The East Coast of the United States is grappling with unprecedented property damage costs as flash flooding events continue to devastate communities from Virginia to New York. Recent assessments indicate that the financial toll from these weather disasters is approaching historic levels, with experts warning that the combination of climate change and inadequate infrastructure is creating a perfect storm for catastrophic losses.

Another round of showers and thunderstorms moved across the Mid-Atlantic Tuesday after intense rain set off dangerous flash flooding from Virginia to New York on Monday, leaving at least two dead and prompting dozens of rescues as water overwhelmed roads and subways. This pattern of severe weather has become increasingly common, with meteorologists noting that slow-moving storm systems are creating conditions ripe for flash flooding across the region.

The financial impact of these flooding events is staggering. With Hurricane Helene at the top of the list, there were 27 disasters in the United States in 2024 that individually cost $1 billion or more. It was the second-highest number since the NOAA record began in 1980. While Hurricane Helene dominated headlines, the cumulative effect of repeated flash flooding events has created a mounting crisis for property owners and insurance companies alike.

According to recent analysis, flooding costs the U.S. between $179.8 and $496.0 billion each year, making it one of the most expensive natural disasters facing the nation. The East Coast, with its dense population centers and aging infrastructure, bears a disproportionate share of these costs. Urban areas are particularly vulnerable, as concrete surfaces prevent natural water absorption and channel rainfall into overwhelmed drainage systems.

The insurance industry is struggling to keep pace with the rising costs. “Unless property owners have specific flood insurance, losses and repairs will most likely not be covered by standard policies,” AccuWeather chief meteorologist Jonathan Porter said in a report. This coverage gap has left many homeowners facing devastating financial losses, as standard homeowner’s insurance policies typically exclude flood damage.

The problem is compounded by low flood insurance participation rates. Mark Friedlander, spokesman for the Insurance Information Institute, an industry group, said only about 6% of U.S. households have a flood policy — primarily in the coastal areas prone to hurricanes. This means that the vast majority of property owners affected by flash flooding are bearing the full cost of repairs and replacement themselves.

Construction and restoration professionals are witnessing firsthand the escalating scope of flood damage. According to the website, https://firstcoastcontracting.com/, the demand for flood damage restoration services has increased dramatically in recent years, with contractors reporting that modern flooding events are more severe and widespread than those seen in previous decades. The company notes that properties are experiencing deeper water intrusion and more extensive structural damage, requiring comprehensive restoration approaches that can cost tens of thousands of dollars per affected home.

Climate scientists attribute the increasing severity of flash flooding to several interconnected factors. Rising global temperatures are enabling the atmosphere to hold more moisture, leading to more intense precipitation events. Additionally, urbanization has reduced the natural capacity of landscapes to absorb rainfall, while aging infrastructure systems struggle to handle the increased volume of stormwater runoff.

The economic implications extend far beyond individual property damage. Damage over a 30-year period to homes with federally backed mortgages will rise by more than a third—from $190 billion (in 2020 dollars in present-value terms) under 2020 climate conditions to $258 billion under projected future climate scenarios. This represents a fundamental shift in risk assessment for both lenders and borrowers.

Communities across the East Coast are implementing various adaptation strategies to mitigate future flood risks. Some municipalities are investing in improved stormwater management systems, while others are updating building codes to require flood-resistant construction in vulnerable areas. However, these measures require significant upfront investment and may take years to implement effectively.

The human cost of these flooding events cannot be overlooked. There are reports of multiple people being swept away by flooding in Virginia as tens of millions of people are at risk of dangerous flash floods in pockets of nearly every region of the contiguous United States. Beyond the immediate safety concerns, families face months or even years of displacement while their homes undergo repairs or reconstruction.

Federal disaster response programs are providing some relief, but the scale of need often exceeds available resources. Emergency management officials emphasize the importance of individual preparedness, including understanding flood risks, maintaining adequate insurance coverage, and developing family emergency plans.

Real estate markets in flood-prone areas are beginning to reflect the increased risk. Flood risks affect homeowners’ costs and home values, but the housing finance system may not sufficiently account for these risks. Properties with documented flood histories are experiencing longer time on market and reduced selling prices, while buyers are increasingly requesting detailed flood risk assessments before making purchase decisions.

Looking ahead, experts predict that property damage from East Coast flash flooding will continue to escalate unless significant investments are made in both infrastructure improvements and risk reduction measures. On average every dollar invested in flood protection can save $5-8 in damages with some estimates showing that projects protecting water and waste treatment plants can produce $31 in returns per $1 invested.

The current trajectory suggests that without proactive intervention, property damage from flash flooding could soon exceed all previous records. As communities work to balance development pressures with flood risk management, the need for comprehensive solutions becomes increasingly urgent. The challenge lies in implementing effective strategies before the next major flood event tests the region’s resilience once again.

This mounting crisis underscores the critical importance of flood preparedness and the need for property owners to understand their vulnerability to flash flooding events that are becoming both more frequent and more severe across the East Coast.

The post Property Damage from Recent East Coast Flash Flooding Nearing Historic Values appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

As Marylanders endure another hot summer, skyrocketing power bills have sparked understandable frustration. Maryland Energy Administration Director Paul Pinsky and BG&E Vice President Mark Case have both weighed in on what’s driving these costs. Both point to the same culprit, the competitive energy market, but the data tells a different story.

A recent study by the Electric Power Supply Association (EPSA) and Energy Tariff Experts, supported by independent research from Energy + Environmental Economics, found that power generation accounts for less than half (approximately 45%) of the average electric bill, a figure unchanged from a decade ago. Adjusted for inflation, generation costs have actually declined by 20% over that period.

So why are bills still rising? The answer lies in the steady increase in transmission and delivery costs from BG&E over the years. Utilities like BG&E hold monopolies on energy distribution and have used that power to raise rates and boost profits for Wall Street investors.

