Zeah sentenced to life without parole for Columbia mall double murder — The Baltimore Sun

Judge tosses federal charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia — WJZ

Baltimore park pools to open Memorial Day weekend — WMAR

New cash-rounding law lets Maryland businesses adjust change by five cents — WBAL

New mansion at country club sells for $5.09M in top home deal of week — Baltimore Business Journal

Maryland’s ‘aging workforce’ in healthcare presents challenges, opportunities — Maryland Matters

The Baltimore love keeps coming, this time in the form of a collaboration between Scout Art Fair Curator Devin Allen and Baltimore-based Under Armour, to be activated at the Scout Art Fair this weekend during Artscape 2026.

Allen has a longstanding “From Baltimore, For Baltimore” collaboration with Under Armour already, through which he uses his creative storytelling to Under Armour’s performance business and sportswear lines. This weekend, though, Scout staff and key city and community partners will be sporting custom limited edition DVNLLN x SCOUT shirts, courtesy of that special partnership with Under Armour.

Staff and officials are not the only ones who will get the exclusive gear, though. Under Armour is gifting the shirts to the first 50 attendees who purchase artwork from the Scout exhibit, as a thank you for celebrating local creativity and investing in Baltimore’s arts community. For anyone else who would like a DVNLLN x SCOUT shirt, they will be available for purchase at Under Armour’s Brand House in the Baltimore Peninsula.

Allen rose to prominence on the national stage for his photographs of the Baltimore Uprising, which made the cover of TIME magazine in May 2015. He was only the third amateur photographer that TIME had ever selected to feature on its cover. In June 2020, TIME chose one of his photos from a Black Trans Lives Matter protest to again be on its cover.

Scout at Artscape is a new cornerstone of the festival, founded in 2025 by renowned artist and Baltimorean Derrick Adams as a platform for emerging and established artists. New audiences and collectors can connect with the artists and their art through bold presentation and accessible prices.

Each booth at the Scout Art Fair will have artwork priced between $150 and $5,000. Part of the proceeds from the individual artists’ sales will benefit Create Baltimore programming. Create Baltimore and the Mayor’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entertainment (MOACE) produce Artscape.

The Scout Art Fair does not fully coincide with Artscape hours. Scout hours will be on Friday, May 22, 1–6 p.m., Saturday, May 23, 11 a.m.–7 p.m., and Sunday, May 24, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. at the War Memorial Building, 101 N. Gay St.

Artscape 2026 will take place Memorial Day weekend at War Memorial Plaza Saturday, May 23, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 24, 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.

Baltimore’s Artscape festival will bring artists, performers, vendors, community members — and yes, traffic — to the downtown area this Saturday and Sunday.

Fortunately, we have the low-down on the parking restrictions and road closures you need to know for this weekend.

Parking restrictions began 12 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19, and additional restrictions were rolled out throughout the week leading up to the event.

Vehicles parked in violation will be ticketed and towed, so be sure to abide by posted restrictions. If your car does get towed, call 311 for help locating it.

Road closures for the event started at 3 p.m. Friday, May 22. Use alternate routes and allow for extra time to travel to your destination.

Parking will be restricted at the following location from 12 a.m. Tuesday, May 19, until 11:59 p.m. Thursday, May 21:

• ES Holliday Street opposite 225 Holliday Street (Peale Museum)

Parking will be restricted at the following location from 12 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19, until 12 a.m. Monday, May 25:

• BS E. Saratoga Street, between Holliday Street and N. Gay Street 

Parking will be restricted at the following lots from 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 20, until 12 a.m. Monday, May 25:

• Mercy Lot, between Holliday Street and Guilford Avenue
• Sheriff Lot, between Holliday Street and Guilford Avenue

Parking will be restricted in the following area from 12 a.m. Thursday, May 21, until 12 a.m. Monday, May 25:

• Cobblestone lot (in front of City Hall) between Fayette and Lexington Streets

Parking will be restricted in the following lots from 4 p.m. Thursday, May 21, until 12 a.m. Monday, May 25:

• JFX B Lot, between Pleasant Street and Guilford Avenue

Parking will be restricted in the following lots from 6 p.m. Thursday, May 21, until 12 a.m. Monday, May 25:

• JFX A Lot, between N. Gay Street and Pleasant Street

Parking will be restricted in the following areas from 2 p.m. Friday, May 22, until 12 a.m. Monday, May 25:

• WS N. Gay Street, between E. Baltimore Street and E. Lexington Street
• SS E. Fayette Street, between Holliday Street and President Street
• NS E. Fayette Street, between Holliday Street and N. Gay Street
• ES N. Frederick Street, between E. Fayette Street and E. Lexington Street
• BS Holliday Street, between E. Baltimore Street and E. Fayette Street
• BS Holliday Street, between E. Lexington Street and E. Saratoga Street
• WS Holliday Street, between E. Saratoga Street and E. Pleasant Street
• BS Guilford Avenue, between Bath Street and E. Fayette Street
• SS E. Lexington Street, between Holliday Street and N. Frederick Street
• NS E. Lexington Street, between Holliday Street and N. Gay Street  

