For my first story of 2026, I dug into the numbers defining a trend that has exploded in Maryland since the pandemic: homeschooling. There's been a 50% uptick since the 2019-20 school year, holding steady as public school enrollment declines www.thebanner.com/education/k-...

It happens thousands of times every year. More than 35% of all applications for charges statewide in 2024 came from people outside law enforcement.

At Baltimore bookstore Everyone’s Place, a generation of memories

Dozens of predominantly Korean American business and property owners sued the city in 2017 after the unrest in 2015. Today, many of their original storefronts aren’t around. My latest for @thebaltimorebanner.com www.thebanner.com/economy/fred...

Maryland lets anyone file for criminal charges — and innocent people pay the price www.thebanner.com/community/cr...

Go local www.thebanner.com/subscribe/

By the end of February, Brooklyn will no longer have a full-service bank in the community. www.thebanner.com/economy/broo...

A sweet scene from Baltimore on this Thanksgiving. via @jasminevaughnhall.bsky.social

How a family has kept up with Thanksgiving traditions for the past 70 years. www.thebanner.com/culture/life...

NEW: Thousands of Baltimore students can’t get to school on time because of unreliable transit. The city's school choice system complicates creating a yellow bus network for all. A new plan proves it can be done. w/ @lizbowie.bsky.social & @ajv.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/education/k-...

On my first day back at work at @thebaltimorebanner.com I defended former First Lady Michelle Obama and her stance on the chances on having a female president and the societal fight some of us experienced to wear our hair the way it grows out of our heads. www.thebanner.com/opinion/colu...

NEW: A Hagerstown mother and nail salon owner was set to be deported to Vietnam as soon as Monday, story via Sapna Bansil at @thebaltimorebanner.com www.thebanner.com/community/lo...

Exclusive to the @thebaltimorebanner.com: Johns Hopkins has spent nearly double this year on federal lobbyists. The university has spent $1.3 million so far, with money going directly to an associate of Trump to lobby to the Executive Office of the President: www.thebanner.com/education/hi...

Baltimore County woman who faked being a nurse at over 40 Maryland facilities learns fate. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)

North Baltimore residents won their fight against a locked treatment facility for youths, @jasminevaughnhall.bsky.social reports. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)

North Baltimore residents won their fight against a locked treatment facility for youths

There’s a behind-the-scenes push to open some of that new space to a group not automatically served at Walter Reed. #veterans www.thebanner.com/opinion/colu...

Who’s getting innovative with their meals these days? www.thebanner.com/opinion/colu...

Chances are one of these dolls will likely scare the hell out of you. My latest story follows a nail tech’s new hobby just in time for Halloween. @thebaltimorebanner.com www.thebanner.com/culture/arts...

Had fun thinking out loud about the Baltimore harbor's huge, maybe historic? pistachio tide with Lindsay Smith Rogers at Johns Hopkins. A year ago, Lindsay did a deep dive into Baltimore's progress toward a swimmable harbor. Things have felt different the last few weeks...

Do you ever get so overwhelmed at work you need to take a walk to clear your head? It happens to kids, too, which is why they should go outside, play and learn naturally from the world around them. Click for the cute pictures, keep reading for the brain science www.thebanner.com/education/ea...

The Baltimore Banner is hiring a sports reporter who will cover the Orioles with me (yay, come hang), along with some general assignment work. DM or email me (Andy dot Kostka at thebanner dot com) if you have questions or interest: job-boards.greenhouse.io/thebaltimore...

Baltimore illuminations spotlight pregnancy and infant loss, @jasminevaughnhall.bsky.social reports. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)

Baltimore illuminations spotlight pregnancy and infant loss

Today, the colors pink and blue carry a different significance as families recognize Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. www.thebanner.com/community/lo...

The Ravens Boys & Girls Club at Hilton Recreation Center is open in Southwest Baltimore. www.thebanner.com/community/lo...

