The crash happened shortly after 2 a.m. on Maryland Route 97 near Humbert Schoolhouse Road. A 2016 GMC Canyon traveling northbound crossed the center line for unknown reasons and collided head-on with a 2011 Ford E-350 van, according to a preliminary investigation.
The driver of the Ford van, who has not yet been identified pending notification of next of kin, was pronounced dead at the scene by Carroll County emergency medical personnel. He was the sole occupant of the vehicle, state police said.
The GMC Canyon driver, identified as 36-year-old Christopher Wolf of New Oxford, Pennsylvania, was transported to York Hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. Wolf was the sole occupant of the vehicle and his condition was not disclosed.
Authorities say charges are pending the outcome of the investigation as the cause of the crash remains under review.
The Maryland State Police Crash Team responded to assist with the investigation.
Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.
]]>Vincent Edison, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ellen L. Hollander after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and illegal possession of firearms. Edison led a West Baltimore drug operation that sold fentanyl capsules for hours each day to scores of buyers, including undercover agents, according to federal investigators.
Investigators said Edison operated a drug “shop” at Winchester and North Dukeland streets in West Baltimore that was active 10 to 12 hours a day for months in 2022. Text messages obtained by law enforcement revealed Edison acting as a manager of street dealers, directing them to open on time or face wage penalties, and even firing those who failed to meet his expectations.
His fentanyl network went outside Baltimore, supplying buyers in more distant counties.
On Dec. 7, 2022, DEA surveillance caught Edison delivering a black plastic bag to a dealer at the drug shop. Shortly after, authorities intercepted a vehicle registered to a Washington County resident and found 500 gel caps of fentanyl weighing 263 grams inside a black bag.
The investigation later uncovered Edison’s stash house in Baltimore County, where fentanyl was prepared for street-level distribution. Covert surveillance revealed that Edison made daily visits to the location, often leaving with black bags that he would deliver to dealers.
On Jan. 27, 2023, authorities executed search warrants at Edison’s Baltimore residence and the stash house. During the searches, they recovered five firearms — including an AR-style rifle, a shotgun, and three loaded handguns — despite Edison being prohibited from owning weapons. Agents also seized 70 grams of fentanyl, about $90,800 in cash, and luxury jewelry valued at approximately $150,000.
The stash location also housed a fentanyl processing lab equipped with 22 capsule-filling machines, scales, gloves, and hundreds of capsules. Investigators seized 133 grams of powdered fentanyl and 400 additional capsules, totaling 307 grams.
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]]>Hundreds of nurses represented by National Nurses United — the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in the U.S. — walked off the job at 7 a.m. and will remain off duty until 6:59 a.m. Friday.
“We hope to accomplish that the management here in St. Agnes will hear the nurses cry,” said Robin Buckner, a clinical nurse at the hospital who participated in the strike. “We are out here to get better staffing for our patients so we can give them the best care possible.”
The strike follows a nearly unanimous authorization vote in May and 18 months of failed negotiations for a first union contract. Nurses say the hospital’s chronic understaffing and unsafe working conditions are jeopardizing patient outcomes and nurse well-being.
Saint Agnes Medical Center remained open and fully operational Thursday during the strike, the hospital said.
According to hospital officials, nearly 70% of scheduled union-represented nurses reported for work, and agency staff were brought in to maintain patient care. The hospital said care remained uninterrupted and safe throughout the day.
“We look forward to the union returning their focus to negotiations so we can continue to bargain in good faith and advocate for a contract that allows our nurses to have the choice on whether or not to be dues-paying union members, ensures safe staffing and provides market competitive wages,” a hospital spokesperson said in a statement to The Baltimore Sun.
The union has alleged that the hospital routinely uses the practice of “floating” — reassigning nurses to units outside their area of specialty — without sufficient training or oversight. Nurses argue this compromises patient care and creates unnecessary risks.
Union leaders are demanding that Ascension Saint Agnes commit to enforceable nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, restrict unsafe floating practices, and ensure that charge nurses are available as clinical resources rather than being assigned their patient loads.
“We want nurses to work in areas that they’re familiar with working and not getting sent to places they’re not trained to be,” Buckner said. “We also want to have a limited number of patients per nurse.”
Nick Stewart, who is running for Baltimore County executive, attended the rally and expressed concern about people being able to afford the necessities in a tough economic environment. He said first responders can rarely afford to live in the communities they serve.
“What they’re asking for here is not a lot,” Stewart, a Democrat, said. “They’re asking for safety, that they can actually deliver high-quality care to patients so they’re not put in compromising positions, and they’re asking for basic things like cost of living and increases and so forth that just allow them to continue to tread water.”