A recent study from the Maryland Office of the People’s Counsel (OPC) found that BG&E’s monthly charges for delivering electricity have doubled since 2010 — an average annual increase of 5%. Over the same period, inflation averaged just 2.65% per year. For comparison, Potomac Edison, which serves Western Maryland, raised rates by only 2.1% annually over the same period.

Families struggling to pay their bills deserve answers. BG&E claims the higher costs are the price of reliability. But the real explanation lies in the commitments made by BG&E’s Chicago-based parent company, Exelon, to its investors.

In May, Exelon promised investors it would deliver annualized earnings “growth of 5% to 7%” through 2028, generating consistent growth and long-term value. Put more clearly, the company is committing to continue increasing infrastructure spending to meet aggressive investor expectations, not to benefit ratepayers.

BG&E earns a guaranteed profit of 9.5 cents for every dollar spent on the electric grid — regardless of whether the investment is necessary. This model incentivizes spending on projects that may not benefit customers. For example, BG&E is spending $130 million on a new substation to support the stalled Baltimore Peninsula redevelopment. Whether the project succeeds or not, ratepayers are on the hook to repay BG&E with profit. In another glaring example, BG&E charged customers for a $17.5 million contract for a Ford F-150 truck.

Marylanders understand that companies should earn a return on infrastructure investments. But when a utility is guaranteed profits from 1.3 million customers, we expect those investments to be necessary and beneficial. BG&E knows how bad this looks, so the company recently announced $15 million in temporary assistance for struggling families. That’s less than 3% of its $527 million in 2024 profits.

Marylanders deserve more than temporary relief and finger pointing. We deserve transparency and leaders who will hold utilities accountable when they put profits before people. If BG&E continues collecting guaranteed returns from hardworking families so it can meet Exelon’s promises to its shareholders, it must also guarantee that those investments are in the public interest. Until then, no amount of spin, or one-time assistance, can explain away the rising burden on Maryland families.

The post Profits Before People: The Real Reason Maryland Power Bills Keep Rising appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

MORE PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES GO WITHOUT MEDICAID: An increasing number of people with developmental disabilities are falling through the cracks of Medicaid, going months without health care coverage because the state can’t keep pace with new applications and wrongful termination appeals. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.

MOORE’s POLL NUMBERS SLIP FOR DEMOCRATIC VOTERS: Half of Marylanders give positive marks to Gov. Wes Moore’s performance in office, according to a new poll from two Annapolis-based advocacy firms. The approval represents a slight slip for the Democratic governor, who has topped 50% approval in polls since taking office in January 2023. Just 68% of Democrats said Moore, who is seeking reelection next year, is doing an “excellent” or “good” job. Pamela Wood/The Baltimore Banner.

LATEST DRAFT OF BAY PACT CRITICIZED FOR LACK OF GOALS, ACCOUNTABILITY: The newest draft of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement lacks meaningful pollution reduction targets and allows states to evade legal accountability, say concerned environmental advocates and experts who have reviewed the document. Released for public comment on July 1, the current draft is intended to chart the future course of bay restoration efforts beyond 2025. Aman Azhar, of Inside Climate News/The Baltimore Banner.

MDOT SEEKS PROPOSALS FOR BOWIE MARC STATION AREA: The Maryland Department of Transportation has begun its search for development proposals for revamping the area around the Bowie State MARC station. As part of a broader plan to boost ridership and expand development along the MARC Penn Line Corridor, spanning from Union Station in Washington, D.C., through Baltimore’s Penn Station and ending in Perryville, the state is hoping to build affordable or mixed-income housing on an underused parking lot near the Bowie State station. Jack Hogan/The Daily Record.

FLEEING CHAOS IN CAMEROON, NOW LIVING IN UNCERTAINTY: Maryland has the largest population of Cameroonian nationals in the country, with more than 29,000 who fled the gunfire and chaos of Cameroon. In 2021, Ernestine and Denis fled and have created a sense of normal life in Maryland. They found a home to raise their three children and jobs as caregivers. The couple became beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status, created by Congress in 1990. It grants temporary protection to nationals of countries affected by war or natural disasters. That ended on Aug. 4. Tolu Talabi/The Baltimore Banner.

HAITIANS FOUND A LIFELINE IN MARYLAND’s POULTRY INDUSTRY: The region’s poultry industry and the local economy that has flourished around it have been a lifeline to Haitian immigrants who have settled on the Eastern Shore. But the Trump administration’s ongoing immigration crackdown has left a cloud of anxiety over Salisbury, where many in a fast-growing Haitian community now worry that everything they’ve built will collapse if thousands in the area are deported or otherwise forced to leave. Paul Kiefer/The Washington Post.

MARYLAND’s NEW CONGRESS MEMBERS GOVERN FROM THE SIDELINES: Newly elected lawmakers like freshman Rep. Johnny Olszewski Jr. enter Congress as powerful people. They are, after all, one of the 535 or so people shaping the laws that govern day-to-day American life. But influence on Capitol Hill — often rooted in a mix of money and relationships — doesn’t grow overnight. In reality, most new members arrive in D.C. at the bottom of a messy heap. That’s especially true for members who arrive in the minority party, as Olszewski and most Maryland members are. Ben Mause/The Baltimore Sun.

VAN HOLLEN TO HEADLINE MAJOR DEM FUND-RAISER: Sen. Chris Van Hollen is heading to Iowa next month to speak at a high-profile fundraiser known for bringing in big-name Democrats. The Polk County Democrats’ annual steak fry draws party faithful from across the country and often a national spotlight. Chair Bill Brauch said Van Hollen was “a big get.” Brenda Wintrode/The Baltimore Banner.

