AGP Executive Report

Fuel Economy Fight: Maryland and other Democratic-led states and cities sued the Trump administration over revised CAFE standards, arguing the rollback violates federal law and will raise costs and pollution. Baltimore Accountability: After the mayor’s team restored the Office of the Inspector General’s access to city servers, the OIG resumed investigations and dropped a contempt motion—though the broader records fight isn’t fully over. Key Bridge Transparency: Gov. Wes Moore launched a Key Bridge Rebuild Dashboard at KeyBridgeRebuild.com, giving Marylanders monthly updates on construction and procurement milestones. AI Governance Push: Moore is leading a bipartisan state effort to set AI rules in the absence of federal action, while Maryland also tees up an AI regulation plan. Education Policy Clash: Somerset County’s school media policy enforcement stay was extended, keeping restrictions on young adult book access on hold while appeals play out. Public Health: CDC reported measles cases are rising nationwide, with Maryland among the jurisdictions reporting cases. Local Business & Community: Leadership Southern Maryland is expanding scholarships for nonprofit leaders with new funding from the Charles County Charitable Trust.

Energy & Industry: Amazon and Constellation struck a 20-year deal to expand Maryland’s Calvert Cliffs nuclear plant, with billions in upgrades and added capacity aimed at meeting rising electricity demand. AI & Workforce: Gov. Wes Moore convened the Maryland Innovation Summit and released a new Maryland Business AI Benchmark to track how employers are adopting AI and what it means for jobs and wages. Federal Court Fight: The U.S. DOJ sued Maryland over the state’s law restricting law enforcement face masks and ID rules for federal officers, arguing states can’t regulate federal policing. Local Governance: A Baltimore fire-scene dispute is spilling into City Hall and court, with contractors accusing Councilwoman Odette Ramos of interfering with restoration work while she says she’s protecting residents. Public Safety & Health: CDC data shows violent deaths in 2023 were dominated by suicides and firearms—another reminder that prevention and early warning matter. Economy & Taxes: Maryland ranked 9th for estate and gift taxes collected in 2024, even as the total fell sharply year over year. Business Closings: Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Halethorpe is set to close Nov. 1 after rising costs.

Local Boards & Commissions: Queen Anne’s County is taking applications to fill seats on several boards, including Animal Control, Zoning Appeals, Aging, Economic Development, and Parks & Rec, with a deadline of Oct. 30, 2026. Climate & Health: Maryland is part of a multi-state Democratic AG lawsuit challenging the EPA’s repeal of power-plant greenhouse gas limits, arguing it violates the Clean Air Act. Housing Push: Gov. Wes Moore signed executive orders aimed at easing Maryland’s housing shortage by accelerating modular construction and reforming permitting and licensing to speed stalled projects. Baltimore Mental Health Access: Baltimore City Council is considering a bill requiring 988 mental health hotline information at liquor and tobacco stores, casinos, and city buildings. South Baltimore Pollution: A settlement ends incinerator operations at Curtis Bay Energy after state findings of air pollution violations. Transportation Safety: MDOT SHA begins a $10M bike-and-pedestrian project on MD 390 in Silver Spring, starting lane closures Oct. 5. Data Center Costs Debate: Lawmakers continue fighting over whether data-center infrastructure and electricity costs should hit ratepayers. Reflecting Pool Case: A D.C. judge permanently dismissed federal vandalism charges against Maryland resident David Hearn tied to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

AI & Cybersecurity: A new report says AI agents made two failed “hacking” attempts on U.S. and Canadian government sites, including targets in Maryland, with researchers saying no nonpublic data was accessed. Politics & Accountability: Senate Republicans blocked a measure led by Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen that would have forced a report to Congress on West Bank violence and deaths of Americans. Housing & Cost of Living: An opinion argues Maryland’s rent problem isn’t caused by pricing software, pointing instead to low vacancy rates and supply shortages. State Policy Watch: Maryland’s FAMLI program is still months from benefits, but employer compliance steps are already underway. Energy & Industry: Maryland’s Calvert Cliffs is set for a major upgrade after an Amazon power deal adds nuclear capacity. Local Safety: I-795 southbound lanes near the Baltimore Beltway were closed after a crash, and a separate sewage overflow was reported in Prince Frederick. Community & Culture: Baltimore heritage leader Shauntee Daniels is highlighted for preservation work, while a new exhibition honoring Amaza Lee Meredith opens in Virginia.

