Emily Opilo
@emilyopilo.bsky.social
City Hall reporter for @TheBaltimoreBanner.com. Formerly at The Baltimore Sun. Cuse alum and PA native.
Where should a Remington trash dump move to? Not next to the Jones Falls residents resoundingly told a task force this week. When it came to alternative plans, however, few agreed on what to do www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Is Remington’s dump a neighborhood asset, or someone else’s burden?
“Don’t put a dump next to a stream for God’s sake,” one resident said.
www.thebanner.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Where should a Remington trash dump move to? Not next to the Jones Falls residents resoundingly told a task force this week. When it came to alternative plans, however, few agreed on what to do www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Man charged with arson in 3 Keswick Road fires that terrified Hampden neighbors (w/ @dylansegelbaum.bsky.social & @halliemiller.bsky.social) www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Man charged with arson in 3 Hampden fires that terrified neighbors
Justin Reeves, 28, of Remington, is facing three counts of first-degree arson, along with one count of malicious burning and reckless endangerment. His trial is set for February.
www.thebanner.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Man charged with arson in 3 Keswick Road fires that terrified Hampden neighbors (w/ @dylansegelbaum.bsky.social & @halliemiller.bsky.social) www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Reposted by Emily Opilo
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott is making staff changes at City Hall again, and @emilyopilo.bsky.social has the details:
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Mayor Brandon Scott reorganizes top advisers, names new chief of staff
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott will reorganize his top staff for the second time in six months.
www.thebanner.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott is making staff changes at City Hall again, and @emilyopilo.bsky.social has the details:
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Reposted by Emily Opilo
They tried the ritzy out-of-town developers. They tried local ones. They even tried breaking up the quagmire that is the "Superblock" into bite-size parcels.
All failed. Then, it burned.
What's next for the stagnant development?
w/ @emilyopilo.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/economy/supe...
All failed. Then, it burned.
What's next for the stagnant development?
w/ @emilyopilo.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/economy/supe...
The Superblock blaze followed a generation of development failure. Now what?
An ambitious plan to redevelop what’s called the Superblock, an area of downtown Baltimore, has been stuck in the mud for a quarter century. Much of the area was razed after a fire last month.
www.thebanner.com
October 7, 2025 at 12:00 PM
They tried the ritzy out-of-town developers. They tried local ones. They even tried breaking up the quagmire that is the "Superblock" into bite-size parcels.
All failed. Then, it burned.
What's next for the stagnant development?
w/ @emilyopilo.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/economy/supe...
All failed. Then, it burned.
What's next for the stagnant development?
w/ @emilyopilo.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/economy/supe...
Reposted by Emily Opilo
Baltimore has reached an agreement with local nonprofit institutions to gradually increase the payments each gives the city annually in place of taxes to cover the cost of services, reports @emilyopilo.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Nonprofits’ deal with Baltimore would pay city up to $12 million a year
The total payment would increase from $6 million a year to $12 million a year over the five-year agreement for Baltimore nonprofits.
www.thebanner.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Baltimore has reached an agreement with local nonprofit institutions to gradually increase the payments each gives the city annually in place of taxes to cover the cost of services, reports @emilyopilo.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Sometime in the 1980s or 1990s, it’s unclear exactly when, Baltimore ceased to have a harbormaster at all. A city with 61 miles of shoreline had no one minding the water www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Baltimore’s waters got ‘a little piratey.’ Now the harbormaster is back on duty.
Baltimore, a city with 61 miles of shoreline, had no one minding the water.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
August 17, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Sometime in the 1980s or 1990s, it’s unclear exactly when, Baltimore ceased to have a harbormaster at all. A city with 61 miles of shoreline had no one minding the water www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is moving to sell the Sisson Street dump to a developer, relocating the facility onto Falls Road (and into the flood plain). Remington residents are pushing back. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Baltimore pushes to sell Sisson Street dump as developer closes in
Legislation authorizing the disposal of the Remington property, technically known as the Northwest Citizens Convenience Center, is due to be introduced to the Baltimore City Council next week.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
August 14, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is moving to sell the Sisson Street dump to a developer, relocating the facility onto Falls Road (and into the flood plain). Remington residents are pushing back. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
NEW: Baltimore's election board has picked the former head of elections for Harris County, TX to head the board here, marking the official end of the Armstead Jones era www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Baltimore Election Board picks fresh face to lead office, ending Jones era
Tatum has worked for election agencies in Texas and Washington, D.C. as well as the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
August 5, 2025 at 3:47 PM
NEW: Baltimore's election board has picked the former head of elections for Harris County, TX to head the board here, marking the official end of the Armstead Jones era www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Joe Hylton sees the attempted firing of the Somerset County superintendent as a modern-day lynching, in the last Maryland county to record a lynching in 1933 (via @lizbowie.bsky.social) www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-...
