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Rona Kobell

Rona

Rona Kobell is a regional reporter covering Baltimore County. Before joining the Banner, she worked as an environmental reporter in the region for nearly 20 years at The Baltimore Sun and The Chesapeake Bay Journal. She has twice been honored by Baltimore Magazine for the best environmental reporting in Baltimore. Last year, she was a Johns Hopkins SNF AGORA fellow studying democracy. She’s also taught journalism at the University of Maryland, Loyola University and Towson University.

The latest from Rona Kobell

Hugh Simmons of the Phoenix Wildlife Center, checks out the eagle that I rescued on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
I rescued an injured bald eagle after I woke up. How’d your morning go?
Sometimes, you have to do something that scares you. On Wednesday morning, I helped rescue a wounded bald eagle from a neighbor’s yard and transported it to a wildlife center.
Irish music in Oregon Ridge. The event is popular every year.
7 things to do in Baltimore County: Job fair for federal workers, Irish music in the park
Seven things to do in Baltimore County for the week ending Wednesday, March 12, 2025.
Mar 5, 2025
Sharonda Huffman talks to attendees at the kickoff event for her campaign for Baltimore County Council at the Essex Branch of the Baltimore Public Library in December.
Much ado about $60. How 2 Republicans’ complaints led the library to cancel a Democratic candidate’s event.
Sharonda Huffman, who is seeking to become the first Black woman elected to the Baltimore County Council, is pushing back against claims that she held a political fundraiser at the Essex branch.
Mar 5, 2025
Councilman David Marks speaks during a meeting at the Old Courthouse in Towson last year.
There’s a push to make rural Baltimore County even more untouchable — despite housing crisis
A Baltimore County councilman wants to make it harder for developers to build in parts of the county outside of the Urban-Rural Demarcation Line.
Mar 3, 2025
Crews battle flames near Sheppard Pratt on Saturday March 1, 2025.
Brushfires break out in Baltimore County as 40 mph winds and dry air create fire risk
The Baltimore County Fire Department battled a brushfire late Saturday night that broke out on the grounds of Sheppard Pratt’s Towson campus near the historic gatehouse.
Updated Mar 2, 2025
Councilman Pat Young has launched a campaign for Baltimore County executive in 2026.
Councilman Pat Young launches campaign for Baltimore County executive
Councilman Pat Young of Catonsville gets an early start on the 2026 election by announcing that he is running for Baltimore County executive. He is an Iraq War veteran and former state delegate.
Feb 27, 2025
Baltimore County resident Ann George testifies that the County Council needs more minority representation. Looking on are Keith and Linda Dorsey, who have been advocating for more minority representation for many years.
Come 2026, the Baltimore County Council could look completely different
The Baltimore County Council is adding members and redistricting. It could look completely different in 2026.
Feb 26, 2025
Chris Lambton, profssional landscaper and HGTV star, will be in Timonium for the Home and Garden Show.
7 things to do in Baltimore County this weekend, from beekeeping to meeting an HGTV star
Seven things to do outdoors in Baltimore County this weekend.
Feb 26, 2025
StarTUp at the Towson Armory, where the university is hosting an event this week.
7 things to do in Baltimore County, from a motorcycle show to Best of Bach
Seven things to do in Baltimore County this week, from Bach to open mic nights.
Feb 5, 2025
Baltimore County's rats have settled in comfortably, spreading themselves across a wide diversity of terrains.
Baltimore County’s got rats, too, but code enforcement is on their tails
The push for county pest control began in 2016, when East Side residents flooded council chambers to ask for help reducing their rodents.
Jan 29, 2025
6/16/22—A Baltimore County police car sits outside of the Public Safety Building and Police Department in Towson.
Middle River woman charged with murder in death of her 11-year-old daughter
Keyona Dillon, 34, was arrested around noon on Thursday when officers responded to a home in the 2100 block of Firethorn Road, according to the Baltimore County Police Department.
Updated Jan 24, 2025
Row of portable toilets.
A lot for Johnny on the spot? Baltimore County spending about $1.2 million on portable potties
The Baltimore County Council was asked to approve the expenditure of $1,174,101 on portable toilets, nearly twice its planned outlay.
Jan 22, 2025
Bronwyn Mitchell-Strong, education director at the Natural History Society of Maryland, describes the process of assembling a woolly mammoth skeleton.
Time is running out to see Baltimore’s woolly mammoth
Woolly mammoth bones on display at the Natural History Society of Maryland’s museum are leaving soon.
Jan 22, 2025
Councilman Michael Ertel, left, presents an award to fellow Councilman Izzy Patoka for his leadership. Both campaigned on expanding the Baltimore County Council.
Baltimore County Council confirms panel to guide council redistricting
The Baltimore County Council on Tuesday night will finalize appointments to a redistricting panel that will advise members as the legislative body expands from seven to nine members for the first time since 1956.
Updated Jan 21, 2025
Rockland Run resident Diana Evans looks up at the damaged ceiling above her bed. She has had to deal with water coming through the ceiling in her first floor condo multiple times in the past couple of years.
Baltimore County seeks relief for strapped condo, townhouse associations
Maryland makes homeowner associations collect funds for maintenance. Baltimore County’s councilmen say it’s too much.
Jan 20, 2025
Baltimore County must pay more than $4.2 million to resolve class-action claims by 171 retirees.
Judge orders Baltimore Co. to pay more than $4.2 million to shortchanged retirees
The court found that Baltimore County used the wrong calculation when it valued the pensions of those transferring into the county system from other local governments.
Jan 17, 2025
About 200 residents turned out to a meeting with Baltimore County Police Chief Robert O. McCullough and Councilman Mike Ertel at at Babcock Presbyterian Church in Loch Raven on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
String of crimes leaves Loch Raven on edge
Residents of the Loch Raven community in Baltimore County voiced concerns about crime at a recent meeting with county and police officials. The meeting followed a recent mass shooting and other incidents.
Jan 16, 2025
The Recher Theater in Towson, which is hosting School of Rock this month.
7 things to do in Baltimore County, from an ’80s dance party to a teen rock concert
Seven things to do in Baltimore County, from a teenage rock concert to an adult ’80s dance party
Jan 15, 2025
6/16/22—A Baltimore County Police Officer’s polo patch.
Baltimore County Police investigate double homicide in Woodlawn
Baltimore County homicide detectives are investigating a double homicide in Woodlawn from over the weekend.
Jan 13, 2025
Korryn Gaines and her son, Kodi, in an undated photo.
Baltimore County Police shot a 5-year-old boy in 2016. Will the Supreme Court hear the case?
Baltimore County police shot Kodi Gaines in 2016 while serving a warrant on his mother. Now the Cato Institute is siding with the boy's lawyers and arguing that the shooting violated Kodi's constitutional rights.
Updated Jan 9, 2025
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