Brenda Wintrode
@brendawintrode.bsky.social
Reporter, covering Maryland state politics and government for The Baltimore Banner. Tips, comments, questions: brenda.wintrode@thebaltimorebanner.com.
Signal: BWintrode.62
Signal: BWintrode.62
A Maryland law permits anyone to file criminal charges against another with a court commissioner and without consequence if the accusations are false.
@dylansegelbaum.bsky.social reports how this law has upended people’s lives.
www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
@dylansegelbaum.bsky.social reports how this law has upended people’s lives.
www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Maryland lets anyone file for criminal charges — and innocent people pay the price
Maryland’s district court commissioner system allows people to file criminal charges with little oversight, a Banner investigation found. The process can be abused and upend lives.
www.thebanner.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:58 AM
A Maryland law permits anyone to file criminal charges against another with a court commissioner and without consequence if the accusations are false.
@dylansegelbaum.bsky.social reports how this law has upended people’s lives.
www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
@dylansegelbaum.bsky.social reports how this law has upended people’s lives.
www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
James Ransone, who played Ziggy Sobotka on “The Wire,” has died. He was 46.
James Ransone, who played Ziggy Sobotka on “The Wire,” has died. He was 46.
“He committed not only to the work but to the camaraderie that turns every good film production into something familial and caring,” said David Simon, the show’s creator. www.thebanner.com/culture/film...
“He committed not only to the work but to the camaraderie that turns every good film production into something familial and caring,” said David Simon, the show’s creator. www.thebanner.com/culture/film...
James Ransone, who played Ziggy on “The Wire,” dead at 46
James Ransone "committed not only to the work but to the camaraderie that turns every good film production into something familial and caring,” said David Simon, creator of "The Wire."
www.thebanner.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:40 AM
James Ransone, who played Ziggy Sobotka on “The Wire,” has died. He was 46.
Top Maryland officials, including Cabinet secretaries, in Gov. Wes Moore’s administration are setting some chat messages to auto-delete in 24 hours, leaving no trace of discussions of government business.
W/ @pwoodreporter.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
W/ @pwoodreporter.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Moore administration deleting internal messages after 24 hours
Open government experts and archivists say setting messages to vanish could hinder accountability, dash the public’s right to inspection and keep archivists from reviewing documents for historical val...
www.thebanner.com
December 19, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Top Maryland officials, including Cabinet secretaries, in Gov. Wes Moore’s administration are setting some chat messages to auto-delete in 24 hours, leaving no trace of discussions of government business.
W/ @pwoodreporter.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
W/ @pwoodreporter.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Reposted by Brenda Wintrode
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s redistricting commission to move forward with redrawing of congressional maps after meeting in private tonight.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Moore’s commission to move forward with redrawing of congressional maps
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s redistricting advisory commission met in private Thursday to recommend that the state redraw its congressional boundaries.
www.thebanner.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s redistricting commission to move forward with redrawing of congressional maps after meeting in private tonight.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Maryland Gov. Moore’s redistricting commission
met in private Thursday and recommended moving forward to consider new congressional boundary maps. @pwoodreporter.bsky.social & @leeosanderlin.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
met in private Thursday and recommended moving forward to consider new congressional boundary maps. @pwoodreporter.bsky.social & @leeosanderlin.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Moore’s commission to move forward with redrawing of congressional maps
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s redistricting advisory commission met in private Thursday to recommend that the state redraw its congressional boundaries.
www.thebanner.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Maryland Gov. Moore’s redistricting commission
met in private Thursday and recommended moving forward to consider new congressional boundary maps. @pwoodreporter.bsky.social & @leeosanderlin.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
met in private Thursday and recommended moving forward to consider new congressional boundary maps. @pwoodreporter.bsky.social & @leeosanderlin.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Reposted by Brenda Wintrode
Kevin Plank exiting future development at Baltimore Peninsula
From Giacomo Bologna and @halliemiller.bsky.social: www.thebanner.com/economy/grow...
From Giacomo Bologna and @halliemiller.bsky.social: www.thebanner.com/economy/grow...
Kevin Plank exiting future development at Baltimore Peninsula
Kevin Plank will no longer develop Baltimore Peninsula, after only about one-tenth of the projected square footage has been built.
www.thebanner.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Kevin Plank exiting future development at Baltimore Peninsula
From Giacomo Bologna and @halliemiller.bsky.social: www.thebanner.com/economy/grow...
