Teens in Rodgers Forge shooting take pleas Two teens charged in the 2024 shooting of a beloved Rodgers Forge youth sports coach pleaded guilty Monday just hours before jury selection was to begin in their trial for attempted murder and attempt...

The shooting in Rodgers Forge of a popular soccer coach in the alley behind his house rocked this peaceful neighborhood. Today, the teens who shot Mark McKenzie pleaded guilty just before their trial.

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Towson Town Center was a destination, but nearly 25% of its storefronts are now vacant Towson Town Center has been hemorrhaging high-profile tenants: Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, Banana Republic and now Apple. U.S. malls are in trouble, but Towson shoppers and retailers believe something mor...

www.thebanner.com/economy/tows...

Towson Town Center was a destination, but nearly 25% of its storefronts are now vacant Towson Town Center has been hemorrhaging high-profile tenants: Tiffany, Louis Vuitton, Banana Republic and now Apple. U.S. malls are in trouble, but Towson shoppers and retailers believe something mor...

With Apple leaving, is the Towson mall in a death spiral? Thorough, nuanced reporting by @briaovers.bsky.social and @rkobell.bsky.social, in @thebaltimorebanner.com
www.thebanner.com/economy/tows...

Thanks. As I reported before, this decision is not in the county or the council's hands. The council previously approved a special attorney for the IG. If that attorney still argues for it to be sealed, a judge would have to decide - to reverse his previous ruling. Council can ask; judge can deny.

2 years after Key Bridge collapse, nearby communities feel isolated and forgotten Two years after the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse, the surrounding communities in Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County, feel isolated and forgotten.

Two years after the #keybridge collapsed, many communities near it feel left behind - absorbing truck traffic, dealing with flooding, and driving increasingly long distances to work. @alexmann.bsky.social and I look into it.

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For rent: Office space in historic Towson Jail. Cells cost extra. For more than a century, people were trying to get out of the Old Towson jail. But now, a historic preservationist saved the building, restoring it for offices, while keeping some old jail touches.

So interesting seeing the historic restoration of the Old Towson Jail. Marty is meticulous about history.

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Controlled burn today at Blackwater!

A Pikesville jazz musician bends the clarinet to his will Pikesville klezmer musician considers himself musically promiscuous, blending traditional Jewish klezmer music with jazz, big band and blues with an often humorous twist.

We interrupt this cycle of doom for a little bit of Jewish joy, courtesy of Seth Kibel. I recommend reading the story while you listen to him play - videos embedded!

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Baltimore County Council votes to repeal pension bump that became campaign liability The Baltimore County Council voted unanimously to reverse the pension bump they gave themselves — and make sure they’re never again in a position to give themselves a retirement raise.

Tonight, the Baltimore County Council rolled back the pension bump they gave themselves, and passed an amendment to make sure they would never again be in a position to vote themselves a raise. I have been on this story for nearly two years.

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Eat this, not that: Choose these Baltimore County spots instead of chains While Baltimore County has many chain standbys — think Panera, Chipotle — you can often find better fare and save money by going local

Sometimes, the job requires eating - or, using food to tell stories. This story is about all the much-better-than-chain food you can get in Baltimore County. Bon Appetit.

www.thebanner.com/culture/food...

The roots of ‘We Shall Overcome’ lie in Maryland’s Eastern Shore Charles Albert Tindley, who wrote the lyrics to more than 50 gospel hymns, including what became the civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome” was molded on the country roads of Worcester County in the...

The man who wrote the words to "We Shall Overcome" came from Maryland's Eastern Shore. Now, the town that molded him has finally honored him.

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Will Baltimore County Council reverse its controversial pension bump? Amid growing controversy over a Baltimore County Council vote in November 2024 that would double pensions for five of its seven members, two of them proposed legislation to roll that decision back.

Here we are staying on top of the pension story.

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Maybe not national media. But local media is. This is from local media, and I’m sure the Oregonian thoroughly covered it. We are covering these stories in Baltimore. It is happening in too many places.

Animal control officers seize 13 dogs, multiple birds and reptiles from Halethorpe home One bird, a colorful parrot, chirped “hello” from the animal services van. Five vans crowded the busy, two-lane road in Halethorpe to load up all the animals.

I spent the afternoon watching animal control officers seize 13 dogs and a number of birds and reptiles from a woman who had been charged last year with 328 counts of animal cruelty. Acting on a tip, we were just in time to see police execute the warrant and enter. @thebaltimorebanner.com

Prince Andrew's Arrest Across the pond in Britain, justice and accountability is a serious matter

Never in a million years did I ever fathom when I resurrected the Epstein story in 2018 that it would lead to first arrest of a British Royal in four centuries. Not since King Charles I was arrested in 1647.
open.substack.com/pub/jkbjourn...

Halethorpe woman charged with 328 counts of animal cruelty could get animals back A Halethorpe woman charged with 328 counts of animal abuse wants to amend her sentence so she can sell some of the 80 animals seized and possibly reclaim some as pets.

