It's been nearly three years since the Archdiocese of Baltimore filed for bankruptcy. This was as the Child Victim's Act went into effect which lifted the statute of limitations on sex abuse claims against the church.

Currently, the Archdiocese and thecommittee of sex abuse survivors are meeting weekly this summer to resolve competing plans to settle the bankruptcy on behalf of more than 900 people who have filed claims.

The gap is wide. The committeeproposes $740 mil. The Archdiocese proposes approximately $246 mil. $44 mil of which is from the Archdiocese, the rest from insurance.

The bankruptcy judge has set adeadline of early August for a potential resolution.

My conversation is with attorney Jonathan Schochor, anattorney who represents sex abuse survivors who have sued the church. And he representsa member of the survivors committee.

"Dirt bike culture is Baltimore culture." From my conversation with Brittany Young, founder of B-360, a non-profit organization that sees opportunity in young people who ride dirt bikes.

Its 2026 summer camp is starting now where young people learn auto mechanics, STEM, and safety.

Baltimore police are cracking on dirt bike riders. B-360 has a different plan to keep people out of traffic.

Baltimore is just one of two cities that is independent.

No governance relationship with its surrounding counties like Atlanta, Miami, Pittsburgh. The list goes on.

Would more regional alliances in the Baltimore areadeliver better services in a more cost effective way?

Housing, transit, public safety, education, water—all areregional services in other parts of the country.

Plus – a land value tax might help level the playingfield.

My conversation is with Zac Blanchard, member of theBaltimore City Council, District 11.

Closing the gap between wages and the rising cost of living.

More than 60 years ago, when Lyndon Johnson was president, he signed the Economic Opportunity Act which created Community Action Agencies. They grew out of the War on Poverty and are funded by Community Service Block Grants. There are 19 of them across Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia. But they are under threat by cuts to federal funding.

My conversation is with Angela Martin, executive director of Maryland Community Action Partnership.

The 151st running of the Preakness is in Laurel due to the reconstruction at Pimlico.

The future holds questions.

What will the new Pimlico look like? What other purposes might the new facility serve?

Should the date be changed so Derby winners don't skip it?

Is the state subsidy too much or too little?

Conversation is with Bill Knauf, president Maryland Jockey Club.

Legislators gave consumers a small break on their utility bills. in the 2026 session. But it may be progress on solar energy that’s a bigger winner.

Changes in permitting should make it easier forresidential rooftop and plug-in solar.

Challenges remain to hit clean energy goals—includingconvincing legislators that renewable energy is faster and more cost efficient to deploy.

And getting past the culture of big fossil fuel powerplants.

Plus..stop raiding the clean energy fund into which weare all paying

My conversation is with Emily Scarr, MarylandPIRG andJosh Tulkin, Maryland Sierra Fund.

Is it time for an upgrade of the structure of citygovernment? Baltimore is one of the few cities that still has a Board of Estimates.—created in 1898! Is the budget  just tweaked from year to year? Should policeget the lion’s share of the budget? Can a new process get the public more involved in the city's fiscal strategy?

My conversation is with Nate and Adam Golden who have done excellent research and work through their organization, Maryland Institute for Progressive Policy - MDIPP.org

The days of big manufacturers in Maryland -- steel, auto--are gone. While the industry looks very different today, it is still a key part of the state's economy.

110,000 workers. Most companies have less than 100 employees.

Life sciences one of the most successful sectors.

How does the industry grow? What's the pathway for a middle school student to become a manufacturer?

Conversation is with Mike Kelleher,  CEOof the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership

What attracts people to live in a city. Baltimore hasseen decades of population loss. So what reverses it?

For one—new housing. Affordability. A sense of community.A new trend—people who buy want to stay in their houses longer.

My conversation is with Meghan McCorkell. Executive Director of Live Baltimore, an organization focused on attracting buyers and renters. The organization recently released a new report on how new and renovated housing can grow the population.

With the war on Iran causing rising oil prices, alternative energy development is all the more important.

Including: wind energy.

But the US has fallen way behind other countries includingChina, which leads the world in wind energy.

What are its benefits, cost, and what has to happento move projects ahead, which are currently blocked by the Trump administration.

My conversation is with Rebecca Rehr, who coordinates thework of the OffshoreWind Alliance (She is also Director of Climate Policy and Justice atthe Md. LCV).

And Mike McHale, an official with IBEW –theInternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local 24.