Maryland

Maryland lawmakers to wrestle with budgeting, public safety, housing as session opens

Published

2 years ago

January 10, 2024

Maryland lawmakers to wrestle with budgeting, public safety, housing as session opens

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The Maryland General Assembly opens its annual 90-day legislative session on Wednesday with lawmakers set to wrestle with budget challenges as well as measures on affordable housing and public safety.

Like other states, Maryland greatly benefited from federal pandemic aid in recent years. But now Maryland is facing a projected structural deficit of $761 million in the next fiscal year. That is expected to balloon to about $2.7 billion in fiscal year 2029, largely due to rising costs of a K-12 education funding reform law.

Gov. Wes Moore’s administration already has proposed roughly $3.3 billion in cuts for the state’s six-year transportation spending plan, as it faces inflationary pressures and sagging traditional revenue sources.

Looming deficits have prompted some talk in Annapolis about taking action to raise taxes, but leading lawmakers are sounding wary.

Senate President Bill Ferguson said he doesn’t believe tax increases are on the table this year, especially when officials in many other states are talking about tax cuts.

“I think we have sufficient resources to make investments that matter in Maryland, and so it just means we have to live within our means, and we have to say no to some things,” the Baltimore Democrat said in a recent interview with The Associated Press. “That’s what I think the session will be: is kind of trying to prioritize and adjust for the out years.”

House Speaker Adrienne Jones said taxes should only be raised if “absolutely necessary.” However, the speaker pointed out that statewide transportation projects are at risk of being significantly underfunded, and she said “we can’t just cut our way out of this issue when revenues have been stagnant for a decade.”

“We’re looking at all our options,” said Jones, a Baltimore County Democrat.

Moore, now entering his second year in office, is expected to propose a package of legislation to make housing more affordable.

“We know that Maryland is experiencing a housing shortage, and we will work to increase the number of affordable housing units,” Jones said.

Public safety also is expected to be a top issue. Moore, a Democrat, outlined a package of proposals Tuesday including the creation of a new statewide center to help prevent gun violence. The governor also wants to increase apprenticeships in public safety to build stronger pipelines to law enforcement jobs for all Marylanders.

Republican lawmakers have focused on public safety as well, including stronger penalties for committing crimes with an illegal firearm. Senate Republican leaders said the governor’s message was positive, but they wanted to hear more about accountability.

“The rhetoric is great and we agree that accountability needs to be the watchword and that the entire state government needs to be focused on accountability for criminal activity, but there’s still a lot of fluff and not a lot of real concrete commitments to really embrace legislation that will actually put more criminals behind bars,” said Sen. Justin Ready, a Carroll County Republican.

Despite those concerns, lawmakers note that Baltimore has been making progress in cutting violent crime. The city recorded fewer than than 300 homicides last year for the first time in nearly a decade, ending a surge that began in 2015.

Maryland’s largest city still made headlines for crime last year. A man accused of killing Baltimore tech entrepreneur Pava LaPere in September was released from prison nearly a year earlier after serving a shortened sentence for a 2013 rape because he earned good behavior credits behind bars.

Ferguson said he’s expecting legislation to make some changes regarding the granting such credits related to sexual assault.

“I think that’s something we’re going to take a close look at fixing,” Ferguson said. “Clearly, there was something wrong, and I think there is something specific about sexual assault that is really important that when a penalty is imposed that penalty is what we all expect.”

Jones said she will be promoting a package of bills she’s calling the “decency agenda” to address a spike in prejudice against Jewish and Muslim people.

“These bills will put safeguards and best practices in place to make sure that intolerance and hate don’t take further root in our state’s institutions and schools,” Jones said.

Juvenile justice reform also is expected to be taken up. Last year, lawmakers approved a measure that prevents a police officer from conducting a custodial interrogation of a child until an attorney has been consulted. Lawmakers are planning to consider some clarifications to the law.