15 years, 4 kids, a laundry list of full time jobs and hours of makeup classroom time later, 34 year old Antonio Pennix received his high school diploma. www.thebanner.com/community/lo...

Baltimore's poorest residents are getting crushed under the weight of housing costs. Nearly 40% of rental properties housed residents making less than $35,000 a year By @jasminevaughnhall.bsky.social & @sahanajayaraman.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/community/ho...

We never forget. www.thebanner.com/opinion/colu...

Working parents and/or guardians, Do you use a meal prep service throughout the week? Which one do you swear by? Was it helpful or did you eventually opt out? I want to hear from you. Let's chat. 443-608-8983, [email protected]

Last week, we joined Sister Delphine as she made her final vow to officially serve alongside her fellow sisters at the Oblate Sisters of Providence. @thebaltimorebanner.com www.thebanner.com/community/lo...

By Tim Prudente: Odyssey of the crab: Inside the 1,100-mile network feeding Maryland’s frenzy. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)

Five years ago, Morgan State University’s president had a big idea: He said the HBCU would earn Carnegie R1 status by 2030. Despite Trump cuts, the Baltimore university has already hit the numbers it needs to qualify, five years earlier than expected: www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/hi...

President Trump -- once again -- criticized Baltimore. And Baltimore and Maryland leaders -- once again -- rose to the city's defense. @emilyopilo.bsky.social & @brendawintrode.bsky.social break down today's war of words: www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...

Where’s the best poke bowl in Baltimore?

@jasminevaughnhall.bsky.social didn't just debunk the stereotype, she dunked it in the deep end and it wrung dry. Heartfelt writing by my @thebaltimorebanner.com colleague. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/opinion/colu...

In contrast to #Baltimore Co, which has not one single public pool, Baltimore City has several. They are free; several have just been renovated. Some suburbanites jump in too! "Everybody is lit up when they come here.” @jasminevaughnhall.bsky.social www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/lo...

As a relatively new mom, I’ve enjoyed combining my craft of writing with this new journey of parenthood. My latest for @thebaltimorebanner.com talks about why I’m so adamant about teaching my son how to swim. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/opinion/colu...

Tubing down the Gunpowder River is the perfect way to spend a summer day— except when E. coli levels are soaring, as they have frequently this year. I spent time with the Gunpowder Riverkeepers to see how they’re working to protect the river. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/gunpowder-ri...

Find something old and interesting tucked away in a Baltimore building? Reach out to @jasminevaughnhall.bsky.social, who has another fun story about hidden treasurers out now: www.thebaltimorebanner.com/culture/arts...

I love this story by @jasminevaughnhall.bsky.social -- such a pick-me-up.

How chalkboard signs became a staple in this Baltimore County neighborhood. My latest for @thebaltimorebanner.com www.thebaltimorebanner.com/baltimore-co...

Hey! My colleague and I are working on a story about Black summer traditions. I'm looking to speak with people who have annual family reunions and church revivals. Interested? Send me a message at [email protected] or 443-608-8983.

At least 9 people have died from heat-related illness this year in Maryland so far — more than the entirety of some recent past summers. 27 died of heat in Maryland in 2024 — but only 4 by this point in the summer.

One more way the Trump tariffs do not cause equal pain. Thank you for this story, and the great line "hot girl bummer." @jasminevaughnhall.bsky.social www.thebaltimorebanner.com/economy/ripp...

To the outside world, Brian Matusz appeared to have it all. But inside, a battle raged. This is the story of how the once-promising Baltimore Oriole lost his way. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/brian...

Beating the odds: 60 years of friendship bound by sticky buns and Baltimore memories

For 60 years, they’ve made the memories and friendships last. My latest for The Baltimore Banner. 📸: @jessicagallagher.bsky.social www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/ba...

You’re not being mean. You’re just prioritizing yourself for once.

Swing by next week! events.humanitix.com/the-baltimor...