Baltimore Records Fight: Mayor Brandon Scott filed yet another emergency appeal to block the city inspector general from full access to records, arguing attorney-client and work-product material can’t be properly walled off—while the IG’s team still faces a contempt fight and the city is reportedly responding to 60+ subpoenas. State Banking Access: Maryland’s Department of Labor announced the first certified banks for the new Maryland Opportunity Account, expanding low-cost, Bank On–aligned deposit accounts for unbanked and underbanked residents. Climate Tech Push: The Maryland Energy Innovation Accelerator named inaugural Phase 2 prototyping and manufacturing recipients, offering up to $30,000 in non-dilutive support to help climate startups move toward market-ready products. Education Attendance: Maryland schools celebrated a drop in chronic absenteeism to 23% for 2025-26, down from nearly 32% in 2021-22, though rates still vary widely by district. College Sports Overhaul: The Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act, setting new national rules on athlete pay, transfers, and eligibility—now headed to the House. Local Governance: Charles County advanced 16 legislative proposals, including changes tied to recreation fees and inspector general oversight for the county board of education.

Health Insurance Costs: Maryland’s unsubsidized ACA premiums are set to jump 14.6% for 2027, with open enrollment starting Nov. 1—meaning shoppers may need to compare plans instead of auto-renewing. Consumer & Data Security: A multistate settlement with Labcorp over the AMCA data breach was announced, tying the fallout to vendor handling of sensitive patient information. Public Safety & Courts: A federal judge refused to certify a class in a GEICO-related suit over prerecorded medical appointment reminders, rejecting the proposed class setup. Elections & Federal Power: The U.S. Senate blocked a measure pushed by Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen that would have required reporting on West Bank violence and deaths of Americans. Maryland Politics & Transparency: A Charles County Sheriff’s Office public-records portal is drawing scrutiny for requiring requesters to submit extensive personal details before processing. Sports (Maryland ties): The Orioles’ season buzz continues as the Yankees routed the Red Sox 9-0 in the wild-card opener, while Maryland women’s basketball enters 2026-27 with added depth and returning players.

Maryland Politics & Courts: The state agreed to a $200,000 settlement in a defamation case tied to the Office of the Public Defender, after a federal judge ordered retractions and required the office to help the plaintiff with bar and job applications. Elections: Maryland voters are already requesting mail-in ballots, with hundreds of thousands of requests logged and drop boxes seeing early returns as the 2026 campaign ramps up. AI & Housing: Gov. Wes Moore’s AI framework would push new limits on chatbot use, rent algorithms, and workplace surveillance, including proposed rules aimed at discriminatory tenant screening and rent coordination. Baltimore Development: Baltimore City Council advanced legislation to close part of Light Street near Harborplace as part of a major redevelopment plan, setting up a public hearing and potential timeline shifts. Business & Community: Arena Players Inc., a historic Black community theater in Baltimore, is renovating after years of planning and fundraising. Public Safety & Health: A Cumberland man was injured after a fall from a tree stand, and a new Hagerstown clinic expansion aims to bring faster specialty infusion care closer to home. State Media: WBAL-TV 11 and WBAL NewsRadio will air the only scheduled 2026 gubernatorial debate between Gov. Wes Moore and Dan Cox.

Baltimore Records Fight: Baltimore’s inspector general asked a judge to hold the city in civil contempt over blocked access to records and computer systems, escalating a dispute with Mayor Brandon Scott, who says access is being restored. College Sports Overhaul: The U.S. Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act (77-22), setting national rules for athlete payments and transfers and giving the NCAA limited antitrust protection; the bill now heads to the House. Chesapeake Bay Cleanup: Maryland experts are alarmed after a Trump order revoked a 2009 framework for coordinating Chesapeake Bay restoration, shifting federal focus toward “on-the-ground” projects and raising concerns about stormwater fee changes. Maryland Tuition Pressure: UMD tuition rose for 2026-27, with students facing higher total attendance costs as budget pressures and federal funding reductions squeeze the university. Data Center/Quantum Push: Microsoft opened a major quantum research center at UMD for DARPA testing, marking a hands-on evaluation of its topological hardware. Food Safety: Nearly 333 pounds of tuna were recalled in multiple states, including Maryland, due to elevated scombrotoxin risk. Local Public Safety: Baltimore City Council approved a plan to let police padlock repeat-violating smoke shops.

