Latest content by Adam Willis
Maryland sues W.L. Gore over decades of forever chemicals contamination
The state alleges that the manufacturing company, known for its waterproof Gore-Tex jackets, contaminated the air and waters around its Cecil County facilities with toxic forever chemicals for decades, despite understanding their consequences.
A new wildlife refuge in Southern Maryland is the Chesapeake Bay’s first in over 25 years
The Southern Maryland Woodlands National Wildlife Refuge would protect up to 40,000 acres, potentially establishing the largest conservation area of this kind in the state.
How can Maryland pay for its climate goals? Maybe by penalizing fossil fuel titans.
A similar “climate superfund” bill was approved by New York lawmakers in June, while Vermont became the first state to institute a law like this one earlier in the year.
Chesapeake Bay states recommit to cleanup as their 2025 deadlines lapse
Governors from each of these “big three” states in the Chesapeake watershed — Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania — have not each attended one of the annual executive council meetings in a decade. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro had planned to attend in person Tuesday but backed out at the last minute, instead attending by video.
As Chesapeake Bay deadlines loom, its ‘big 3’ governors meet in Annapolis
It’s been a decade since governors from Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia have each attended the annual bay meeting. It won’t be lost on those in the room that each of these three men could be president one day.
EPA’s mid-Atlantic regulator talks about Trump, coal dust and Chesapeake Bay
As Biden appointees prepare to make their exit, Trump has signaled plans to slash jobs and roll back regulations in agencies like the EPA.
Ocean City wind farm clears final federal hurdle, but Trump looms
Industry observers expect that offshore wind development could face serious set-backs under Trump, who could lend his support to lawsuits like the one Ocean City filed earlier this year against the development sited in view of its beaches.
Court orders Maryland to redo permit for Eastern Shore poultry rendering plant
The decades-old poultry processing plant in Dorchester County has had repeated pollution issues in recent years. Environmental regulators, though, did not say whether they plan to rewrite their permit for the facility or appeal the court’s decision.
Chesapeake Bay ‘dead zones’ grew this year to near average after waning to historic low
The new survey comes as advocates for the bay are gearing up for a potentially pivotal meeting next month.
Why the city says work to restore a Northeast Baltimore stream went $14M over budget
The work on Chinquapin Run, a tributary of Northeast Baltimore’s Herring Run, is required under a long-standing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mandate that the city address backups and overflows.
Firefighters respond to burning woodpile in Druid Hill Park
Crews had contained the blaze by 7:30 AM but needed heavy equipment to remove debris and access the bottom of the pile.
Trump tried to cancel Chesapeake Bay funding. Could he succeed this time?
Trump attempted to slash funding for the Annapolis-based Chesapeake Bay Program in all four years of his presidency. Though Congress ultimately blocked those proposals, Maryland environmentalists are preparing to go on the defense again.
David Smith wanted to cut Baltimore City Council. He united it instead.
“It was kind of a gift that David Smith and the proponents of the bill gave this city,” said Zac Blanchard, who unseated a Smith-backed candidate in May.
4 things we learned from election night results in Maryland
Being popular doesn’t guarantee victory, and other lessons from Tuesdays election results.
Baltimore rejects smaller City Council — and Sinclair’s David Smith
City officials had made a late push against Question H, warning residents that approving the measure, which sought to cut the City Council to eight members from 14, would reduce representation and mean poorer constituent services.
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