Maryland
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s administration, public employee union agree to new contract
Union leaders representing most of Maryland’s public employees have reached an agreement on a new three-year contract with Gov. Wes Moore’s administration, which also announced the hiring of a new top official to lead future bargaining negotiations.
Details of the contract, which must be ratified through a vote of union members, have not been released. The sides said they met a Dec. 31 deadline and described the deal as “tentative” and “preliminary.”
After working on annual employee raises and staffing issues with former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan’s administration for eight years, union leader Patrick Moran said “the tone of this year’s negotiations was markedly different,” though he did not explain whether leaders were pleased with the deal.
Moran, Council 3 president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), and other union members had often been critical of Hogan, who they said failed to fill necessary vacancies in state government positions and did not provide adequate cost-of-living adjustments for employees during his two terms. After negotiations for the current contract ended a year ago and promised an average wage increase of 2.4%, Moran called the raises “insufficient” and stressed that understaffing remained a critical issue.
Moore, a Democrat, entered office last January with a vow to rebuild the state’s workforce but his administration has fallen short on hiring goals so far.
While the governor previously stated his desire to reduce the number of vacancies by half in his first year, the vacancy rate fell by just 2 percentage points — from 13.1% in January to 11.1% in October — according to a recent report by the legislature’s Spending Affordability Committee. As of October, there were about 1,800 more filled positions than the previous year, with about 5,400 remaining vacancies in the executive branch, not including positions in higher education, the report stated.
The governor, however, has stood by his pledge to support the workforce — adding about $35 million in salary increases while crafting the state budget early last year and standing alongside AFSCME during its nationwide tour in the summer to encourage hiring.
“Rebuilding state government and supporting our state employees is a top priority for the Moore-Miller Administration, and while the final contracts must be ratified by a full member vote by all four unions, these preliminary agreements are another critical step forward in that work,” Moore said in a statement Wednesday.
Moran said in his statement that Moore’s budget secretary, Helene Grady, worked closely with AFSCME “to address a number of key issues affecting our state workforce and state services.”
“We will continue to work with this administration, our elected officials, and our allies to find solutions, including raising additional state revenues, to tackle this staffing crisis and ensure our public services can continue to function,” Moran said.
Moore also said Wednesday he had hired Dyana Forester to represent him in future labor relations activities as a senior director of labor relations.
Forester was most recently president of the Metropolitan Washington Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and has about two decades of experience organizing workers. In her new role, she will direct collective bargaining activities and advise the governor on labor relations issues affecting the state workforce. AFSCME is the largest union, representing about 30,000 public employees — including correctional officers, state hospital workers and higher education workers.
In a letter explaining its priorities for the 90-day session beginning Wednesday, the union said it will be lobbying for new laws to change the bargaining process, including moving the deadline from New Year’s Eve to September 30 and requiring a neutral arbitrator to be agreed to by both parties for the negotiations. Another bill would expand collective bargaining rights to more than 4,000 supervisors who work in the executive branch. The letter also stressed the union’s priority to continue filling vacant positions and raising wages.
“We have a huge hole to fill now, with state employee salaries lagging inflation by 14% in this same time period, and thousands of remaining position shortages and vacancies. Despite renewed recruitment efforts under the Moore Administration, sadly, state agencies are still not on track to hit their vacancy reduction targets this year,” the letter signed by Moran read.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Maryland Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 19, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing
Midday: 9-7-6
Evening: 9-9-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing
Midday: 8-9-6-5
Evening: 5-4-6-8
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
Midday: 4-1-8-4-3
Evening: 3-8-7-7-7
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 19 drawing
9 a.m.: 13
1 p.m.: 15
6 p.m.: 08
11 p.m.: 02
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Bonus Match 5 numbers from April 19 drawing
06-19-27-30-36, Bonus: 12
Check Bonus Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Keno
Drawings are held every four minutes. Check winning numbers here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Maryland Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes above $600, winners can claim by mail or in person from the Maryland Lottery office, an Expanded Cashing Authority Program location or cashiers’ windows at Maryland casinos. Prizes over $5,000 must be claimed in person.
Claiming by Mail
Sign your winning ticket and complete a claim form. Include a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID and a copy of a document that shows proof of your Social Security number or Federal Tax ID number. Mail these to:
Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center
1800 Washington Boulevard
Suite 330
Baltimore, MD 21230
For prizes over $600, bring your signed ticket, a government-issued photo ID, and proof of your Social Security or Federal Tax ID number to Maryland Lottery headquarters, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD. Claims are by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This location handles all prize amounts, including prizes over $5,000.