A debate over whether to allow the terminally ill to receive lethal medication to end their lives also is expected this session. Ferguson said it’s important to make sure strong protections are in place, so such a law cannot be abused.

“I anticipate that we will have a bill on the floor for a vote,” Ferguson said.

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Maryland

Authorities arrest TikTok user accused of issuing terror-linked threats in Maryland

Published

10 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Press Room

Authorities arrest TikTok user accused of issuing terror-linked threats in Maryland

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Federal authorities have arrested a Florida man accused of using TikTok to issue violent threats while he was living in Maryland, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

Arsham Rashidi Dizajgan, 27, of Gainesville, Florida, has been charged with six counts of transmitting threats to injure another person across interstate or foreign commerce.

Dizajgan was taken into custody in Gainesville on the same day the indictment was unsealed.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the indictment with Special Agent in Charge Jimmy Paul, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Baltimore Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Jason Carley, FBI – Jacksonville Field Office; Police Chief Amal E. Awad, Anne Arundel County Police Department (AACOPD); and Chief of Police Nelson Moya, Gainesville Police Department (GPD).

Threats to the safety and security of American citizens will not be tolerated, particularly when such threats adopt the language and tactics of violent extremists and foreign terrorist organizations,” Hayes said, via press release. “We will investigate and prosecute such violations to the fullest extent of the law.

According to the indictment, Dizajgan lived in Arnold, Maryland, from September 2024 through March 2025.

During that period, he allegedly used TikTok to post photos and videos of Americans with upside-down red triangles placed over their heads — an image federal prosecutors say is used in Hamas propaganda videos to mark impending targets.

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The indictment states that these posts were accompanied by threatening language.

The FBI takes all threats seriously and will investigate each and every potential threat brought to our attention,” Paul said, via press release. “Swift collaboration between the FBI’s Baltimore and Jacksonville Field Offices, as well as the Anne Arundel County and Gainesville Police Departments, led to this arrest. We continue to encourage the public to report any concerning messages to law enforcement.

Authorities also allege that during the same timeframe, Dizajgan posted additional content condemning Americans and non-Muslims and praising violence against them.

This arrest reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting our communities,” Carley said, via press release. “When an individual uses social media to issue violent threats and signals support for a foreign terrorist organization, the FBI will hold that individual accountable. We take these threats seriously and will move quickly to ensure online rhetoric does not turn into real-world harm.

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If convicted, Dizajgan faces federal penalties for each of the six counts.

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Maryland

Maryland High School Football Playoffs See Game Result Changed

Published

1 day ago

November 18, 2025

Press Room

Maryland High School Football Playoffs See Game Result Changed

The use of an ineligible player has knocked one Maryland high school football team from the postseason and given another new life.

Middletown High School was set to compete in the next round of the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association playoffs this coming week after besting Liberty, 51-7.

However, the use of an ineligible player has resulted in the Knights being forced to forfeit the victory, sending Liberty to the next round of the 2A/1A championship bracket.

Frederick News-Post reported the decision after receiving an email from the Middletown school district.

“We recognize that this news is disappointing for our student-athletes, families and community,” the email from Middletown High School read. “Please know that our foremost priority is to uphold the principles of integrity, sportsmanship and full compliance with FCPS and state athletic guidelines.

“It was recently discovered that an ineligible MHS student-athlete inadvertently participated in the game. Upon identifying the issue, the school immediately reported the concern to FCPS.”

From there, the FCPS sent the violation to the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association, who made the ultimate decision.

Middletown confirmed they will not file an appeal, as “playoff games are not eligible for appeal” according to the MPSSAA.

For Middletown, they end the season 8-3 overall. They had won three in a row and five of six prior to the official change of the win over Liberty to a forfeit loss.

The Knights had dropped a 17-14 decision at Frederick and a 56-42 contest with Linganore on the road.

Middletown has not had a losing record since 2014, when they went 4-6 overall. Current head coach Andy Baker came on in 2024, going 9-3 overall with two playoff wins before they lost to Patuxent, 42-13.

