Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich withdrew his support Tuesday for Charles Bailey to be the county’s next fire chief. Bailey, a 30-plus-year veteran of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, would have been the county’s first Black fire chief. Elrich nominated him in November, but Bailey had yet to be confirmed by the 11-member Montgomery County Council.

When the Charles P. Crane Generating Station was demolished two years ago, the implosion could be heard for miles. People gathered to watch its towers, long part of the Bowleys Quarters skyline in Middle River, come crashing down. Baltimore County announced Monday it plans to on acquire most of the 153-acre site and turn it into a county park. Forsite Development, which currently owns the property, will keep some of it for what’s being called “low impact uses.” The details of what Forsite might do with the land were not clear, though the county said it could “support the resiliency of the regional power grid.”

 

Baltimore is poised to consider a $2.1 million contract for the gunshot detection technology known as ShotSpotter, which has come under fire in cities across the country and was recently ended by Chicago’s skeptical mayor. The surveillance technology uses acoustic sensors to detect and locate gunfire, and alerts police of the incident. The company, now known as SoundThinking Inc., contends the system allows police to respond to more gunfire incidents, improve response times and collect key evidence from a scene.

Former U.S. Commerce Department official April McClain Delaney (D) is the first candidate to go on the air with a TV spot in the open 6th District congressional race. Delaney’s 30-second ad will begin airing Tuesday on cable stations throughout the district, and she is expected to be on TV through the May 14 primary. The introductory spot shows a picture of Delaney with her husband, former U.S. Rep. John Delaney (D), and their four daughters, along with a picture of the candidate with President Biden.

Fans will be swinging for the flags at Oriole Park at Camden Yards this summer. Upper Deck Golf is coming to the ballpark in June for a two-day event where fans will have the chance to play a round of golf around the perimeter of the stadium. The Orioles and Upper Deck Golf will offer tee times between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. on June 7 and 8. California-based Upper Deck Golf is hosting similar events at more than a dozen other professional stadiums this year.

Unidentified callers phoning fake threats of violence to 911 have launched massive police responses in recent months to the homes of prominent political figures and state capitol buildings, including last week in Annapolis. The dangerous hoax, known as “swatting,” is meant to draw a heavily armed police presence — often SWAT teams — to a specific location to intimidate or harass innocent people, and has been increasingly used against political figures.

Baltimore County’s School Board has approved it’s budget for fiscal year 2025. The $2.58 billion budget, comes in at just 0.04 percent less than last fiscal year. Made up of various different funds, the passed budget includes a $42.3 million increase to the system’s general fund equating to about two percent. Some of that comes from the state’s Blue Print education law.

The longtime director of the Baltimore County Department of Health suddenly stepped down on Monday without an explanation. Baltimore County spokesperson Sean Naron and Maryland Department of Health spokesperson Chase Cook both said Dr. Gregory Branch was “no longer with” either the county or state as of Monday, and that they “thank Dr. Branch for his service to the county and wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Baltimore County residents will have more time to weigh in on pending legislation after the council passed a resolution overhauling its rules for passing new laws and conducting meetings. Going forward, the council must give the public at least two chances to weigh in on proposed bills during work sessions before they’re voted on at a legislative hearing, according to a resolution the council passed 6-0 on Monday. Republican Councilman Todd Crandell was absent and did not vote.

 

Maryland’s primary elections are coming up fast. With May just around the corner, local and state races are heating up. Fulfilling our civic responsibility to vote is important, but there’s a lot to keep track of. Here are some of the biggest races and top contenders to know in Baltimore City and statewide.