In my two and a half years as a columnist at the Baltimore Banner, I have written increasingly about the intersection of race and gender, from parenting to politics. But recently, you may have noticed that my topics have been less controversial and more congenial. I’ve interviewed the “Golden Bachelorette,” considered learning to can tomatoes and written about bad Halloween candy.

Based on 58 multi-hour interviews and more than 7,000 documents, the independent bipartisan panel President Joe Biden assigned to analyze the Secret Service after the attempted assassination of Donald Trump this summer issued a grim warning: Without fundamental reforms to the agency, what happened in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13 “can and will happen again.” These changes, even more than the specific events of the rally, ought to be the focus going forward.

Howard County voters will have the opportunity to vote on ballot Question A this year. Question A summarizes a charter amendment approved by all five members of the County Council in July. Approving Question A would allow the County Council to create an independent Office of the Inspector General. Passage of Question A would enable the appointment of a citizen board by both the executive and legislative branches of the local government, ensure that the Office of the Inspector General is funded and authorize the office to access independent legal advice.

There is only one day left until election day. In this week’s episode, Damian, Candace, Don give their final predictions for tomorrow. Also, Maryland Democratic Party Chair Ken Ulman returns to give his prediction, as well as talk about what the party is doing in the final days.

Local school board elections have taken a nasty turn this year in some parts of Maryland as they have elsewhere across the country. No longer are the candidates chosen from the usual pool of school volunteers, retired educators and community activists — often running without opposition. Campaigns aren’t the amicable PTA-like chitchat about budgets or where to draw district lines or how to support teachers.

Americans are being peddled misinformation about what happens to the plastic they buy and use in their daily lives, and Maryland taxpayers have an opportunity to fight back. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has sued ExxonMobil for the fossil fuel company’s pollution and track record of misinformation — particularly around the recyclability of Americans’ plastics.

By not picking, voters like Jeremy Gosnell just might help pick the next president of the United States. The Oakland, Maryland, property manager calls himself a loyal Democrat. He’s never voted Republican, but he can’t get behind his party’s presidential candidate. “Kamala Harris is a tough sell for me,” Gosnell wrote during our email conversation about his dilemma.

As much as we fret that the preferred costume this Halloween will either feature orange makeup and long red ties or tailored women’s pantsuits in neutral tones, we have to express our fondness for the child-oriented, secular holiday with its playful nature. When else, particularly in these politically fraught times, are we encouraged to knock on the doors of neighbors essentially requesting a handout that is usually granted?

With the return of college football comes an easy agreement on what to watch while completing house chores. My husband and I enjoy college sports for slightly different reasons. He enjoys feats of athleticism. The educator in me is drawn to the coaching staff. I’m interested in how coaches make decisions to lead, support and develop the athletes in their care. In the strategic reflective moments of a timeout, coaches can refocus a team to accomplish a goal.

As Americans, we take pride in the freedoms we enjoy every day. We wake up with the liberty to pursue happiness as we see fit. We decide what time to rise, what to eat for breakfast, and which path our day will take. We choose where we work, who we spend our time with, and how we spend our leisure time. Our lives are shaped by a series of choices that seem small, but in the grand scheme of things, reflect the essence of our freedom.