Maryland
A beloved Maryland state senator has been absent from the legislature for months
Since the first day of the current legislative session in Annapolis, Maryland, there’s been silence when the senator for District 24’s name is called.
According to committee attendance, votes and quorum reports reviewed by the News4 I-Team, Joanne C. Benson has missed every day of this session in Annapolis. Some constituents and fellow politicians have expressed concern over her failure to report to the legislature, and are concerned about their representation.
One of the delegates in her district, Democrat Tiffany Alston, is among them.
“People want to make sure that she is taking the time she needs to take care of herself,” Alston said. “But people are concerned about what that means for them, their pocketbook issues.”
Alston is one of two people running to replace Benson in the state Senate, after Benson did not refile for office.
“I have asked the senator to consider submitting her resignation earlier than she may be prepared to do, but I also recognize and I am very respectful of the fact that that is a personal decision that only she can make,” Alston said. “I think it is something that she has to decide, because I would not want to see other people try and take the voice of District 24 away from us.”
For 35 years, Benson has represented the district that includes Fairmount Heights, Glenarden, Seat Pleasant, and Landover. She did so first as a state delegate, then as a senator.
Now 85 years old, Benson told News4 it’s been challenging these last few months.
She lost two of her sisters last fall within weeks of each other. Then she had her own health challenges, including a surgery that she said requires extended recovery time.
Asked by phone whether she believes she will make it to Annapolis before the end of the legislative session on April 13, she said, “Yes, I am. As a matter of fact, I was supposed to go this week.”
Benson said she has no immediate plans to step down.
But if she does, she said, it will be well after the General Assembly’s 90 day session ends, and after June’s primary election — telling the I-Team she’s considering resigning in July.
Benson said she is waiting, in part, because she’s concerned that the Democratic central committee will appoint one of the current candidates to temporarily fill her seat — perhaps giving whoever they select the advantage of incumbency in the election.
“I don’t want it to be perceived that I, as the senator, I’m showing favoritism for one senator, for one candidate over the other,” Benson said.
Asked whether she planned to endorse one of the two candidates running, she said, “Not at this point.”
If Benson steps down from her office, Alston says she would definitely submit her name to the central committee.
“If she steps down, the way our process works is the central committee would appoint, and I would definitely submit my name,” Alston said. “But that’s a decision she has to make based on what she thinks is best for — really it should be what’s best for our constituents.”
The other candidate running to replace Benson is Kevin Ford. He declined an on camera interview, but released a statement to News4 addressing Benson’s absence:
“Senator Joanne Benson has dedicated decades of service to Prince George’s County and District 24 and she deserves our respect and gratitude for that service,” the statement reads in part. “I know she has been navigating several personal challenges and my thoughts remain with her and her family.”
In her absence, Benson has not able to vote on major legislation impacting her district, including its funding. News4 asked her if Alston’s concerns for voters was valid.
“Well, first of all, my track record speaks for itself,” Benson said. “There’s no earthly way that I would be allowed to stay in Prince George’s County representing these dear folks for 35 years if I wasn’t doing what I’m supposed to do.”
With one month left in the General Assembly session, Benson said she wants to get to Annapolis by next week.
Asked what should happen when something like the situation with Benson occurs, the Senate president’s office did not reply to requests for comment.
GLEN BURNIE, Md. (WBFF) — An office building in Glen Burnie was evacuated on Thursday afternoon after its underground parking garage experienced a shift in one of its floors.
The Anne Arundel County Fire Department initially responded to the 7300 block of Ritchie Highway around 2:30 p.m. on July 9 after reports of a partial building collapse.
However, the department later clarified that there has been no collapse of the 10-story building.
Officials said crews are evaluating the building’s structural integrity after work was being performed in the parking garage.
All occupants were safely evacuated, and no injuries have been reported, according to Fire Captain Jenny Macallair.
The fire department is asking drivers to avoid the area while crews continue their assessment.
FOX45 News has a crew on the way to the scene, and we will provide updates as they become available.
See America’s most iconic hot dogs
Welcome to the United States of Hot Dogs! We’ve compiled a few of the best hot dogs eaten across the country.
Although Maryland is often celebrated for its seafood, one over-the-top creation has carved out its own loyal following among locals and visitors alike: The Baltimore-style hot dog.
Sausage is merely its first layer of meat. It’s wrapped in a thick slice of fried beef bologna and piled high with toppings.
It’s proof that while hot dogs are truly an All-American food, their real power lies in how they adapt to local tastes.
Hot dogs were “invented” in the U.S. after German sausages were served in buns. They’re a staple of baseball games — the all-American pastime. And they are truly a democratic food: nearly anyone can afford to enjoy them.
But even more, hot dogs are American because of their adaptability, reflecting the ingenuity and diversity that gives our country such a rich culinary tapestry.
“You can tell the story of America through hot dogs. There are probably other things you could use, other objects or icons, but I think hot dog is a really good one,” said Bruce Kraig, a Ph.D. food historian and author of “Hot Dog: A Global History’ and ‘Man Bites Dog: Hot Dog Culture in America.”