How a MAGA school board takeover roiled an Eastern Shore county
After a MAGA-aligned majority took control of Somerset County's school board, they tried to get rid of librarians and fire the superintendent. The community pushed back.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
July 30, 2025 at 8:26 PM
Joe Hylton sees the attempted firing of the Somerset County superintendent as a modern-day lynching, in the last Maryland county to record a lynching in 1933 (via @lizbowie.bsky.social) www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-...
Reposted by Emily Opilo
Read @thebaltimorebanner.com on underground fires:
"There’s no consensus as to why. And there’s no clear answer as to whose responsibility it is to prevent it from happening again."
Deeply reported by @hayesgardner.bsky.social @emilyopilo.bsky.social
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
"There’s no consensus as to why. And there’s no clear answer as to whose responsibility it is to prevent it from happening again."
Deeply reported by @hayesgardner.bsky.social @emilyopilo.bsky.social
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Baltimore’s 19th-century underground pipes are literally bursting into flames
The 19th-century pipes underground in Baltimore City are bursting into flames, and the city and BGE are pointing fingers instead of finding a solution.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
July 18, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Read @thebaltimorebanner.com on underground fires:
"There’s no consensus as to why. And there’s no clear answer as to whose responsibility it is to prevent it from happening again."
Deeply reported by @hayesgardner.bsky.social @emilyopilo.bsky.social
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
"There’s no consensus as to why. And there’s no clear answer as to whose responsibility it is to prevent it from happening again."
Deeply reported by @hayesgardner.bsky.social @emilyopilo.bsky.social
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Baltimore City Council met yesterday to talk broadly about police accountability, but emotions spilled over from residents dismayed by several recent police-involved deaths. More here: www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Baltimore residents condemn police-related deaths at emotional hearing
Baltimore residents crowded the City Council’s Public Safety Committee meeting on police accountability to condemn police-related deaths.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
July 16, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Baltimore City Council met yesterday to talk broadly about police accountability, but emotions spilled over from residents dismayed by several recent police-involved deaths. More here: www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Reposted by Emily Opilo
BREAKING: The Baltimore Sheriff's Office is probing a courthouse corrections dept. employee for allegedly inviting ICE agents in for a meeting, which led to someone being detained. Investigation is looking at potential crimes including misuse of state data. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/cr...
Baltimore sheriff probes courthouse employee for allegedly inviting ICE to detain someone
ICE agents detained a man at the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Courthouse last week, sparking an investigation of a corrections department employee.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
June 30, 2025 at 12:57 PM
BREAKING: The Baltimore Sheriff's Office is probing a courthouse corrections dept. employee for allegedly inviting ICE agents in for a meeting, which led to someone being detained. Investigation is looking at potential crimes including misuse of state data. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/cr...
Reposted by Emily Opilo
The new acting secretary of Maryland's juvenile services agency said she’s got Gov. Moore’s support. Betsy Fox Tolentino said she's ready to “lean in and listen” to get the best outcomes for kids and public safety she feels everyone wants.
tinyurl.com/muw2tcnf
tinyurl.com/muw2tcnf
Maryland’s juvenile services agency gets a leader with deep roots and high stakes
Hard conversations will come, but Betsy Fox Tolentino said she’ll listen to law enforcement partners, community members and staff.
tinyurl.com
June 25, 2025 at 8:24 PM
The new acting secretary of Maryland's juvenile services agency said she’s got Gov. Moore’s support. Betsy Fox Tolentino said she's ready to “lean in and listen” to get the best outcomes for kids and public safety she feels everyone wants.
tinyurl.com/muw2tcnf
tinyurl.com/muw2tcnf
Reposted by Emily Opilo
NEW: Baltimore students told about their experiences with violence and harassment on the way to school in the state's only district without yellow bus service for middle and high schoolers.
