Tuesday, December 16, 2025 | Baltimore, MD
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Around Maryland

New images show as controlled explosives used to clear Key Bridge off Dali ship

A major dropout whose name is still on the ballot. A rematch held under very different circumstances. A race where “non-endorsement” endorsements became commonplace. The rematch between incumbent Mayor Brandon Scott and former Mayor Sheila Dixon is here, and it’s been a weird one. With a major recent race shake-up and no public, up-to-date data about how people are feeling, voters head into primary election day in an unusual information vacuum.

A matter of inches: Howard Street tunnel project to clear path for double-stacked cargo trains

Eighteen inches is enough to hold the Port of Baltimore back from record-setting revenues. Even when the wreckage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge is finally cleared and port activity gets back on track, the Howard Street Tunnel, a 1.7-mile section of CSX Transportation’s rail operation that cuts under downtown Baltimore, will still be a foot-and-a-half shy of being able to handle the freight fad of the future — double-stacked cargo trains.

Old prison jail cells
People with severe mental illness are languishing in jail. Now the state has to pay

People facing criminal charges who are deemed too mentally ill to stand trial or ordered by a judge to a psychiatric hospital are waiting 180 days or more to be admitted, blowing past the 10-day deadline set by Maryland law. The Maryland Department of Health on Wednesday made its case in court that it was doing as much as it could to alleviate the long-standing problem, but Baltimore County Circuit Judge Nancy M. Purpura was not convinced.

Weather delays plan to use explosives to remove Key Bridge from Dali; ship’s crew pushes FBI to return confiscated phones

Weather is delaying the explosive demolition of a massive span of the Key Bridge that sits on top of the Dali cargo ship as concern over high winds has officials moving the plan from Saturday to Sunday. The demolition will happen while more than 20 crew members remain on board. The Unified Command expects the explosions to take just seconds and sound like fireworks. They have discouraged spectators.

Read More: CBS Baltimore
Johns Hopkins encampment ends after protesters, university come to agreement

The Johns Hopkins University and protesters occupying a pro-Palestinian encampment on the Homewood campus have reached an agreement to end the demonstration immediately. In exchange for the encampment being dismantled and not restarted, Hopkins will conduct a “timely review of protestors’ key question of divestment,” according to the Baltimore university in a Sunday news release.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
A win looms for energy justice advocates seeking to rein in state’s energy market

Laurel Peltier sat cross-legged at a table strewn with papers as she carefully scanned a utility bill she clutched in her right hand. Henry Burlock, 57, a short, stout African American man, sat to her left, wearing a chef’s apron and thick prescription glasses that accentuated the perplexed look on his face as he listened to Peltier describe what he needed to fix to avoid having his electricity cut off.

University of Maryland geologist to run simulation that helps astronauts prepare for the moon

A University of Maryland geologist will help run a simulation this month that will help astronauts prepare for the lunar surface. He hopes it will be a step closer to putting people back on the moon. “The surface of the moon is a pretty hostile place to be,” said Patrick Whelley, geologist and assistant research scientist at the University of Maryland and Goddard Space Flight Center.

Read More: WTOP
Teachers at Montgomery school upset over cut to extended-year program

A decision to end an extended-year program at Roscoe Nix Elementary School in Silver Spring has frustrated some teachers who say they relied on the summertime salary. The move, made amid budget talks and questions over the program’s effectiveness, was first announced in February. But administrators and a letter from the school board had initially indicated that a change would not come into effect until the 2025-2026 school year.

Frederick City Market returns for 2024 with local produce

People meandered around the vendor tents at the Frederick City Market Sunday, perusing the different meats, produce, flowers and other goods the vendors had to offer. Sunday was the first day back for the Frederick City Market. It will continue each Sunday on North Market Street between Third and Fourth streets until late November.

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