Local government

Rather than putting high-rise buildings at the center of Inner Harbor redevelopment, Baltimore should use the area to feature a town square everyone in the city could enjoy, a longtime city resident says.

Though legislation clearing the way for MCB Real Estate's $1 billion Harborplace redevelopment was introduced before City Council in October, the body held its first and only hearing on the proposal three weeks ago and is expected to give final approval Monday night.

Ocean City Mayor Rick Meehan dramatically rejected money from an offshore wind company in a press release.

Though the situation has not yet reached a full crisis pitch, the numbers have caught the attention of Maryland lawmakers, lobbyists and policymakers who are scrambling to stop the bleeding.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. vetoed a bill Thursday that would have amended the zoning code in Hunt Valley to accommodate a potential new development project there.

One building alone — 100 E. Pratt Street, known as the T. Rowe Price building — is responsible for $54 million in losses to the city’s property tax base.

Ongoing friction reemerged between Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly’s office and Councilman Aaron Penman, who asserted that Cassilly signed a land-use document that facilitated the sale of the land. Penman characterized the act as a conflict of interest.

Baltimore’s government-subsidized public housing sites are failing U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development inspections at a higher rate than the national average, a Banner analysis found.

Cohen endorsed Bates in the 2022 Democratic primary, when he faced then-State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby and Thiru Vignarajah.

The Baltimore Fire Department sent divers into the Inner Harbor after they say a woman forgot to put her vehicle in park and it drifted into the water.

The bills would modify the Inner Harbor’s zoning restrictions to allow multifamily residential use, the area’s urban renewal plan and city charter to allow developer P. David Bramble’s project to break ground.

Baltimore Book Festival will return in 2024, according to Mayor Brandon Scott and Baltimore’s Office of Promotion & the Arts.

Mayor Brandon Scott, former Mayor Sheila Dixon, Thiru Vignarajah and other candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Baltimore mayor will face off in two upcoming panels.

The Baltimore County Council unanimously approved a diversity, equity and inclusion study.

The early start times now mandated for Baltimore public school students can be a factor in poor performance and lead to detrimental health outcomes, say two Loyola college students who experienced early start times and long trips to school as Baltimore public school students.

Demands from the Baltimore candidate come as the city must earmark close to half of its $641 million American Rescue Plan Act spending package before the end of the year.

The Humane Society of Harford County needs your help. The shelter is over capacity and needs dogs to be fostered or adopted.

While the two downtown hotels will initially serve as temporary shelter for unhoused residents, leaders intend to convert the buildings into longer-term, subsidized housing units.

The contract with a Colorado-based contractor spans five years, but could be extended for up to three more, for a total cost of up to $100 million.

Olszewski is one of six Democrats running to represent the district that includes most of Baltimore and Carroll counties and a small portion of Baltimore City. Three Republicans are seeking the seat.