In addition to parking restrictions, the following streets will be closed to traffic from 3 p.m. on Friday, May 22, through 12 a.m. on Monday, May 25, with detours and parking restrictions in effect:

• Fayette Street closed from President Street to Guilford Avenue
• Gay Street closed from E. Baltimore Street to E. Saratoga Street
• Holliday Street closed from E. Baltimore Street to Pleasant Street
• Pleasant Street closed from Fallsway to Guilford Avenue
• Pleasant Street Ramp closed at the SB JFX
• Lexington Street closed from Guilford Avenue to N. Frederick Street
• Frederick Street closed from E. Fayette Street to E. Lexington Street
• Dickey Place closed from Guilford Avenue to Holliday Street
• Saratoga Street closed from Holliday Street to N. Gay Street
• Saratoga Street between Holliday Street and Guilford Avenue will have a temporary two-way traffic pattern implemented for Breco Condominium residents.

Additional information about the event can be found on Artscape’s website.

Charm City Circulator patrons should be aware that circulator bus operations along the Green Route will be modified for Artscape. CCC bus detours and temporary stop closures will be in effect from 2 p.m. on Friday, May 22, through 12 a.m. on Monday, May 25. Patrons riding the CCC may experience longer than normal wait times and are encouraged to download the Passio GO! app to see when the next Circulator bus is arriving.  Additional information can be found on the CCC website.

Temporary MDOT MTA bus diversions and stop closures will be in effect during Artscape.  The MDOT MTA Mobility drop-off location will be located at 6 Saint Paul Street during the event. Please refer to the MTA’s websitefor specific information. 

Filmmaker, writer and raconteur John Waters can add another occupation to his resume: He’s now a published poet.

Waters noted during a recent interview with the hosts of the “Las Culturistas” podcast that a poem he wrote has been printed in a national magazine, and it’s the first time that has happened.

“I just had my first poem published in The Atlantic,” he told hosts Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers. “Now I’m officially a beatnik!”

Entitled “Catch,” Waters’ poem was highlighted in the Books section of The Atlantic’s May 2026 issue and featured an illustration by Liz Hart. It was promoted on The Atlantic’s social channels in late April, with a photo of a muddy baseball.

Baltimore Fishbowl is not reproducing the poem in its entirety, because it’s behind a paywall. The magazine is sold on newsstands for $13. Subscribers can read it online at www.TheAtlantic.com.

Those who read this first published poem by John Waters will find it’s an autographical tale that touches on subjects he has spoken about at some length, including his athletic prowess or lack thereof, and his fraught relationship with sports in general.

“Catch” recounts a time when Waters was a child and his father tried to throw a ball to him and the dilemma it presented for him.

“What would I do if I caught a ball?” Waters asks in the poem. “I have nowhere to put it. I’d certainly never throw it back.”

The poem goes on to reveal what happened when his father threw the ball, the existential questions it raised for him, and the fallout from the incident. It’s certainly topical for May, when the baseball season is underway and balls are in the air. It can also be read as a cautionary account that’s likely to strike a chord with any number of kids who will never make it to the major leagues, or even the little leagues.

Waters writes with candor about his boyhood experience and raises weighty adult questions about the power dynamics of playing catch.

“Why do men need to be around balls? (the rubber kind),” he asks. “Are you more of a man if you throw a ball and less so if you catch one?”

‘Back to being a beatnik’

Based in Baltimore, Waters has written and directed 16 movies, including “Hairspray” and “Pink Flamingos,” and written more than a dozen books, including six screenplay books that were released in new formats over the past year.

A month before his poem was published in The Atlantic, Waters read it aloud as part of his keynote speech during the Association of Writers & Writing Programs 2026 Conference and Bookfair at the Baltimore Convention Center.

He prefaced his poetry reading by telling the audience that there were two forms of writing that he couldn’t claim to have done up to that point – writing a play and getting a poem published.

Having a poem in The Atlantic, he said, represented the fulfillment of a long-standing goal just as he was turning 80 on April 22. He mentioned his feat as a way of inspiring the writers in the room that it’s never too late to pursue a dream. After he read his poem, the audience gave him a standing ovation.

On the “Las Culturistas” podcast, Waters discussed how much beatniks were a strong cultural influence on him when he was growing up, and poetry was a big part of the beatnik culture.

“There was one culture only” that interested him, and “that was being a beatnik,” he said. “I wanted bongos…I went to coffee houses where they had poetry…I wanted to wear sandals, dirty sweatshirts…I wear turtlenecks to this day because of beatniks.”

