Maryland
Moore hosts King Abdullah II of Jordan for economics roundtable discussion – Maryland Matters
On a dreary Wednesday morning, outside a hastily spruced-up Maryland State House, the state of Maryland and the Kingdom of Jordan began what was touted as a new relationship with a hug.
As the motorcade of nearly two dozen motorcycles, police cruisers and sport utility vehicles with flashing lights approached the front of the State House under drizzly skies, Gov. Wes Moore (D) and his wife, Dawn Flythe Moore, calmly stood outside on a patch of red carpet.
A black SUV pulled up and Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein, the king of Jordan, stepped out of the vehicle. He shook hands and embraced the governor, and then shook hands with Moore’s wife.
Abdullah and the Moores then walked up State House steps that had been fitted with temporary brass handrails and about a dozen ferns, and headed into the building for a roundtable discussion on how Maryland and Jordan can collaborate on future economic opportunities.
While Abdullah has visited Maryland before, Moore said that his visit Wednesday marked the first time that a head of state has visited the Maryland State House on official business.
The king and the governor headed to the Governor’s Reception Room, where they sat down with a handful of administrators from Maryland universities and a dozen CEOs and executives from a range of companies, including Lockheed Martin International, Marriott International, McCormick and Co. and others.
“This is where you come together to talk about common goals, talk about common interests and talk about collaboration,” Moore said in opening remarks.
“We have brought leaders from across the state to engage in this historic visit. We look to have a very vibrant discussion about our people and our economies and our opportunities ahead,” he said. While Moore has met with other foreign leaders as governor, huddling with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Washington, D.C., in July, for example, this was his first time hosting.
Abdullah, who was in the U.S. for this week’s General Assembly at the United Nations, said that his visit to Maryland represents a new “relationship” between the state and his country.
The press were escorted out of the reception room after about 4 minutes of opening remarks. Few details of the meeting were available, but in a statement after the fact, the governor’s office said the more-than-90-minute meeting touched on “trade, investment and partnership opportunities between Maryland and Jordan.”
But one of the attendees, University of Maryland, Baltimore County President Valerie Sheares Ashby, called the meeting “extraordinary.”
Sheares Ashby said Abdullah began his comments talking about education.
“As a president of a university, you’re always the person talking about the transformative power of education, but to have the king and the governor say it and start the conversation with that basis was inspiring to me,” she said minutes after the meeting ended
“It was just a wonderful day,” she said. “Wonderful for the state. Wonderful for our global visibility and a fantastic day for higher education.”
While the meeting went on inside the State House, a drone flew above Lawyers Mall.
The meeting ended after noon. Abdullah talked and walked down down the broad steps alongside Moore.
At the bottom of the steps, the two men shook hands and embraced again. Then Abdullah stepped into a black SUV, and moments later the motorcade rolled slowly away from the State House.

The Maryland State House featured a red carpet on Sept. 25, 2024 in honor of His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan visiting Maryland. Photo by Danielle J. Brown.

Gov. Wes Moore and the King of Jordan walk down the steps outside State House after meeting more than an hour Sept. 25. Photo by William J. Ford.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore greets the King Abdullah of Jordan outside the State House on Sept. 25. Photo by William J. Ford.

King Abdullah of Jordan greets Dawn Flythe Moore outside the Maryland State House in Annapolis on Sept. 25. Gov. Wes Moore looks on. Photo by William J. Ford.

