Articles by Brian Witte

Maryland 90-Day Legislative Agenda Includes Climate, Infrastructure, Taxes

Maryland lawmakers are convening Wednesday for their 90-day legislative session. They will spend much of the session working on how to manage a huge, $4.6 billion budget surplus. That’s because of unexpectedly large revenues resulting from the help of federal …

Maryland Newspaper Gunman Weighed ‘Timothy McVeigh-Style’ Attack

The man who killed five people at a Maryland newspaper told a state psychiatrist he wanted to destroy a building “Timothy McVeigh-style” and that there was “no defense” for the crimes he committed in the shooting, attorneys said Wednesday during …

Expert Explains Mental Health Report on Newspaper Gunman

A key expert for prosecutors in the Capital Gazette shooting testified Friday that the gunman’s methodical planning both for the attack and for after it indicate he is legally sane and criminally responsible for killing five people at the newsroom …

Maryland Senate Passes Measure to Fight Climate Change

The Maryland Senate voted Friday for a package of steps to fight climate change by planting 5 million trees over 10 years, increasing energy efficient buildings and committing to more electric state vehicle use. The measure would require the Maryland …

Governor Hogan Says All Maryland Businesses Can Open Friday

All businesses in Maryland will be able to open later this week as the state enters the third phase of its coronavirus recovery plan, Governor Larry Hogan announced Tuesday. Movie theaters and performing arts centers will be able to open …

Maryland Governor Announces $501M Unemployment Insurance Fraud Case

Maryland uncovered a massive criminal enterprise involving identity theft and more than 47,500 fraudulent unemployment insurance claims in the state adding up to more than $501 million, Governor Larry Hogan said Wednesday, saying the case relates to activity in at …

Maryland Moves into Phase Two of Coronavirus Reopening Plan

Maryland further eased restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus by allowing businesses to reopen Friday, but some of the state’s largest jurisdictions are waiting to enter Phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan. Governor Larry Hogan announced …

Maryland, Virginia, D.C. Intend to Sue EPA on Bay Pollution

Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia filed a notice of intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to require two other states to implement plans to cut pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, officials said Monday. EPA Administrator …

Group Preparing to Sue EPA Over Chesapeake Bay Pollution

A conservation group announced Monday that it’s preparing to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to enforce the Clean Water Act relating to pollution limits for the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation announced it is preparing a notice …

Maryland’s Attorney General Sues Kushner Apartment Company

Maryland’s attorney general on Wednesday sued a real estate company once run by President Donald Trump’s son-in-law over allegedly illegal and harmful rental practices, including the kind of rodent infestations the president has accused Baltimore leaders of failing to address. …