TAX FREE WEEK EXPECTED TO COST STATE $9.3 MILLION: Maryland tax-free week, an annual tax holiday that removes the 6% sales tax from clothing and shoes under $100, starts Sunday. And while it’s touted as a way to offer families the opportunity to shop at a reduced cost, it also yields a revenue loss for the state – projected to be about $9.3 million this year. Gabriella Fine/The Baltimore Sun.

JEWISH LEADERS CONDEMN NEA HANDBOOK CHANGES AS ANTISEMITIC: Jeffrey Herf, an emeritus history professor at the University of Maryland, sees the National Education Association’s take on history as echoing the kind of thinking that has helped lay the groundwork for unthinkable mass tragedy — and he believes it’s especially dangerous at a time when antisemitic acts are surging in Baltimore, across Maryland, and throughout the United States. Jonathan Pitts/The Baltimore Sun.

MAN CHARGED WITH VANDALISM OF ISRAELI FLAGS, ISRAELI BUSINESS: Baltimore County police have charged a 39-year-old man in what they describe as a targeted act of vandalism involving Israeli flags in the Falls Road area. Police said Jonathon Wagner faces multiple counts of malicious destruction of property, including one charge tied to race or religion, stemming from the Aug. 6 incident in the 6000 block of Falls Road, police announced Saturday. Todd Karpovich/The Baltimore Sun.

• Wagner has been charged in connection with vandalism that left an Israeli-owned kitchen renovation business covered in red spray paint, according to Baltimore County Police. He is facing multiple malicious destruction of property charges, including one based on race and religious. Clara Longo de Freitas/The Baltimore Banner.

CARROLL PROPOSAL WOULD REQUIRE LICENSING FOR ‘CAT COLONIES:’ A proposal to require “cat colonies” in Carroll County to be licensed and regulated drew criticism from cat caretakers at a county hearing Thursday. The proposal would create an authority for licensing of cats by adding a definition for a “trap-neuter-release colony.” It would also add some dog-related rules, including banning people from tethering dogs outside for more than eight hours at a time. Bryna Zumer/The Carroll County Times.

STATE ED DEPT AFFIRMS MO CO FIRING OF PRINCIPAL: The Maryland State Department of Education has affirmed the 2024 termination of former middle school Principal Joel Beidleman by the Montgomery County school board, denying his appeal that claimed an administrative judge’s decision violated his due process rights, according to a June 27 department opinion.   Ashlyn Campbell/Bethesda Today.

FORMER NAVY ANALYST FILES TO RUN FOR ARUNDEL COUNCIL: A former Naval language analyst, software engineer and part-time pro bono lawyer has filed paperwork to be a candidate for the District 2 seat on the Anne Arundel County Council for 2026. Cory Malinowski, a Severn Republican and political newcomer, said he intends to bring a long-term approach to a district undergoing several revitalization and development projects. James Matheson/The Capital Gazette.

COLUMN: LOYALTY OVER MERIT AT THE NAVAL ACADEMY: I hope Samara Firebaugh has updated her résumé. In a two-page memo last month, Navy Secretary John Phelan outlined President Donald Trump’s next step toward a military dictatorship, in which loyalty to the commander-in-chief matters most for anyone in uniform.It pushes Firebaugh, academic dean and provost at the Naval Academy for two years, to the front of the line for getting fired. Rick Hutzell/The Baltimore Banner.

The post State Roundup: People with developmental disabilities experience lapses in Medicaid coverage; Moore’s poll numbers among Dem voters slip appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

Chutzpah is a Yiddish term meaning audacity, nerve, or bold confidence, often with a connotation of brazenness or cheekiness. It can describe someone acting with shameless boldness, sometimes admirable for its courage, other times criticized for crossing ethical lines.

In 2011 redistricting, Maryland Democrats, under Governor Martin O’Malley, displayed chutzpah by aggressively redrawing the 6th Congressional District to flip it from Republican to Democratic control. The map stretched from rural Western Maryland to liberal Montgomery County, a move critics called audacious and manipulative. X posts from that era (archived) describe this as “political chutzpah” for its disregard of community cohesion.

This week the Texas State Legislature tried to undertake the perfectly lawful process of voting to change the congressional representation of voting districts to accommodate the changing demographics of the state. To avoid a vote on the matter, the Democrats of the state legislature decided to leave the state to prevent a quorum, thus delaying a vote.

But I don’t live in Texas, I live in Maryland … a politically “Blue” state that in 2025 has only one republican representative in the United States Congress … and why is that? The answer is gerrymandering! Yet some of Maryland’s legislators are nothing short of outraged at the actions of Texas and now threaten to gerrymander Maryland. Seriously? I am old enough to remember Martin O’Malley and the elimination of Rosco Bartlett’s Republican seat in Congress. It was not always this way.

Following the 2000 census, Maryland’s Democratic-led legislature redrew congressional and state legislative maps. The state had 8 congressional seats, as it does today. The outcome was that the maps were designed to protect Democratic incumbents, resulting in a 4-4 split between Democrats and Republicans in congressional seats, despite Maryland’s Democratic lean in statewide votes. Districts were relatively compact compared to later cycles, but subtle manipulations ensured safe seats for Democrats in urban areas, such as Baltimore and Prince George’s County.

The 2011 map was widely criticized as one of the nation’s most gerrymandered. It flipped the 6th District to Democratic control by incorporating liberal areas of Montgomery County, significantly reducing Bartlett’s vote share. The map secured a 7-1 Democratic advantage in Congress, despite closer statewide vote margins (e.g., Obama won 62% in 2012). The 6th District’s convoluted shape, stretching from rural Western Maryland to urban Montgomery County, became a symbol of gerrymandering. Even more notable was the 3rd District. Sometimes referred to as a “broken-winged pterodactyl,” the 3rd District’s unusual shape was intended to consolidate the Democratic vote in what could be called “soft” Democratic districts by making sure they were “hardened up” for future elections.