Waters noted that Maelcum Soul, “the most famous beatnik in Baltimore,” was the star of his first movies, “Roman Candles” (1966) and “Eat Your Makeup” (1968). She was also cast to play the Wicked Witch in “Dorothy, the Kansas City Pothead,” but the film was abandoned after she died of a drug overdose in April of 1968.

Waters later cast Pia Zadora and Ric Ocasek to play beatniks in “Hairspray,” which was based on his memories of the 1960s. He frequently talks about Baltimore being “the last bohemia” in America. With the publication of his poem in The Atlantic, he said, he’s come full circle: “I went back to being a beatnik.”

Is SNL next?

Now that he’s a published poet, Waters brought up something else he’d like to accomplish.

“When am I going to host Saturday Night Live?” he asked Yang, who left the show in December after seven plus years. He started as a writer in 2018, became a featured player in 2019 and was promoted to repertory status before Season 47.

 “That would be genius,” Rogers said.

“You would be wonderful,” Yang agreed.

“I could write a good one with the crew,” Waters said, referring to the fact that SNL guest hosts collaborate with the cast and staff writers to come up with sketches for the show. “It’s the only time I could ever write with somebody else.”

“Oh my gosh,” Yang said. “I’ll come back for that.”

This week is a big one in the Baltimore culinary world, with events and news covering all the bases, from barbecue to baklava to kimbap. Here’s a look at what’s coming up:

Openings & announcements

Broadway Market gets a new BBQ option this week, when Soul Smoked BBQ opens a permanent stall on Friday, May 29. Soul Smoked has been a weekend pop-up at the market and is a regular fixture at the Baltimore Farmer’s Market, where it will continue to have a stall, in addition to its new spot in Fells.

Food lovers across the area were saddened this week by the announcement that Heritage Smokehouse will shut its doors after its lease ends in August. The Govans restaurant has been in operation for five years and is well-known for its excellent meat, drinks, and more. The owners are looking at new opportunities, so hopefully they’ll pop back up somewhere nearby this fall.

Brew at the Zoo

On May 23 and 24, the Maryland Zoo’s annual fundraiser, Brew at the Zoo, returns. The party includes live music, a watermelon eating contest, special drink stations scattered throughout the zoo, plus food and samples of more than 80 craft bevvies.

The Flavor Lab at Artscape

Artscape is also this weekend and, like in recent years, food will be front and center during the event, particularly on The Flavor Lab demo stage, where events are hosted by Baltimore’s own Chef Cat. The lineup of food vendors is a good one, with lots of different options, including favorites like Ekiben, Ethel’s Creole Kitchen, and Waiting to Oxtail.

On the grill at Manor Mill

On Wednesday, Chef Jerry Edwards visits Manor Mill in Monkton for a fun class on outdoor grilling. The class includes a demonstration of multiple grilling and smoking techniques followed by a meal of grilled dishes, from espresso-rubbed ribeye to peaches and cream.

Friuli wine dinner at Sally O’s

Also on Wednesday, Sally O’s presents a four-course meal designed to pair with the wines of Friuli in Italy.

McClintock at Magdalena

Also on Wednesday, the team from McClintock Distilling will take over the bar at Magdalena for a happy hour event. The menu will include a lineup of specialty cocktails using McClintock’s spirits, plus bar bites (and dinner service starting at 5).

Booze & BBQ at Louthan Distilling

On Thursday, May 28, head to Louthan Distilling for Booze & BBQ, a fundraiser to support the opening of The Market at Hamilton, the new venture from the Silver Queen Café crew.

The ticketed event includes tastings from a variety of distillers, wineries, and craft breweries, and there will be BBQ (from Silver Queen) available for purchase.

Tres Français lunch

On Friday afternoon, Petit Louis continues its Tres Français lunch series with a four-course meal paired with Champagne and other special wines from the restaurant’s storied cellar.

The Art of Kimbap K-Food Experience

On Friday, May 29, Motorhouse is partnering with Washington D.C.’s Korean Cultural Center to welcome chef Des So for an Asia North event, The Art of Kimbap. The event includes discussion, a live kimbap-making demonstration, and a tasting experience.

Festival season

Next weekend is a big one for cultural festivals.

On May 28, the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation kicks off its 54^th annual Greek Food, Wine & Culture Festival. The three day event includes music, dance, shopping, and tons of food and wine.

And May 29 through May 31, Little Italy will come alive with its annual street festival celebrating St. Anthony. The festival, which started in 1904, includes music, games, vendors, kids’ activities, and plenty of wine, beer, and food.

Planning for the future

Mark your calendars for:

June 6: Charles Street Promenade

June 8: Meatball Monday at Johnny’s

June 17: Michael Leonard at Boordy

The Maryland Forest Service found the total acres burned by wildfires in 2025 was more than double the five-year average, despite a similar number of fires to 2024, according to the 2025 Annual Wildfire Report.

