Maryland kicks off 2026 with a mix of economic momentum, policy shifts, and community challenges. Top headlines from WMAR-2 News include a Columbia man fleeing the country after allegedly murdering his missing ex-girlfriend and the Ravens suffering a last-second playoff miss, leaving fans heartbroken. Weather remains chilly but promises a warmup soon.

In government and politics, new laws took effect January 1, including House Bill 459 mandating cancer screening coverage for county firefighters and House Bill 936 requiring 90-day advance notices for health insurance cancellations, per CBS News Baltimore. The General Assembly convenes its 449th session on January 14. Governor Wes Moore's administration highlighted 2025 wins like $174 million in Commerce Department funding for over 4,800 jobs and AstraZeneca's $2 billion investment creating 2,600 positions in Frederick and Gaithersburg, according to the governor's office. Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott touted historic crime reductions, with homicides at record lows and down nearly 60 percent since 2021.

Business and economy show strength, with minimum wage rising to $12.77 per hour from $12.41 and unemployment benefits increasing by $52 weekly, as reported by WTOP. Investments continue in quantum tech, rail manufacturing, and stem cells, bolstering employment. However, state workers' union talks stalled without a pay deal, per The Baltimore Banner.

Community news spotlights education strains, as aging schools face construction backlogs amid rising costs, with counties pushing legislative fixes, according to Conduit Street. Baltimore secured $120 million for renovations like Western High School starting summer 2026, though disparities persist in under-resourced areas. Infrastructure advances include federal $25 million for projects like University of Maryland Eastern Shore's veterinary program and water treatment at Mount St. Mary's. Public safety improves in Baltimore, but Prince George's residents oppose a data center at former Landover Mall over environmental concerns.

No major recent weather events reported.

Looking Ahead: Watch the January 14 legislative session for school funding debates, data center regulations, and pay negotiations. Community projects and economic incentives will shape priorities.

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Maryland has entered 2026 with significant changes to healthcare, worker protections, and business opportunities taking effect immediately. According to WJLA, several new laws began on January 1st, addressing health insurance requirements, rideshare operations, and professional training standards across the state.

On the healthcare front, Maryland is expanding insurance coverage substantially. CBS Baltimore reports that health carriers must now provide cancellation or non-renewal notices at least 90 days in advance, giving residents more time to secure alternative coverage. Additionally, insurers are required to cover anesthesia for the full duration of procedures, and preventive cancer screenings for firefighters in self-insured counties are now mandated. WMAR2 News notes that Medicaid and private health plans must also cover calcium score testing, while insulin users benefit from a prohibition on step therapy protocols that previously required patients to fail on cheaper medications first.

The transportation sector faces new accountability measures. According to WJLA, rideshare companies including Uber and Lyft must now provide operators with weekly fare and earnings summaries and report specific information to the Public Service Commission by February 1st annually. Barbers and hairstylists are undergoing mandatory domestic-violence training, elevating professional standards statewide.

On the economic development front, Governor Wes Moore's administration announced ambitious initiatives to support entrepreneurs. According to MEDA, the governor unveiled the Maryland Community Business Compass, a data platform providing small business owners with access to market information and funding opportunities. The state is investing 10 million dollars to support fresh food retailers and childcare providers in underserved communities. The NourishMD Grant Program, which opens applications January 20th, will distribute 2 million dollars to fresh food retailers addressing food deserts across Maryland.

Education and infrastructure remain significant challenges heading into the legislative session. The Maryland Association of Counties warns that school construction needs are outpacing available capital funding. As temporary programs like Built to Learn wind down, counties face growing backlogs while construction costs remain elevated.

The Maryland General Assembly convenes on January 14th facing a nearly 1.5 billion dollar budget deficit, according to Fox Baltimore. Lawmakers will need to address persistent fiscal challenges while pursuing economic growth initiatives.

Weather briefly disrupted the holiday period when rare thundersnow struck Cumberland on New Year's Day, though conditions have since returned to seasonal chill with gradual warming expected throughout mid-January.

