Local government

As the Greater Baltimore Committee focuses on boosting this region’s economic competitiveness, it must also support programs to end the economic apartheid that now plagues the city’s disadvantaged Black neighborhoods, says Lawrence Brown, an author and research scientist in the Center for Urban Health Equity at Morgan State University.

The leading Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate are ramping up their campaigns as 2024 approaches. Here’s a look at their latest moves.

When it came to Johns Hopkins, Maryland HBCU Advocates said that despite the university being about 100 miles away from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, a duplicate of a doctoral program could do detrimental harm to the HBCU.

Annapolis unveiled its long-awaited design for a maritime welcome center Wednesday, part of an $88 million reimagining of its waterfront public square to protect the historic city from rising seas and climate change. It now faces an ambitious timeline and uncertain public response.

Acting Fire Chief James Wallace, a 33-year veteran of the department, is expected to get a vote before the full council next month.

“If we don’t make any changes, someone else is going to make the changes for us,” City Councilwoman Danielle McCray said at Thursday’s hearing.

Dozens of Baltimore City and Baltimore County residents who spoke to greater Baltimore’s state's attorneys, police chiefs and councilmen want to undo General Assembly changes that eased statutes surrounding juvenile court action and limited probationary terms for kids who commit certain offenses.

A vital Baltimore City permit process used by hundreds of street festivals, block parties and races has moved online this year.

The City Council is slated to hold back-to-back confirmation hearings Thursday night for Mayor Brandon Scott’s nominees, acting Police Commissioner Richard Worley and acting Fire Chief James Wallace.

A pair of civic activists experienced in quixotic campaigns have a new idea: Could city government seize control of the Orioles and run the team in a way that more benefits Baltimore and the community?

Those who violate the ordinance will face a civil penalty of $1,000 a day, according to the draft, with each violation considered a separate offense. The violation carries with it a misdemeanor charge.

The proposed map redrawing council district lines across the city is required ahead of next year’s election. With the mayor’s draft in hand, the City Council has 60 days to adopt it or submit its own alternative.

Jason Groth, the acting director of the county’s Department of Planning and Growth Management, is paraphrased as saying the county will “hit a point within a decade where it doesn’t have enough water.” But the situation is much more nuanced, Groth told the Banner.

“The man is very generous with his time and absolutely gives back to the party,” said Adam Wood, executive director of the Maryland Republican Party. “It seemed like it made sense to do something for him; he’s doing so much for us.”

DPW says the housing authority owes $8 million in water bills, while HABC says it only owes $1 million. The inspector general says the true amount owed is up for dispute.

For some, the decision to bring the hearing to a close reflected sensitivity and humanity. For others, it exposed a blind spot of local government.

Organizers behind Hampdenfest and neighboring Remfest have canceled their events completely, citing Artscape’s move to September as one of several contributing factors.

Representatives from Sagamore Ventures said the whiskey company’s signature “grain-to-glass” concept won’t change under new majority ownership.

Howard County government funding priorities and questionable school system budget management are to blame for chronic school bus service failures, Hiruy Hadgu, president of Progressive Democrats of Howard County, says.

The report highlights many problems agencies had already been dinged for in previous years, with numerous issues surfacing in audits dating back as far as 2017.