In a significant move diverging from federal health policy, Maryland Governor Wes Moore joined 13 other Democratic governors and Guam on Wednesday to form the Governors Public Health Alliance, a coalition aimed at countering recent changes under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The alliance represents the largest coordinated state effort to push back against policy shifts that have alarmed medical experts, including federal funding cuts for health services and alterations to vaccine guidance, as reported by Maryland Matters.
Simultaneously, Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown issued an 11-page directive to local police departments, reminding them that state law still governs their interactions with federal agencies. The document outlines what officers "must do, may do, and must not do" in various scenarios, from providing backup to participating in joint task forces. This guidance, covered by Maryland Matters, ensures local police remain compliant with state laws even when working with federal authorities.
In early speculative polling for the 2026 gubernatorial race, Governor Wes Moore leads former Governor Larry Hogan 45% to 37% among 900 registered voters, with 14% undecided and a margin of error of 3.2 percentage points, according to The Baltimore Banner. Both figures have fueled speculation about a potential rematch.
Other notable developments include a federal judge blocking the Trump administration from proceeding with thousands of layoffs initiated after the government shutdown began Oct. 1, as reported by Maryland Matters. Meanwhile, Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary announced her candidacy for Howard County executive, emphasizing her work on police reform, school funding, and gun violence prevention, covered by MarylandReporter.com and Maryland Matters.
Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway launched a campaign to unseat U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume, holding his announcement at the Penn North transit station, a site emblematic of the city's opioid crisis and the 2015 Freddie Gray uprising, as noted by The Baltimore Banner. A statewide poll reveals that 84% of Marylanders worry about money, the highest level of financial anxiety in 20 years, with the pessimistic outlook tied to President Donald Trump's return to office, per The Baltimore Banner.
Tariffs on imports have impacted Perryville's water facility upgrade, adding $48,000 in costs, as reported by The Cecil Whig. Faculty at Baltimore City Community College were blindsided by a potential merger with the University of Baltimore, according to The Baltimore Banner. Morgan State University received a $63 million unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, its largest donation ever, while McDaniel College received a $15 million bequest from alumnus Jonas Eshelman, both covered by The Baltimore Banner and The Baltimore Sun.
Shrinking federal research funds are squeezing Maryland universities, with scientists facing historic funding shifts, as reported by The Baltimore Sun. Former cadets allege brutality at the Maryland National Guard Freestate ChalleNGe Academy, detailed by The Baltimore Sun. Developer Scott Plank's War Horse Cities is considering data center projects in Maryland, according to The Baltimore Banner.