Looking ahead, listeners should watch the legislative session beginning January 14th, where school construction funding and budget solutions will dominate discussions. The NourishMD application period opens January 20th for interested entrepreneurs, and February 1st marks the first deadline for rideshare companies to submit earnings reports to state regulators.

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Maryland rings in 2026 with a slate of new laws taking effect today, focusing on healthcare access, worker protections, and public safety. According to WJLA 7News, these include no-cost preventive cancer screenings for firefighters in self-insured counties, expanded insurance coverage for hearing aids and full anesthesia during procedures, and faster pediatric hospital transfers without prior authorization delays. Rideshare drivers like those for Uber and Lyft will receive weekly fare summaries, while barbers and hairstylists must complete domestic violence training. WBAL reports these healthcare reforms aim to improve equity and timely care.

Governor Wes Moore is bolstering the economy through the new Maryland Community Business Compass initiative, a data platform aiding small businesses in high-need areas with market insights and funding access. The governor announced $10 million in investments, including $8 million for child care loans and $2 million in NourishMD grants for fresh food retailers opening applications January 20, per the governor's office. Major corporate wins continue, with AstraZeneca's $2 billion expansion in Frederick and Gaithersburg supporting 2,600 jobs, alongside Hitachi Rail's new factory creating 1,300 positions in Washington County.

Western Maryland faces a significant weather event this morning, as WCBC Radio warns of a heavy snow squall with winds over 30 mph moving east from Oakland, under a Winter Storm Warning. Public safety remains key amid cold snaps forecasted statewide.

The 90-day General Assembly session kicks off January 14, with key deadlines like bill introductions by January 23 and crossover by March 23, according to Conduit Street. Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott outlined legislative priorities, while debates swirl over data centers' potential to generate jobs and revenue against energy demands, as noted by The Daily Record.

Looking Ahead: Watch for NourishMD grant deadlines February 20, escalating costs for the Francis Scott Key Bridge rebuild potentially topping $5 billion, and fiscal challenges in the legislative session ending April 13.

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Maryland wraps up 2025 with a mix of economic promise, policy shifts, and community advancements amid a challenging budget landscape. Governor Wes Moore welcomed Samsung Biologics' first U.S. manufacturing site in Rockville, building on AstraZeneca's $2 billion expansion in Frederick and Gaithersburg that supports 2,600 jobs, according to the governor's office. The state also launched the $10 million Maryland Community Business Compass initiative to aid small businesses in high-need areas with data and funding for child care and fresh food ventures, as announced by MEDA.

In government and politics, new laws take effect January 1, 2026, including tax protections for homeowners and heirs by extending warning periods before property sales and creating a statewide heirs registry, plus bans on time limits for recommended anesthesia to avoid surprise bills, per WTOP and the Maryland General Assembly. Baltimore Gas and Electric received only half its requested rate hike from regulators, leading to modest increases of about 34 cents monthly for electric and $2.80 for gas starting next year, WYPR reports. Mayor Brandon M. Scott outlined 2026 legislative priorities ahead of the General Assembly's January 14 session.

Business and economy show momentum with data centers poised to generate thousands of jobs, $775 million in activity, and $18 million in taxes per major project, though energy demands raise concerns, according to The Daily Record and Sage Policy Group. Governor Moore's administration secured further investments like Nature Cell's 500-job stem cell facility in Baltimore.

Community news highlights education, with Montgomery County Public Schools updating future sites like Crown High School under construction and others planned amid enrollment growth, per MoCoShow. Prince George's schools piloted AI tools like Colin Kaepernick's Lumi Story for literacy. Public safety saw arrests in Southern Maryland for thefts and a $250,000 gaming fraud scheme at a Chesapeake Beach restaurant, The BayNet reports. No major recent weather events disrupted the state.

