Adam Willis

It was supposed to be a bumper year for oysters. Maryland watermen want disaster aid instead. Nearing the end of Maryland's worst oyster harvests in years, Gov. Wes Moore appealed to President Donald Trump for disaster aid. But whether the Chesapeake Bay's oystermen will get help from the federal...

It was supposed to be a bumper year for oysters. Maryland watermen want disaster aid instead.

It was supposed to be a bumper year for oysters. Maryland watermen want disaster aid instead. Nearing the end of Maryland's worst oyster harvests in years, Gov. Wes Moore appealed to President Donald Trump for disaster aid. But whether the Chesapeake Bay's oystermen will get help from the fede...

It was supposed to be a good year for Maryland's oyster harvest. A "perfect storm" of disasters in recent months now have watermen asking for federal aid, reports @adampwillis.bsky.social .

www.thebanner.com/community/cl...

A better Chesapeake Bay demands a realistic look at farm pollution The Chesapeake Bay region achieved just 16% of its farm runoff objective, according to Chesapeake Bay Program estimates, even though state and federal agencies ramped up funding to help farmers

This by Karl Blankenship is essential reading for anyone hoping to understand the challenge to cleaner water in the Chesapeake Bay: www.bayjournal.com/ag-and-the-b...

Councilman Pete Smith says he knew nothing about the moratorium or sewage capacity concerns until the county notice went out late Monday, despite the impacted area covering the vast majority of his district.

"I am flabbergasted," he said. Story with @codyboteler.bsky.social

Citing lack of sewage capacity, Anne Arundel suspends development in part of county A Anne Arundel Public Works spokesperson said officials learned last month from Baltimore City that they could not purchase additional capacity in the sewage system, prompting the suspension that the ...

Strange situation out of Anne Arundel County: Officials say sewage capacity on a system flowing into a Baltimore treatment pant is at its limit, prompting a moratorium on development for an area in the middle of the I-95 corridor. Fix could take 5 years:
www.thebanner.com/economy/grow...

Citing lack of sewage capacity, Anne Arundel suspends development in part of county A Anne Arundel Public Works spokesperson said officials learned last month from Baltimore City that they could not purchase additional capacity in the sewage system, prompting the suspension that the ...

In a move that's surprised multiple people we've talked with today, Anne Arundel County has put a moratorium on development in a chunk of the county because of sewage capacity. Read more in @thebaltimorebanner.com w/ @adampwillis.bsky.social —

Snow at the beach in Ocean City. Weird, beautiful.

After a historic Potomac sewage spill, who is to blame? A month after over 200 million gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Potomac River, the ecological disaster in the capital region inflamed tensions between President Donald Trump and Maryland Gov. We...

Weeks after ~250 million gallons of raw sewage emptied into the Potomac, a bitter fight between Trump & Gov. Wes Moore has raised a bigger question: When America’s outdated water infrastructure fails, who bears the blame?

My dispatch on the Potomac River disaster: www.thebanner.com/community/cl...

After a historic Potomac sewage spill, who is to blame? A month after over 200 million gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Potomac River, the ecological disaster in the capital region inflamed tensions between President Donald Trump and Maryland Gov. Wes...

How a catastrophic sewage spill in the Potomac inflamed Trump v. Moore

YMCA employees wanted pay raises. They got a food pantry instead. The YMCA of Central Maryland opened a food pantry for workers asking for pay raises. Meanwhile, its CEO is one of the region’s highest-paid nonprofit leaders.

YMCA employees wanted pay raises. They got a food pantry instead.

Deer are out of control in Baltimore. The city plans to shoot them. Deer in Baltimore are out of control. Starting this spring, the city plans to deploy sharpshooters in three parks to begin culling the population.

Baltimore’s overrun by deer. The city plans to kill them.

Super Bowl-night ads will push BGE’s agenda to build and run power plants in Maryland Baltimore Gas and Electric has called on Maryland leaders to pass legislation allowing the utility to build and own power plants — an ask it’s underscoring with ads during NBC’s Olympics and Super Bow...

New: In ads to run ahead of Super Bowl kick-off & during post-game, BGE will push its legislative agenda to build and own Maryland power plants, a reversal on decades of state regulatory policy. $150K ad buy includes spots in Super Bowl-night & Olympics coverage
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...

Super Bowl-night ads will push BGE’s agenda to build and run power plants in Maryland Baltimore Gas and Electric has called on Maryland leaders to pass legislation allowing the utility to build and own power plants — an ask it’s underscoring with ads during NBC’s Olympics and Super Bow...

New: In ads to run ahead of Super Bowl kick-off & during post-game, BGE will push its legislative agenda to build and own Maryland power plants, a reversal on decades of state regulatory policy. $150K ad buy includes spots in Super Bowl-night & Olympics coverage
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...

