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Rayonna Burton-Jernigan

Julie Depenbrock

I am an award-winning reporter and public radio producer. My work has appeared in The Washington Post, NPR, Education Week, WAMU and DCist. As a former teacher, I bring unique …

Ryan E. Little

Ryan Little is an award-winning data journalist and the data editor at The Baltimore Banner. He leads a team of reporters who use computational tools to tell powerful stories about …

Aidan T Hughes

My work has appeared in Politico, The Baltimore Sun, Capital News Service and more. I'm passionate about shedding light on issues that would have gone uncovered without innovative data tools …

charlotte dulany

writer | editor

Melena DiNenna

I am a journalist who specializes in copy editing and fact-checking. I also have experience in reporting, photojournalism, research & analysis, data visualization and basic coding & design. Navigate my …

Latest Articles

Maryland’s Senate race drives record outside spending

Outside groups poured over $57 million into Maryland’s congressional races during the 2024 cycle – over five times more than any prior election, according to FEC data that stretches back two decades.

By Aidan T Hughes
5th December 2024 • CNS Maryland

Democrat McClain Delaney declares victory in Maryland’s 6th District House race

Three days after polls closed on Election Day, Democrat April McClain Delaney on Friday declared victory over Republican Neil Parrott in Maryland’s 6th Congressional District race.

By Aidan T Hughes
8th November 2024 • CNS Maryland

When can Marylanders expect election results?

The 2024 election has already generated immense enthusiasm in Maryland, with nearly 1 million people having voted early in-person and over 600,000 more voters casting their ballots by mail as of Tuesday morning.

By Aidan T Hughes
5th November 2024 • CNS Maryland

Election forecasters signal trouble for Maryland GOP hopes

Maryland Republicans entered the 2024 election cycle with reasons to believe their fortunes could soon change. Nevertheless, election forecasters have remained skeptical of Republicans’ odds.

By Aidan T Hughes
29th October 2024 • CNS Maryland

McElderry Park Community Association seeks to help displaced residents

Development and real estate is picking up in McElderry Park, a struggling East Baltimore neighborhood, but community activist Ernest Smith fears the development will force low-income people to leave the neighborhood. “When people begin to redevelop the homes and properties, many times those properties are being redeveloped at prices that …

By Esther Frances
15th December 2022 • CNS Maryland

Fatal vehicle crashes in Maryland spike during pandemic despite less people on the road

During the pandemic, fatal vehicle accidents in Maryland were higher than in previous years, reflective of a national trend. So far this year, the data shows that trend is continuing. The total number of crashes in the years leading up to the pandemic fluctuated between around 120,000 and 115,000 per …

By Melena DiNenna
3rd May 2022 • CNS Maryland

Higher education enrollment faced unprecedented drop during COVID-19 pandemic

Undergraduate and graduate enrollment in public four-year universities has decreased during the pandemic and community college enrollment has seen an even more dramatic decline. As the pandemic led to financial uncertainty across the country and caused colleges to make changes to class delivery, student life and other services, students were …

By Melena DiNenna
19th April 2022 • CNS Maryland

Students level the playing fields at California high school

In Vista, California, heroes wear softball uniforms. Their names: Danielle Ellis and Sydney Prenatt. Ellis and Prenatt resist such praise. But at Rancho Buena Vista High School, where the pair were teammates on the Longhorns softball team for four years before graduating in 2018, that’s exactly how they’re remembered. “They …

By Ashkan Motamedi
11th April 2022 • CNS Maryland

Public school enrollment decreases during pandemic

As a grassroots, volunteer-based organization that connects homeschoolers across the state, the Maryland Homeschool Association (MDHSA) has been tracking data collected by the state education department on homeschooling rates for nearly 20 years. It always tended to fluctuate seemingly randomly, said founder Alessa Keener, never changing by more than 9%. …

By Melena DiNenna
8th March 2022 • CNS Maryland

Supreme Court weighs Mississippi abortion law, future of Roe v. Wade

WASHINGTON – With a crowd of hundreds of activists gathered outside, the Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on a Mississippi law restricting abortions that challenges the nearly 50-year precedent set by Roe v. Wade.

By
1st December 2021 • CNS Maryland

Supreme Court to hear arguments over Mississippi law banning abortions after 15 weeks

WASHINGTON – In a landmark case watched by abortion advocates and opponents, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Dec. 1 on a 2018 Mississippi law challenging nearly 50 years of legal access to abortions.

By
29th November 2021 • CNS Maryland

Massive infrastructure bill cleared by House includes nearly $8 billion for Maryland

WASHINGTON — An unprecedented infrastructure bill that won final passage by the House late Friday includes nearly $8 billion for highway, public transportation, ports and broadband projects throughout Maryland.

By
9th November 2021 • CNS Maryland

Hoyer proposes $9 billion trust fund to help reverse global deforestation

WASHINGTON – Following up on one of President Joe Biden’s pledges to combat climate change, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Mechanicsville, introduced legislation on Wednesday aimed at ending global deforestation, creating a $9 billion trust fund to assist developing countries.

By
3rd November 2021 • CNS Maryland

Van Hollen, Cardin push pilot program to curb military vehicle rollover deaths

WASHINGTON – During a May 2019 training exercise at Camp Pendleton in southern California, Marine 1st Lt. H. Conor McDowell of Chestertown, Maryland, was crushed to death when his light armored vehicle dove into a crevasse concealed by tall grass and rolled over.

