot truly happen without discussing reparations. Hannah Gaskill/The Baltimore Sun. 

MOORE ANNOUNCES ‘JUST COMMUNITIES’ TO HELP REVERSE HISTORIC DISINVESTMENT: On Thursday, Governor Wes Moore announced a new effort to  reverse historic disinvestment in more than 400 communities across the state, 419 census tracts will receive their ‘Just Community’ designation effective July 1st. Amanda Engel/WMAR-TV NEWS. 

JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS ENDURE IN FACE OF DEI ATTACKS: The organizer of Annapolis’ annual Juneteenth celebration said eight of the event’s main sponsors have dropped their support for the two-day event this year. In total, Coates said the festival and parade lost about $150,000 in sponsorships and federal grant money. Sam Gauntt/Maryland Matters.

ELKTONIA-CARR’S BEACH SHORELINE RESTORATION TAKES SHAPE: The future park at historic Elktonia-Carr’s Beach will be a celebration of its African-American history. The property is the last remaining piece of a 180-acre tract of land known as Carr’s and Sparrow’s beaches, two popular resorts on the Chesapeake Bay where Black people found refuge during the segregation era. Megan Loock/The Baltimore Sun.

$4 MILLION AWARDED TO BOOST WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN CONSTRUCTION: Workforce development programs across Maryland got a boost this week as Gov. Wes Moore and the state’s Department of Labor and Department of Transportation announced $4 million in grants. Bria Overs/The Baltimore Banner. 

SYDNOR DECIDES TO SKIP BALTIMORE COUNTY EXECUTIVE RACE: State Sen. Charles Sydnor, who had been weighing a run for the Democratic nomination for Baltimore County Executive in 2026, announced Thursday he will instead run for another term in the Senate. John Lee/WYPR-FM. 

BRAVEBOY APPOINTS GEORGE NADAR NEXT PG CO. POLICE CHIEF: Hours after being sworn in as Prince George’s County Executive on Wednesday, Aisha Braveboy announced that George Nader will be the county’s next police chief. Nader, who has worked as the assistant chief for the Metro Transit Police Department since 2016, worked previously in Prince George’s for 20 years that began in 1996 that included the rank of deputy chief. William J. Ford/Maryland Matters. 

AACO GETS POOR MARKS ON BRIDGES BY TRANSPORTATION DEPT: Six bridges in Anne Arundel County have been rated “poor” following a recent inspection by the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration. All six are either scheduled for repairs or are already being restored, using federal funds from the Highway Bridge Program, which funds up to 80% of repairs. Tori Newby/The Baltimore Sun.

MD EQUITY OFFICE SLUGGISH IN CANNABIS COMMUNITY FUND ROLLOUT: Maryland’s plan to use cannabis tax revenue for local community programs faces a series of setbacks from its equity office. Patrick Hauf/Fox 45 News.

ICE AGENTS CLASH WITH RESIDENTS, PUT LOCAL POLICE IN MIDDLE: As federal immigration agents sweep the Baltimore region, making arrests as part of President Donald Trump’s deportation agenda, their efforts have begun drawing in local police. Ben Conarck, John-John Williams IV and Daniel Zawodny/The Baltimore Banner.

WALDSTREICHER TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION TO MD SENATE: Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher (D) announced Thursday he is running for re-election to his seat in the Maryland General Assembly in the November 2026 general election. Ginny Bixby/Bethesda Today. 

MEET THE EARLY CANDIDATES FOR HOWARD CO. COUNCIL: The Howard County Council is due for a makeover and will look very different after the 2026 election. While all five of the current council members could run again, three of them have said they are running for other offices or planning to leave politics. That means the County Council will look very different after the 2026 election. Lillian Reed/The Baltimore Banner.

ABERDEEN INITIATIVE OFFERS SOCIAL SERVICES RATHER THAN JAIL TIME: Aberdeen police are now able to connect low-level offenders and others in the community struggling with homelessness, mental illness and substance abuse with resources through a new initiative that “offers hope, not handcuffs.” Matt Hubbard/The Baltimore Sun.