Regional hot dog toppings, from chili in Cincinnati to celery salt in Chicago to jalapeños in the Southwest, tell distinct stories of place.
Here in Baltimore, Maryland, our contribution to the United States of Hot Dogs is the Baltimore-style hot dog.
What is a Baltimore-style hot dog?
At its core, the Baltimore dog is a meat-on-meat masterpiece. It starts with a kosher all-beef sausage that is split, fried and wrapped alongside thick, charred bologna slices.
It’s traditionally topped with raw onions and yellow mustard, with a pickle spear on top or on the side. Some variations include the addition of sweet relish, ketchup or cheese.
“In this creation, grease from the bologna mixes with the grease from the hot dog, and both find their way into the bread to form an unforgettable aroma, taste and aftertaste — and 200 points on your cholesterol count,” Baltimore historian Gilbert Sandler told The Baltimore Sun in a 2019 story.
Where did the Baltimore-style hot dog come from?
Its origins are often somewhat unclear, but it’s believed to have originated during the Great Depression when, according to TasteAtlas.com, “people added bologna slices to the hot dog in order to make it a fuller, heartier meal.”
Jewish delis along Baltimore’s historic “Corned Beef Row” were looking for ways to offer working-class customers a filling, calorie-dense meal for a small chunk of change, leading to the birth of the Baltimore-style hot dog.
First becoming popular in the early 1940s at Mandell and Ballow deli, the bologna-wrapped hot dog spread throughout Baltimore, The Sun reported.
“Despite being a nutritionally questionable combo of two of the world’s least-healthful meats, the bologna dog continues to be a local favorite, enjoyed without apology,” FoodRepublic.com wrote in 2023.
Four best places to try a Baltimore-style hot dog
Attman’s Delicatessen: A Baltimore institution since 1915, Attman’s version of the Baltimore-style hot dog sits at the top of its menu. Its dog — for $7.99 — comes with your choice of mustard, relish, chopped onions and ketchup. Details: 1019 East Lombard St., Baltimore; 410-563-2666, attmansdeli.com.
Weiss Deli: Another Baltimore staple, Weiss serves speciality sandwiches and, of course, the Baltimore-style hot dog. You can customize the $7.49 dog with up to eight toppings, but its most popular version comes with just deli mustard and raw onions on top of the bologna-wrapped sausage. Details: 1127 East Lombard St., Baltimore; 410-276-7910, baltimoreweissdeli.com
The Dog House Carryout: A legendary landmark in Baltimore, The Dog House Carryout has been slinging its classic comfort food for more than 75 years. You can get a quarter-pound all-beef hot dog for $6.95, with bologna added for an extra $1.25. The dog comes with your choice of mustard, relish, onions and ketchup. Details: 617 Fallsway, Baltimore; 410-685-7269, thedoghousebaltimore.com
Killa Dogz: Killa Dogz, one of the more modern hot dog spots in the city, offers a wide variety of options, including what it calls the “Bmore” dog. At $7, its version is deep fried, wrapped in bologna and “served on a squishy bun with mustard.” Chili and cheese are among the top ways to customize its dog. Details: 6106 Belair Rd, Baltimore; 443-438-7822. killadogz.com.
Jennifer Borresen contributed the interactive graphic to this story. She is a graphic journalist at USA TODAY, specializing in explanatory graphics and illustrations in various fields, including politics, science, weather and entertainment.
BALTIMORE, MD. – A Hanover man was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison followed by lifetime supervised release on Wednesday for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, federal prosecutors announced.
Michael Sam Teekaye, Jr., 22, pleaded guilty in January 2026 after unknowingly revealing a plot to travel abroad and fight for the designated foreign terrorist organization to an undercover law enforcement officer, prosecutors said.
What we know:
Court documents reveal that between March and October 2024, Teekaye coordinated travel arrangements with a Somali ISIS fighter. His itinerary detailed a flight departing from Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI) to Turkey, with subsequent travel through Ethiopia to cross into Somalia.
FBI agents arrested Teekaye at BWI on October 14, 2024, after he cleared airport security, according to previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting.
READ MORE: Maryland man arrested for allegedly attempting to join ISIS
Leading up to his arrest, court documents say that Teekaye prepared for his departure by practicing at a Maryland shooting range and attempting to purchase an assault rifle, which was blocked due to an existing state probation status.
Days before his arrest, Teekaye sent the undercover officer a photograph of himself wearing a mask and wielding a large machete, declaring a choice of “victory or martyrdom.”
Following his arrest, prosecutors say Teekaye made multiple unprovoked statements to law enforcement vowing to resume his violent efforts upon his eventual release from custody and threatening the lives of prison guards.
Dig deeper:
Federal authorities noted that Teekaye established a secondary plan to execute domestic terrorist attacks targeting Jewish individuals and institutions supporting Israel within Maryland if his international travel failed. A digital forensic search of his phone uncovered specific search histories focused on Jewish organizations and community members in Howard County, alongside queries regarding home break-ins and escaping murder charges.
A local rabbi impacted by the surveillance spoke during the sentencing hearing regarding the threat’s toll on the community.
The Source: Information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland and previous FOX 5 D.C. reporting.
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