According to the report, 172 wildland fires burned 8,167 acres in Maryland during 2025, compared to 2024, where 164 wildfires burned approximately 953 acres. There were 13% more wildfires and 126% more acres burned in 2025 compared to the five-year average. March saw the busiest month, with double the five-year average of fires.

The Maryland Forest Service said that the most common cause of wildfire in Maryland is burning debris. However, arson accounted for the most acres burned in 2025 due to dry conditions, despite the number of fires started by arson decreasing from previous years. 

Maryland Forest Service state fire supervisor Chris Robertson said the number of Maryland wildfires has grown over the past five years. 

“A couple things to note is that much of the acreage burned in 2025 was from several large marsh fires on the eastern shore and the number of prescribed burns and acres burned has been increasing across the state over the last 5 years,” Robertson said. “Other than that, the causes remain generally the same as previous years.”

According to Robertson, Maryland experienced a warm, dry winter pattern, followed by above-average temperatures with “an exceptionally warm 12-month period for the region.” March 2025 saw especially warm conditions.

Although this week the Baltimore region has experienced multiple days of rain, last week Maryland issued a drought warning for much of the state.

To prevent future fires, Maryland residents can adopt “Firewise Living” as laid out by the Maryland Forest Service. Such techniques include using fire-resistant building materials and removing flammable materials from around structures, such as clearing debris from roofs, yards and gutters.

The Maryland Forest Service will also expand its use of prescribed burns, or controlled fires,  to reduce flammable debris on land susceptible to wildfires. 

The full report can be found here.

The Baltimore Community Foundation (BCF) has awarded Legacy Forward Grants to 19 organizations across Baltimore City and County for public programming connected to the 250^th anniversary of the United States.

The funding totals $250,000 for supporting historical, cultural, educational, and place-based organizations who will create projects and programs related to America 250. BCF was able to designate this money through the Legacy Forward Fund, a grants program created to “celebrate America’s past, bring diverse communities together, and promote the democratic principles that have guided the nation for 250 years,” reads the page on the BCF website.

“Our country’s semiquincentennial should inspire, challenge, and unite us,” said Shanaysha Sauls, president and CEO of the Baltimore Community Foundation. “For America’s 250th, BCF is proudly supporting local exhibitions, performances, lectures, civic dialogue, public art, festivals, and educational programming that reflect the richness, history, and importance of Baltimore for the United States.  Not only is Legacy Forward a moment to reflect on the past and to project a future, this is an invitation to explore who we are, what endures, and what it means to be free, equal, and independent under the law.”

Some of the projects and programs funded highlight Maryland’s role in the founding and development of the United States. Others will focus on how different communities experienced American history and shaped the nation over the centuries. Taken together, they will offer Baltimore audiences a range of ways to engage with the 250^th anniversary through local history, public programming, and civic participation. The funded projects will take place between 2026 and 2027.

BCF awarded Legacy Forward Grants to the following organizations:

• B&O Railroad Museum for Tracks of Unity: America 250 at the B&O!, which explores Baltimore’s diverse communities through the lenses of railroading, labor, and civil rights.
• Bach in Baltimore for a 2026 concert season and a special free concert celebrating the first 250 years of American music.
• Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for America 250 programming that explores the nation’s founding and history through performance.
• Federal Hill Main Street for Multiple Voices, Shared Spaces, a series of guided walking tours exploring the meaning of “a more perfect union.”
• Fire Museum of Maryland for Fanning the Flames of Freedom, a partnership with Baltimore County Public Schools that includes a public festival and youth arts engagement.
• Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library for a series of community events, author visits, and a culminating lecture at Goucher College by an acclaimed author and presidential biographer.
• Girl Scouts of Central Maryland for a community block party and intergenerational discussion program commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary.
• Heritage Society of Essex and Middle River for a speaker series exploring democracy, freedom, and local contributions to the American story.
• Hippodrome Foundation for the SUFFS: The Musical Program Series, engaging Baltimore-area students in learning about civic activism, voting, and the women’s suffrage movement.
• Maryland African American Museum Corporation for THE LINES WE CROSS: 250 Years of Maryland Forging America, highlighting Black Marylanders who challenged the nation to live up to its founding ideals.
• MPT Foundation for Maryland: America in Miniature, a storytelling project collaboration with Maryland-based photographer Carol Highsmith, focused on Maryland’s landscapes, communities, and history.
• No Boundaries Coalition for a voter engagement program focused on civic participation and storytelling in West Baltimore.
• Pikesville Armory Foundation for a public event honoring Maryland Citizen Soldiers and examining Maryland’s pivotal role in the origins and defense of the United States.
• Pride of Baltimore for programming tied to Sail250 port festivals, offering audiences a connection to America’s maritime legacy.
• Star Spangled Banner Flag House Association for Maryland’s America: 250 Years of American History Through Marylander Eyes, a statewide community art project and museum exhibition.
• The Maryland Center for History and Culture for Maryland at 250: The Values That Shape Us, a public lecture and conversation series exploring Maryland’s role in defining constitutional values.
• The Peale Center for Baltimore History and Architecture for Facing Forward: Baltimore’s Civic Dialogues for America at 250, a series examining major themes in American civic life.
• Todds Inheritance Historic Site for a Revolutionary War presentation series spanning the 2026 and 2027 seasons.
• Towson University Foundation for Summer at the Center Arts Festival: Voices of a Nation, featuring performances, exhibitions, and arts programming tied to America 250.

