Two councils of a Maryland labor union representing thousands of public service workers announced they will merge, beginning in April.

It's 4/20 and there are just a few months until July 1, when Marylanders can legally purchase and use recreational cannabis. Here's what Baltimore Banner readers want to know.

Lester DeShazor said he was doused with so much pepper spray that it looked like “whipped cream” on his face.

Inspectors found the private operator of Charlotte Hall Veterans Home failed to report abuse allegations and failed to maintain a rodent-free environment.

Thieves are targeting food assistance and other benefits programs fed by billions in federal funding with minimal security measures in place.

Moore will give a speech to attendees of the Skoll World Forum in Oxford, England. He’ll highlight his service year option program and his commitment to service.

The Moore administration said the governor plans to sign the licensing and taxation bill, but did not answer if Moore still owns stock in a cannabis company or if he has set up a blind trust, as he promised before election.

Maryland lawmakers showed up to their final official day of work on Monday, a marathon of last-minute lawmaking as a midnight deadline to adjourn approached. Some wore seersucker suits, many stopped by State Circle parties and all were tired by the time it was all over.

With roughly 10 minutes before the planned midnight adjournment, Speaker Adrienne A. Jones rejected the pleas of Republicans attempting to speak before a final vote on a bill prohibiting police officers from searching people based solely on the smell of cannabis.

As the dust settles on the annual lawmaking process, here are key measures that won approval and will be headed to the Democratic governor’s desk for consideration. He’ll have until May 30 to veto the bills, sign them into law or allow them to become law without his signature.

All 10 of the governor's bills he submitted to the General Assembly have passed or are close to passing in some fashion. He also got the vast majority of his nominees through the Maryland Senate confirmation process.

The sweeping legislation settled a host of commerce-related decisions — including the number and types of cannabis business licenses and the amount of sales tax businesses must charge — and built a framework for government oversight.

Gov. Wes Moore has one cabinet vacancy left to fill.

As the General Assembly prepares to adjourn at midnight Monday, lawmakers are moving forward bills that restrict concealed carry permits and tighten rules to keep guns away from kids. They’re also giving last-minute consideration to a proposal from Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates to stiffen the penalty for illegally carrying a gun.

Gov. Wes Moore tapped the decorated military leader and current assistant adjutant general to lead the state’s military reserve forces.

Sharon Murphy, who retired as director of the veterans home in 2021, will serve as interim director while the department looks to hire someone new.

Maryland is still on track to set up a marketplace for recreational cannabis sales beginning July 1, but House and Senate lawmakers have differences to work out.

On Thursday, delegates and senators wouldn’t meet face-to-face to hash out differences on education spending. By Friday, they’d reached a deal.

Del. Brian Crosby, a Democrat from Southern Maryland, said that while the legislation won’t necessarily prevent problems at state facilities, it will enable officials to address them more quickly.

Inspection reports detailed patient care issues as early as 2018, but Hogan administration officials said replacing the contractor would have been ‘grossly irresponsible’