State government

The devastating collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge prompted racist falsehoods to spread like wildfire online. Maryland Port Commissioner Karenthia Barber found herself in the crosshairs of a far-right disinformation campaign against “DEI” — diversity, equity and inclusion — alongside her co-commissioner Sandy Roberts.

The last bills have been considered, the last amendments have been offered and the final votes have been taken. Here’s what Maryland lawmakers did — and did not — do during their 90-day General Assembly session this year.

Heading into the final hours of the final day Monday, legislators were closer to resolving questions about the long-term future of Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course and financial aid for Baltimore's port workers.

The Caucus of African American Leaders unanimously voted to ask that two bridges in the state, including the Francis Scott Key Bridge, be renamed.

“I mean, that moment still takes my breath away,” Moore said of first seeing the empty place where the Key Bridge had stood.

The Maryland Office of the Attorney General is investigating a fatal crash on the Baltimore Beltway.

The bill decides consequences for children aged 10 to 12 years old caught carrying guns and stealing cars, gives courts the ability to expand probation, decides when state’s attorneys can review cases, and sets up sweeping juvenile legal system oversight and data collection.

The horse racing bill is perhaps the highest profile of hundreds of bills that are unresolved in the final hours of the General Assembly session.

Partisan divides exist in Maryland's General Assembly, but senators and delegates pride themselves in respectful debate and disagreement. Some lawmakers go further, forging bipartisan alliances to address problems large and small.

By Monday night comes, a group of lawmakers, lobbyists and staffers are ready to get out of the stuffy confines of the Maryland General Assembly and convene a meeting of the sweatiest group in Annapolis: the Basketball Caucus.

The Maryland House of Delegates welcomed a new student page on April Fool's Day.

Emails designed to look like instructions to get a refund from Bittrex, a now-defunct cryptocurrency platform, were sent from compromised government accounts on Monday.

Former Gov. Larry Hogan, who is running for the U.S. Senate, has been low-key in his response to the Key Bridge collapse, primarily stressing the need for Democrats and Republicans to work together.

Maryland lawmakers have reached a deal on the state’s $63 billion budget, and it may cost you if you own a car, take an Uber ride or smoke cigarettes.

A source said Churchill has been lobbying to derail a bill in the state legislature that’s necessary for the state ownership deal to go through.

Maryland’s state prosecutor has fined the campaign of former gubernatorial candidate John B. King Jr. $2,000 for sending campaign material out over email without the required campaign authority line.

The framework of the deal will eventually raise about $320 million to $350 million per year through a variety of vehicle-related fees and $80 million annually from hiking taxes on tobacco and nicotine products.

Republican former Gov. Larry Hogan has been quick to condemn the revenue package that has led to a budget showdown between the General Assembly chambers.

The #Baltimorestrong hashtag surfaced too soon, says a writer who believes that message of resilience skips some steps toward healing the Baltimore community needs.

With billions already earmarked, Baltimore could become a proving ground — and maybe a blueprint — for national Democrats’ infrastructure goals.