By
29th October 2021 • CNS Maryland

Supreme Court hears arguments on Texas abortion law Monday

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Monday over a Texas law that relies on private citizens to help enforce restrictions on most abortions.

By
29th October 2021 • CNS Maryland

With holidays ahead, small businesses struggle with supply chain disruptions

WASHINGTON – Cecily Habimana, co-founder of Sew Creative Lounge, a sewing school in Mount Rainier, Maryland, normally imports her fabric from China and West Africa, but international shipping and customs delays have become unaffordable for the small business owner.

By
21st October 2021 • CNS Maryland

Facebook needs regulation, experts say, but they see roadblocks

WASHINGTON — Congress should enact regulations to curb harmful practices by social media companies like Facebook, cybersecurity and privacy experts say. But they are skeptical that lawmakers will act and, if they do, whether the pace of policy can parallel the ever-changing technology.

By
13th October 2021 • CNS Maryland

D.C. pro-choice march demands protection for women’s rights

WASHINGTON – Thousands rallied here Saturday in support of reproductive rights. Speakers warned that after almost five decades, abortions once again could become illegal at the whim of Republican state legislatures or the conservative majority on the Supreme Court.

By
2nd October 2021 • CNS Maryland

With eyes on Texas and Supreme Court, pro-choice advocates to march in D.C. Saturday

WASHINGTON – Advocates for reproductive rights are planning to rally Saturday in the nation’s capital, a gathering that is expected to put the spotlight on the new anti-abortion law in Texas and a key abortion case that will come before the Supreme Court in December.

By
1st October 2021 • CNS Maryland

Companies look to hire Afghan refugees, but child care remains a question

WASHINGTON – As a number of top American companies are promising to train or hire Afghan refugees resettling in the United States, questions remain about providing child-care services to the new workers.

By
30th September 2021 • CNS Maryland

Baseball fans reflect on national anthem following Povich Center-CDCE-Post poll

A heavy rainstorm washed out the Frederick Keys’ home-opener last Wednesday night at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium. But one ritual went off as planned – the singing of the national anthem. Keys’ broadcaster JJ Michalski performed the anthem moments before rain pelted the announced crowd of 3,500. Amy …

By Jennifer Mandato
2nd June 2021 • CNS Maryland

As Walmart sales soared, workers got scant COVID-19 protection from OSHA

Sandra Kunz had been worried for her safety while working as a cashier at the Walmart in Aurora, Colorado, during the pandemic, her sister, Paula Spellman, said. The 72-year-old had lung disease, Spellman said. She was “feeling uncomfortable because so many people (were) coming in with coughs.” But Kunz didn’t …

By
12th May 2021 • CNS Maryland

Biden: ‘America is on the move again’; wants $2 trillion to aid families

In his first address to a joint session of Congress, President Joe Biden on Wednesday urged Congress to pass a nearly $2 trillion plan to help American families – spending that would build on his administration’s efforts during his first 100 days in office to end the coronavirus pandemic and …

By Jennifer Mandato
29th April 2021 • CNS Maryland

Opioid use, fentanyl deaths spike amid pandemic

Preliminary data from 2020 reveals a dramatic increase in deaths linked with opioids in Maryland, particularly fentanyl; health officials blame the pandemic.

By Callan Tansill-Suddath
27th April 2021 • CNS Maryland

In Washington, Chauvin guilty verdict is call to pass police reform measures

After a jury on Tuesday found former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd, President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic congressional leaders saw the verdict as a call to enact new laws against nationwide police brutality. “Because of smartphones, so many Americans have now …

By Jennifer Mandato
21st April 2021 • CNS Maryland

Chesapeake Bay, southern Maryland could see new federal park, heritage designations

The Maryland congressional delegation is pushing legislation to protect and enhance the natural resources throughout southern Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay area with new federal park and heritage designations. Democratic Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, both of Maryland, and Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Towson, have mounted a bicameral effort …

By Jennifer Mandato
15th April 2021 • CNS Maryland

Bias training bill passes in Maryland Legislature

A bill that would, among other things, mandate healthcare workers participate in implicit bias training, is on the desk of Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, R.

By Callan Tansill-Suddath
10th April 2021 • CNS Maryland

COVID-19 forces new ways of administering hospice care

As COVID-19 wreaked havoc in Maryland last spring, area hospice providers were forced to rethink their entire approach to delivering care; many faced exorbitantly higher operating costs.

By Callan Tansill-Suddath
8th April 2021 • CNS Maryland

Washington Bullpen podcast: D.C. explores how to set up marijuana sales

WASHINGTON – Marijuana is legal in the District of Columbia. The problem is, there is not yet a law setting up how it can be sold legally. Rayonna Burton-Jernigan, a reporter with the Washington Bureau of Capital News Service, explores the issue in this edition of the “Washington Bullpen” podcast.

By Rayonna Burton-Jernigan
6th April 2021 • CNS Maryland

Expansive COVID-19 bill advancing in Maryland Legislature

A bill that would require the Maryland Department of Health to create and implement a two-year plan for COVID-19 recovery by June 1, among other measures, is nearing passage in the Maryland General Assembly.

By Callan Tansill-Suddath
31st March 2021 • CNS Maryland