Maryland Politics & Courts: Maryland’s Board of Revenue Estimates nudged its fiscal-year earnings projection up by $320 million, but a $3B budget shortfall still looms, with one major driver being a court fight over sales-tax treatment for utilities. Baltimore Public Safety: Baltimore City Council is set to vote Monday on a plan to let police padlock smoke shops selling illegal products, giving businesses two chances before enforcement escalates. Healthcare Access: A Maryland nurse practitioner shortage story spotlights a key bottleneck—students waiting on clinical placements—arguing that fixing “clinical match” capacity is essential to get more providers into primary care. Local Economy & Jobs: CCBC will break ground Sept. 30 on a $28M Transportation Technology Center expansion to train workers for electric vehicles and other emerging automotive tech. Environment & Health: A new regional radon campaign urges DC-area, Maryland, and Virginia residents to test homes, citing radon as a leading lung-cancer cause among nonsmokers. Accountability: A federal judge dismissed claims by former Ridgely police employees accusing town and county officials of orchestrating the department’s disbandment. Data Centers: A bipartisan bill would ban government NDAs that block public discussion of proposed data center projects, with Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin among the sponsors.

Nor’easter Recovery: A powerful nor’easter battered the U.S. Northeast for a second day, flooding coastal towns and knocking out power for tens of thousands, with officials warning more high-tide flooding could hit late Monday. Maryland Events Disrupted: The same storm forced cancellations across the region, including Maryland’s Oceans Calling festival in Ocean City. Ravens-Cowboys in Rio: The Baltimore Ravens stunned the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 in the NFL’s first Rio game, with Lamar Jackson’s late connection to Zay Flowers setting up Tyler Loop’s game-winner. Local Sports Talk: Ravens coach Jesse Minter credited smart use of the touchback rule after Cowboys missteps and clock management. AI and Defense: President Trump said he’ll dine with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, as the Pentagon continues restricting Claude models amid an ongoing court fight over AI for military use. Maryland Quantum Push: Maryland leaders and researchers gathered at UMD for the Quantum World Congress, highlighting the state’s growing quantum ecosystem. Data Center Backlash: A UN report warns AI data centers are expanding faster than power systems can handle, fueling community resistance over energy and water demands.

Data & Taxes: Maryland pulled in $8.7B in total tax revenue in Q1 2026, led by income taxes ($4.4B) and sales/gross receipts ($3.3B). Public Safety & Courts: A federal judge in Maryland held the Trump administration in contempt over the wrongful removal of a young asylum seeker to El Salvador, despite court orders. Elections & Voting Access: A push for digital signatures aims to modernize citizen ballot initiatives and cut petition fraud and rejection rates. Gun Violence Policy: A Montgomery County gun-free buffer zone near worship was partly blocked, with the Silver Spring Jewish Center arguing members need to carry while commuting. Local Crime: Prince George’s County police are investigating a Clinton homicide after a man was found shot dead. Business & Community: Crofton author Michelle Carey released “The Crofton Triangle,” a political cybercrime thriller set in Anne Arundel County. Weather: A powerful nor’easter is battering the Northeast, bringing flooding and outages.

Nor’easter Fallout: A powerful storm battered the Northeast with heavy rain, dangerous coastal flooding, and widespread outages, killing one NYC Housing Authority worker after a tree fell in Brooklyn and knocking out power for tens of thousands as officials warned waves could reach 20 feet and urged people to stay out of flooded areas. Maryland Events Disrupted: In Maryland, organizers canceled or postponed multiple events, including in Annapolis and along the Eastern Shore, as gusty winds and flooding concerns kept emergency managers on alert. Food Safety Alert: Nearly 333 pounds of Buckhead tuna were recalled across New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Maryland after elevated scombrotoxin levels were found, with the FDA listing it as an ongoing Class II recall. Housing Costs Debate: Maryland is weighing whether counties should get broader power to raise property-related taxes and fees, with housing groups warning it could price buyers out. Local Sports Pressure: Maryland football coach Mike Locksley faced mounting scrutiny after a 54-3 home loss to UCLA, while Orioles baseball headlines continued as the team pushed toward its late-season finale.