Winning Tickets Worth $25,000 or Less
Maryland Lottery headquarters and select Maryland casinos can redeem winning tickets valued up to $25,000. Note that casinos cannot cash prizes over $600 for non-resident and resident aliens (tax ID beginning with “9”). You must be at least 21 years of age to enter a Maryland casino. Locations include:
- Horseshoe Casino: 1525 Russell Street, Baltimore, MD
- MGM National Harbor: 101 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD
- Live! Casino: 7002 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD
- Ocean Downs Casino: 10218 Racetrack Road, Berlin, MD
- Hollywood Casino: 1201 Chesapeake Overlook Parkway, Perryville, MD
- Rocky Gap Casino: 16701 Lakeview Road NE, Flintstone, MD
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Maryland Lottery.
When are the Maryland Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 11 p.m. ET Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5 Midday: 12:27 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 12:28 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.
- Pick 3, 4 and 5 Evening: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
- Cash4Life: 9 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash Pop: 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily.
- Bonus Match 5: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
- MultiMatch: 7:56 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
- Powerball Double Play: 11 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Maryland editor. You can send feedback using this form.
ELLICOTT CITY, Md. — A t-bone crash involving a motorcycle left a 24-year-old Hampstead man dead on Saturday evening.
It happened around 6:30pm, along Marriottsville Road in Howard County.
That’s where a Yamaha FZ09 was heading northbound when it collided with an oncoming Nissan Rogue that was trying to make a left turn onto Warwick Way.
“Preliminary investigation suggests the motorcycle was traveling at a high rate of speed,” Howard County Police said in a press release.
The motorcycle rider later died at University of Maryland Shock Trauma.
Police say the Nissan driver, who was not hurt, remained on scene and cooperated with investigators.
Marriottsville Road was reopened after being closed for about three-hours.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Maryland Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 18, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from April 18 drawing
24-25-39-46-61, Powerball: 01, Power Play: 5
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 18 drawing
Midday: 9-4-0
Evening: 9-3-4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 18 drawing
Midday: 8-3-0-6
Evening: 7-2-1-2
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 18 drawing
Midday: 5-3-8-8-7
Evening: 6-7-3-8-9
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 18 drawing
9 a.m.: 03
1 p.m.: 14
6 p.m.: 10
11 p.m.: 08
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Bonus Match 5 numbers from April 18 drawing
06-20-33-34-36, Bonus: 11
Check Bonus Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from April 18 drawing
02-38-45-53-63, Powerball: 21
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Keno
Drawings are held every four minutes. Check winning numbers here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Maryland Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes above $600, winners can claim by mail or in person from the Maryland Lottery office, an Expanded Cashing Authority Program location or cashiers’ windows at Maryland casinos. Prizes over $5,000 must be claimed in person.
Claiming by Mail
Sign your winning ticket and complete a claim form. Include a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID and a copy of a document that shows proof of your Social Security number or Federal Tax ID number. Mail these to:
Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center
1800 Washington Boulevard
Suite 330
Baltimore, MD 21230
For prizes over $600, bring your signed ticket, a government-issued photo ID, and proof of your Social Security or Federal Tax ID number to Maryland Lottery headquarters, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD. Claims are by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This location handles all prize amounts, including prizes over $5,000.
Winning Tickets Worth $25,000 or Less
Maryland Lottery headquarters and select Maryland casinos can redeem winning tickets valued up to $25,000. Note that casinos cannot cash prizes over $600 for non-resident and resident aliens (tax ID beginning with “9”). You must be at least 21 years of age to enter a Maryland casino. Locations include:
- Horseshoe Casino: 1525 Russell Street, Baltimore, MD
- MGM National Harbor: 101 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD
- Live! Casino: 7002 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD
- Ocean Downs Casino: 10218 Racetrack Road, Berlin, MD
- Hollywood Casino: 1201 Chesapeake Overlook Parkway, Perryville, MD
- Rocky Gap Casino: 16701 Lakeview Road NE, Flintstone, MD
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Maryland Lottery.
When are the Maryland Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 11 p.m. ET Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5 Midday: 12:27 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 12:28 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.
- Pick 3, 4 and 5 Evening: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
- Cash4Life: 9 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash Pop: 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily.
- Bonus Match 5: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
- MultiMatch: 7:56 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
- Powerball Double Play: 11 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Maryland editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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