Commentary

When Fox News canceled Sarah Palin’s contributor contract in 2013, I wrote that it was “the end of an era.” I was, of course, wrong about that. Not only did Fox give her another contract six months later, her divisive brand of insults and misrepresentations became the template for Donald Trump and his flock of imitators in Congress, state governments and legislatures nationwide. This year, she figured she could easily get back into the game. But Alaskans, in a state that Mr. Trump won by 10 points in 2020, threw her over. Last Wednesday, in her first attempt to revive the political career she walked away from 13 years ago, Ms. Palin lost a special election to finish the late Don Young’s term in the House.

On July 30, 2016, Ellicott City experienced one of the worst natural disasters in its history when flash floods brought on by an intense rainstorm poured down Main Street. The floodwaters destroyed businesses, swept away vehicles and took the lives of two people. This tragedy was considered a “1,000-year flood,” meaning a flood event so severe it has only a 0.1% chance of occurring in any given year. Just two years later, another 1,000-year flood struck, taking one more life.

Every day, thousands of Marylanders show up to our offices, worksites, facilities and buildings ready to do our jobs and serve our communities. Many of us do the vital and essential work to provide Marylanders across the state with quality public services that ensure our communities are safe and healthy places for ourselves and our loved ones to live fulfilling lives. Even with a global pandemic, we came to work, putting our lives on the line to take care of our fellow residents.

Cathy Bevins, who was born and raised on the east side of Baltimore County, last month offered legislation to exempt waterfront restaurants and marinas from certain regulations that have restricted their growth. There was a logic to the idea. A lot of these businesses have struggled financially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Sixth District Baltimore County councilwoman no doubt viewed this as a chance to give them an economic boost.

The history of organized labor in the United States is one of struggle against seemingly hopeless odds, with victories often decades in the making. It’s a history in which Baltimore plays a proud part. In fact, the city can lay some claim as the birthplace of the national organized labor movement, more than 150 years ago. We recount the tale each year, our own Labor Day tradition. In the 1860s, local trades unions were common throughout the United States, but they were far from a unified force in national politics.

News organizations are supposed to cover events, not create them. We’re not supposed to manufacture controversies and issues while pretending they arise naturally from the communities we cover. In the last two weeks, The Sun has directly linked the conservative ownership of Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of nearly 200 television stations, including Fox 45 in Baltimore, to three local political efforts — to get Thiru Vignarajah elected Baltimore State’s Attorney; to give city voters the power to recall the mayor, and to place term limits on the mayor, the comptroller and members of the Baltimore City Council.

The first Monday in September is associated with a number of traditions including, of course, a celebration of the achievements of American workers and the labor movement. For many people, it’s a milestone date on the calendar — the traditional end of summer and the start of the school year — that’s also done double duty as a kind of chore reminder. Labor Day is often cited as one of two times of the year to replace the batteries in household smoke detectors. But, as it happens, Labor Day is also an excellent time for Maryland residents to check on something else that too often gets neglected: property tax credits.