Local government

Maryland leaders say the state’s new voting rights law will help protect minority voters after the U.S. Supreme Court weakened a key anti-discrimination provision of the federal Voting Rights Act.

COLUMN |State Sen. Pam Beidle plans to donate $500,000 in campaign funds to a slate of at least 19 candidates she believes will continue her middle-of-the-road political philosophy in increasingly progressive Maryland. Her top priority is getting Allison Pickard elected county executive.

Homelessness fell 26% in Montgomery County from last year, according to a recently released survey.

The details of how Maryland authorities first approached Joseph “Jay” Attar as part of their investigation were revealed in newly unsealed federal court documents.

Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman has rejected a request to include money for security grants in his proposed budget. Groups including The Jewish Federation pushed for the funding to defray higher security costs, but Pittman said the county should work through the police department and the Hate Crimes Prevention Program.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb say their friendship, frequent calls and shared challenges as young Black city leaders have made them trusted allies.

The Supreme Court has weakened a key tool of the Voting Rights Act that has helped combat racial discrimination in voting for over 50 years.

With a pivotal primary election less than two months away, a new poll paints a pessimistic picture of how residents view their county.

Anne Arundel County needs nearly 700 Republican voters to sign up to be election judges to maintain balance.

What she’s concluded through two campaigns and many community meetings is that county residents need fewer tax increases and fees, more police officers, and more ways for parents to weigh in on their children’s education.

The Timonium native and political newcomer faces Kimberley Stansbury in the Republican primary this June. He’s raised roughly $25,000 — about $10,000 more than Stansbury, according to campaign finance records.

A poll from Anne Arundel Community College shows no runaway leader in the Democratic primary to replace Steuart Pittman, the term-limited county executive.

Howard County begins construction on a mile-long flood tunnel in Ellicott City to prevent future deadly flash floods and protect historic Main Street.

COLUMN | We are deep into the age of posting stupid and insensitive things online. It can cost you a friendship, standing in your community, a job or — and this is the fuzzy math bit — absolutely nothing.

On Friday, the Columbia Association published an 82-page report detailing the last seven months of board infighting that led to three members being removed.

The Maryland Supreme Court tossed Baltimore’s $266 million victory in its opioid lawsuit against a pair of drug companies in a brief order issued Friday.

Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates reported $1.8 million in outside income last year as matters from his time as a private defense attorney were resolved and he sold real estate.

COLUMN | If Gov. Wes Moore signs a bill reforming appointments to the Anne Arundel County liquor board, it will end state senators’ power to dispense jobs as political favors.

Three members of the Columbia Association’s board of directors were removed for alleged ethics violations on Thursday, April 23.

Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson called the IG’s apology for an AI-generated image of Mayor Scott insufficient as ethics board reviews complaint over racist post.