For reporters, no tool can replace shoe leather, sourcing and hard work. I put all of them to work to get this story about animal abuse - 328 accounts - and the likelihood that the accused abuser will reclaim both her animals and the money she spent to get them.

www.thebanner.com/community/lo...

Baltimore County needs more apartments built. One councilman’s absence may be stalling them. Baltimore County Councilman Wade Kach said he regrets missing meetings, but added: “If I thought for one minute that I was shortchanging my constituents in my district, I would resign.”

Baltimore County needs apartments. One councilman is in control of many of them, but he's been slow to turn the key and open the door. My latest.

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A woman charged with 328 counts of abusing animals is now helping decide where they go A Halethorpe woman charged with 328 counts of animal abuse a year ago is taking a role in finding homes for the dogs, cats, birds and reptiles that prosecutors say were harmed in her care.

A Baltimore County grand jury indicted her on 328 counts of animal cruelty. Animal control took her 82 animals. A couple were in such bad shape they had to b euthanized. And a year later, Kimberly Klein gets a year of probation and gets to help rehome her animals.

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Why did Baltimore County Police hire a former registered sex offender? Baltimore County follows Maryland regulations when hiring police officers, which stipulate that departments can disqualify applicants with criminal histories from becoming police officers. But Marylan...

The Baltimore County Police Dept. hired a convicted rapist. My colleague Ceili Doyle investigated the story and interviewed the convicted rapist and the woman he assaulted and told the story. @thebaltimorebanner.com

Most Baltimore County renters struggle to afford housing Baltimore County renters are facing one of the most severe housing affordability crises in Maryland, a Banner analysis of new census data found.

SCOOP: The rent is too damn high.
Not news. But in Baltimore County, many people are considered "burdened" because they're paying between 30-50 percent of their salaries on rent. Where that happens may surprise you.

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Baltimore County Council won’t landmark Ruxton house, saving owner a $160K window tab Joseph Coale, a local historian who nominated the home for inclusion on the Baltimore County Landmarks List a year ago, withdrew his application for the property, known as Maroney House, to receive la...

We interrupt the wall-to-wall local pension story to bring you news of a house that is not going to be landmarked, which will save the new owner $160,000 on windows.

www.thebanner.com/economy/real...

Baltimore County Council pension boost bill intensifies county executive battle A pension bill the Baltimore County Council passed 15 months ago that could double their retirement payouts is heating up the competitive four-way race for county executive.

This is the fourth story I have written in a week on pensions.
If you missed the other three, this one tells you what you need to know.
You could say I am paying pension attention.

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I grew up with Alex Pretti The kind-hearted ICU nurse shot by ICE agents was my childhood best friend.

I wrote about my childhood friend Alexi Pretti. Please read it and share it and remember him as a human being. @theverge.com

Baltimore County Council members announce plan to rescind pension bill Baltimore County Council members announced plans to repeal legislation that would double the pensions of four of its seven members.

@thebaltimorebanner.com has been reporting on the pension bump since November 2024. The heat intensified last month, when a county board recommended doubling the council's salaries. That also would double the council's current pension. Two councilmen now saythey'll repeal the pension bump bill.

Baltimore County Council members could earn more as retired lawmakers than working ones A bill could increase the earning power of Baltimore County Council members, giving them more in retirement than as working members.

Councilman Todd Crandell announced he would not run for re-election to focus on sobriety. He could earn more as a retired councilman than as a working one - because of a pension boost tied to a salary increase for future council members that 6 of 7 supported. His $41,400 benefit jumps to $84,000.

I don’t know! I did not ask about that. Folo possibly?

All of Towson Square's restaurants went out of business. Why? Visitors to the county seat value local ownership, variety

Why did Towson Square die? In this story, I circle the square, or square the circle, to find out why. And it's not what anyone has said before. It's something else.

Nepalese restaurants bring delicious meals to Baltimore County Don’t let the uninviting strip malls of Eastern Baltimore County deter you. They offer cuisine every bit as flavorful as the city’s.

I asked myself, what if I wrote about Baltimore County's growing Nepalese community through its food? And then, I did. Mo Momos!

As Trump targets Black history, a Maryland ranger guards Harriet Tubman’s place in it Mary Dennard has served as a guardian of Harriet Tubman's history since the 2000s, when residents and later federal and state officials came together to develop a plan for the $21 million Harriet Tubm...

I received an email today from a woman who had heard all her life she was a descendant of Harriet Tubman.
Mary Dennard helped her prove it.
Now, the woman is educating all of her nieces and children that they are Harriet's cousins.
This cynical scribe shed a tear.

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They thought the property would remain ballfields.
Then, a few days before Christmas, the bulldozers came.
What will become of the site now?
We are at the council meeting trying to learn!

www.thebanner.com/economy/grow...