The 2020 census prompted another redistricting. Democrats again controlled the process under Governor Larry Hogan (Republican), creating tension. Maryland’s population grew slightly, but the state retained 8 congressional seats. The Democratic-led Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission proposed a map that maintained the 7-1 Democratic advantage but made the 1st District (Republican-held) more competitive by incorporating Democratic-leaning areas like Annapolis. This map was criticized for diluting Republican votes further.

In the Szeliga et al. v. Lamone legal challenge, Lynne Battaglia, senior judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, struck down the 2021 congressional map as an “extreme partisan gerrymander” violating Maryland’s constitution, which requires compact districts respecting natural and political boundaries. The ruling highlighted the 1st and 6th Districts’ irregular shapes.

A revised map, which was approved by Hogan on April 4, 2022, restored some of the compactness and strengthened Republican chances in the 1st District while maintaining a 7-1 Democratic edge. The 6th District became slightly more competitive, with Biden’s 2020 margin reduced from 23 to about 10 points. The Princeton Gerrymandering Project graded this map a “B” for fairness.

This year, Maryland Democrats, led by figures like House Majority Leader David Moon, have proposed reactive redistricting in response to other states (e.g., Texas) altering maps mid-cycle. Posts on X, such as from @RedistrictNet, suggest this could target the 1st District again to secure an 8-0 Democratic sweep by redistributing voters across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Never mind what is happening in Texas, Maryland congressional representation remains 7 to 1 across 8 seats … hardly representative of the body politic in the state. So David Moon — go back to trying to figure out how to deal with your billion-dollar budget deficit… or try harder to attract new business to the state to bolster the shrinking tax base, or just sit down and stop trying to rig the next, or any, election.

The post The Crooked Lines of Political Chutzpah appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

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.

The post state roundup: Another Purple Line problem floods apartments; STATES SCRAMBLE TO COMPLETE RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS; OC CHALLENGES WIND PERMIT; nonprofit handling $56M faces scrutiny appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

The following column appears in the August edition of The Business Monthly, serving Howard and Anne Arundel counties.

Last year, there were three murders at the Columbia Mall – a double-homicide outside the mall and a murder in the food court.

The murders of young men by other young men shocked the community and led to beefed up police presence.

In 2022, there were four murders in Howard County; in 2023, there were five. Last year, there were 10. Even then, 10 is not a high number for a county of 330,000 people but shocking nonetheless where crime rates have remained relatively low.

Howard County State’s Attorney Rich Gibson Jr. Official photo

The high-profile double-homicide led State’s Attorney Rich Gibson Jr. to decide to prosecute the case himself. It’s an action he’s taken only a handful of times in his six-and-a-half years as the county’s top prosecutor, given how all-consuming a case like that can be.

But Gibson insists, “Howard County is a safe place. Numerically speaking, just by the data,” he said in a long-interview July 14. “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.”

He points out that both of these fatal mall shootings “were targeted events. The people that were at the mall knew each other, as you said, and there was some animosity that existed between them and they chose this horrible way of resolving that animosity. I think it is scary because the mall is a place a lot of people congregate.”

Disbelief

But lots of people don’t believe crime is down, I tell him, regardless of what crime statistics might show.

As state’s attorney, Gibson says he has to address “how people feel but also give them a sense of what is [fact].”

“A single crime is too much crime, and we hope to get to a place where crime is even lower, right? Every offense we take very, very seriously. But at the same point in time, it’s true that crime is numerically down. What you’re seeing, in particular with juveniles is that while crime is numerically down, the types of crimes that our youth are engaging in are more egregious crimes and so those crimes resonate in a more significant way with the community.”

A young-looking 49, Gibson is no casual observer of violent crime and death. He’s been a prosecuting attorney for 20 years. That includes 13 years in Baltimore City, where he spent five years on the homicide unit followed by the major investigations unit where he wound up supervising a team of attorneys focused on violent repeat offenders.

In 2018, a Democrat, Gibson was elected Howard County’s first African-American state’s attorney, easily winning the general election with 62% of the vote. In 2022, he got a free ride to re-election. He had no opponent in the Democratic primary or the general election. A familiar figure at political events in the county, Gibson is planning to run again next year.

Loves the job

“I love the job! It’s immensely rewarding. I get to serve my community. I get to try to keep my community safe. I get to shape what justice looks like in this space. It’s an area that I have a degree of expertise in and so I’m comfortable in this space, but no two days are the same…. I have a great team around me that allows me to create what I hope to be the kind of public safety that the community enjoys.”

It’s not like there’s no crime in Howard County. Otherwise, Gibson wouldn’t need a $14 million budget with a staff of 95 people, including 48 attorneys operating in the circuit and district courts.

With no significant public controversies during his tenure, Gibson shows no signs of worry about his reelection, based on his campaign finance report. He only raised $1,000 last year, and has only $41,000 in his campaign account, a meager sum for a countywide race. And no, he has no interest in running for the open county executive seat, a common political career path in neighboring Prince George’s County.

With no term limits for them in the Maryland Constitution, state’s attorneys in some jurisdictions stay in the job for decades. Scott Shellenberger, 66, in Baltimore County is serving in his fourth term, despite a close election last time and a younger opponent next year. He was preceded by Sandra O’Connor who served 32 years in the job. John McCarthy in Montgomery County is also in his fourth term as state’s attorney there.

Representing his fellows

Gibson is coming off five years as president of the Maryland State’s Attorneys Association, representing the 24 elected local prosecutors. Gibson agreed that it was both an honor and a chore.

“It was a real honor, because you get a chance to represent the entire state.” But it’s not always easy to find consensus. “You know, you have rural, urban, suburban, Democrat, Republican, very conservative, very liberal, and you’re trying to find consensus amongst the 24 electeds. Obviously, dealing with 24 electeds, you’re dealing with strong personalities and strong thoughts.”