While the Chesapeake Bay freezes, these 2 boats break the ice While much of the Chesapeake Bay is frozen over, watermen, cargo ships and emergency responders have places to be, and islanders on Smith and Tangier need food and supplies. That’s where Maryland’s...

While the Chesapeake Bay freezes, these 2 boats break the ice

In Maryland, where the upper bay is more likely to freeze, the state usually operates three steel-hulled boats that patrol the estuary’s icy reaches.

Like giant snow plows, they clear critical channels for those who need to leave the harbor in frigid temperatures. buff.ly/knV22zI

Judge opts for no jail time for Baltimore lead inspector who falsified reports A Baltimore judge has opted not to sentence a local man to prison for illegally certifying that hundreds of homes in Maryland were free of lead paint.

Judge opts for no jail time for Baltimore lead inspector who falsified reports

Judge opts for no jail time for Baltimore lead inspector who falsified reports A Baltimore judge has opted not to sentence a local man to prison for illegally certifying that hundreds of homes in Maryland were free of lead paint.

Judge opts for no jail time for Baltimore lead inspector who falsified reports, @adampwillis.bsky.social reports. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)

Watching America Unravel in Minneapolis

As federal agents stormed Minneapolis and residents banded together to protect their own, Charles Homan saw a dystopian future become reality. “The federal agents looked more like a platoon of soldiers navigating a hostile foreign capital than conventional law enforcement in an American city.”

How Exelon and Constellation influence Annapolis Exelon and Constellation are among the state’s top campaign donors — the second and third biggest, according to campaign finance records.

As power bills surge, Exelon and Constellation vie for influence in Annapolis

How Exelon and Constellation influence Annapolis Exelon and Constellation are among the state’s top campaign donors — the second and third biggest, according to campaign finance records.

New: Exelon and Constellation are in an arms race in Maryland’s capital. With their deep pockets and small army of lobbyists, they’re in a fight to bend energy policy to their liking and to ratepayers are caught in the middle. W/ @adampwillis.bsky.social

www.thebanner.com/community/cl...

As residents fume over utility bills, Maryland’s top utility regulator steps down Maryland Public Service Commissioner Chairman Frederick Hoover was appointed to his role in 2023 by Gov. Wes Moore. He will no longer serve as the PSC's leader but will continue to be a commissioner.

As residents fume over utility bills, Maryland’s top utility regulator steps down www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

Is the Dictionary Done For? The print edition of Merriam-Webster was once a touchstone of authority and stability. Then the internet brought about a revolution.

Holy %$##*%^&. A @newyorker.com essay by Louis Menand about my book

As the Chesapeake Bay changes, a Fells Point tackle shop stays the same Tochterman’s Fishing Tackle, hallowed ground among local anglers, will soon celebrate its 110th birthday.

As the Chesapeake Bay changes, a Fells Point tackle shop stays the same

As the Chesapeake Bay changes, a Fells Point tackle shop stays the same Tochterman’s Fishing Tackle, hallowed ground among local anglers, will soon celebrate its 110th birthday.

By @adampwillis.bsky.social: As the Chesapeake Bay changes, a Fells Point tackle shop stays the same. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)

Analysis: Baltimore homicides declined furthest, fastest in the country, could reach a 48-year low Baltimore is on track to end 2025 with its lowest homicide total in 48 years, with fewer than 150 killings expected, marking a significant decline since 2022.

NEW:

Baltimore is on track to finish 2025 with its fewest homicides in about 50 years. Before Two-thirds of city residents were even born.

Baltimore homicides have further and faster than anywhere in the nation since 2018.

www.thebanner.com/community/cr...

It happens thousands of times every year.

More than 35% of all applications for charges statewide in 2024 came from people outside law enforcement.

A fantastic set of @thebaltimorebanner.com must-reads about one aspect of the criminal justice system that has truly gone off the rails. ⚖️

Trump cuts to Eastern Shore oyster hatchery could endanger Chesapeake Bay progress The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently slashed support for an Eastern Shore lab that has helped to seed an oyster resurgence in the bay.

An Eastern Shore lab houses one of the world's largest oyster hatcheries. Scientists there have churned out billions of oysters and helped drive an oyster resurgence in the Chesapeake Bay.

But thanks to a ~50% cut in NOAA funds, their work is in jeopardy:
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...

Under Armour’s Kevin Plank built an empire. Now Rome is burning. After years of regularly being profitable, Under Armour lost $200 million last year and is expected to operate at a loss, though a smaller one, this fiscal year, too.

Under Armour’s Kevin Plank built an empire. Now Rome is burning.

Trump cuts to Eastern Shore oyster hatchery could endanger Chesapeake Bay progress The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently slashed support for an Eastern Shore lab that has helped to seed an oyster resurgence in the bay.

Trump comes for the oysters, slashing budget of Maryland hatchery that produces billions