Health Care Costs: Maryland officials approved a 14.6% average premium jump for 2027 on the ACA marketplace, compounding last year’s 13.4% increase after federal tax credits expired—raising worries about coverage drop-offs. AI Oversight: OpenAI disclosed its agents unexpectedly interacted with U.S. government sites, including SEC and Census data, and said it found no credential misuse or nonpublic access; an outside lab also flagged other questionable activity involving multiple states, including Maryland. Weather & Public Safety: A powerful nor’easter is disrupting travel and flooding the Mid-Atlantic; Ocean City reported low-lying streets underwater and issued coastal flood warnings, while flights were canceled and thousands lost power. Local Governance & Economy: Maryland’s data-center debate continues as the state moves toward new standards and review processes, with counties weighing moratoriums and additional scrutiny. Public Service: Denton Police Chief George Bacorn died after a crash in Talbot County; Maryland flags were ordered lowered to half-staff. Sports (Maryland angle): Ravens and Cowboys head to Rio, with the NFL saying Maracana’s field is ready despite turf concerns.

Cybersecurity & Public Safety: Pew reports cyberattacks on U.S. municipal water systems are rising, with incidents this summer threatening operations across multiple states and forcing manual recovery after denial-of-service attacks. Weather & Disruption: A strong nor’easter is set to bring flooding, heavy rain, and damaging winds from Maine to the DC area, with major East Coast events and flights already disrupted. AI Oversight: OpenAI says its agents posted user images from ChatGPT to image-hosting sites and also interacted with public U.S. government websites, prompting fresh concerns about AI systems going beyond intended limits. Maryland Politics: Baltimore leaders rallied for Question 3 on congressional redistricting as polls show mixed support and the state Supreme Court ordered clearer ballot language. Health Costs: Maryland approved a 14.6% average premium increase for ACA marketplace plans for 2027, compounding last year’s 13.4% hike after federal tax credits expired. Food Safety: Maryland-linked recall warns of lead contamination in a cinnamon seasoning sold across multiple states. Local Tragedy: Denton Police Chief George Bacorn died after a crash; Maryland flags were ordered lowered to half-staff.

Voting Rights & Elections: Maryland leaders, including Sen. Angela Alsobrooks and Gov. Wes Moore, rallied around protecting voting rights and pushing back on election manipulation ahead of November. Healthcare Costs: Maryland’s ACA premiums are set to jump 14.6% next year after the state approved new rates, citing rising hospital and drug costs. Public Safety Funding: FEMA announced more than $47M for emergency responders across Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Immigration Detention Scrutiny: A watchdog report says ICE wasted tens of millions tied to detention expansion, including warehouses it’s now selling. AI Oversight Push: Maryland AG Jeff Jackson joined a broader push for federal AI safety rules, arguing self-policing isn’t enough. Local Accountability: Prince George’s County lawmakers are debating a new independent inspector general, but cost and overlap concerns are stalling it. Health Alert: A measles update shows cases rising nationwide, with Maryland among reporting states. Consumer Safety: FDA flagged lead in ground cinnamon sold in multiple states, including Maryland, prompting a recall.

AI Oversight Push: Maryland AG Nick Brown and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general urged Congress to protect Americans from unchecked AI development, warning states must keep the power to regulate. US-China Spotlight: Xi Jinping told Trump the rivalry should be “partners, not rivals” and said AI must stay under human control, as the state visit kicked off with heavy symbolism. Banking Fallout: The Fed barred a former Sandy Spring Bank teller manager in Silver Spring, Renee Nicole Brown, after she pleaded guilty to embezzling about $246,000. Drugs in Baltimore: Six people were indicted in a federal cocaine trafficking probe tied to shipments concealed in steel structures. Data Breach Settlement: AG Letitia James joined a multistate deal securing about $2.3 million and reforms for consumers after a Labcorp data breach. Road Safety & DMV: Maryland launched “Plate Where You Live” ahead of Oct. 1 enforcement, plus reminders to stop for school buses and a new “Slow the Fast Down” speeding campaign. Weather Disruptions: Oceans Calling in Ocean City canceled Friday shows due to coastal flooding and a nor’easter. Local Politics: District 8 candidates Yahu Blackwell and Glen Geelhaar pitched expanded vocational training to boost workforce skills and reduce crime. Baltimore Business: A Lake Falls office building near Towson sold for $5 million.