COMMENTARY: ALAS, POOR FEMA. WE KNEW YOU WELL. FEMA investigators spent days walking around Westernport and Lonaconing in May, tallying up the damage to hundreds of homes and buildings wrecked by flash flooding. Now, Maryland waits. Rick Hutzell/The Baltimore Banner. 

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DESPITE EFFORTS BY LAWMAKERS, ENERGY BILLS ARE GOING UP AGAIN. HERE’S WHY: Discussions about rising energy costs may have dominated this past Maryland General Assembly session. But even higher bills are on the way. Beginning June 1, elevated rates took effect for utilities across Maryland, from Baltimore Gas & Electric to Delmarva Power and Pepco. The reasons go back to economics class: low supply and high demand. But who is to blame depends on who you ask. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.

NEW LOAN PROGRAM FOR LAID-OFF FEDERAL WORKERS: Marylanders affected by federal layoffs this year can now apply for an interest-free state loan to help them pay the bills in the short term, according a press release Thursday from the state Department of Labor. Danielle J. Brown/Maryland Matters.

HOW THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF DIESEL FUEL GOT FROM HOPKINS INTO B’MORE HARBOR: Crews worked around the clock to clean up 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel that dyed the water red near Harbor East and had environmental groups concerned about long-term impacts. Mike Hellgren/WJZ NEWS Baltimore.

• The Maryland Department of Natural Resources pulled oil-covered animals from Baltimore’s harbor after a fuel spill. Along the Inner Harbor, where crews worked to clean up the spill and save wildlife, it was an all-hands-on-deck response that included Maryland Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. Tommie Clark/WBAL TV-News. 

MOORE TRIMS B’MORE CITY REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO, OTHER SPENDING TO $576M: Maryland officials are taking new steps to trim the state’s real estate portfolio in Baltimore City as part of a larger effort to save hundreds of millions of dollars over the next two decades. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.

MARYLANDERS REACT TO TRUMP’S TRAVEL BANS, RESTRICTIONS: Less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump announced that citizens from 12 countries would be banned from visiting the United States, Marylanders with strong ties to the local immigrant community affected by the ban reacted with shock and outrage, anxious about what might come next. John-John Williams IV/The Baltimore Banner.

AFTER RUMBLINGS, REFERENDUM CAMPAIGNS FALL SHORT: Though there were some rumblings, no one turned in petitions to challenge actions of the Maryland General Assembly via referendum this year, state elections officials say. At least two laws, both focused on energy policy, were in the crosshairs this year. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters. 

KATHY KLAUSMEIER REFLECTS ON FIRST FIVE MONTHS AS BA CO. EXECUTIVE: The former legislator spoke in a recent interview about permit delays, teacher salaries and outrage over her inspector general decision. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.

JANSSEN EVELYN ANNOUNCES SECOND RUN IN HOWARD CO. 4TH DISTRICT: Janssen Evelyn announced Thursday his candidacy to represent Howard County’s 4th District on the County Council. This is the Democrat’s second attempt at securing a spot on the council. April Santana/The Baltimore Sun.

JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP CUTS TO AMERICORPS IN MD, 23 STATES: A federal judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to AmeriCorps, ordering the agency to reinstate hundreds of millions of dollars in terminated grants and bring back thousands of service members across about two dozen states. Jack Hogan/The Daily Record.

CECIL ADOPTS $280M OPERATING BUDGET: The Cecil County Council has unanimously approved a $280M operating budget for fiscal 2026, affirming key investments in public safety, education, and infrastructure while maintaining steady tax rates, even amid mounting budget pressures from the State. Kevin Kinnally/Conduit Street (MAco). 

FEDERAL JUDGE UNSEALS SOME RECORDS IN ABREGO GARCIA CASE: The Maryland federal judge overseeing the lawsuit concerning the wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia unsealed documents Wednesday that the Trump administration had asked to keep unavailable to the public under the so-called state secrets privilege. Ariana Figueroa/Maryland Matters. 