@lizbowie.bsky.social and I on what students are facing every day
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-...
@lizbowie.bsky.social and I on what students are facing every day
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-...
It’s not just late buses: Baltimore kids face serious safety risks
Baltimore students have been followed, harassed, assaulted and held up at gunpoint while crisscrossing the city on public transit to get to and from school.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
June 23, 2025 at 1:24 PM
NEW: Baltimore students told about their experiences with violence and harassment on the way to school in the state's only district without yellow bus service for middle and high schoolers.
@lizbowie.bsky.social and I on what students are facing every day
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-...
@lizbowie.bsky.social and I on what students are facing every day
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-...
Who says budgets have to be boring? Take a peek behind the scenes at how the new faces at the bargaining table hashed out a deal to pass Baltimore's $4.6B spending plan www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Baltimore's budget disagreements were about more than money
The mayor and City Council were both trying to send a message
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
June 23, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Who says budgets have to be boring? Take a peek behind the scenes at how the new faces at the bargaining table hashed out a deal to pass Baltimore's $4.6B spending plan www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Reposted by Emily Opilo
Sunday read: @emilyopilo.bsky.social with a peek behind the curtain on Baltimore City Council budget negotiations. The budget passed 13-2, but here’s what it took to get there.
tinyurl.com/3w6zp8yw
tinyurl.com/3w6zp8yw
Baltimore's budget disagreements were about more than money
The mayor and City Council were both trying to send a message
tinyurl.com
June 22, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Sunday read: @emilyopilo.bsky.social with a peek behind the curtain on Baltimore City Council budget negotiations. The budget passed 13-2, but here’s what it took to get there.
tinyurl.com/3w6zp8yw
tinyurl.com/3w6zp8yw
Reposted by Emily Opilo
Maryland DJS Sec. Vincent Schiraldi said on Monday he resigned from @GovWesMoore's cabinet.
Moore's office did not confirm the resignation.
Moore named Betsy Fox Tolentino of Roca, and former DJS dep. secretary under Hogan, as acting secretary.
Interview with Schiraldi:
tinyurl.com/y5dk96km
Moore's office did not confirm the resignation.
Moore named Betsy Fox Tolentino of Roca, and former DJS dep. secretary under Hogan, as acting secretary.
Interview with Schiraldi:
tinyurl.com/y5dk96km
Maryland juvenile services secretary Vincent Schiraldi resigns
Gov. Wes Moore’s office announced Monday they’d appointment his replacement, Betsy Fox Tolentino, as acting secretary
tinyurl.com
June 10, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Maryland DJS Sec. Vincent Schiraldi said on Monday he resigned from @GovWesMoore's cabinet.
Moore's office did not confirm the resignation.
Moore named Betsy Fox Tolentino of Roca, and former DJS dep. secretary under Hogan, as acting secretary.
Interview with Schiraldi:
tinyurl.com/y5dk96km
Moore's office did not confirm the resignation.
Moore named Betsy Fox Tolentino of Roca, and former DJS dep. secretary under Hogan, as acting secretary.
Interview with Schiraldi:
tinyurl.com/y5dk96km
Reposted by Emily Opilo
Want to build a house? Renovate your store?
You're going to need a building permit.
This year Baltimore has been worse at approving new ones than in any since at least 2015.
@halliemiller.bsky.social , @emilyopilo.bsky.social and me on the new process.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
You're going to need a building permit.
This year Baltimore has been worse at approving new ones than in any since at least 2015.
@halliemiller.bsky.social , @emilyopilo.bsky.social and me on the new process.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Baltimore's permit backlog was bad. A new system made things worse.
So far, the promised overhaul of Baltimore's permit backlog hasn't worked, according to city data.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
June 4, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Want to build a house? Renovate your store?
You're going to need a building permit.
This year Baltimore has been worse at approving new ones than in any since at least 2015.
