LOBBYISTS SPEND HEAVILY ON DINNERS WITH MARYLAND LAWMAKERS: In Annapolis this year, lobbyists, corporations, and special interest groups have disbursed nearly $1 million on dinners for Maryland lawmakers at some of the city’s finest dining establishments. In response, Del. Joe Vogel from Montgomery County has introduced a bill aimed at prohibiting committee dinners and has vowed to abstain from such engagements during his time in office. Vogel argues that it raises fairness concerns, as the average Maryland citizen does not have equivalent opportunities for extended discussions with their representatives as wealthy lobbyists do. Unfortunately, this bill did not advance out of committee and lacked any co-sponsors. Brooke Conrad/The Baltimore Sun.
SENATOR AIMS TO PUSH FOR REDISTRICTING AS LONGTIME REPORTER TAKES BUYOUT: Senator Arthur Ellis is preparing to conduct a press conference at Lawyers Mall, advocating for a special session of the General Assembly to redraw the congressional districts in Maryland, following a recent Supreme Court verdict that invalidated much of the federal Voting Rights Act. Additionally, Brian Witte, a veteran State House reporter for the Associated Press, has announced his decision to accept a buyout from the news organization. Bryan Sears/Maryland Matters.
MORGAN STATE DEVELOPING SOLUTION TO REDUCE ROAD WORKER FATALITIES: In light of two tragic incidents that claimed the lives of Maryland road workers within just four days, a promising solution is being developed. Researchers at Morgan State University’s National Transportation Center have designed a multisensory system to warn road workers about oncoming speeding or erratic vehicles. This system utilizes sensors to detect the speed and trajectory of vehicles several hundred feet from the construction sites, issuing alerts to workers through three distinct signals when danger is detected. Daniel Zawodny/The Baltimore Banner.
COLUMN: AWARD FOR MOST UNUSUAL LEGISLATIVE VIDEO GOES TO… Lesley Lopez can be seen in the back of a moving vehicle, blindfolded with a Maryland flag scarf and tethered by a laptop sync cord. “Not to make this weird, but are you registered to vote?” the Montgomery County delegate asks the camera. This became the most eccentric social media posting during the 2026 General Assembly, and it likely will not be the last of its kind from Maryland. Rick Hutzell/The Baltimore Banner.
HOWARD COUNTY EXECUTIVE POST MAY BE DECIDED BY DEMOCRATS WITH NO REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE: Howard County stands out as the only jurisdiction in Maryland where solely Democratic candidates have registered to run for county executive, thereby leaving it to the Democratic party to determine who will fill the county’s top office for the coming four years. Without a last-minute candidate emerging via petition by July 6 or an unlikely write-in campaign gaining traction in November, Democratic voters will have the final say on Howard County’s leadership for the next four years. April Santana/The Baltimore Sun.
PENSION BOARD SEEKS PUBLIC TRUSTEES: The Board of Trustees for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Employees’ Retirement System (ERS) is on the lookout for two trustees, one from Montgomery County and another from Prince George’s County. These Public Trustees will serve a term lasting three years, from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2029. The Board is responsible for the fiduciary oversight of the ERS exclusively for the benefit of its members and beneficiaries. Residents of the counties interested in serving should submit a statement of qualifications along with a resume by 5:00 p.m. on May 27, 2026, to [email protected]. For additional inquiries, please contact [email protected] or call (301) 454-1415, or
visit ers.mncppc.org.
CONTENTIOUS 6TH DISTRICT RACE ESCALATES: The tone of the campaign in the highly competitive 6th District Democratic primary has recently shifted. Candidates are now focusing more on persuading voters why their opponents should not be elected rather than why they themselves are the best choice. This notable change arises as former Representative David Trone seeks to reclaim his old seat from Rep. April McClain Delaney, who secured the position in 2024 after Trone’s unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate. This shift in campaigning comes as the June 23 primary date approaches, marking under two months until voters cast their ballots. Danielle Brown/Maryland Matters.
BALTIMORE TO RECEIVE $1.2 MILLION IN FEDERAL AID FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION: Baltimore has been awarded $1.18 million in federal funding dedicated to combatting gun violence. Senator Chris Van Hollen presented the funding to Mayor Brandon Scott on Monday. This financial support aims to bolster the expansion of the city’s Group Violence Reduction Strategy. According to Baltimore police data, the city has seen a 15% decrease in homicides and a 10% reduction in non-fatal shootings this year. Wambui Kamau/WYPR-FM.
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY CLARIFIES DISPENSARY LOCATION REGULATIONS: A recent amendment to a bill in the Anne Arundel County Council has adjusted rules regarding the proximity of dispensaries to specific property types in the county. Proposed by Republican Nathan Volke, the bill now includes definitions of minimum distances between dispensaries and properties such as schools, daycare centers, and churches—a clarification that was previously absent from both Maryland and county law. Benjamin Rothstein/The Baltimore Sun.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY SCHOOLS TO DISCLOSE STUDENT GENDER ID TO PARENTS UPON REQUEST: Montgomery County Public Schools personnel are now mandated to disclose a student’s gender identity upon request from a parent or guardian. This marks a significant shift from earlier guidelines that indicated such disclosures could infringe upon privacy laws, according to a message from the school district released last Thursday. Ashlyn Campbell/Bethesda Today.
BANNER NAMED PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST: The Banner has been recognized as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in local reporting due to an investigation that utilized a groundbreaking data analysis to demonstrate that unreliable public transit severely hinders Baltimore City students’ ability to arrive at school punctually. The nearly three-year project, led by Liz Bowie, Greg Morton, Allan James Vestal, and Ryan Little, mapped thousands of student trips and monitored Maryland Transit Administration buses in real-time, highlighting how transportation barriers negatively impact school choice, foster chronic absenteeism, and create inequities in access to dependable transport. Cody Boteler/The Baltimore Banner.