Mark Hanson, president and CEO of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, was thrilled to be able to provide the community with free music to help celebrate the nation’s milestone anniversary.

“The BSO’s Star-Spangled 250 concerts bring together music, community, and history in a setting that has become a beloved summer tradition,” Hanson said. “We’re excited to join Baltimore County in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States over two festive nights at Oregon Ridge, and to kick off a SummerFest season filled with great music, special guests, and opportunities for people to experience the Orchestra together all summer long.”

Katie Caljean is president and CEO of the Maryland Center for History and Culture. She is excited to offer residents and visitors the opportunity for reflection and discussion.

“America250 is an opportunity to explore how Maryland history helps us better understand the nation’s past and the issues that continue to shape public life today,” Caljean said. “Through Maryland at 250: The Values That Shape Us, we hope to create opportunities for reflection, learning, and conversation around the ideas and values that continue to define us.”

“America250 offers The Lewis an opportunity to illuminate the profound contributions African Americans have made to the nation, tracing their arduous journey from enslavement to becoming innovative creators and shapers of American culture,” said Terri Lee Freeman, president of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture. “The Lines We Cross exhibition will guide visitors from 1776 to 2026, highlighting the tenacity, perseverance, and ingenuity required not only to survive, but ultimately to thrive in a new and evolving nation,”

There are many Baltimore organizations recognizing the nation’s 250^th founding with events and programs. There will be four free festivals held during Sail250 Maryland & Airshow Baltimore, and Harford County has developed a free app called “Celebration Trail” that encourages and helps people explore and learn about the county’s 63 historic sites.

BY RHIANNON EVANS

Capital News Service

This story is part of a series – A region reshaped: Federal layoffs in Maryland a year later. 

BELTSVILLE – The closure of a federal agricultural research facility in Maryland could lead to a loss of scientific breakthroughs and hundreds of jobs, state lawmakers, officials and experts said.

“It’s such an important part of the rural economy,” said Charlotte Davis,  executive director of the Rural Maryland Council. “We want to make sure that our Maryland farmers are thriving and getting the support they need to remain profitable.”

The shutdown of the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, known as BARC, could disrupt Maryland’s largest commercial industry and add to the more than 31,000 federal jobs the state lost over the last year, state officials said.

The research center explores new farming practices and technologies and helps find solutions to climate and pest issues, said Wendy Powers, dean of the University of Maryland’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Powers said moving current experiments to other locations in places like Washington state and Florida could interfere with research results because of differences in climate, soil and water. 

“Removing the research observations from this part of the country and placing it in other parts of the country makes it a little bit difficult to ensure that the findings are applicable,” Powers said.

Democrats in Maryland’s congressional delegation called the planned closure of the facility unlawful, pointing to a clause in the 2026 U.S. Department of Agriculture budget bill that requires approval from Congress to shutter the Beltsville facility.

“It is extremely troubling that, instead of working with Congress on a sensible plan to modernize BARC, the Department is pursuing an abrupt, politically-motivated, and short-sighted effort to shutter a facility of critical importance to U.S. agriculture and food security,” the lawmakers wrote in an April 27 letter to USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. 

Andy Harris, the state’s only Republican congressional member, did not sign the letter.

USDA aims to reduce workforce in the region

The USDA announced a reorganization plan in July 2025 that included closing some facilities in the nation’s capital region and reducing the area’s workforce from about 4,600 to no more than 2,000 employees. The USDA said it plans to vacate the Beltsville facility over the course of several years to avoid disrupting critical research.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the USDA cited the high maintenance costs and unsafe conditions of the 116-year-old facility for the closure. More than 60% of the buildings are not being used and a 2023 whistleblower complaint found that many buildings had mold, water damage and no running water, agency officials said.

“This move puts our research institutions outside of the beltway and closer to the land grant universities with talent pipelines who will lead the research and solve the problems facing the future of American agriculture,” Rollins said in an April 23 press release. “This is about strengthening our USDA research focus and improving the services the agricultural economy relies on.”  

Sen. James Rosapepe, D-Prince George’s and Anne Arundel, said the facility’s closure could also lead to even more federal job losses within the state, a hit he said his district can’t afford to take.

