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Judge orders pause on ICE detention center construction in Maryland

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Judge orders pause on ICE detention center construction in Maryland


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WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Maryland issued a temporary restraining order on Wednesday, March 11, to halt construction work on an immigration detention center after the state had sued, citing environmental concerns.

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Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown had argued that President Donald Trump’s administration had not conducted a proper environmental review or received public input. The federal government spent more than $100 million on a 54-acre warehouse in Maryland’s Washington County to convert it into a detention center capable of holding 1,500 people at a time, Brown said in February when the state sued.

U.S. District Judge Brendan Hurson granted Maryland’s request for a restraining order to immediately pause construction for up to 14 days while the court considered Maryland’s broader legal challenge.

“The State has shown that Defendants likely failed to comply with their obligations under (the National Environmental Policy Act),” the judge wrote. “Defendants do not appear to have taken a ‘hard look’ at the potential environmental consequences of their plans for the Williamsport Warehouse.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which has federal oversight of immigration, has previously said DHS was willing to work with state officials to expand detention capabilities. It has also previously rejected Maryland’s assertion that the lawsuit was based on environmental concerns.

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The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement and deportation drive has received widespread condemnation from rights advocates over what they call violations of free speech and due process rights. Rights experts also say the enforcement policies have created an unsafe environment, particularly for minorities.

Trump has cast his actions as aiming to stop illegal immigration and improve domestic security.

Brown cast the ruling as a win.

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“Though temporary, this ruling stops the construction of this massive immigration detention center while our lawsuit continues to play out in court. We will not let DHS and ICE rush through the proper legal process in their haste to ramp up deportations,” Brown said.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Michael Perry)



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Celebrating America 250, July 4 in Maryland | Here’s what you need to know

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Celebrating America 250, July 4 in Maryland | Here’s what you need to know


Marylanders won’t have to wait until July 4 to celebrate Independence Day.

Communities across the state are hosting fireworks displays, festivals, concerts and family-friendly events leading up to the Fourth of July, with many continuing through the holiday weekend as the nation marks America’s 250th anniversary.

Here’s a look at some of the celebrations happening around Maryland.

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Baltimore Metro: Sunday, June 28

Hereford Independence Day Parade & Fireworks

  • Time: Parade at 6 p.m.; festival at 7:30 p.m.; fireworks at dusk
  • Where: Parade begins on Mount Carmel Road, heads north on York Road and ends at Bunker Hill Road. Fireworks at Hereford High School.
  • Rain date: June 29

Baltimore Metro: Friday, July 3

Glen Burnie Fireworks

  • Time: 9 p.m.
  • Where: Saw Mill Park

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Star-Spangled 250

  • Time: Evening performance
  • Where: Oregon Ridge
  • Details: Patriotic concert featuring the “1812 Overture” with a fireworks finale. Tickets required.

Baltimore Metro: Saturday, July 4

92nd annual Dundalk Parade

  • Time: Begins at 8:15 a.m.
  • Where: The parade starts at the Logan Village Shopping Center.
  • Details: It’s the longest continually running parade in Maryland!

Baltimore Inner Harbor Celebration

  • Time: Live entertainment from 4-9:30 p.m.; fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
  • Where: Waterfront Promenade
  • Details: Performances by the Navy Band Commodores, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Wordsmith.

Cherry Hill Arts & Music Waterfront Festival

  • Time: 1-10 p.m.
  • Where: Middle Branch Park
  • Details: Free festival featuring live music, children’s activities, art experiences and waterfront views of the city’s fireworks.

Park & Relax at the Baltimore Museum of Industry

  • Time: 6-10 p.m.
  • Details: Waterfront viewing party with live jazz, face painting and fireworks. Tickets required.

Catonsville Independence Day Celebration

  • Time: Parade at 3 p.m.; Family Fun Fest at 6:30 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
  • Where: Parade on Frederick Road; fireworks at Catonsville High School.
  • Rain date: July 5

Dundalk Fireworks Spectacular

  • Time: Festivities begin in the evening; fireworks around 9:15 p.m.
  • Where: North Point Government Center
  • Details: Live music, carnival rides, food vendors and family activities.
  • Rain date: July 5

Fullerton Fireworks Celebration & Music Festival

  • Time: Food and music begin at 2 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
  • Where: Fullerton Park
  • Details: Free admission.
  • Rain date: July 11

Middle River Fireworks Extravaganza

  • Time: 9 p.m.
  • Where: Fireworks launched from the Middle River 6-knot zone.

Towson Fireworks

  • Time: Dusk (approximately 9:10-9:30 p.m.)
  • Where: Loch Raven Technical Academy

Baltimore Metro: Sunday, July 5

Kingsville Fireworks

  • Time: Parking opens at 5:30 p.m.; festivities begin at 6 p.m.; fireworks around 9-9:15 p.m.
  • Where: Mount Vista Park

Havre de Grace Celebration

  • Time: Parade at 2 p.m.; concert at 7:30 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
  • Where: Concord Point Park and Susquehanna River waterfront.

Central Maryland: Wednesday, July 1

Queen Anne’s County Fireworks & Family Fun Celebration

  • Time: 6 p.m.
  • Where: Chesapeake Heritage & Visitors Center, Kent Narrows
  • Details: Kids zone, live music and fireworks.
  • Rain date: July 2

Central Maryland: Friday, July 3

Mount Airy Fireworks

  • Time: Gates open at 4 p.m.; festivities begin at 5 p.m.; fireworks around 9:30 p.m.
  • Where: Mount Airy Fireman’s Carnival Grounds

Taneytown Fireworks

  • Time: 6-10 p.m.
  • Where: Taneytown Memorial Park

Central Maryland: Saturday, July 4

Frederick’s 4th

  • Time: Noon until dusk
  • Where: Baker Park
  • Details: Entertainment, rides, food vendors and fireworks.