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‘SANCTUARY’ DECLARATION COULD MEAN B’MORE, OTHERS, LOSE FEDERAL MONEY:  The Trump administration declared Baltimore and more than a dozen Maryland towns and counties as “sanctuary jurisdictions” Thursday, a designation that throws the federal money they receive into question. Lee O. Sanderlin/The Baltimore Banner. 

• Eight Maryland counties including Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Charles, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties and Baltimore City are classified as “Sanctuary jurisdictions,” according to the Trump administration. Jake Shindel/WBAL-TV. 

$1 MILLION MORE INVESTED IN ‘FEDS TO EDS’ PROGRAM FOR LAID OFF WORKERS: Gov. Wes Moore (D) was at Montgomery College on Tuesday to announce new funding for ACET programs across the state. Montgomery College will get a grant of $100,000 for its program. “Maryland will provide $1 million in grants to 11 Maryland colleges and universities to help laid-off workers to pivot to careers in education in the state of Maryland,” Moore said to enthusiastic applause. KATE RYAN/WTOP NEWS.

BLUEPRINT GETS A ROAD MAP: TWO AGENCIES OVERSEEING SCHOOL REFORM AGREE TO CLARIFY ROLES: Local school systems straining to comply with the state’s sweeping Blueprint for Maryland’s Future have had to report to both the Maryland Department of Education and the Blueprint’s Accountability and Implementation Board, a setup creating confusion “since the get-go.” William J. Ford/Maryland Matters. 

THESE COLLEGES WOULD BE HARDEST HIT WHEN LOSING CHINESE STUDENTS: If Secretary of State Marco Rubio follows through on his threat to revoke Chinese student visas, some Maryland colleges could take a hit. Cody Boteler, Ellie Wolfe and Sahana Jayaraman/The Baltimore Banner. 

MOORE SAYS HE’S NOT RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT, WHILE HIGH PROFILE STOPS KEEP CHATTER ALIVE: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, often mentioned among Democrats as a potential presidential candidate, has been saying for months that he isn’t running for the White House in 2028. Associated Press/WTOP.

AS ELECTRICITY COSTS CLIMB, CONSUMER ADVOCATES PUSH BACK: Increased demand from new data centers and other users in the mid-Atlantic and a constrained transmission grid have sent prices up. Additionally, PJM is requiring two Anne Arundel County power plants to be kept online until reliability measures are put in place.  Lorraine Mirabella/The Baltimore Sun. 

PATAPSCO RIVER OYSTER REEF PROVES RESILIENT: When the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March 2024, much of the public’s attention focused on the loss of six road workers and the massive disruption to regional traffic. But beneath the surface of the Patapsco River, environmentalists also worried about a different kind of fallout — one that could affect the Chesapeake Bay for decades to come. Wambui Kamau/WYPR-FM. 

COUNTY ‘ERROR’ LEADS TO RELEASE OF IMMIGRANT WITH FELONY CONVICTION: The Montgomery County Department of Correction & Rehabilitation (DOCR) inadvertently failed to process a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer request for an individual with a previous felony conviction and known gang affiliation, DOCR director Ben Stevenson said in a statement Tuesday evening. Ginny Bixby/Bethesda Today. 

LAWSUIT ALLEGES MD PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL: The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in state court in Anne Arundel County by attorney Boyd Rutherford — Maryland’s former Republican lieutenant governor — in collaboration with the nonpartisan Open Primaries Education Fund, at a time when third-party and independent voters are a growing segment of the electorate. Katie Mettler/The Washington Post.

CONSERVATIVES WANT TO REFORM HIGHER EDUCATION,  JOHNS HOPKINS IS HELPING: Conservatives who want more influence in higher education have a surprising new ally: the president of an elite university. Ellie Wolfe/The Baltimore Banner. 

CHARTER SCHOOLS WARN OF POSSIBLE CLOSURES AMID FUNDING FIGHT WITH DISTRICTS: Maryland’s charter schools are warning of possible closures as their leaders describe “dramatic” funding cuts since the rollout of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. Brooke Conrad/The Baltimore Sun.

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