“It will be incredibly disruptive for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people who are my constituents, both who work at BARC and who live in the area,” said Rosapepe.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown said the state could lose more than 1,000 jobs directly and indirectly because of the closure.

In a letter sent to Rollins last September, Brown said the facility is “an economic engine, with these jobs contributing a cumulative $450 million to annual GDP.”

Rosapepe said that when the Trump administration previously relocated USDA research agencies from the D.C. area to Kansas City, Missouri, a lot of experienced federal employees chose not to move.

“Maryland has lost more economically than any other state as a result of the Trump administration. That’s been federal workers, that’s federal contractors, that’s federal agencies like BARC,” Rosapepe said. “I think the attack on BARC is just part of a broader attack on Maryland.”

In 2024, more than half of Baltimore City and County residents (61%) planned to move out of their current neighborhoods within the next three years. A majority of those who expected to move, however, planned to stay within their jurisdiction.

BALTIMORE ON THE MOVE

Johns Hopkins University’s 21^st Century Cities Initiative published a brief this month titled “Mobility Expectations of Baltimore Residents.” The brief used data from the 2024 Baltimore Area Survey (BAS) to map out the area population’s plans for staying in place; moving; and if moving, to what locations.

The report includes residents’ income, homeownership status, and neighborhood satisfaction. The survey was conducted from September to November 2024 and included responses from 1,492 Baltimore area residents.

While more than half of City and County residents in the survey expected to move out of their neighborhoods, nearly 40% of those expectant movers planned to relocate to another Maryland jurisdiction. Approximately 29% of those planning to move in the next three years anticipated moving out of state.

As for Baltimore City alone, about 58% expected to stay in the city, 38% said they will stay in their current neighborhood, and 22% thought they would move somewhere else in the city. Conversely, 42% of city residents expected to leave Baltimore, with 27% planning to move to another Maryland location outside the city and 15% planning to leave Maryland entirely. The city’s population declined each year between 2014 and 2023, but Baltimore City saw an increase in population in 2024, the year the survey was conducted.

Of Baltimore County’s respondents, 66% planned to stay in the county, with 41% planning to stay in their neighborhoods and 25% expecting to move somewhere else in the county. In contrast, 34% of residents expected to leave the county, with 15% expecting to stay in Maryland and 19% planning to move out of state.

Renters appeared to feel less certain about remaining in their neighborhoods for the next three years than homeowners, with one quarter of renters having that expectation versus nearly half of all homeowners. Unsurprisingly, affordability concerns related to income status. Among the lowest income residents, the survey showed 8 in 10 having affordability concerns. As income increased, affordability concerns decreased. At the highest income level, only 3 in 10 voiced affordability concerns.

Moving was not automatically an indication of dissatisfaction with one’s neighborhood, however. The survey considered whether people were moving because they wanted to or because they felt “forced” because of affordability concerns or being priced out of the market. Among Baltimore-area residents who wanted to stay in their neighborhood for at least the next three years, renters were highly likely to have affordability issues that would make that impossible, with 78% of renters reporting some level of concern.

REAL ESTATE TRENDS

Shari Arciaga is a realtor and associate broker with The McIntyre Team of the KW Collective. With 15 years’ experience in real estate, she has worked the entire Greater Baltimore metro area, including Baltimore City and all the counties that surround it.

“The buyers I’m working with are more open to the city in the last couple years than they ever have been before, and that’s because they’ve been priced out of the county,” Arciaga told Baltimore Fishbowl in a phone call. “The biggest challenge with buying in the city — and it’s something I’ve tried to work with local leaders on to the limited extent I have — is the city taxes are such that it just literally prices people right over the line into the county.” These might be first-time homebuyers or people preferring Baltimore County schools over Baltimore City’s.

Arciaga said that when her buyers are looking in the city, they want neighborhoods with a suburban feel, like Ten Hills, Hunting Ridge, Westgate, and the like. She also noted, however, that she has buyers considering Baltimore City who are looking for the condo life. They want less land, not more; a walkable lifestyle; and are considering high-end condos like the Four Seasons and the Ritz-Carlton. In her experience, Arciaga said, these homeowners are looking to “downsize but not downgrade.”

While the BAS looks at data and answers to questions from 2024, Arciaga considered Bright MLS home sales numbers from 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 as well. It’s not a strict comparison, because her chart is based on inventory and sales only. It shows, however, that even since 2024 the city is still in a strong seller’s market (roughly 8 weeks of inventory) and the county is approaching a balanced market (around 4.5 months of inventory).

“These stats are for the areas as a whole,” Arciaga said. “We may see different trends in any specific neighborhood or ZIP code. Real estate trends are best analyzed at a local level (ZIP code or neighborhood). The big takeaway here is that Maryland is still in a seller’s market in general and has been in a seller’s or balanced market since 2013.”

She emphasized, however, that she is starting to see a tightening of purse strings.