Carroll County Farm Museum

  • Time: Gates open at 4 p.m.; fireworks at sundown.
  • Where: Westminster
  • Details: Live music, food and the county’s largest fireworks display.

Sykesville Let Freedom Ring Parade

  • Time: 10 a.m.
  • *Where: Historic Main Street

Capital Region: Saturday, July 4

Annapolis Independence Day Celebration

  • Time: Parade at 6:30 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
  • Where: Downtown Annapolis and Spa Creek

Howard County Celebration

  • Time: 5-10 p.m.; fireworks at 9:15 p.m.
  • Where: Columbia Lakefront

Rockville Independence Day Celebration

  • Time: 7-10 p.m.
  • Where: Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park

Upper Montgomery County Fireworks

  • Time: Gates open at 4 p.m.
  • Where: Poolesville Soccer Fields

Eastern Shore: Friday, July 3

Rock Hall Fireworks Over the Harbor

  • Where: Rock Hall Harbor
  • Details: Parade, midway games and fireworks.

Berlin Fireworks

  • Time: Dusk
  • Where: Heron Park

Eastern Shore: Saturday, July 4

Ocean City Fireworks

  • Where: Downtown Beach and Northside Park
  • Details: Music and fireworks at two locations.

Red, White & BOOM

  • *Time: Activities begin at 5 p.m.; fireworks around 9 p.m.
  • *Where: Salisbury

Southern Maryland: Friday, July 3

Chesapeake Beach Fireworks

  • Time: Dusk
  • Where: Waterfront and Fishing Creek Bridge

St. Mary’s Freedom Fest

  • Where: St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds
  • Details: Free event featuring live entertainment, vendors, kids activities and fireworks.

Southern Maryland: Saturday, July 4

Charles County Fairgrounds Celebration

  • Time: 3-10 p.m.
  • Where: La Plata
  • Details: Live music, food, family activities and fireworks.

More Fourth of July Celebrations (No Fireworks)

  • Bel Air Independence Day Parade – July 4 at 6 p.m.
  • B&O Railroad Museum’s 250th All-American Bash – July 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Cape St. Claire Parade – July 4 at 10 a.m.
  • Eastport Parade – July 4 at 9 a.m.
  • Galesville July Fourth Parade – July 4 from 1-4 p.m.
  • Severna Park Parade – July 4 at 10 a.m.
  • West Annapolis Bike Parade – July 4 at 10:30 a.m.
  • River Hill Independence Day Parade – July 4 at 9 a.m.

Planning to attend?

Many communities expect large crowds and limited parking. Organizers encourage attendees to arrive early, allow extra travel time and check individual event websites or social media pages for weather updates, parking information and any last-minute schedule changes.

Send us your photos here!



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Parents of former Maryland athlete killed in 2024 car crash start foundation in his honor

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Parents of former Maryland athlete killed in 2024 car crash start foundation in his honor


A Minnesota Vikings player Khyree Jackson (left), 24, and two of his former Wise High School football teammates Isaiah Hazel (middle), 23, and Anthony Lytton, Jr., 24 (right), died after a three-car crash in Prince George’s County, Md. on July 6, 2024. (AP Images, University of Maryland, and Penn State)



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Off-and-on weekend showers before intense heat builds in Maryland

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Off-and-on weekend showers before intense heat builds in Maryland


Happy Saturday, Maryland!

A muggy weekend is ahead with some wet weather. High levels of heat and humidity come into play around midweek.

Weekend showers

A stationary front has made it’s way to the mid-Atlantic for this weekend. Due to the lack of movement with this front, it’ll keep cloud cover in our forecast. We’ll also be seeing a little bit of rain from this.

Showers will be off-and-on through the day. There will be many periods across the state where we see just clouds at some points of the day. While a washout isn’t expected, we could still see a few bouts of heavy rain. The atmosphere is so humid this weekend (and beyond) so that increases the likelihood of heavier rain with the stationary front nearby. The overall risk for thunderstorms is low and severe weather is not expected.

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Sunday’s forecast is trending a little drier. A few spot showers are still possible. Again, it won’t be a washout of a day to close the weekend. 

Highs on Saturday hover closer to 80° while Sunday warms into the low to mid-80s.

Dangerous heat incoming

Monday and Tuesday feature afternoons with near-normal temperatures closer to 90°. Those two days also bring dry conditions. 

Once we get into the middle of the week, we’ll be battling very high – and dangerous – levels of heat and humidity.

Wednesday is forecast to get into the upper 90s, close to 100°. Thursday and Friday could see high temperatures that surpass 100° in a number of areas in the state. Here we are talking about *air temperatures*, which is before you factor in any humidity. With humidity included, “feels-like” temperatures or heat index values could pass 105°. Due to the combination of heat and humidity, the First Alert Weather team has issued four Possible Alert Days starting Wednesday into the Fourth of July holiday on Saturday. 

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It’s not just the daytime temperatures, either.

Overnight, we won’t feel much relief. Overnight lows in the mid to upper 70s – and even low 80s – will be rough for those who don’t have adequate air conditioning or another way to keep cool. 

We could see the heat begin to break next weekend with a chance for storms Saturday. 

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