From Giacomo Bologna and @halliemiller.bsky.social: www.thebanner.com/economy/grow...
A supermajority of Maryland General Assembly Democrats nullified Gov. Wes Moore’s veto of a reparations study on Tuesday, securing a top priority for Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus.
tinyurl.com/fk9wxksr
tinyurl.com/fk9wxksr
Maryland lawmakers reverse Gov. Moore’s veto of reparations study
The bill to study the lingering harms of slavery and state-sanctioned discrimination became a friction point between Moore and the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland
tinyurl.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:33 PM
A supermajority of Maryland General Assembly Democrats nullified Gov. Wes Moore’s veto of a reparations study on Tuesday, securing a top priority for Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus.
tinyurl.com/fk9wxksr
tinyurl.com/fk9wxksr
NEW: Entrepreneur David Trone wants his seat back – in the U.S. House of Representatives that is – and plans to challenge U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney in the 2026 Democratic primary, according to his campaign.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
David Trone will challenge Rep. McClain Delaney for U.S. House seat
Trone represented Maryland’s 6th District starting in 2019 but stepped down in 2024 to run for an open U.S. Senate seat in 2024.
www.thebanner.com
December 11, 2025 at 3:22 PM
NEW: Entrepreneur David Trone wants his seat back – in the U.S. House of Representatives that is – and plans to challenge U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney in the 2026 Democratic primary, according to his campaign.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Gov. Wes Moore called the General Assembly back to Annapolis for a special session. First order of business: elect and swear in a speaker of the House of Delegates after Del. Adrienne A. Jones stepped down. Proceedings start Dec. 16. w/ @pwoodreporter.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Gov. Wes Moore calls special legislative session to choose new House speaker
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is calling a special session of the General Assembly to allow the House of Delegates to elect and swear in a new speaker.
www.thebanner.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Gov. Wes Moore called the General Assembly back to Annapolis for a special session. First order of business: elect and swear in a speaker of the House of Delegates after Del. Adrienne A. Jones stepped down. Proceedings start Dec. 16. w/ @pwoodreporter.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
NEW on the Maryland House Speaker's race: Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk emerged Sunday as the front-runner to become the next Maryland House of Delegates speaker, after other top candidates dropped out and pledged their support to her.
NEW: Peña-Melnyk emerges as favorite to become next Maryland House of Delegates speaker
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Peña-Melnyk emerges as favorite to become next House of Delegates speaker
In the race to succeed Del. Adrienne A. Jones as speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk said Sunday that the other top candidates have dropped out and pledged their supp...
www.thebanner.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:57 AM
NEW on the Maryland House Speaker's race: Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk emerged Sunday as the front-runner to become the next Maryland House of Delegates speaker, after other top candidates dropped out and pledged their support to her.
Reposted by Brenda Wintrode
As Md House of Delegates Speaker, as a lawmaker and as a county official, Adrienne A. Jones not only pushed progressive policies, she nurtured leaders and acted with moral clarity, according to those who’ve worked closely with her.
A look at her career:
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
A look at her career:
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
As House speaker steps back, Jones leaves a legacy of policy and leadership
As Adrienne A. Jones steps down from the top position in the Maryland House of Delegates, those who have worked closely with her say she’s left her mark as someone who has quietly built coalitions, nu...
www.thebanner.com
December 7, 2025 at 1:04 PM
As Md House of Delegates Speaker, as a lawmaker and as a county official, Adrienne A. Jones not only pushed progressive policies, she nurtured leaders and acted with moral clarity, according to those who’ve worked closely with her.
A look at her career:
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
A look at her career:
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
U.S. Rep. Andy Harris is being released from the hospital. The Maryland Republican was taken to the ER and evaluated after a bout of dizziness on Friday.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
December 6, 2025 at 4:42 AM
U.S. Rep. Andy Harris is being released from the hospital. The Maryland Republican was taken to the ER and evaluated after a bout of dizziness on Friday.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
U.S. Rep. Andy Harris was taken to the hospital Friday evening after an episode of dizziness, according to a spokesperson. The Maryland Republican is nine days out from hip surgery and went to the ER "out of an abundance of caution."
www.thebanner.com/congressman-...
www.thebanner.com/congressman-...