Liberty posted a 23-21 win in the opening round of the playoffs over Williamsport, as they won three straight down the stretch of the regular season before a loss in the finale to Century, 13-8.

The Lions are in their first year under Marcel Fraser, who replaced veteran head coach Lawrence Luthe.

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Maryland

Maryland grandparents allegedly shot dead by close business associate outraged over money dispute while on phone with 911

Published

2 days ago

November 18, 2025

Press Room

Maryland grandparents allegedly shot dead by close business associate outraged over money dispute while on phone with 911

A Maryland couple was allegedly murdered in their home by a business associate enraged over money, with one of the victims heard pleading for her life in a chilling 911 call.

William “Charlie” Hayes, 56, and his wife, Jeanna Hayes, 54, were found shot inside their Pasadena home in the Long Point community — about 15 miles outside Baltimore — on Sunday around 2 p.m., according to the Anne Arundel County Police Department.

In the moments leading up to the killing, a 911 call from the couple’s home revealed the woman pleading with a man she identified as “Tony” not to shoot her.

A short time later, the call captures the man quarreling with “Charlie” about money before gunshots erupt, CBS News reported. Additional shots rang out before everything suddenly fell quiet.

The couple — who owned a home improvement construction business based out of their house — were pronounced dead at the scene when first responders arrived.

Through the 911 call and “additional investigative means,” detectives quickly identified Anthony Louis Reyes, 61, a business associate and friend of the couple, as the suspect, police said.

Reyes’ vehicle was picked up by an automated license plate reader hours after the cold-blooded murders, and an officer pulled him over.

However, the 61-year-old suspect allegedly fled, triggering a dramatic police chase.

Anne Arundel County Police Lt. AJ Gardiner told CBS News that during the initial traffic stop, Reyes got into a short struggle with an officer, resulting in minor injuries.

Officers eventually made Reyes pull over after about a seven-minute chase and swiftly arrested him.

Reyes has been charged with first- and second-degree murder and related offenses, police said.

The alleged killer is currently being held without bond.

The officer injured during the first traffic stop was taken to a local hospital to be evaluated and later released.

Gardiner said the couple’s deaths appear to be a targeted attack, though investigators have not released information about a potential motive.

“This was a person who was known to the family, both personally and in business,” Lt. Gardiner said. “I don’t know of any issues.”

Gardiner noted that the 911 call could play a vital role in understanding the details of the tragic shooting.

“It’s unfortunate we weren’t here in time to prevent it, but the information that was relayed really led us to a position where we could start isolating other things,” he said.

Authorities also revealed that the couple’s adult granddaughter lived with them but wasn’t home during the shooting.

Toni Arnold, the father of the granddaughter, told CBS News the killings have left their family shaken.

“I just can’t believe somebody viciously murdered them in broad daylight,” Arnold said. “He didn’t deserve that. He took care of his wife; he took care of my daughter. It just breaks my heart.”

Kathy Nguyen, a nearby resident, said she heard the shots from her house just down the road.

“I heard a couple of pop noises. I heard, ‘pop, pop,’” Nguyen recalled, adding that she initially thought it was hunters in the nearby woods before realizing something was wrong.

“Lights and sirens, and then they started running toward the house with rifles, and I thought whatever is going on is not good,” Nguyen said. “And then when I heard about what happened, it shook me to my core.”

Anne Arundel County Police Chief Amal Awad said the double murder has rocked the “very close-knit community.”

“It’s just terribly horrific, especially right before the holiday season,” Awad told the outlet. “This is a very close-knit community. You can see it by how they have already started decorating for the holidays.”

Awad described Long Point as a quiet, low-crime community filled with waterfront homes, family houses, and cottages.

“We are very surprised to get a call like this here,” Awad said. “We know we have family members who are grieving tonight, and this entire community is grieving, and they are going to have to journey forward trying to make sense of what happened.”

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