Holding Maryland’s counties accountable — from budgets to public safety to everyday governance.
Maryland’s 23 counties and Baltimore City wield enormous local power. They control policing, zoning, school funding, social services, emergency response, and critical budget decisions that impact daily life. Yet county governments often operate with limited scrutiny and large discrepancies in transparency.
MDBayNews’ County Oversight desk reports on:
- County council decisions and spending
- School system controversies and audits
- Local police and sheriff’s department oversight
- CPS/CINA failures at the county level
- Procurement and contracting problems
- Ethics violations and internal investigations
- County-level agency breakdowns
By watching the counties, we illuminate the stories that slip past state-level political narratives but profoundly affect residents.
Local government matters — and we make sure it’s accountable.
Synagogue Sues Montgomery County Over Firearms Ban, Says Ordinance Started as “Housekeeping”
A federal lawsuit filed by the Silver Spring Jewish Center challenges Montgomery County’s firearms ordinance, arguing Bill 23-26 violates constitutional rights while spotlighting how a court-ordered fix to an earlier gun case evolved into a dispute over worship security.
Two Bills. One Week. Opposite Visions of Who Draws Maryland’s Maps
Maryland’s Senate Bill 2100 aims to eliminate constitutional limits on congressional district drawing, while Del. Christopher Bouchat’s LR3744 proposes transferring this power to a convention of 188 elected citizens. Both bills target the November 2026 ballot, reflecting conflicting approaches to redistricting and limiting gerrymandering, with varying legislative support.
DeMarinis Walks Back Bettor Threat, Refers Prediction Markets for Investigation Anyway
Maryland’s State Elections Administrator, Jared DeMarinis, formally referred a potential criminal investigation into prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket for allegedly violating state election wagering laws. Initially considering actions against individual bettors, DeMarinis narrowed the focus solely to the platforms. This move comes amidst broader national scrutiny of election-related betting practices.