@halliemiller.bsky.social , @emilyopilo.bsky.social and me on the new process.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
You're going to need a building permit.
This year Baltimore has been worse at approving new ones than in any since at least 2015.
@halliemiller.bsky.social , @emilyopilo.bsky.social and me on the new process.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Baltimore officials said the revamped permit system would simplify and even accelerate the arduous process. So far, the promised overhaul has backfired, stalling development projects big and small (w/ @halliemiller.bsky.social & @invisibae.bsky.social) www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Baltimore's permit backlog was bad. A new system made things worse.
So far, the promised overhaul of Baltimore's permit backlog hasn't worked, according to city data.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
June 4, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Baltimore officials said the revamped permit system would simplify and even accelerate the arduous process. So far, the promised overhaul has backfired, stalling development projects big and small (w/ @halliemiller.bsky.social & @invisibae.bsky.social) www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Baltimore Councilwoman Odette Ramos made an emotional plea for more immigrant assistance funding in the city's budget. The Scott administration called it a "public spectacle" www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
After councilwoman’s tearful plea, mayor’s office publicly commits to more immigrant aid
Mayor Brandon Scott’s office has committed to adding more money for immigration services to the budget, but how much is still up in the air.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
June 3, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Baltimore Councilwoman Odette Ramos made an emotional plea for more immigrant assistance funding in the city's budget. The Scott administration called it a "public spectacle" www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...
Reposted by Emily Opilo
Four unexplained fires on Keswick Road since October have neighbors asking what - or who - caused the destruction and hoping they’ve seen the last one.
@halliemiller.bsky.social & @emilyopilo.bsky.social took a deeper look.
@halliemiller.bsky.social & @emilyopilo.bsky.social took a deeper look.
May 31, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Four unexplained fires on Keswick Road since October have neighbors asking what - or who - caused the destruction and hoping they’ve seen the last one.
@halliemiller.bsky.social & @emilyopilo.bsky.social took a deeper look.
@halliemiller.bsky.social & @emilyopilo.bsky.social took a deeper look.
A string of fires in Hampden has left neighbors suspicious and on edge (w/ @halliemiller.bsky.social) www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/ho...
A string of fires in Hampden has left neighbors suspicious and on edge
Rumors are swirling in the aftermath of four fires on Keswick Road in the Hamden neighborhood in Baltimore City.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
May 31, 2025 at 12:24 PM
A string of fires in Hampden has left neighbors suspicious and on edge (w/ @halliemiller.bsky.social) www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/ho...
Your BGE bill is set to go up again June 1. The Maryland Public Service Commission has ordered BGE to flatten those bills ahead of costly summer months, reports @briaovers.bsky.social www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/bge-...
As BGE bills are about to rise again, utility commission demands a delay
The Maryland Public Service Commission is ordering Baltimore Gas and Electric to mitigate the effects of an impending supply-side rate increase by shifting cost recovery to less expensive times of yea...
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
May 30, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Your BGE bill is set to go up again June 1. The Maryland Public Service Commission has ordered BGE to flatten those bills ahead of costly summer months, reports @briaovers.bsky.social www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/bge-...
NEW: After almost a yearlong vacancy, Baltimore has picked Michelle Taylor as the city's new health director. In her current role in Shelby Co. TN, she's been critical of leaders ushering in a massive proposed computing center from Elon Musk's xAI www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/pu...
Scott picks Tennessee official to lead Baltimore’s health department
Michelle Taylor is a doctor, breast cancer survivor, Hopkins grad and serves in the Air National Guard
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
May 30, 2025 at 11:11 AM
NEW: After almost a yearlong vacancy, Baltimore has picked Michelle Taylor as the city's new health director. In her current role in Shelby Co. TN, she's been critical of leaders ushering in a massive proposed computing center from Elon Musk's xAI www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/pu...
Reposted by Emily Opilo
Hacker who crippled Baltimore in 2019 ransomware attack pleads guilty
Hacker who crippled Baltimore in 2019 ransomware attack pleads guilty
The attack shut down Baltimore computer and communications systems for months and caused $19 million in lost revenue and expenses.
buff.ly
May 27, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Hacker who crippled Baltimore in 2019 ransomware attack pleads guilty