“Despite the differing opinions on public safety, regardless of political affiliation, regardless of rural, urban, suburban, there was a lot of common ground because on public safety, we are a little more cohesive than on some other issues.”

Body-worn cameras for police, for instance, which Gibson supports, are also an issue of resources for both police and prosecutors. Not only is the equipment costly, but it also creates a lot more work for police and for prosecutors.

Twenty years ago, a robbery prosecution might involve four witnesses, says Gibson – a victim, another witness, a police officer or two. Today, such a case might also involve technical experts on cell phones, surveillance and body-worn cameras.

“So, the density of today’s cases is so much greater than the density was a decade or two ago. And so is the amount of work that a prosecutor must do per case.”

Juvenile justice

How to handle juvenile crime is another thorny issue for prosecutors.

“The leadership of DJS [Department of Juvenile Services] has had a philosophy under the prior secretary that was really a “Don’t touch them, low interaction mindset and model that I think really does our youth a disservice.”

“Governor Moore has changed who’s at the helm, and I’m hoping that new leadership is more in line with the philosophy that says, we have an opportunity to intervene with these kids, and we’re going to do so in a meaningful way. We’re gonna target the underlying root causes. We’re gonna get involved and grab hold of them now with the goal of reshaping them so that we don’t see them tomorrow.

“It is my hope, and I believe the hope of every prosecutor in the state to not deal with kids more than once. And certainly not to see them when they’re adults, because if you don’t train them and teach them that their actions have consequences, if you don’t teach them that there’s a better way to handle problems, if we don’t teach them the right way to interact as a member of our community, the answer will be, you’re going to commit that crime as an adult, and there’s going to be a very different consequence awaiting you. Everyone suffers. There’s another harm that’s on our community. We haven’t done right by that kid.”

Speaking of kids, Gibson has three of them with lots of photos on his desk of them and his wife, physician Dr. Carissa Guishard-Gibson. They live in Ellicott City.

The post Despite recent murders, Howard County is ‘an extraordinarily safe place,’ says top prosecutor appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

ICE ‘HOLDING CELLS’ INSTEAD CONFINE DETAINEES FOR DAYS: They are politely called “holding rooms,” but in reality, they are cells. These barely furnished cells in a downtown Baltimore building are intended, by ICE’s own guidelines, to hold those arrested on immigration charges for no more than 12 hours, as the detainees are processed and then sent to detention facilities as far-flung as Washington state and Louisiana. But under the Trump administration, ICE has detained immigrants there for an average of 51 hours. One man was confined for more than 191 hours, or about eight days. John-John Williams IV, Sapna Bansil and Daniel Zawodny/The Baltimore Banner.

JUVENILE SERVICES NAMES NEW SCHOOL SUPER: The Department of Juvenile Services named a new superintendent of schools Wednesday, a week after the release of a scathing audit on the department’s programs and less than two months into the tenure of the new secretary. As superintendent, David Pinder will oversee the education of 2,473 youth in the Juvenile Services Education Program, including those in residential and detention facilities. William Ford/Maryland Matters.

FEDS OFFER $6M TO EXPAND INVASIVE BLUE CATFISH PROCESSING ON TILGHMAN: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, with U.S. Rep. Andy Harris and Maryland Department of Agriculture officials, annoucned that her department is making $6 million in grants available to expand capacity for processing the Chesapeake’s wild-caught blue catfish, an invasive species that eats whatever it can, including struggling blue crab and rockfish populations. It’s an attempt to control the invasive population and save crab and rockfish. Adam Willis/The Baltimore Banner.

MAN TO RECEIVE WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT FUNDS; HALF COMING FROM WICOMICO: Tavon Tull is set to receive over half a million dollars to make up for almost six years in prison for sexual abuse that he did not commit. Due to budget language approved this year, Tull’s payment is the first that requires the jurisdiction he was wrongfully charged in – Wicomico County– to pitch in for half of those funds. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.

BA CO COUNCILMAN FACES SCRUTINY OVER ALCOHOLISM, CONSTITUENT ACCESSIBILITY: As Baltimore County Councilmember Todd Crandall, a Dundalk Republican, faces revelations about an allegedly drunken encounter with Baltimore County Police last year, some constituents say they have concerns about his accessibility as an elected official. Crandell rarely attends community gatherings and ribbon cuttings anymore, some say, and he’s missed many County Council meetings and work sessions. Rona Kobell and Céilí Doyle/The Baltimore Banner.

BRAVEBOY SEEKS TO REHIRE WORKER FIRED FOR GROSS NEGLIGENCE: To lead the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment, County Executive Aisha N. Braveboy is turning to someone who was fired from that very department a decade ago. Samuel Belsham Moki was terminated from the agency in February 2014 for “gross negligence,” after county officials determined that he failed to manage the county’s stormwater pollution management program, which led to the county having to pay thousands of dollars in fines. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.

IG FINDS IMPROVED CONDITIONS FOR B’MORE SOLID WASTE WORKERS: After issuing a series of scathing reports documenting hazardous conditions faced by Baltimore’s solid waste crews, Baltimore Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming says some of those conditions have been improved. Fern Shen/Baltimore Brew.

HARRIS SAYS EASTON PASTOR WHO OVERSTAYED VISA CAN BE DEPORTED: The pastor from the Eastern Shore who was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the agency said he overstayed his visa is subject to deportation because he lacks Temporary Protected Status, said Maryland U.S. Rep. Andy Harris. Daniel Fuentes Espinal, 54, was arrested by ICE in July and taken to a detention facility in Louisiana after overstaying his six-month visa for 24 years, according to ICE. Chevall Pryce/The Baltimore Sun.