Looking Ahead: Watch for the 2026 legislative session starting January 14, data center policy debates amid a potential $3 billion deficit, and First Day Hikes on New Year's Day to kick off outdoor challenges from the Department of Natural Resources.

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Maryland heads into the new year balancing budget pressures, ambitious social goals, and a spate of holiday‑week incidents that have drawn regional attention. WBFF Fox45 reports that lawmakers are preparing for the 2026 legislative session with a projected nearly 1.5 billion dollar budget deficit, forcing difficult choices on spending while Governor Wes Moore maintains he will not raise taxes this session and continues to emphasize affordability and middle‑class tax relief.[6]

According to WBFF Fox45, public safety and immigration policy will be flashpoints in Annapolis, with a renewed push from Democratic leaders to ban 287(g) agreements that allow local law enforcement to collaborate with ICE, a move opposed by officials such as Frederick County Sheriff Charles Jenkins, who argues the program keeps his county safer.[6] At the same time, the Maryland Freedom Caucus has released a 2026 platform calling for the state to withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, challenging Moore’s clean‑energy agenda and highlighting partisan divides over energy costs and climate policy, as reported by Carbon Pulse.[22]

On the economic front, Governor Moore announced that Maryland surpassed its 2025 goal for apprenticeships, with more than 5,200 new apprentices recruited through over 500 employers this year, a milestone he says strengthens pathways to good‑paying jobs for young people and career‑changers, according to The Daily Record.[21] Building on that, the governor’s office recently unveiled the Maryland Community Business Compass, described by the administration as a first‑of‑its‑kind data platform plus 10 million dollars in targeted investments to help small businesses, child care providers, and fresh‑food retailers in high‑need communities, Talbot County’s TalbotWorks reports.[3]

Housing and community development are also in focus. The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development announced that Moody’s upgraded its housing finance bond rating, a shift the agency says will lower borrowing costs and support more affordable housing projects statewide.[19] The Maryland Economic Development Association notes that 69.5 million dollars in fiscal 2026 awards have been directed to state revitalization programs, backing main‑street improvements and community infrastructure from small towns to urban neighborhoods.[11]

At the local level, Montgomery County Public Schools has mapped dozens of future school sites and ongoing projects to accommodate long‑term enrollment growth, including the new Crown High School in Gaithersburg now under construction, according to The MoCo Show.[4] WBFF Fox45 and WMAR‑2 News highlight recent public‑safety and weather stories: a Christmas‑week winter weather advisory for parts of northern Maryland, a serious truck incident in Rockville, and multiple holiday‑season fires that displaced families but also showcased fast responses from local fire departments.[5][17][1]

Looking ahead, listeners can expect intense debate in the upcoming legislative session over how to close the budget gap, manage rising energy costs, and reshape immigration cooperation, while Moore’s team pushes further on apprenticeships, child‑care access, and anti‑poverty strategies.[6][3][21] Major funding decisions around school construction, housing, and community revitalization will shape Maryland’s economy and quality of life well into the next decade.[4][11][19]

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Maryland closes out 2025 with a mix of resilience and forward momentum amid challenges from bird flu outbreaks spiking egg prices by up to 10 percent, a massive fuel spill, multiple mass overdoses, and a federal government shutdown, as highlighted in WBAL-TV 11's year-in-review[1]. Baltimore business leaders stand out as the state's most optimistic, citing strong demand in cybersecurity, healthcare, and logistics, with projections for growth in technical IT roles and customer support jobs, according to Alta Technologies[3].

In government and politics, the 2025 legislative session delivered key wins overridden over vetoes, including the Energy Resource Adequacy and Planning Act establishing a Strategic Energy Planning Office to bolster grid reliability[7]. Governor Wes Moore signed an executive order on December 19 to lower energy costs through rebates and $130 million in clean energy investments, building on the Next Generation Energy Act's $200 million in bill relief[12]. Starting January 1, 2026, new laws enhance tax sale protections for homeowners and heirs via House Bill 59, alongside boosts to healthcare access and worker rights, per The BayNet[2]. The Board of Public Works approved $26.5 million for 130 revitalization projects, including $1 million for Salisbury University's new Performing Arts Center[4][19].

Economically, CPV launched Maryland's largest solar project on reclaimed land, supporting clean energy goals and local jobs[13], while Governor Moore unveiled the Maryland Community Business Compass with $10 million for small businesses in fresh food and child care[8]. Community efforts shine in education and infrastructure, with ongoing school construction discussions at the MACo Winter Conference[9] and $69.5 million in statewide awards for projects like IonQ's headquarters[23].

No major recent weather events dominate, but a fast-moving storm looms Friday, bringing snow, sleet, and freezing rain to Baltimore and beyond, risking icy roads and power outages, as forecast by the National Weather Service and AccuWeather[5][10].

Looking Ahead: Watch for the January 1 rollout of new laws, potential Winter Storm Watch impacts on post-holiday travel, and the 2026 General Assembly session tackling school funding and energy affordability.

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Maryland lawmakers recently adopted recommendations to cut state spending by $600 million amid a projected $1.2 billion structural deficit for next fiscal year, driven partly by federal job cuts and Trump administration policies, according to WYPR reports. The Spending and Affordability Committee also aims to bolster reserve funds to shield against unpredictable federal changes, though some Republicans like Delegate Jiff Ghrist argue the measures fall short. In a bold climate move, the General Assembly overrode a veto on the RENEW Act, directing the Comptroller to study greenhouse gas emission costs by December 2026 and explore fees on major oil companies, as noted by Food & Water Watch. Lawmakers further established a Reparations Commission via SB 587 to address racial disparities in housing and employment, commended by the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

On the economic front, Baltimore business leaders rank among the nations most optimistic for 2025, fueled by growth in cybersecurity, healthcare, and logistics, per an Alta Technologies survey. Governor Wes Moore announced a $10 million investment in the Maryland Community Business Compass platform, offering small businesses market insights, funding access, and support resources through January 2026, as shared by the governors office. Community revitalization advanced with $69.5 million in statewide awards for 226 projects, including housing and economic development.

Education infrastructure progresses with the Interagency Commission approving FY 2026 school construction allocations, while public safety concerns persist, from mass overdoses in Baltimore to rising road rage incidents highlighted in WBAL-TV year-in-review coverage. No major recent weather events dominate headlines.

Looking Ahead, the Maryland General Assembly convenes in January to tackle the full budget, new laws effective January 1 like healthcare expansions, and ongoing Blueprint education funding amid deficits.

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Marylands lawmakers made headlines this week by overriding Governor Wes Moores vetoes on key bills, including the creation of a Reparations Commission to study slaverys lasting impacts and compensation for affected families, a move hailed by the Legislative Black Caucus as Marylands first step toward reparations according to The Daily Record. They also revived the RENEW Act for a climate superfund study on extreme weather costs and a probe into data centers environmental and economic effects, passing with strong majorities despite the governors concerns over expenses. In business news, Governor Moore launched the Maryland Community Business Compass, backed by 10 million in state investments to aid small businesses with data on child care, fresh food access, and growth resources, as reported by the governors office. Baltimore business leaders stand out as among Marylands most optimistic for 2025, citing gains in cybersecurity, healthcare, and logistics per Alta Technologies survey, even as the state grapples with population losses ranking 45th nationally in domestic migration according to the Maryland Chamber of Commerce.

Communities saw boosts too, with the Board of Public Works approving 26.5 million for 130 revitalization projects, including Park Heights Renaissance efforts for affordable housing and centers in Baltimore, per WYPR. Education advanced via school construction amendments, like 765,000 for Flintstone Elementarys underground tanks from the Interagency Commission on School Construction, and Anne Arundel County Public Schools 1.9 billion FY2027 budget proposal emphasizing high school rebuilds and Blueprint mandates, as noted by the Southern Maryland Chronicle. Public safety challenges persist amid 2025 recaps of bird flu outbreaks spiking egg prices, mass overdoses, road rage crackdowns, and a Rosedale house explosion, highlighted in WBAL-TVs year-in-review.

No major recent weather events dominate, though the RENEW study underscores floodings toll.

Looking Ahead: Watch for new laws effective January 1, 2026 on healthcare and housing per The BayNet, Anne Arundel budget hearings in early January, congressional redistricting progress, and the 2026 General Assembly session.

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Maryland lawmakers recently overrode Governor Wes Moore's vetoes on several key bills, including measures for a reparations study, data centers impact assessment, and climate initiatives like the RENEW Act. According to the Baltimore Banner, the overrides advanced a commission to examine slavery's legacy and racial discrimination, while Food & Water Watch reports the RENEW study will quantify billions in climate damages by December 2026, positioning Maryland alongside Vermont and New York in a climate superfund approach. The Maryland Transportation Authority board also prepares to vote on Bay Bridge plans involving new spans and removals, per WBAL.

In government and politics, these legislative moves highlight tensions over policy priorities, with attorneys seeking dismissal of some extortion charges against Senator Dalya Attar, as noted by Maryland Matters. Economically, Governor Moore unveiled the Maryland Community Business Compass platform to aid small businesses with funding, market data, and opportunities in child care and fresh food sectors, alongside $10 million in support and $69.5 million statewide for 226 revitalization projects, including housing, infrastructure, and IonQ's new headquarters in College Park, according to the governor's office and DHCD announcements.

Community efforts shine in education and public safety, as counties grapple with rising school construction costs outpacing funding, discussed at the MACo Winter Conference. Anne Arundel County Public Schools proposed a $1.9 billion budget emphasizing people over programs, funding community schools and new facilities, per AACPS. Volunteers rallied to save a Baltimore County church's soul kitchen serving weekend meals, amassing over 1,000 petition signatures, WMAR reports, while the ENOUGH initiative combats child poverty amid federal SNAP disputes.

No major recent weather events disrupted the state.

Looking Ahead: Watch for the MDTA's Bay Bridge vote, school budget hearings, and Comptroller regulatory updates by January, plus ongoing revitalization projects shaping communities.

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Marylands General Assembly convened a special session today to elect a new House Speaker following Adrienne A. Jones departure, with Joseline Peña-Melnyk expected to be nominated, according to Delmarva Now and WYPR reports. This comes amid debates on mid-cycle redistricting, though a UMBC poll shows listeners prioritize affordability over map changes. In politics, Delegate Harry Bhandari highlighted discussions with the Maryland Board of Physicians on patient safety and licensing for the 2026 session, while the Comptrollers Office proposed sales tax updates aligning with new 3% data taxes and Public Information Act fees, per their December 12 announcement.

On the economic front, Baltimore business leaders rank among Marylands most optimistic for 2025, citing demand, innovation, and IT investments, as noted by Alta Technologies. Matan Companies fully leased its Gaithersburg property to Montgomery County Public Schools, sharing space with AstraZeneca, boosting life sciences along I-270, Commercial Observer reports. Mariner Finances new headquarters created jobs, and TEDCO eyes foreign direct investments sustaining 120,000 positions in AI, quantum, and life sciences.

Healthcare advanced with Sinai Hospitals renovated emergency department opening, per The Baltimore Sun, and University of Maryland School of Medicine approval to expand class sizes addressing physician shortages, Becker’s Hospital Review states. Baltimore County Public Schools led with top 5-Star ratings on the 2025 report card. Public safety improved in Prince Georges County, where violent crime dropped 19% and property crime 15%, Police Chief George Nader announced. Students at Crossland High built a tiny house via construction trades.

No major weather events disrupted the state recently.

Looking Ahead, the 2026 legislative session starts January 14, with focus on healthcare, education, and economy; Williamsport High plans mid-January reopening post-asbestos cleanup; and TEDCO pursues global partnerships.

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