Maddi O’Neill

Maryland agencies warn planned Hagerstown-area ICE facility could strain sewers, traffic Three of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s cabinet secretaries wrote they have “serious concerns that ICE is proceeding with this project in a secreteve and rushed manner” that will have negative effects on t...

In a lengthy letter to the feds, three of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's cabinet secretaries raise concerns about the Washington County warehouse that the feds bought to turn into an immigration detention facility.

www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

Youth charging reform is finally moving in Maryland, but not everyone is happy The Maryland Senate’s version of the bill would shorten the list of charges that automatically land teens in adult court but not by as many offenses as advocates wanted.

New story for @thebaltimorebanner.com: Youth charging reform is finally gaining traction in Maryland after more than a decade of advocacy. But after some significant compromises, not everyone is happy about it. www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

Exclusive: It’s bots vs. reporters at the AP The tensions inside the wire service reveal a broader conflict playing out across the media over how AI should be applied within journalism.

"Another staffer said it is 'hard not to escape the feeling that the people hyping/guiding the decisions around these powerful tools exist in a totally different reality than the people who wake up every day and do the work of reporting.'"

Feds considered 3 Baltimore-area sites for immigration detention The agency concluded that the three Baltimore-area sites “presented greater limitations related to site control, security, operational suitability, and potential community impacts.”

NEW: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security -- which is currently moving forward with an immigration detention facility near Hagerstown -- also evaluated three warehouses in the Baltimore region.

From @maddioneill.bsky.social, @brendawintrode.bsky.social & me:

www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

Feds considered 3 Baltimore-area sites for immigration detention The agency concluded that the three Baltimore-area sites “presented greater limitations related to site control, security, operational suitability, and potential community impacts.”

NEW from me, @brendawintrode.bsky.social & @pwoodreporter.bsky.social: The feds considered three sites in the Baltimore area for possible ICE detention facilities before landing on a warehouse near Hagerstown. See where: www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

New from me:

Baltimore! I’m introducing HOUSE at the Maryland Film Festival on April 10 along with a brand new short documentary about the film from @bsoderberg.bsky.social and me.

Tickets on sale SOON!

Did you look up your senator? Did their answer surprise you? Drop me a message. DMs open. Email brenda.wintrode@thebanner.com

Here’s where all 47 Maryland senators stand on redistricting Enough senators oppose redistricting that supporters can not get the 29 votes they need to approve new congressional maps, according to a Banner survey of all 47 senators.

NEW in @thebaltimorebanner.com: Maryland redistricting = not happening. @brendawintrode.bsky.social & @maddioneill.bsky.social have the receipts.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

We asked all 47 Maryland state senators where they stand on redistricting. You can look up their answers by county. w/ @maddioneill.bsky.social

tinyurl.com/bdfyx2ty

Maryland sues to block planned Washington County ICE detention center The suit asks a federal judge to void the Department of Homeland Security’s purchase of a warehouse and block any further development of the property.

Maryland is suing the Department of Homeland Security to block a planned ICE detention center in Washington County, saying the federal government failed to do a required environmental impact study and public health concerns.

w/ @maddioneill.bsky.social

www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

My incredible boyfriend’s incredible new zine is available now at @atomicbooks.bsky.social 🎉

House Minority Leader Jeffries meets with Ferguson as redistricting pressure builds As he walked into the State House, Jeffries said he would “in all likelihood” discuss redistricting with Gov. Wes Moore.

They met. They talked. They didn't change their minds.

Here's what we know happened during the redistricting summit between Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Maryland Senate Pres. Bill Ferguson today in Annapolis.

By @maddioneill.bsky.social & me
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in Annapolis as redistricting fight heats up As he walked into the State House, Jeffries said he would “in all likelihood” discuss redistricting with Gov. Wes Moore.

NEW with @pwoodreporter.bsky.social & @brendawintrode.bsky.social: www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

Why Maryland Democrats agreed to block immigration agreements with ICE The politics of immigration have shifted in the year since Donald Trump took office.

Why didn't Maryland Democrats end local ICE cooperation agreements sooner? They feared retaliation from the Trump administration, including federalization of Maryland's National Guard, @brendawintrode.bsky.social reports: www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

Sun management has once again disparaged our talented -human- reporters and their work, this time by filling more than half a page in today’s paper with AI slop.

happy birthday gromit 🥹 🎂 🐶

Limits of Moore’s power exposed in State of the State address At times seeming during his speech, Gov. Wes Moore seemed contrite, acknowledging that he’d learned some lessons and that his success depended on lawmakers.

A self-proclaimed outsider, Gov. Wes Moore is grappling with the limits of his power — to force a vote on redistricting, to protect immigrant communities from ICE, to shield Maryland from chaos in Washington. A look from the @thebaltimorebanner.com State House team: www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

Limits of Moore’s power exposed in State of the State address At times seeming during his speech, Gov. Wes Moore seemed contrite, acknowledging that he’d learned some lessons and that his success depended on lawmakers.