B’MORE OKs $100,000 FOR MACO CONFERENCE: Without discussion on Wednesday, the Baltimore Board of Estimates approved nearly $26,000 in travel requests for 13 more employees to attend next week’s political conference in Ocean City, bringing the total for the four-day trip to 39 people at a cost of $92,000 — an average of more than $2,350 per employee. Brooke Conrad and Carson Swick/The Baltimore Sun.

The post State Roundup: ICE ‘holding cells’ confine detainees for days; embattled Juvenile Services names new school chief appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

Trust isn’t flashy. It doesn’t come with a banner or a bonus. But in iGaming, it’s everything. It’s what keeps players logging in, regulators nodding yes, and brands scaling across borders. Soft2Bet understands that trust isn’t just about preventing bad actors — it’s about ensuring good players never feel friction.

That’s why, behind their sleek user experience and rapid global expansion, sits something just as powerful: a risk engine built not just to block fraud, but to fuel confidence. In this article, we explore how Soft2Bet and SEON partnered to make seamless security a core part of the platform — one that protects, adapts, and empowers the entire operation.

The Trust Problem iGaming Companies Don’t See Coming

In iGaming, speed usually steals the spotlight. Flashy rollouts, rapid growth, multi-market expansion — it’s a race to scale. But what many don’t anticipate is how fragile trust can be in that sprint. One misstep, one false flag, one data breach, and players vanish — along with the reputation you worked years to build. And the kicker? Most risk surfaces don’t even look like “risk” at first.

• A new payment method that opens the door to chargebacks.
• A bonus campaign that accidentally invites abuse.
• A sudden spike in traffic that hides bot traffic underneath.
• A manual review backlog that lets fraudsters slip through.

Why SEON Was the Right Move

Soft2Bet knew trust couldn’t be an afterthought. It had to be a feature — invisible to players, yet embedded in every flow. That’s where SEON came in. The collaboration wasn’t just about layering in fraud tools — it was a rethink of how risk is approached across the business. As shown in the SEON for Soft2Bet case study, this partnership redefined what modern fraud prevention looks like: fast, flexible, and frictionless.

When Automation Feels Like Magic

SEON’s real-time scoring system didn’t just replace clunky manual reviews — it made fraud detection feel seamless. Risk assessments run quietly behind the scenes, adapting to behavior and signals in milliseconds. No popups. No slowdowns. Just frictionless security that works. Players never feel the system working, but it’s working overtime — identifying bot-like patterns, device anomalies, and suspicious transactions as they happen.

Teams That Don’t Wait on Risk

Thanks to SEON’s shared dashboards and risk feeds, product, ops, and support teams all see the same story. There’s no lag between incident and insight. If something suspicious happens, the right people know — instantly. Collaboration improves. Response time shrinks. Players stay protected. And because access is tailored and alerts are laser-focused, teams only see what actually matters to them. No more drowning in irrelevant pings or chasing ghost issues. Each department gets the context they need — nothing more, nothing less.

Analysts Stay Strategic

Soft2Bet’s analysts aren’t buried in spreadsheets. With SEON surfacing only the true edge cases — and attaching full behavioral context — analysts now spend their time fine-tuning rules, not firefighting alerts. They’re risk thinkers, not alert clearers. This shift means more energy goes into pattern analysis, fraud modeling, and cross-market insights. They spot trends before they become problems, and recalibrate the system in real time. It’s a smarter way to work — and a lot more satisfying.

Smart Signals, Smarter Players

The risk engine doesn’t just look for fraud. It helps shape how Soft2Bet understands player behavior at scale. Fraud detection becomes player segmentation. Security becomes personalization. The result? A platform that knows the difference between a power user and a potential threat.

• Player behavior gets scored in real time, not post-mortem.
• Signals are layered, so no single anomaly triggers a false alarm.
• Good players aren’t slowed down. Fraudsters don’t get warmed up.
• The system evolves with play patterns, keeping pace as users evolve.

Scaling Trust, Not Just Infrastructure

Trust doesn’t scale the same way computer power does. You can spin up a server in seconds, but building reliable player experiences across markets takes something more. With SEON’s adaptive tooling, Soft2Bet now rolls out into new markets with pre-built trust baked in. It’s not just about catching bad actors. It’s about building confidence — for players, partners, and regulators alike.

• Localized signals? Handled.
• Payment anomalies in a new region? Flagged.
• Unusual gameplay patterns? Investigated before damage is done.

Soft2Bet KYC and AML process with automated verification, machine learning, and secure compliance features

Team Behind This Integration

Risk innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Soft2Bet’s leadership — from product owners to data scientists — made a bold call: risk ops shouldn’t live in a silo. Under the guidance of forward-thinking execs, SEON’s tools were integrated deeply into the development pipeline. At the center of this vision is Uri Poliavich, Soft2Bet’s founder and CEO.

Uri isn’t the type to settle for business as usual. He’s built teams that thrive on shaking things up — not following the playbook. Under his leadership, risk was never seen as a hurdle. It became fuel for smarter decisions. And thanks to his direct, sleeves-rolled-up approach, the SEON integration wasn’t just plugged in. It changed how everyone at Soft2Bet thought about user trust, platform integrity, and seamless experience. The result? A platform where protection scales with growth, and innovation happens with confidence.

• Every new feature launch includes a fraud-readiness review.
• Every new market launch runs through risk modeling.
• Every team knows how their work intersects with trust.

SEON and Soft2Bet didn’t settle for the usual playbook. They built a smarter one — where protection runs in the background, speed never compromises safety, and teams are free to innovate without looking over their shoulder. In a world where trust is hard to win and easy to lose, this partnership proves one thing: seamless protection isn’t just possible — it’s scalable.