Two Maryland Capitol Police officers stand guard in front of the State House doors in Annapolis before the King of Jordan arrives Sept. 25. Photo by William J. Ford.
Maryland
Severn scratch-off makes player a millionaire as Maryland Lottery pays $31.8M in prizes
SEVERN, Md. (WBFF) — A scratch-off ticket sold in Severn turned one Maryland Lottery player into a millionaire, leading a week in which the Lottery paid out more than $31.8 million in prizes statewide.
Maryland Lottery and Gaming said it paid more than $31.8 million in prizes from Feb. 23 through March 1, including 36 tickets worth $10,000 or more.
The top scratch-off prize claimed during that period was a $1 million winning $1,000,000 Crossword ticket sold at the Walmart at 407 George Clauss Boulevard in Severn. Another top winner was a $100,000 Red 5’s Doubler ticket sold at the Carroll Motor Fuel station at 2535 Cleanleigh Drive in Parkville.
Other scratch-off prizes claimed Feb. 23 through March 1 included two $50,000 winners: a 200X the Cash ticket sold at the Wawa at 7501 Pulaski Highway in Rosedale, and a $5,000,000 Luxe ticket sold at the Spring Hill Lake Mini Market at 9240 Spring Hill Lane in Greenbelt. A $30,000 Diamond Bingo 6th Edition ticket was sold at Tempo Lounge at 402 Back River Neck Road in Essex.
ALSO READ | SUN | Maryland GOP unveils energy plan it says saves customers up to $40 a month
The Lottery also reported three $20,000 scratch-off winners, all on $1,000,000 Crossword tickets sold at Geresbeck’s Food Market at 8489 Fort Smallwood Road in Pasadena; Hillandale Beer and Wine at 10117 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring; and Paddock Wine and Spirits at 7627 Woodbine Road in Woodbine.
The Lottery reminded players to sign the backs of tickets and keep winning tickets in a safe location.
The Lottery said the last dates to claim scratch-off tickets are posted on the scratch-offs page at mdlottery.com.
More information is available at mdlottery.com.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
For confidential help or information about gambling problems, visit helpmygamblingproblem.org or call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Maryland
SUN: Dozens of vehicles moved to planned Maryland ICE facility; advocates concerned
Advocacy groups are raising concerns over a warehouse in Washington County that is slated to become an Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facility after dozens of black SUVs were moved to the warehouse’s parking lot on Sunday.
“When federal enforcement vehicles begin lining the warehouse lot, it sends a clear message about what’s taking shape in our community,” said the organizer of Hagerstown Rapid Response, Claire Connor. “We refuse to let ICE quietly plant roots in Washington County without transparency, accountability and community consent.”
The 825,620-square-foot warehouse is located at 16220 Wright Road in Williamsport. Access to the facility was blocked by orange traffic barriers and signs outlining regulations and “governing conduct on federal property” with the Department of Homeland Security emblem at the top of the page.
In late January, Washington County issued a news release stating that on Jan. 14, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to the county’s historic district commission and department of planning and zoning regarding the property.
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun’s website.
Maryland
Howard County police investigate fatal officer-involved shooting in Columbia
COLUMBIA, Md. (WBFF) — An adult man was killed in a police-involved shooting in Columbia early Sunday, prompting an investigation by the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division.
Howard County police said officers were called on March 1, at about 12:09 a.m., to an apartment building in the 6400 block of Freetown Road for a report that involved an adult male threatening to harm himself.
According to police, at about 12:22 a.m., officers encountered the man outside the building. The man approached officers while holding a knife and ignored commands to drop the weapon, police said. Officers then shot the man.
ALSO READ | Gas leak explosion, fire in Prince George’s County leaves 1 injured
Officers attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Officersrecovered a knife near the man.
No officers were injured, and the officers were equipped with body-worn cameras.
The Independent Investigations Division is investigating.
Anyone with information about this incident, including cell phone or private surveillance video, is asked to contact the IID at (410) 576–7070 or by email atIID@oag.maryland.gov.
The IID willgenerally releasethe name of the decedent and any involved officers within two business days of the incident, although that period may be extended, if necessary,pursuant toIID protocol.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (4)
TheIID willgenerally releasebody-worn camera footage within 20 business days of an incident. There may be situations where more than 20 days is necessary, including if investigators need more time to complete witness interviews, if there are technical delays caused by the need to shield the identities of civilian witnesses, or to allow family members to view the video before it is released to the public.
-
World5 days agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts5 days agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Denver, CO5 days ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Louisiana1 week agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Technology1 week agoYouTube TV billing scam emails are hitting inboxes
-
Politics1 week agoOpenAI didn’t contact police despite employees flagging mass shooter’s concerning chatbot interactions: REPORT
-
Technology1 week agoStellantis is in a crisis of its own making
-
News1 week agoWorld reacts as US top court limits Trump’s tariff powers
