Maryland
White House reverses, invites Maryland and Colorado governors back to annual breakfast
WASHINGTON (WBFF) — A White House breakfast meant to bring together all 50 governors turned into a last-minute political fight after Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis were initially disinvited, then reinstated shortly before the event.
An announcer introduced “the President of the United States Donald J. Trump” as the gathering got underway.
ALSO READ | Gov. Wes Moore said he will attend governors breakfast at White House
Moore and Polis had been told they were no longer welcome after the president insisted they were not worthy of attending. The White House later reversed course.
Moore said on social media that he would attend, but would not play along with what he viewed as political theater.
“I will attend today’s business meeting with my colleagues at the White House. But let me be abundantly clear, I will not participate in political stunts,” Moore tweeted.
The dispute came amid an escalating back-and-forth between Moore and Trump. Moore has long blamed the president for many of Maryland’s problems. Last week, Trump criticized Moore on social media, writing, “The foul mouthed governor of Maryland who fraudulently stated that he received military medals… a lie… is doing a terrible job on the rebuilding of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and has allowed Baltimore to continue to be a crime disaster.”
At the Statehouse this week, the tug of war left some lawmakers shaking their heads.
During the breakfast, Trump said, “We’re going to ask the press to leave. That way we can talk very candidly.”
The National Governors Association, which typically hosts the breakfast, pulled out after learning two governors were no longer invited. But with the White House reversing course at the last hour, Moore attended and said he would not engage with Trump’s criticism.
“I’m here to focus on the people of my state and I’m not going to spend a second talking about a petty attack by the president,” Moore said.
ALSO READ | In Depth: President Trump and Gov. Moore continue to trade barbs
Political analyst John Dedie said the episode ultimately benefited Moore politically.
“I was surprised by it in many ways its a win-win for Wes Moore because… he went into the lions den,” Dedie said.
Dedie also said the White House faced mounting pressure as other governors weighed whether to boycott.
“They were losing the PR [public relations] battle and when you have all the other governors saying, ‘well if one isn’t invited all 49 aren’t showing up’ it wasn’t going to make Trump looked good,” Dedie said.
Political analysts said Maryland had little to gain from the politics surrounding the breakfast, but Dedie said the confrontation could raise Moore’s standing with voters.
“For Moore’s profile it only helps him with voters because voters wanna see a fight,” Dedie noted.
Maryland
U.S. Air Force reverses course on retiring A-10 Thunderbolt planes, making way for potential Maryland return
MIDDLE RIVER, Md. — It was March of 2025 when Maryland’s Air National Guard gave up their treasured A-10 Thunderbolt planes.
The U.S. Air Force planned to retire the planes, 21 of which were stationed at Warfield Air National Guard Base at Martin State Airport.
Warfield was ordered to transition from flying missions to offensive and defensive cyber operations.
Air Force to retire Maryland National Guard’s A-10 planes in leadup to Cyber transition
On Wednesday Maryland Congressman Andy Harris said the Air Force decided to preserve the A-10 Thunderbolt II program through 2030, giving Warfield some hope they could get the planes back.
Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink made the decision amid an ongoing war in Iran, in an attempt to preserve the U.S. military’s combat power as aircraft production ramps up.
“We are pleased that the A-10 program is now being extended,” said Harris. “The Maryland Guard has extensive experience to bring to the table, and we are in contact with the Office of the Air Force Secretary to urge them to bring A-10s back to Maryland so our airmen can help defend the nation.”
Most of the people who shop at the Safeway on Connecticut Avenue in Kensington, Maryland would be absolutely shocked at what took place there during the overnight hours in early April.
It was a scene of absolute chaos inside the grocery store parking garage at 2:30 a.m. April 4.
Security camera video shows a man in a black sweatshirt with a white design, with a gun in his right hand. He walks toward a group of people gathered for a car rally and meet-up. The video shows muzzle flashes as he fires the weapon.
Two people were injured.
Police say 19-year-old Hermes Matewere of Laurel, Maryland is now charged with first degree assault, reckless endangerment and several firearms violations.
That shooting happened six weeks after another chaotic car rally Feb. 22 at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and East West Highway in Chevy Chase near the Columbia Country Club. Rally goers could be seen blocking responding Montgomery County Police cruisers as officers responded. One man sprayed a fire extinguisher onto an officer’s windshield.
“This thing keeps evolving, and before when the police showed up, they would run and run off to another area. Now, they feel emboldened for whatever reason,” said Assistant Chief Darren Francke with Montgomery County police.
Police released an image of one of the damaged police cruisers.
Police say 18-year-old Ayden Joseph Cline of Cumberland, Pennsylvania jumped onto a cruiser waving a lit flare and has now been charged as an adult with crimes that include reckless endangerment and malicious destruction of property. Novorriya Gregory Smith Jr. of Lusby, Maryland, is accused of smashing the rear window of an officer’s cruiser and then pulling down his pants to expose himself to the officer. The 20 year-old is facing multiple charges.
Both men are being held without bond until their next court appearance.
A 17-year-old arrested in connection with the February melee was released to his parent’s custody.
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