The post SEON and Soft2Bet: The Partnership Behind Seamless Protection appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

50% TARIFFS ON BRAZIL TO DRIVE UP COST OF PRODUCTS TO MARYLAND: Brazil, the 10^th largest importer for Maryland, gets slapped with a whopping 50% effective tariff starting today, a move that will drive up the price of coffee, beef and fruit. Maryland imports about $1.1 billion each year from the South American country. A majority of those goods are sugar and confectionery products, fruit and tree nuts, certain metals, and agriculture, construction and mining machinery. Bria Overs/The Baltimore Banner.

SNAP CUTS IMPERIL GROCERY STORES, THOUSANDS OF MARYLANDERS: Grocers and food policy researchers are sounding alarms that looming federal food stamp cuts could gut store revenues, trigger layoffs and shutter local independent stores. The changes to the federal food stamp program — officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP — could potentially cause about 3,800 SNAP state retailers to experience a downturn in the next few years and affect hundreds of thousands of Marylanders’ ability to afford groceries. Stella Canino-Quinones/The Baltimore Sun.

COUNTIES NOW ON HOOK TO HELP COMPENSATE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED: For for the first time, a county will have to pay half of the cost of the compensation for a wrongful man it wrongfully convicted. If the Board of Public Works agrees to pay one man $573,412.35, as expected, Wicomico County will be on the hook for $286,706 of that. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.

MARYLAND LEADS WITH HIGHEST PERCENT OF BLACK WOMEN LAWMAKERS: A recent report shows Black women have made record gains in state legislatures this year, especially in Maryland. It shows the state has the highest percentage of Black women lawmakers in the nation, accounting for 18.6% of the 188-member General Assembly. Maryland is one of 14 states where the legislature’s share of Black women is higher than its representation of the state’s population at 17.9%. William Ford and Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.

ROXBURY PRISON SECURITY FENCE FALLING DOWN: Maryland corrections officials are struggling to reinforce a teetering security fence at a state prison in Hagerstown. More than a year after the 41-year-old security and fencing system at the Roxbury Correctional Institution failed during a March 2024 storm, a windstorm last week nearly blew down a portion of the facility’s fence — again. Ben Conarck/The Baltimore Banner.

DEMs TAKE TO TOWN HALLS IN REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS: In March, Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin drove to Cambridge, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, for a packed town hall at a middle school. Two months later, he held another one in the Long Island, N.Y., community of Patchogue. Town halls may be standard political fare, but these were unorthodox. Not only were they outside of Raskin’s Montgomery County-based district, but they were also held in districts occupied by Republican incumbents. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.

MOORE-ALIGNED PAC RAISED $267,000 SINCE JANUARY: A federal political action committee associated with Gov. Wes Moore raised about $267,000 in the first six months of the year, including $85,000 during the final two weeks of the legislative session in Annapolis when officials are legally barred from raising money. Moore does not have a formal role with Unity First PAC. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.

BA CO CALLS INCLUSION ON ‘SANCTUARY JURISDICTION’ LIST A MISTAKE: The Justice Department released a sharply reduced list of “sanctuary jurisdictions” Tuesday that identified Baltimore County as the only such jurisdiction in the state — a designation that Baltimore County officials insist is a mistake. “We believe our inclusion on this list was in error,” said County Executive Kathy Klausmeier. Being designated a sanctuary jurisdiction could be more than just a nuisance for the county. Lauren Lifke/Maryland Matters.

BA CO RESIDENTS RELIEVED THAT MADIGAN REMAINS IG: The Baltimore County Council’s decision to reject County Executive Kathy Klausmeier’s pick for inspector general comes as a relief for many county residents who backed Kelly Madigan continuing in that role. From holding rallies to sitting through hours-long council meetings, residents, now reflecting on the past three months, said that their message resonated with their elected officials. Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.

STATE, SOMERSET SCHOOL BOARD IN SHOWDOWN OVER ITS SUPERINTENDENT: A months-long clash between the state and the Somerset County school board may be coming to a showdown. Somerset County’s school board had tried to oust its superintendent, Ava Tasker-Mitchell, but the state reinstated her for 60 days — which ended Tuesday. Somerset County’s school board is demanding that Tasker-Mitchell, vacate her office today. However Maryland Superintendent Carey Wright warned the county board to not take that step. Liz Bowie/The Baltimore Banner.

COLUMN: DRAGGED INTO ORPHANS COURT JUDGES DISPUTE: Two years into the feud between Chief Judge Vicki Gipson and Associate Judge Marc Knapp, the Orphans’ Court of Anne Arundel County remains a target of derision in the legal community. That could change this month, when the Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities begins considering complaints against both judges, potentially disciplining or even removing them. Unfortunately, they dragged me into this. Rick Hutzell/The Baltimore Banner.

NEWCOMER TO HEAD BALTIMORE ELECTIONS BOARD: The Armstead Jones era of Baltimore elections has ended. The Baltimore City Board of Elections selected newcomer Clifford Tatum to serve as the city’s new election director. Tatum previously served as short stint as election director in Harris County, Texas, a jurisdiction of more than 5 million people that encircles Houston. Emily Opilo/The Baltimore Banner.

MARINE BECOMES SUPERINTENDENT OF NAVAL ACADEMY: The U.S. Naval Academy has a new superintendent. Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte, a 1991 Naval Academy graduate and the first Marine to lead the military academy in its 179-year history, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by voice vote last week. He is replacing Vice Admiral Yvette Davids, who was the first female superintendent at the academy. Ellie Wolfe/The Baltimore Banner.

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‘MESS WITH TEXAS:’ SOME MARYLAND DEMS EAGER FOR REDISTRICTING FIGHT: With the balance of power at stake in Congress, some Maryland Democrats are eager to jump into a growing national fight that could lead to an unusual and heavily partisan redrawing of congressional districts across the country. In Maryland, House Majority Leader David Moon is leading the charge, with draft legislation that would automatically begin the congressional redistricting process if Texas or any other state approves new districts. The target is the state’s only Republican House seat, held by U.S. Rep. Andy Harris. Sam Janesch/The Baltimore Sun.

