Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Julie Bykowicz

Baltimore Banner @thebaltimorebanner.com · 16h

Before mass foreclosures, loan product looked good for Baltimore

Landlords like Dontae Carroll say Wall Street’s freeze on a specific housing loan has put their plans to purchase on hold.

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Julie Bykowicz @bykowicz.bsky.social · 11h

For sale: Maryland's own fantasy island, via @thebaltimorebanner.com
www.thebanner.com/economy/real...

St. Helena, a fantasy island in the Severn River, heads to auction

The only habitable island in the Severn River has a colorful and even illicit history.

www.thebanner.com

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Reposted by Julie Bykowicz

Hayes Gardner @hayesgardner.bsky.social · 1d

The L.A. Rams play in Baltimore against the Ravens on Sunday and then in London, England the following week. Rather than return to the West Coast, they'll remain in Baltimore — practicing at Oriole Park.

www.thebanner.com/sports/raven...

The L.A. Rams will practice at Oriole Park before NFL game in London

Rather than flying back to the West Coast after their game in Baltimore, the Rams will stick around, practicing at Oriole Park, before a trip across the pond.

www.thebanner.com

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Reposted by Julie Bykowicz

Hayes Gardner @hayesgardner.bsky.social · 1d

They tried the ritzy out-of-town developers. They tried local ones. They even tried breaking up the quagmire that is the "Superblock" into bite-size parcels.

All failed. Then, it burned.

What's next for the stagnant development?

w/ @emilyopilo.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/economy/supe...

The Superblock blaze followed a generation of development failure. Now what?

An ambitious plan to redevelop what’s called the Superblock, an area of downtown Baltimore, has been stuck in the mud for a quarter century. Much of the area was razed after a fire last month.

www.thebanner.com

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Reposted by Julie Bykowicz

◥◤Kriston Capps @kristoncapps.bsky.social · 6d

Remarkable story about a wave of foreclosures in Baltimore triggered by incomprehensible DSCR loan activity from New York investors. This @thebaltimorebanner.com story reads like the sixth season of "The Wire": www.thebanner.com/community/ho...

The housing hustle igniting a foreclosure crisis in Baltimore

The foreclosures could send neighborhoods spiraling and make Baltimore America’s next great housing crisis.

www.thebanner.com

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Reposted by Julie Bykowicz

Dylan Segelbaum @dylansegelbaum.bsky.social · 6d

By @halliemiller.bsky.social, Jack Bologna and @sahanajayaraman.bsky.social: The housing hustle igniting a foreclosure crisis in Baltimore. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)

The housing hustle igniting a foreclosure crisis in Baltimore

The foreclosures could send neighborhoods spiraling and make Baltimore America’s next great housing crisis.

www.thebanner.com

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Julie Bykowicz @bykowicz.bsky.social · 6d

Please read this wild tale from Baltimore that has some eerie echoes of the subprime mortgage crisis of yore. A monthslong investigation from @thebaltimorebanner.com.
www.thebanner.com/community/ho...

The housing hustle igniting a foreclosure crisis in Baltimore

The foreclosures could send neighborhoods spiraling and make Baltimore America’s next great housing crisis.

www.thebanner.com

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Reposted by Julie Bykowicz

Shawn Donnan @sdonnan.bsky.social · 7d

Trump’s tariffs - and companies’ push for relief from them - has set off a lobbying boom with more than $900 million spent in the first half of this year.

The big winners: A small group of lobbying firms with close ties to the Trump administration.

www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

A Gunmaker’s Lobbying Shows How Trump’s Tariffs Changed the Game

Firms close to the administration have seen a surge in revenue as they advise businesses on how to avoid the import duties and play ‘Let’s Make a Deal’ in Trump's Washington

www.bloomberg.com

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Julie Bykowicz @bykowicz.bsky.social · 8d

What federal workers have to say about the looming shutdown. via @thebaltimorebanner.com

Baltimore Banner @thebaltimorebanner.com · 8d

‘Federal workers are not political pawns.’ Civil employees brace for shutdown.

Federal workers brace for government shutdown

The Banner interviewed current and former federal workers to hear what they think of the potential government shutdown — and how they’re preparing for it.

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Julie Bykowicz @bykowicz.bsky.social · 12d

“Along with fast-tracking the money, Noem flew to Naples on a government plane to tour the pier herself.”

ProPublica @propublica.org · 12d

NEW: After one of Kristi Noem’s major financial supporters contacted her, the DHS chief quickly expedited more than $11 million of federal money to rebuild a historic pier in Naples, Florida, records obtained by ProPublica show.

Kristi Noem Fast-Tracked Millions in Disaster Aid to Florida Tourist Attraction After Campaign Donor Intervened

The DHS chief has been widely criticized for slowing down FEMA’s response after natural disasters. Texts and emails obtained by ProPublica point to an effective way to get help faster: have one of Noe...

www.propublica.org

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Julie Bykowicz @bykowicz.bsky.social · 13d

Great @thebaltimorebanner.com story on the business of music festivals

Hayes Gardner @hayesgardner.bsky.social · 13d

NEW | This year alone, 100 music festivals worldwide have folded — even more than 2024, which NPR dubbed "the year the music festival died."

But nobody seems to have told All Things Go, which is rapidly expanding.
www.thebanner.com/economy/all-...