Andy Harris taken to hospital after ‘episode of dizziness’
Harris, Maryland’s sole Republican in Congress, was selected to lead the influential House Freedom Caucus last year.
www.thebanner.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:30 AM
U.S. Rep. Andy Harris was taken to the hospital Friday evening after an episode of dizziness, according to a spokesperson. The Maryland Republican is nine days out from hip surgery and went to the ER "out of an abundance of caution."
www.thebanner.com/congressman-...
www.thebanner.com/congressman-...
NEW: The Republican National Committee and the Maryland GOP are suing Maryland election officials, claiming the state has failed to properly maintain its voter rolls. tinyurl.com/mucyrjw8
A separate lawsuit filed by the Justice Department Monday wants Maryland to hand over unredacted voter rolls.
A separate lawsuit filed by the Justice Department Monday wants Maryland to hand over unredacted voter rolls.
Republican lawsuit challenges Maryland voter roll maintenance
The suit argues the state has failed to remove the names of deceased voters or people who have moved and are no longer eligible to vote in Maryland.
tinyurl.com
December 5, 2025 at 10:27 PM
NEW: The Republican National Committee and the Maryland GOP are suing Maryland election officials, claiming the state has failed to properly maintain its voter rolls. tinyurl.com/mucyrjw8
A separate lawsuit filed by the Justice Department Monday wants Maryland to hand over unredacted voter rolls.
A separate lawsuit filed by the Justice Department Monday wants Maryland to hand over unredacted voter rolls.
Take a break from politics and come with me to the woods of Western Maryland. Meet the state’s brigade of volunteer beetles helping to save the embattled eastern hemlock trees.
📷 @jphotoj.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/ys5u7xm3
📷 @jphotoj.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/ys5u7xm3
Meet the beetle brigade saving East Coast evergreens
Hemlock woolly adelgids can slowly bleed a grove of the flat-needled evergreens dry, wiping out the mini ecosystem that relies on the tree.
tinyurl.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Take a break from politics and come with me to the woods of Western Maryland. Meet the state’s brigade of volunteer beetles helping to save the embattled eastern hemlock trees.
📷 @jphotoj.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/ys5u7xm3
📷 @jphotoj.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/ys5u7xm3
A broken heating system at a state-run youth detention center have left about 60 children “extremely cold and at risk.”conditions for about a week, @conarck.bsky.social reports.
www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Locked-up children left ‘extremely cold’ at Baltimore facility, public defenders say
The detention center in downtown Baltimore houses children who have been charged as adults and are awaiting criminal trials.
www.thebanner.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:14 AM
A broken heating system at a state-run youth detention center have left about 60 children “extremely cold and at risk.”conditions for about a week, @conarck.bsky.social reports.
www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Hey Chris, she’s stepping down as speaker immediately. The House Dems will choose a new speaker next week. The Speaker Pro Tem will take over until that time. She will serve out her term as delegate.
December 4, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Hey Chris, she’s stepping down as speaker immediately. The House Dems will choose a new speaker next week. The Speaker Pro Tem will take over until that time. She will serve out her term as delegate.
Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, the first woman and person of color to hold her position, plans to step down from her leadership post on Thursday, according to people familiar with her decision. @leeosanderlin.bsky.social @pwoodreporter.bsky.social & me
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones stepping down
Jones, 71, has been a member of the legislature since 1997 and ascended to the top position in 2019 following the death of longtime House Speaker Michael E. Busch.
www.thebanner.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, the first woman and person of color to hold her position, plans to step down from her leadership post on Thursday, according to people familiar with her decision. @leeosanderlin.bsky.social @pwoodreporter.bsky.social & me
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Maryland voters, the Trump administration wants your voter registration records and is suing the state elections administrator to get them.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
The Trump administration wants Maryland’s voter rolls
Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing Maryland Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis to get the state’s voter rolls.
www.thebanner.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Maryland voters, the Trump administration wants your voter registration records and is suing the state elections administrator to get them.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Reposted by Brenda Wintrode
The NTSB will be talking about the Key Bridge collapse today here in Washington.