• “What’s happening is ruinous, really, to there being any sort of state parity or ground rules,” said Del. David Moon of the proposed Texas redistricting. “Ultimately, it just helps take accountability away from elected officials.” Lauren Lifken/Maryland Matters.

OUTRAGE OVER ‘SHOCKING’ REPORT ON JUVENILE SERVICES: “It’s very outraging,” said Aubrey Edwards-Luce, tof the Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children, and the Courts at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Del. J. Sandy Bartlett (D-Anne Arundel) called it “shocking and extremely disappointing.” What it is is a 49-page report by the Juvenile Justice Monitoring Unit on the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services that found allegations of sexual abuse between youths in state custody, complaints of roaches and mice crawling on students’ beds, and reports of expired and undercooked food. Danielle J. Brown and William J. Ford/Maryland Matters.

FARMERS FEEL PRESSURE FROM SOLAR INDUSTRY, STATE LAWS: “Lease for Solar, Harvest Profits,” one company writes. “You can help power the future of our country,” writes another. These letters to Maryland farmers and rural landowners offer $4,500 per acre, $5,000 or even $7,000, sometimes with lucrative sign-on bonuses, too. Some farmers worry it’s a pressure that Maryland’s agricultural communities cannot withstand, and will turn farmland into solar farms. And they think that the law passed by the General Assembly this year — setting uniform standards for solar facilities and limiting counties’ ability to set solar zoning rules — will only make matters worse. Christine Condon/Maryland Matters.

ARUNDEL OPENS NEW NONPROFIT CENTER AT OLD CROWNSVILLE CAMPUS: Anne Arundel County marked a milestone Monday in its redevelopment of the Crownsville Hospital campus, where Maryland once warehoused Black people with mental illness. Officials unveiled the county’s new Nonprofit Center, a renovated hospital building that will be home to various organizations determined to benefit the greater good, part of a comprehensive overhaul of the 500-acre campus that the state sold to the the county for $1 in 2022. Alex Mann/The Baltimore Banner.

BA CO COUNCIL REJECTS KLAUSMEIER NOMINEE; MADIGAN REMAINS IG: The Baltimore County Council Monday voted against Kathy Klausmeier’s nominee for inspector general. In a stunning rebuke to a county executive they appointed seven months ago, the Council failed to confirm Khadija Walker as a replacement for Kelly Madigan, the county’s popular “fraud, waste and abuse” watchdog. Mark Reutter/Baltimore Brew.

• The decision represented the first time in 11 years that the council has not confirmed a county executive’s nominee. With Klausmeier’s nomination of Walker not advancing, the county’s first inspector general, Kelly Madigan, will remain in the role. Rona Kobell/The Baltimore Banner.
• County Executive Kathy Klausmeier said in a statement that she intends to “leave any future appointment — or reappointment — of an inspector general to the next county executive or until an independent appointment board is established by the county council and voters.” Natalie Jones/The Baltimore Sun.
• Republican David Marks, who voted against Walker’s nomination, said that while the county council almost always supports a county executive’s nominee, Madigan deserved a second term. “She’s basically being recommended to be removed, yet this council has never been told why,” Marks said. John Lee/WYPR-FM.

BA CO COUNCILMAN JONES BACKED KLAUSMEIER NOMINEE: Ahead of a controversial vote, Julian Jones stands out as the only Baltimore County council member outwardly backing the new Inspector General nominee. Notably, he’s also the only one to be investigated by the current Inspector General, Kelly Madigan. Baltimore County’s first government watchdog, Madigan, previously released two reports involving Jones. Rebecca Pryor/WBBF-TV News.

RASKIN AND BOEBERT, AN UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP: In the spring of 2023, a most unlikely friendship took root after a House Oversight Committee hearing ended and members chatted before hurrying off for a two-week congressional recess. That friendship is between Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, a conservative firebrand and one of President Donald Trump’s top supporters, and Montgomery County Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, a liberal darling who is Boebert’s political opposite. Jeff Barker/The Baltimore Sun.

DALI OWNERS SUE VESSEL’s DESIGNER: The owners of the Dali, the ship that hit the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024, are suing the builders of the vessel for defective design. Scott Maucione/WYPR-FM.

• Dali owners Grace Ocean Private and Synergy Marine PTE Ltd. filed the lawsuit last week against Hyundai Heavy Industries in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. “As a result of the defectively designed Switchboard, the Vessel suffered a power outage that led to the allision with the Key Bridge,” Grace Ocean Private alleges in the lawsuit. Brian Witte/The Associated Press.

ONLY PARTS OF PIMLICO’s HISTORIC STALL 40 TO BE SALVAGED: The demolition of Pimlico’s aging, historic barns has begun and even the most revered of them all, Stall 40, home of the Kentucky Derby champion during Preakness week over the past half-century, won’t be fully preserved despite pleas from racing fans. The Maryland Stadium Authority, in a memorandum of agreement with the Maryland Historical Trust, said it would identify elements “anticipated for salvage.” Upon closer analysis of the site, the authority will only save Stall 40’s facade and some other wooden pieces. The rest, as they say, is history. Hayes Gardner/The Baltimore Banner.

FORMER SUN WASHINGTON REPORT MURIEL DOBBIN DIES AT 94: Muriel Dobbin, a retired Baltimore Sun Washington Bureau reporter who covered President Lyndon B. Johnson and the Watergate hearings and trial, died July 18 at her Washington home. She was 94. She delighted in covering the Senate’s Watergate hearings and the subsequent trial of the Watergate burglars, where she became quite friendly with Judge John Sirica. Jacques Kelly/The Baltimore Sun.

The post State Roundup: Some Maryland Dems itchin’ for a redistricting fight; outrage over juvenile services report; farmers feel pressure to ‘grow solar’ appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.