As music festivals worldwide struggle, All Things Go keeps getting bigger

This year, All Things Go, the independent festival named for lyrics to a Sufjan Stevens song, will host acts like Noah Kahan, Lucy Dacus, Doechii and Kesha.

www.thebanner.com

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Reposted by Julie Bykowicz

Baltimore Banner @thebaltimorebanner.com · 14d

The A-10 era is over for the Maryland Air National Guard

The Maryland Air National Guard deactivated its last remaining A-10 squadrons Tuesday, leaving Maryland as the only state without planes to deploy in an emergency.

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Reposted by Julie Bykowicz

Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 15d

Between 2019 and 2025, there's been a 28% decline in the real value of Philly's major office buildings. Its not over: some buildings that recently sold for less than half their assessments will win their appeals. This has implications for the tax base and BID budgets www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...

Many of Philadelphia’s office buildings are plummeting in value — and it’s costing the city millions

The falling assessments of city office buildings have implications for finances of local government, the school district, and business improvement organizations like the Center City District.

www.inquirer.com

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Julie Bykowicz @bykowicz.bsky.social · 15d

NEW: The IRS has scrutinized Baltimore nonprofit Second Chance, its appraiser and donors for years. Donors have been writing off their entire homes, rather than just salvaged materials. Tax guys say, uh, no.
Read @lillianreed.bsky.social in @thebaltimorebanner.com
www.thebanner.com/economy/seco...

Second Chance’s fight with the IRS brought scrutiny to donors

In a new court filing, an appraiser for Second Chance says the IRS is waging a “scorched earth assault” on the Baltimore-based nonprofit that sells secondhand furniture and building supplies.

www.thebanner.com

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Julie Bykowicz @bykowicz.bsky.social · 19d

Notable:

Pamela Wood @pwoodreporter.bsky.social · 19d

In addition to questioning the cost of a rebuilt Francis Scott Key Bridge, Donald Trump’s administration has a new target: Maryland laws requiring minority-owned businesses complete a chunk of the work.

The latest from me and @hayesgardner.bsky.social:

www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...

Trump administration questions Key Bridge cost, minority contracting

President Donald Trump’s administration is questioning the cost of replacing Baltimore’s collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge and criticizing Maryland laws that require some of the work be contracted ou...

www.thebanner.com

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Julie Bykowicz @bykowicz.bsky.social · 19d

"He wore a gray Buc-ee’s hoodie and an Orioles cap to represent his hometown."
via @thebaltimorebanner.com
www.thebanner.com/culture/thin...

I drove three hours from Baltimore to Buc-ee's. It was so worth it.

People from the Baltimore area are traveling hours just to visit the new Buc-ee's in Virginia. The Texas-born gas station has a cult following, and Baltimoreans can get in on the craze.

www.thebanner.com

Reposted by Julie Bykowicz

Baltimore Banner @thebaltimorebanner.com · 19d

Howard County planners reject Sheetz development on historic pet cemetery

Howard County planners reject Sheetz on historic pet cemetery

Howard County’s planning board voted Thursday night to reject gas pumps and a Sheetz convenience store on historic Rosa Bonheur pet cemetery in Elkridge.

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Reposted by Julie Bykowicz

Baltimore Banner @thebaltimorebanner.com · 19d

Will Tradepoint gobble up a Locust Point pier’s salt haul?

Moore admin’s delayed report has Locust Point pier in limbo

The Locust Point pier needs millions of dollars worth of repairs, and the lease that Canton Stevedoring has held since 2011 is set to expire at the end of the year.

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Reposted by Julie Bykowicz

Hayes Gardner @hayesgardner.bsky.social · 20d

Jimmy Kimmel's suspension is "not enough" for local media giant Sinclair.

w/ @leeosanderlin.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/economy/jimm...

Jimmy Kimmel suspension ‘not enough’ for local media giant Sinclair

Baltimore County-based Sinclair Broadcast Group wants suspended ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel to donate to Charlie Kirk’s family and conservative group.

www.thebanner.com

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Julie Bykowicz @bykowicz.bsky.social · 20d

Enoch George Howard bought his freedom, and hundreds of acres of Montgomery County land. Read about this remarkable Marylander, and the new state park that will tell his story. Beautifully written by @juliemore19.bsky.social @thebaltimorebanner.com
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...

Unearthing history: Maryland's new state park celebrates Black triumph

A historian digging around land records rediscovered the Howard properties and built excitement among other state workers. Around the same time, the executive director of Afro Charities came across a ...

www.thebanner.com

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Julie Bykowicz @bykowicz.bsky.social · 21d

"The state’s fledgling industry may face its doomsday in President Donald Trump, who has a longtime grudge against turbines." Great read by @adampwillis.bsky.social

Baltimore Banner @thebaltimorebanner.com · 21d

Is offshore wind doomed in Maryland?

The Baltimore-based US Wind project off Ocean City is Maryland’s only offshore wind farm close to construction, but federal tax breaks and courtroom battles may decide its fate.

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Reposted by Julie Bykowicz

The Banner Montgomery @bannermoco.bsky.social · 22d

Meet The Banner Montgomery newsroom buff.ly/nDRBXpG

Meet The Banner Montgomery newsroom

For the past two months, we have been putting together a team of journalists who can cover the issues that matter most to residents.

www.thebanner.com

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Reposted by Julie Bykowicz

Maya Lora @mayaklora.bsky.social · 22d

It's been over five years since the onset of COVID-19, which means the babies born into the pandemic are off to pre-K 4 and kindergarten. How exactly can teachers support these kiddos, who spent their earliest years in isolation? I dug into it: www.thebanner.com/education/ea...