In the space of seconds, what took four years and $141 million to construct vanished. Struck by the cargo ship Dali one week ago, the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed into the dark of the Patapsco River. The size of the catastrophe and the ongoing recovery effort is beyond measure, starting with the loss of six construction workers who had been patching the surface of the bridge. (Photo Credit: Jerry Jackson/Staff)

State Senate and House budget negotiators were at an impasse Monday, the date by which the two chambers were scheduled to pass a spending plan. Democratic negotiators from each chamber are expected to continue meeting throughout the week to reach an agreement on the $63 billion budget before the 90-day session ends April 8.

Ships that typically move cargo in and out of the Port of Baltimore have been forced to use other ports along the East Coast following last week’s deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which means Baltimore port workers have been constantly traveling, retrieving containers from other states and driving them to Baltimore.

Though Maryland isn’t in the path of totality for the solar eclipse set for the afternoon of Monday, April 8, 2024, there will still be plenty of reasons to look to the skies in the Hagerstown area and beyond. Here’s a look at when the eclipse is coming, then more on events all around to enjoy the big event.

 

The leading Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate, Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks and U.S. Rep. David Trone, are scheduled to appear at a forum at Goucher College in Towson on Tuesday evening. The Maryland League of Conservation Voters Education Fund is the primary sponsor of the event. Maryland Matters is one of the cosponsors, along with the Maryland League of Women Voters, Baltimore Green Space, Blue Water Baltimore, Mid Atlantic Audubon, and Indivisible HoCoMd.

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott released details of his $3.4 billion 2025 operating budget on Monday, saying he has closed a $61.9 million budget gap without raising taxes or cutting services. The mayor cited some strategic moves and good economic timing for a balanced budget proposal. “We are putting forth a budget that completely covers the gap without furloughing employees, closing fire stations or rec centers, and without cutting city services or turning our back on the priorities of Baltimore while moving forward,” Scott said.

The 1954 Orioles were a hapless bunch, losing 100 games in their first season. But the impact of that fledgling team 70 years ago transcended baseball. The arrival of those Orioles of yore helped hasten the demise of segregation that marked Baltimore’s hotels. At the time, Black people were barred from staying in the city’s best hotels — the Emerson, Lord Baltimore and others — a nonissue in all other big league towns.

A heightened law enforcement presence took effect in Ridgely, Caroline County, Monday as sheriff’s deputies aim to enhance safety measures in the area more frequently. The entire Ridgely Police Department has been placed on suspension, prompting the Caroline County Sheriff’s Office to step in and assure residents of increased patrols starting Monday.

As the arduous task of cleaning up the remains of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore continues, one environmental group said they are concerned about potential pollution impacts we could see from the process. Emily Ranson, the Chesapeake regional director for the advocacy group Clean Water Action, said some concerns include how any hazardous materials will be removed and sediment blooms caused by dredging.

Mail-in ballots are scheduled to be sent by election officials by April 1 for the upcoming Presidential Primary Election in Maryland, with Election Day scheduled for Tuesday, May 14. In order to provide information for voters about the candidates that are on the ballot for Maryland’s Sixth United States Congressional District, which stretches from Northern Montgomery County west to include Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties, the Herald-Mail compiled candidates responses to a question, as follows.