Polls are open for Primary Election Day today – The Sun Explosives make precision cuts to remove bridge debris on Dali – WBAL News Radio Post positions announced for 149th Preakness Stakes – FOX Baltimore/WBFF-TV Maryland real-estate market returns to pre-pandemic levels – Patch.com First responders train in Baltimore County water rescue – WMAR-TV Baltimore man pleads guilty to tax-refund scam involving elderly victims – NottinhamMD.com ..read more

Atlas Restaurant Group’s plan for a new bar on Thames Street stirs anger and fear — Baltimore Brew 3 plead guilty in Brooklyn mass shooting, receive sentences — WBAL Baltimore Ravens to face Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 NFL season opener — WJZ Orioles owner shares nine life lessons with American University grads — Baltimore Business Journal About half of Baltimore City students are chronically absent. Which schools have highest, lowest rates? — The Baltimore Sun Legislation boosts Maryland’s rating with LGBTQ+ policy tracking think tank — Maryland Matters ..read more

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s grand finale of its 2023-24 Symphony in the City concert series will pay tribute to the victims of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse and raise funds for recovery efforts. The performance will take place on June 7 at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. The free community outdoor concert brings Jonathon Heyward’s inaugural year as Music Director to a close, and Heyward will conduct the orchestra and a lineup of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s performing groups. BSO Artistic Partner Wordsmith, musicians from BSO OrchKids, and the Baltimor ..read more

Baltimore schools will let out in one month, but the city and its institutional partners will continue to engage students over summer break with the return of the Field Trip Fridays initiative for its second year. Set to begin in the first week of July, the initiative plans to serve 5,000 Baltimore City youth by offering 200 free field trips. Youth will be able to take trips to more than two dozen sites throughout the city, including Port Discovery and the National Aquarium, among others. This summer will also add experiential opportunities, including taking a boat ride on the Pride of Baltim ..read more

Next month don’t be surprised if you see many Baltimore residents wearing red or even see some buildings lit up with the hue. Sickle Cell Improvement in the Northeast Region is holding its annual Shine the Light on Sickle Cell campaign to bring attention to the disease. SCD disproportionately impacts Black populations, and therefore is prominent in the Baltimore region. About 1 in 767 of babies born in Maryland have SCD. The state tests every child who is at risk for the disease after birth. Read more at WYPR ..read more

Trucks of all shapes and sizes were on display Saturday at Big Truck Day, presented by the Baltimore City Department of Public Works. Families gathered at the Baltimore Public Works Museum at the Inner Harbor, where they had the opportunity to climb aboard vehicles ranging from an ATV to an asphalt roller. Not only that, but attendees were also able to learn about these machines as well as city services. The event also featured food trucks, face painting, and more. Check it all out in these photos by Carl Schmidt of Federal Hill Photography LLC. Matthew Bennett, of Gradeline Construction Comp ..read more

The Maryland Arts Summit returns to UMBC (University of Maryland Baltimore County)  on June 20 and June 21, gathering artists, advocates, educators, and policymakers to connect and learn, building on the progress of the previous five summits. It’s the only state-wide arts conference in Maryland, produced by the Maryland Citizens for the Arts (MCA). “The Maryland Arts Summit is a pivotal platform for dialogue, collaboration, and innovation in the arts sector, fostering connections that strengthen Maryland’s vibrant creative community,” read the press release. “Hosted by MCA, a leading voi ..read more

By Henry J. Brown, Capital News Service Maryland has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, which would typically be considered a bright spot for the state’s economy. But for companies and government agencies searching for workers, Maryland’s low unemployment is a problem that’s leading to labor shortages. One of the hardest hit industries is law enforcement. As police recruitment season kicks off—it generally runs from April to June—police departments across the state are recruiting more aggressively than ever to fill patrol cars. Many are offering larger salaries and bigger si ..read more

Public safety is a perennial concern for Charm City residents. Baltimore often tops lists of cities with highest crime rates. And even with declines in some categories, there have been 78 homicides, 150 shootings, and 147 carjackings so far this year, according to the Baltimore City Police Department’s crime statistics dashboard.  Addressing public safety remains a primary concern of voters, with 78% of registered voters polled in April by Goucher College citing it as their top issue as they head to the polls for Tuesday’s mayoral primary election.  Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is ..read more

Last week, we shared news about the return of free outdoor fitness classes along Baltimore’s waterfront, an announcement about the two interim co-directors who will lead the Walters Art Museum, and a talk about historic preservation to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Baltimore City Commission for Historical and Architectural Preservation (CHAP). Read the recaps and revisit the stories here: Most-Read Stories: Participants in a Waterfront Wellness class in 2023. Photo courtesy of Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore. “Waterfront Wellness free outdoor fitness series returns to Baltimore ..read more