Board Chair Jennifer Homendy and investigators, like Marcel Muise who led the agency's probe, will discuss the probable cause of the collapse. www.thebanner.com/economy/ntsb...
Board Chair Jennifer Homendy and investigators, like Marcel Muise who led the agency's probe, will discuss the probable cause of the collapse. www.thebanner.com/economy/ntsb...
NTSB to issue findings about the deadly Key Bridge collapse
Nearly 20 months after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed into the Patapsco River, federal officials are poised to make a final ruling about how it happened.
www.thebanner.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The NTSB will be talking about the Key Bridge collapse today here in Washington.
Board Chair Jennifer Homendy and investigators, like Marcel Muise who led the agency's probe, will discuss the probable cause of the collapse. www.thebanner.com/economy/ntsb...
Board Chair Jennifer Homendy and investigators, like Marcel Muise who led the agency's probe, will discuss the probable cause of the collapse. www.thebanner.com/economy/ntsb...
Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson has a primary challenger.
Bobby LaPin, aka Baltimore's "Sail Local Guy" or "Captain Bobby," is running to oust Ferguson and riding a wave of anger over the veteran politician's opposition to mid-cycle redistricting.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Bobby LaPin, aka Baltimore's "Sail Local Guy" or "Captain Bobby," is running to oust Ferguson and riding a wave of anger over the veteran politician's opposition to mid-cycle redistricting.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Baltimore influencer to challenge Sen. Bill Ferguson in primary election
Baltimore social media influencer and small-business owner Bobby LaPin will challenge Senate President Bill Ferguson in the Democratic primary in June.
www.thebanner.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson has a primary challenger.
Bobby LaPin, aka Baltimore's "Sail Local Guy" or "Captain Bobby," is running to oust Ferguson and riding a wave of anger over the veteran politician's opposition to mid-cycle redistricting.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Bobby LaPin, aka Baltimore's "Sail Local Guy" or "Captain Bobby," is running to oust Ferguson and riding a wave of anger over the veteran politician's opposition to mid-cycle redistricting.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
And it is done. The U.S. House passed the CR plus three budget bills, 222-209, 2 not voting, to end the shutdown. Maryland's House Democrats all voted NO. The state's sole Republican Rep. Andy Harris voted YES.
Read what they had to say before the vote.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Read what they had to say before the vote.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Maryland’s House Democrats criticize deal to reopen government
Budget bill to reopen the federal government criticized as ‘woefully insufficient’ by Maryland House Democrats.
www.thebanner.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:16 AM
And it is done. The U.S. House passed the CR plus three budget bills, 222-209, 2 not voting, to end the shutdown. Maryland's House Democrats all voted NO. The state's sole Republican Rep. Andy Harris voted YES.
Read what they had to say before the vote.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Read what they had to say before the vote.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Gov. Wes Moore had a five letter response to a scathing editorial criticizing his redistricting push in Maryland: "IDGAF."
His colorful retort came on the same day his redistricting commission's first meeting.
w/ @pwoodreporter.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/yc6sejtp
His colorful retort came on the same day his redistricting commission's first meeting.
w/ @pwoodreporter.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/yc6sejtp
Gov. Moore to critic of redistricting push: ‘IDGAF’
Gov. Wes Moore’s high-profile attempt to push Maryland into the national fray of redistricting got off to a low-profile start on Tuesday.
tinyurl.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Gov. Wes Moore had a five letter response to a scathing editorial criticizing his redistricting push in Maryland: "IDGAF."
His colorful retort came on the same day his redistricting commission's first meeting.
w/ @pwoodreporter.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/yc6sejtp
His colorful retort came on the same day his redistricting commission's first meeting.
w/ @pwoodreporter.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/yc6sejtp
Gov. Wes Moore’s high-profile attempt to push Maryland into the national redistricting fray got off to a low-profile start on Tuesday. @pwoodreporter.bsky.social has a recap.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Gov. Moore’s commission takes Maryland’s first step toward redistricting
Gov. Wes Moore’s high-profile attempt to push Maryland into the national fray of redistricting got off to a low-profile start on Tuesday.
www.thebanner.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Gov. Wes Moore’s high-profile attempt to push Maryland into the national redistricting fray got off to a low-profile start on Tuesday. @pwoodreporter.bsky.social has a recap.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...