In his fourth State of the State address, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore spoke like an executive that has taken some lumps and learned some lessons. The speech felt at times like a family meeting, almost confessional.

From @thebaltimorebanner.com 's State House team.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

Charles Exum was treated like a hero by peers and fellow Feds, not just Bovino, as he shared with this text sent by “guy from Vermont” who called him “a legend among agents”

Once a troubled sheriff, he'll now lead the Maryland State Police Acting Maryland State Police Superintendent Michael A. Jackson has allies on both sides of the aisle after a decade in Annapolis, but some still question his tenure leading the Prince George’s County ...

New story with @justinfenton.bsky.social: He's set to lead the Maryland State Police. But the last time he ran a law enforcement agency, his deputies busted into a small-town mayor's home and killed two dogs in a botched raid, part of a string of similar incidents. www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

He admitted to ‘filthy’ chats with a teen. Cumberland still made him police chief. New records show a Cumberland, Maryland officer admitted “filthy” messages with a teen before becoming police chief — a case the city kept quiet.

The chief of the Cumberland Police Department at the time? Chuck Ternent, who admitted to exchanging "filthy" messages with a teenage girl before getting picked to lead the department, as I reported for @thebaltimorebanner.com in November. That story: www.thebanner.com/community/cr...

Gov. Moore says he’ll sign bill banning immigration enforcement agreements Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said he plans to sign emergency legislation banning working agreements between federal immigration agencies and local jurisdictions.

NEW: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says he will sign legislation banning local jails/law enforcement from having cooperation agreements with ICE known as 287(g).

Lawmakers could send him a bill as soon as next week, reports @brendawintrode.bsky.social:

www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

The former second-in-command of the Cumberland Police Department has been indicted on charges that he repeatedly assaulted female coworkers by applying "pain compliance pressure points," the Office of the State Prosecutor announced today. Indictment: osp.maryland.gov/wp-content/u...

The obscure Senate rule that gives redistricting a long-shot chance Rule 42 allows one-third of the Senate, 16 members, to petition a bill to the floor, as long as it’s been sitting in a committee for more than 20 days. A rare move, it could allow members to overrule ...

Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson has bottled up a new map of Congressional districts in committee. But could senators force it out of committee and put it to a vote?

@brendawintrode.bsky.social explains how that could happen — if the support exists:

www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

Our founders, though deeply flawed, understood that democracy requires an informed citizenry and a government accountable to it people. That’s why the press is the only profession protected by the Constitution. It’s also why autocrats and oligarchs seek to control and destroy it.

Maryland law change is making it harder to get compensation for wrongful convictions A provision included in one of the budget bills in 2025 requires counties to now pay half of any compensation — even though state’s attorneys are independent elected officials.

How a change in Maryland law is making it harder for people who maintain they were wrongfully convicted of crimes to get compensated. (📸: @kaitlinobscura.bsky.social) (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)

Maryland House, Senate vote to ban local ICE enforcement agreements The bills would prohibit local governments and police departments from partnering with ICE through a program known as 287(g).

Breaking for @thebaltimorebanner.com: www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

“Unconscionable,” Jon thought as he found an email address online for the lead prosecutor, Joseph Dernbach, who was named in the story. Peering through metal-rimmed glasses, Jon opened Gmail on his computer monitor. “Mr. Dernbach, don’t play Russian roulette with H’s life,” he wrote. “Err on the side of caution. There’s a reason the US government along with many other governments don’t recognise the Taliban. Apply principles of common sense and decency.” That was it. In five minutes, Jon said, he finished the note, signed his first and last name, pressed send and hoped his plea would make a difference. Five hours and one minute later, Jon was watching TV with his wife when an email popped up in his inbox. He noticed it on his phone. “Google,” the message read, “has received legal process from a Law Enforcement authority compelling the release of information related to your Google Account.”

A retiree wrote this email to a DHS attorney. Within five hours, DHS demanded Google turn over records for his account.

A Kafkaesque form of domestic surveillance, intimidating Americans for lawful speech.

New from us at the Post: www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio... @johnwoodrowcox.bsky.social

The Minnesota Star Tribune, Minnesota Public Radio, the Minnesota Reformer, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, Sahan Journal, Center for Broadcast Journalism and Minnesota Newspaper Association today released the following statement: “We strongly condemn the arrest of journalists Georgia Fort and Don Lemon, as well as any attempt to intimidate members of the press. The First Amendment recognizes the press as holding a distinct and protected role in our democracy. In America, we do not arrest journalists for doing their jobs. The Minnesota journalism community stands united in defense of press freedom and the essential role reporting plays in holding power to account.”

The Minnesota Star Tribune, @mprnews.org @minnesotareformer.com , @spokesmanrecorder.bsky.social, @sahanjournal.bsky.social, Center for Broadcast Journalism and Minnesota Newspaper Association today released the following statement: