Local government

    Could voters cap county spending at the rate of inflation?
    The initiative comes from Control MoCo Spending, a group founded by Reardon Sullivan, the Republican nominee for the council’s District 1 seat.
    At-Large Montgomery County Councilmember Will Jawando speaks during a council session for electing a new president from the current council at the Montgomery County Council Office Building in Rockville, MD.
    A Democrat and Republican are teaming up for a nonpartisan race
    Democrat Lisa Maisano and Republican Julie Walsh are pitching themselves as a bipartisan slate for Carroll County school board who can steer the conversation away from national politics and back to local issues.
    Lisa Maisano, a Democrat, left, and Julie Walsh, a Republican, are running on a slate for Carroll County school board.
    Hutzell: The speed limit is about to drop on a dangerous Annapolis road. Get your tickets now.
    COLUMN | Anne Arundel County is lowering the speed limit on Forest Drive in Annapolis from 40 to 35 mph on Monday, the first big step in a $10 million plan to make this dysfunctional back door to Maryland’s state capital safer.
    Come Monday, Anne Arundel County will lower the speed limit on Forest Drive in Annapolis from 40 to 35 mph in an effort to make the heavily traveled road safer.
    Baltimore’s first Latina council member calls for more protection from ICE near schools
    Immigration enforcement is “changing childhood itself,” experts told Baltimore City Council at a three-hour hearing Thursday.
    Baltimore City Councilwoman Odette Ramos wants the city’s Safe Passage initiative to expand to more schools.
    Baltimore set to pay $11M to man wrongfully convicted of murder
    For 25 years, Anthony Hall sat in prison for a crime he did not commit. Next month, Baltimore will pay for the mistake.
    The city of Baltimore is slated to approve an $11 million settlement to Anthony Hall, who was wrongfully convicted of second-degree murder and served more than 25 years in prison.
    The Freedom Caucus wants to remake Maryland’s GOP, one primary at a time
    Freedom Caucus success can take different forms depending on which party is in charge, said Matthew Green, a politics professor at The Catholic University of America, who has studied the caucuses’ spread across the country.
    Del. Kathy Szeliga holds an impromptu press conference with other members of the Maryland Freedom Caucus at the Maryland State House on Sine Die in Annapolis, Md. on Monday, April 7, 2025. To her side are Dels. Matt Morgan, Brian Chisolm and Mark Fisher.
    Ethics complaint over Howard County Council member’s community center scrutiny dismissed
    The Howard County Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint filed against County Council member Deb Jung by developer Brian Kim, who claimed her scrutiny of the planned community center was driven by her campaign for county executive.
    Developer Brian Kim filed an ethics complaint against Howard County Council member Deb Jung, claiming that her scrutiny of a planned community center, The Source, was driven by her campaign for county executive.
    Montgomery County pares back gun restrictions after court challenge
    The Maryland Supreme Court found that the county had the authority to restrict guns, but had overstepped in some cases.
    The Maryland Supreme Court found that the county had the authority to restrict guns, but had overstepped in some cases.
    New bill aims to prevent human trafficking at Montgomery County spas
    Officials say a legal loophole has allowed disbanded businesses to continue abuse under new licenses.
    Montgomery County Council member Dawn Luedtke, who represents District 7, speaks at the council’s office building in Rockville last year.
    Hutzell: Constitutional challenge could defang an emboldened government watchdog
    COLUMN | If a judge sides with Donna Liberto's constitutional argument, it could have a chilling effect on the Anne Arundel County auditor's ability to pursue fraud, waste and abuse.
    The former superintendent of Lake Waterford Park in Pasadena was fired after an auditor's investigation found she'd been using a department pickup truck for personal business.
    As counties put a pause on data centers, experts suggest a path forward
    Through negotiations with developers, several jurisdictions across the country have tried to mitigate some of the environmental impacts of data centers and secure millions of dollars for local priorities.
    Prince George’s County residents protest against data centers outside of the Wayne K. Curry Administration Building in Largo on July 1.
    Incoming Del. Matt Post campaigned as a fresh voice, but with appreciation for his predecessor
    Plus: Hearings for the Friendship Heights Sector Plan; recruiting for the Arts and Humanities Council; how Kensington and Germantown feel about cats.
    District 14 House of Delegates candidate Matt Post talks to a Montgomery County voter.
    Baltimore County Council will consider extending data center moratorium
    Republican council member David Marks said he plans to introduce legislation that would extend the Baltimore County’s pause on data center development.
    Thursday, July 16, 2026 - The Baltimore County Planning Board meets Thursday to review a draft report on data centers that recommends new regulations for the facilities.
    Glen Burnie office tower will take longer to stabilize than first thought
    It will take longer than two weeks to stabilize Empire Towers, a 10-story office building in Glen Burnie.
    Aerial view of Empire Towers, a 10-story office building, the day after it was evacuated for structural integrity issues, in Glen Burnie, on Friday, July 10, 2026.
    Baltimore Democratic official removed after confrontation with campaign volunteer
    The decision came in response to a petition against Ronald Rosenbluth from the 41st District Democratic Central Committee. The 62-year-old was accused of yelling at 78-year-old Betsy Krieger on June 17 at an early voting center.
    Del. Malcolm Ruff, left, and Sen. Dalya Attar.
    Think high school redistricting was tough? Get ready for an elementary boundary study.
    Montgomery County will consider closing campuses and changing attendance zones.
    District leaders say a shake-up is necessary as Montgomery County Public Schools confront declining enrollment, uneven building utilization and other factors.
    Amid conflict, law school deans quit Baltimore inspector general oversight board
    The deans have been part of the inspector general advisory board since it was created in 2018.
    April 28, 2026 -  Inspector General Isabel Cumming watches as the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, MONSE, testifies about a  report that several contractors submitted fraudulent invoices to the office during a Baltimore City Council  public safety meeting.
    A political ally of the sheriff schedules evictions in Prince George’s — for a fee
    Known as the “mayor of Suitland,” Elsie Jacobs has gained an outsize but informal role at the sheriff’s office.
    Prince George’s County community organizer Elsie Jacobs, 85, helps to organize and schedule evictions.
    Dickerson data center developer files appeal of Elrich’s moratorium
    Elrich confirmed the appeal during his weekly media briefing Thursday, but declined to elaborate on the filing in detail, citing “legal” concerns.
    A sign brought by an attendee rests on the floor during a community forum on data centers with county leaders in Rockville that was hosted by Montgomery Council Executive Marc Elrich.
    Prince George’s emergency bill aims to help families recover vehicles after immigration arrests
    The County Council passed emergency legislation that would require towing companies to release impounded vehicles to detainees’ families or members of the same household.
    Prince George’s County Council member Eric Olson introduced legislation aimed at helping families recover vehicles following immigration arrests.
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