“I’ve seen in my experience an easing back on what they feel able to purchase, or even dropping out of the market altogether,” Arciaga said. “Because the gas prices, and the inflation have driven up interest rates, which has reduced their spending power. That’s a very recent stat, and we have to see over time how that plays out.”

LIVE (AND LOVE) BALTIMORE

Meghan McCorkell is executive director of Live Baltimore, a nonprofit whose mission is to attract and retain residents to Baltimore City, supporting the growth of the city’s economy and healthy housing market. Live Baltimore conducted its own study on the potential for residential market growth in 2026 that showed the possibility of adding 20,000 households over the next five years.

“Baltimore City’s housing market continues to be the most affordable in the region,” McCorkell told Baltimore Fishbowl in an email. “Live Baltimore’s Residential Market Potential study finds that more than 39,000 people will consider moving within or to the city each year over the next five years and that new or renovated housing could bring 20,000 new households to Baltimore during that time. That demand is coming not only from within Maryland but increasingly from out of state, especially the DC region.”

“These trends are reflected in the interest we are seeing on the ground — from more than 1,200 applications this year for the Buy Back the Block program to more than 450 prospective homebuyers attending Live Baltimore’s recent Trolley Tour,” McCorkell continued. “Taken together with continued household growth and the Mayor’s ongoing work to strengthen neighborhoods and address economic concerns, the data show that Baltimore’s opportunity for growth is real and reaching every part of the city.”

Put your local news knowledge to the test with David Conn’s Daily Dispatch Quiz.

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Today’s topics include:

• Broadway turns to a Baltimore launching pad
• State moves to ease online service
• Outdoor dining’s stubborn restriction

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High gas prices have more Marylanders staying close to home this holiday weekend – CBS Baltimore

Environmental and faith groups push back on proposed 150 megawatt data center in Woodlawn – WBAL News Radio

Baltimore County state’s attorney candidates spar over experience and need for change – Baltimore Banner

5 men arrested in child sexual exploitation ring in Howard County – FOX Baltimore/WBFF-TV

Maryland water systems cut flouride amid Middle East supply disruptions – Capital News Service/Maryland Matters

Son seeks justice 14 years after mother found dead near Patapsco River – WMAR-TV

East Coast’s first human composting facility opens in Maryland — WBAL

Bill to repeal term limits in Baltimore gets mixed reviews at hearing — Baltimore Brew

A fight is brewing already between Howard County and its new inspector general — The Baltimore Banner

Maryland’s first — and only — Hispanic Serving Institution’s cautious next steps — Maryland Matters

Investor to launch program in Baltimore for restaurants, tech and more — Baltimore Business Journal

As noted in this space just a few weeks ago, the long line of Memorial Day services at a Baltimore County church uniquely dedicated to those who fought to end slavery and preserve the union will come to an end this Sunday morning.

The last service at Lansdowne Christian Church, 101 Clyde Ave., will commence at 10 a.m.

“After 123 years, the final Memorial Day service will be held in the only church in the United States dedicated to the memory of Union Civil War veterans,” says an announcement from the Chesapeake department of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. “Due to declining membership, the congregation will conclude its ministry and cease holding all services.”

Founded by Charles Hull, the Lansdowne church was dedicated to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a large, progressive and racially integrated organization of Union veterans that formed after the war and became a political power. The GAR pushed for voting rights for Black Americans and government pensions for veterans. It was the advocacy arm of the Republican Party (“the party of Lincoln”) and helped elect several presidents during the late 19th Century. 

The GAR dissolved in 1956, after the last Civil War veteran died. But the services at Lansdowne went on every Memorial Day weekend. This Sunday’s will be the last.

I mention it because, given today’s political division and turmoil — among many depressing factors, the president’s support of the January 6 insurrectionists, some of whom carried Confederate flags — every American should reflect on our history, and on Memorial Day in a quiet, private way.  The existential issues that the nation faced in the Civil War feel very much of the moment.

Think about those who came from northern towns and cities — from farms and factories — to fight and die to preserve the Constitution and the union of states. They should inspire a moment of awe and gratitude. Their sacrifices of the 19th Century should fuel our resolve to resist those who have damaged our democracy. 

On Wednesday, I walked across a lawn of clover to make my annual pilgrimage to the one monument in Baltimore that honors the more than 65,000 Marylanders who fought for the Union in the Civil War. 

The impressive Union Soldiers and Sailors Monument stands on the lawn near the 29th Street end of Wyman Park Dell. It’s a bold memorial to the citizens who became soldiers to save the Union and abolish slavery. The figure in bronze at the front is still in the process of buckling the belt on his uniform; he’s leaving his plow and anvil behind, heading off to battle. The figures behind him are the helmeted Bellona, goddess of war, and the winged Victory.

