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New campaign finance reports show last-minute spending on Md. elections – Maryland Matters

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New campaign finance reports show last-minute spending on Md. elections – Maryland Matters


A political action committee affiliated with Gov. Wes Moore (D) spent $315,000 in the days leading up to this year’s election on ads that aimed to defeat his predecessor, Republican Larry Hogan, as Hogan vied to win a U.S. Senate seat.

Given the tens of millions of dollars spent on the election between Hogan and the victorious Democrat, Sen.-elect Angela Alsobrooks, the investment by Unity First PAC, which was set up earlier this year by Democratic operatives affiliated with Moore, was undeniably modest.

But new campaign finance reports filed Thursday with the Federal Election Commission provide the latest glimpse into the early expenditures of Unity First PAC — which is likely to become the primary vehicle to elevate Moore’s national political profile, even as he prepares for a difficult General Assembly session and his 2026 reelection campaign. The finance reports cover the period Oct. 17-Nov. 25.

Unity First PAC, which launched in the summer, is being run by Ned Miller, Moore’s 2022 campaign manager, and was focused on electing Alsobrooks for Senate and Rep.-elect April McClain Delaney (D-6th) in the state’s most competitive congressional elections.

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Through Nov. 25, three weeks after Election Day, Unity First reported raising $743,000 since its creation, mostly from large donors, and spending $690,200. But almost two-thirds of that spending, $402,170, took place in the days leading up to the election, most of it on ads attacking Hogan and former Del. Neil C. Parrott (R), Delaney’s opponent.

In all, the PAC spent $415,000 on anti-Hogan advertising and $75,000 on digital ads attacking Parrott.

The PAC raised $35,000 from two national unions just before the election — $25,000 from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and $10,000 from the International Association of Firefighters. It reported $52,799 on hand as of Nov. 25 — an amount that Moore and his associates will no doubt look to build on as he considers whether to wade into the nascent 2028 White House campaign.

Unity First PAC should sustain Moore’s political activities outside Maryland, while his state campaign fund will nurture his 2026 reelection bid. That committee will report its activities for 2024 in mid-January.

The Alsobrooks-Hogan general election was the most expensive in Maryland history. Alsobrooks’ principal campaign committee reported spending $30.3 million through Nov. 25, and had $288,156 in its war chest that day. Even after being elected on Nov. 5, Alsobrooks reported raising $92,886.

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Hogan, who is expected to weigh a possible challenge to Moore in 2026, spent more than $11.5 million from his principal campaign committee, which retained $403,137 as of Nov. 25. Hogan reported loaning his campaign $500,000 on Oct. 31, less than a week before Election Day.

But both candidates had joint campaign funds and also benefited from millions of dollars in spending from outside groups. The most striking was $30.6 million from a Republican PAC called Maryland’s Future, which was largely funded from well-known GOP donors from across the country. The PAC funded an aggressive array of ads attacking Alsobrooks across multiple platforms, but she still wound up winning by almost 12 points.

Meanwhile, in the 6th District, the latest campaign finance reports show that Delaney continued to fund her campaign through the day before the election, when she dropped $148,000 of her own money into the race. In all, Delaney invested more than $3.8 million of her own money in the race, including almost $1.3 million between Oct. 17 and Nov. 4.

Delaney, a lawyer and former U.S. Commerce Department official, spent almost $5.8 million on her campaign and reported $93,033 in her campaign account as of Nov. 25. In the most competitive House district in the state, she could be targeted by Republicans in 2026, though with Donald Trump entering the White House in January, the next midterm election is, at this early stage, expected to favor Democrats.

Parrott, who lost three straight congressional races in the 6th District, spent over $1.1 million on the campaign, and had just $2,914 in the bank on Nov. 25.

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

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


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).

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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.

ALSO READ | Baltimore man sentenced to 13 years in prison for conspiring to distribute cocaine

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.

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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 High School Football Playoffs See Game Result Changed

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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.

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“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.

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

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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.

William “Charlie” Hayes, 56, and his wife, Jeanna Hayes, 54, were murdered inside their Maryland home Sunday afternoon. Facebook

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.

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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.

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Investigators quickly identified Anthony Louis Reyes, 61, a business associate and friend of the couple, as the suspect. Anne Arundel County Police

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.

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“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.”

The couple’s murders appear to be a targeted attack, though investigators have not released information about a potential motive. Facebook

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.

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“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.”

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

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.”

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“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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