Maryland
Maryland voters approve amendment enshrining abortion in state constitution
Maryland voters have approved a ballot measure to enshrine the right to abortion in the state’s constitution.
The amendment says the state may not interfere with that right “unless justified by a compelling state interest achieved by the least restrictive means.”
Last year, Maryland lawmakers voted to put the constitutional amendment on the ballot after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Maryland law already protected the right to abortion, but the constitutional amendment will make it harder to ever change the law. The state had approved legislation back in 1991 to protect abortion rights if the Supreme Court ever were to allow abortion to be restricted.
“Ballot Question 1” — also known as the “Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment” — asked Maryland voters whether the state should add a new section to the constitution to confirm the fundamental right to reproductive freedom around decisions to prevent, continue or end pregnancy.
During her race for Maryland’s open U.S. Senate seat, Democratic projected winner Angela Alsobrooks pointed to her record of public service, her focus on creating economic opportunity and her commitment to fighting for abortion rights.
Maryland was among several states that put abortion rights on the ballot Tuesday, with varying results. In Florida, a proposal that would have enshrined abortion rights in that state’s constitution failed, handing a major political victory to Gov. Ron DeSantis and dealing a huge blow to abortion-rights supporters.
According to preliminary results from the NBC News Exit Poll, 35% of U.S. voters said democracy mattered most to their vote, while 31% said the economy; abortion (14%) ranked as the next most important issue. Two in 10 women said abortion was most important, compared to 8% of men.
NASA calls Artemis II mission ‘just the beginning’
The Artemis II crew landed safely back on Earth after a 10-day mission around the moon. NASA said it was the first moon mission “of many more.”
Jessica Watkins, who has already made NASA history, is now set for a second trip to space.
The astronaut from Gaithersburg, Maryland, was announced last week as the spacecraft commander for NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission expected to launch later this year.
Here’s what to know about Watkins.
Who is Jessica Watkins?
Watkins was born in 1988 in Gaithersburg, Maryland, located about 25 miles northwest from downtown Washington DC.
It was in Maryland where she first had dreams of going to space. While attending an after-school program at Judith Resnik Elementary School in Gaithersburg as a 9-year-old, she learned the school was named after the second American woman who went to space.
“I learned that you could go into space as a career, and I was definitely hooked,” she told Stanford Magazine in 2022.
She later moved to Lafayette, Colorado, which she considers her hometown, according to NASA.
After graduating with her bachelor’s degree from Stanford University, Watkins received her doctorate from UCLA in 2015.
“Jessica Watkins has been shaping the future of space exploration since her days at UCLA,” the university said.
What experience does Jessica Watkins have with NASA?
A geologist by training, Watkins was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2017 after working on Mars rover science teams.
She first left earth in 2022 as the mission specialist on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-4 mission, logging 170 days in space.
It was a historic mission for Watkins, who became the first Black woman to live and work at the International Space Station.
“I think it really is just a tribute to the legacy of the Black women astronauts that have come before me, as well as to the exciting future ahead,” Watkins said during an NPR interview.
NASA said her mission duties included “maintaining the space station and contributing to science experiments that not only might improve life on Earth, but also allow researchers to learn more about the effects of long duration spaceflight on the human body.”
In addition to her spaceflight experience, Watkins was named to NASA’s Artemis team, a group of astronauts eligible for future missions to the Moon.
Her experience will now bring her back to the ISS. Watkins will join Luke Delaney, Joshua Kutryk and Sergey Teteryatinikov to replace the Crew-12 mission at the space station.
NASA said the mission is targeted for September.
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 26, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 26 drawing
Midday: 8-5-2
Evening: 4-8-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 26 drawing
Midday: 5-5-4-6
Evening: 5-1-3-1
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from April 26 drawing
Midday: 9-1-7-9-1
Evening: 6-9-5-7-7
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 26 drawing
9 a.m.: 03
1 p.m.: 07
6 p.m.: 09
11 p.m.: 11
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Bonus Match 5 numbers from April 26 drawing
02-11-13-25-39, Bonus: 34
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.
Happy Sunday, Maryland!
After later day showers on Saturday, we’re in for a cool end to the weekend. A little sunshine may break through today but clouds will dominate the skies.
Chilly and gray on Sunday
A front that moved through Saturday night into Sunday morning is now south of us. High pressure will be our dominant weather feature to end the weekend, keeping us mainly dry. Some fog or drizzle is possible. Cloud cover, however, remains in play through the day.
Due to the location of high pressure to our north, our winds here in Maryland will come from the north and east. Highs Sunday afternoon will only be in the upper 50s to around 60°.
Some clearing is possible in the afternoon. More clearing comes overnight into Monday morning.
Spring-like temperatures, rain chances this week
High pressure remains in control to start the work week. Sunshine returns on Monday along with warmer temperatures. Highs peak in the mid to upper 60s. That’ll be where we land, temperature-wise, many days this week.
As a warm front approaches Tuesday, more clouds are expected along with some afternoon showers. The warm front will still be in our vicinity on Wednesday. Midweek is when we’ll have our higher chance for rain as a cold front moves through going into Thursday morning.
Thursday during the day looks nice. Sunshine and clouds mixed.
Low-end rain chances return Friday into Saturday. Slightly cooler air and breezy winds settle in late week into the first weekend of May.
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