The sculptor was Adolph Alexander Weinman. The memorial’s dedication was in 1909. The inscription reads: “Erected by the state of Maryland to commemorate the patriotism and heroic courage of her sons who on land and sea fought for the preservation of the Federal Union in the Civil War, 1861-1865.”

A few years ago, I asked the Baltimore artist and sculptor Joseph Sheppard to give his critique of Weinman’s sculpture: “The movement of the soldier, with his cape flowing, is very much in the same style of contemporary sculptor Hans Schuler. He and Weinman were German-born Americans and influenced by the European Beaux-Arts movement. Weinman studied under Augustus Saint-Gaudens, who was considered the most famous sculptor in America in the Beaux-Arts Movement. In my own work, where I often group people together, I’m always interested in how an artist works with several figures in a group — just as a dancer would in choreographing a group of dancers on a stage. A painter has to worry only about one view point. A sculptor has to think of at least three different viewpoints. I think that Weinman’s solution works.”

If you’re anywhere near Wyman Park Dell this Memorial Day weekend, you could stop by and have a look at the monument and think about the sacrifices that earlier Americans made to save the Union and end the evil of slavery. They should not be forgotten. They should be an inspiration. 

Dan Rodricks writes weekly for Baltimore Fishbowl. He can be reached at djrodricks@gmail.com or via danrodricks.com

Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott released an updated action plan for his second term, outlining priorities focused on data-driven programming, public safety, economic growth, and infrastructure improvements.

Building on initiatives launched during his first term, the Scott administration reviewed agency performance data, service delivery trends, and community conditions to identify the evolving needs of Baltimore residents. The updated plan also introduces a new pillar centered on modernizing public infrastructure.

Enhancing Public Safety

The Scott administration said that the city is pursuing a comprehensive public safety strategy that combines enforcement against violent crime with prevention and intervention efforts. To do so, the plan lays out three primary goals: Using evidence-based crime reduction strategies to break cycles of violent crime, reducing the number of avoidable calls to police and EMS through community-based response programs, and building a culture of accountability by strengthening police oversight systems. 

Prioritizing Vulnerable Communities

To prioritize young people, older adults, and other vulnerable groups, the Scott administration said it will invest in academic achievement; employment and career pathways; home and community-based services for older adults; and fostering an inclusive environment for historically underserved communities such as Baltimore’s LGBTQ+ and immigrant communities.

Clean, Healthy, and Sustainable Communities

Under the plan’s environmental and public health initiatives, the administration aims to reduce environmental hazards, improve residential health outcomes, and expand overdose prevention and outreach programs. In addition, the Scott administration pledged to advance sustainability efforts and citywide waste reduction initiatives to improve the quality of life for Baltimore residents.

Equitable Economic Development

Mayor Scott’s economic development strategy focuses on revitalizing neighborhoods, expanding workforce opportunities, and attracting business investment. Plans include reducing vacant properties, supporting affordable housing, and improving the permitting process, while aligning workforce training and apprenticeship programs with high-growth industries such as technology, health care, life sciences, and the creative sector. 

Responsible Stewardship of City Resources

Focus on maintaining fiscal stability, improving government services, and increasing transparency and accountability. The plan includes strengthening hiring and retention across city agencies, expanding multilingual and self-service options through 311, improving data collection and automation, and involving residents more directly in decision-making. Officials also said the city will prioritize stronger financial oversight, long-term planning, and more efficient budgeting and revenue management.

Modernizing Public Infrastructure

The Scott administration plans to modernize public infrastructure through improving and maintaining transportation, public facilities, and digital systems. Also, the plan includes modernizing the City’s government footprint, modernizing City transportation infrastructure, and implementing government-wide technologies to improve transparency and operations, and protect city data and services. 

“This Second Term Action Plan challenges City employees and agencies to continue innovating and expanding the proven, successful programs we’ve built in partnership with residents,” said Mayor Scott in a statement. “We know from experience that it takes all of us, working together, to build the safer, healthier, more equitable Baltimore we know is possible.”

The full action plan is available here.

Maryland’s state education department has partnered with TEACH.org to launch a new online platform for recruiting and supporting the next generation of educators.

From high school students to individuals changing careers, the new TEACH Maryland platform will help aspiring educators explore the teaching profession and find the right path for them.

Recruitment efforts and other investments in teachers are part of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which aims to transform the state into a leader in public education.

TEACH Maryland will provide guidance, resources, scholarships, and personalized support for those looking to enter the teaching profession.

Some of the free resources offered through the platform include:

• Step-by-step guides to earning a license
• One-on-one guidance from Maryland educators
• Test preparation support
• Financial aid and scholarship information
• Connections to local teacher preparation programs
• Help applying to programs and teaching roles
• Articles, videos, and insights into the profession

TEACH.org is a national nonprofit working to address the teacher shortage in the United States; strengthen the teaching profession; and provide tools, guidance, and other support for aspiring educators.