There is no one trick to fix American democracy — but implementing ranked-choice voting in primary and general elections around the country could help. This reform is on the ballot in several states this year, as well as in D.C. It deserves to pass. Referendums in the District, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon will ask voters in November whether they want to institute ranked choice; in Alaska, the question for residents is whether to repeal the same system, first used in the state in 2022.

Two senior communities in Baltimore are set to receive an infusion of federal money — totaling $1.1 million — to help them modernize and become more energy efficient, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The financing is being directed to Greens at Irvington Mews, a residential community in southwest Baltimore where a new, four-story development is being constructed; and to Park Heights Place.

The Israeli military on Thursday warned people to evacuate communities in southern Lebanon that are outside a U.N.-declared buffer zone, signaling that it may widen a ground operation launched earlier this week against the Hezbollah militant group. Meanwhile, Israeli forces said they had struck around 200 Hezbollah targets across Lebanon, including weapons storage facilities and observation posts. =

The Port of Baltimore is expected to fully reopen Friday morning after the union representing 45,000 striking U.S. dockworkers at East and Gulf Coast ports reached a deal to suspend their strike until Jan. 15 to provide time to negotiate a new contract. The union, the International Longshoremen’s Association, is to resume working immediately at least until Jan. 15, according to a statement issued by the union.

Sarah Moorefield, 40, is a single mother of two teenagers: 15-year-old Izzy and 13-year-old McKenna. Both girls are interested in horseback riding and sporty activities. Moorefield said it’s difficult to afford groceries for her teenagers on her single income, but it’s particularly hard in the summer when they don’t have access to schools that provide breakfast and lunches throughout the week for her girls and thousands of other families in the state.

Maryland officials on Wednesday approved a $62.4 million contract to set up a paid family and medical leave insurance program that workers can tap for benefits beginning in 2026. The state will require that all employers with at least one worker in Maryland offer paid family and medical leave insurance. Out-of-state employees working for a Maryland company won’t contribute or be eligible for benefits, though any worker localized in Maryland, including those working for offices not in the state, will contribute and be eligible, according to the state Department of Labor.

A unique program in Maryland is being recognized for rehabilitating and supporting at-risk youths affected by an increasing prevalence of gun violence. The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services was honored with an innovation award for its Thrive Academy program, which works to interrupt a cycle of violence and stop future gun crimes before they start by giving victims and perpetrators resources and mentorship opportunities.

Members of the Anne Arundel County Council have introduced revised inclusionary housing policy that requires developers to make a percentage of new units affordable to moderate income residents several months after a previous bill failed. The Essential Worker Housing Act legislation was spearheaded by County Executive Steuart Pittman, but rejected by a 4-3 margin in December 2023. At the time, he called the vote a slap in the face and vowed to come back with alternative legislation.

November elections in Baltimore are typically snoozers — the real action in the Democrat-dominated city comes during the spring primaries. But this year was supposed to be different. Charm City’s denizens were poised to vote on massive issues. There was a proposition to cut the property tax rate by nearly half. Another to give cash payments to the parents of newborns. And yet another could have remade the city’s skyline along the Inner Harbor.

Sustainability smacks you the instant you pull into the IKEA parking lot in College Park. Most spaces are tucked under elevated solar panels, a national initiative started in Maryland three years ago to help the Swedish furniture giant generate all its own electricity. Walk past the U.S., Maryland and Swedish flags and into the mammoth blue-and-yellow building, and the first of many brightly colored, chipper displays makes clear that saving the planet is at stake with every purchase — “5 ways to step into a more sustainable day — every day.”