He pointed out the importance of Saint Agnes to the area.
“It represents a critical component of the health care assets that we have in our ecosystem, that we should be building off … but we need to square away things like this for that brand to ultimately flourish,” Stewart said.
The staffing crisis has taken a toll — the union reports that more than 10% of nurses have left the hospital since April.
Although Ascension has said it is working to improve conditions, a spokesperson noted that in May, the hospital implemented an average 9% pay increase for full- and part-time nurses, calling it “the right thing to do” amid ongoing negotiations.
The nurses unionized in 2023, becoming the first hospital-based RNs in Baltimore to do so.
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The study, released Monday by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, found that activities at the CSX Curtis Bay Piers terminal — particularly the movement of coal by bulldozers — are major contributors to spikes in air pollution.
Researchers monitored air quality and used cameras to track coal-handling activity from July 2022 to July 2023. The results showed sharp increases in black carbon and fine particulate matter when coal was being pushed or when winds carried dust from the site into residential areas.
For many Curtis Bay residents, the findings confirmed long-standing concerns about the environmental and health impacts of living near the coal terminal.
“This new scientific evidence is not a revelation to the people who live here — it is validation,” the Community of Curtis Bay Association said in a statement to The Baltimore Sun. “Validation of the daily reality we’ve described in testimony after testimony, in letters to officials, and in community meetings over many years. We have long sounded the alarm, and yet meaningful relief has never come.”
In 2021, an explosion at the terminal covered homes in coal dust, sparking renewed outrage and prompting government investigations. Despite mitigation efforts, such as dust-suppressing water sprays and wind fences, researchers in the latest report found that these measures fall short.
Residents said the issues run deeper than the blast.
“This is not a problem that began with the CSX coal explosion — though that human-made disaster further revealed the dangerous conditions the company has allowed,” the association said. “This is a long-standing public health concern, one that our community has endured for far too long. It is a failure of corporate responsibility and of regulatory oversight, and it is far past time for meaningful action.”
CSX said in a statement to The Sun that its Curtis Bay coal pier operations meet or exceed federal and state environmental standards and that air quality in the area complies with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. Citing data from a collaborative investigation reviewed by independent experts, the company said levels of particulate matter are within national safety standards.
“CSX is committed to environmental compliance and strives to protect the environment and the safety and health of the public, our customers, and employees in all aspects of our operations,” the company said in the statement.
The Curtis Bay community is urging the Maryland Department of the Environment to deny the renewal of CSX’s operating permit, which is under review. Advocates say the agency has to act on both scientific findings and the lived experiences of Curtis Bay residents.
MDE officials confirmed CSX’s last violation was in early September 2024 for dust emissions from track repair. An enforcement action in that case is pending, according to a spokesperson. The operating permit is also pending, the MDE said.
Residents vowed to continue the fight against pollution.
“The only path forward that our community finds acceptable is one that leads to a Curtis Bay free of coal dust,” the community association said. “Period.”
Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.
]]>The first phase of structural demolition will focus on razing the barns and outbuildings adjacent to Winner Avenue, clearing the way for the redevelopment of the historic site, according to the authority.
“This is a pivotal step in transforming Pimlico into a year-round racing venue,” Craig A. Thompson, chairman of the authority, said in a statement. “The project will bring economic growth to the surrounding community and solidify Maryland’s reputation as a top-tier sports tourism destination.”
The work will be overseen by Clark Construction Group LLC, the authority’s construction manager for the project.
The effort is part of a $400 million plan authorized by Maryland lawmakers through House Bill 1524, passed in 2024. The legislation enables the authority to fund a complete overhaul of Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore and build a new training facility at Shamrock Farm in Carroll County. Design work for both venues is being led by Ayers Saint Gross and Populous, in partnership with Clark Construction.
Preparations for demolition began shortly after the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes in May. Racing and training operations will be temporarily moved to Laurel Park during construction.
The 151st Preakness Stakes will be held there in 2026, with plans to return the event to the new Pimlico Race Course for its 152nd running in 2027.
Following the event, the site was vacated by horses and operators, while the Maryland State Archives removed and preserved important artifacts from the property. In recent weeks, crews have fenced off the area, conducted pest control, adjusted utilities and completed abatement procedures ahead of demolition.
A ceremonial event to commemorate the takedown of the historic Pimlico Clubhouse is planned for later this summer.
In addition to a new racing complex, the project includes plans for a public exhibition dedicated to the legacy of Pimlico and Maryland’s horse racing history. The display will feature artifacts, photographs, oral histories and materials salvaged from the current facility. Special focus will be given to African American jockeys, the evolution of thoroughbred racing in Maryland and the cultural impact of the Preakness.
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]]>The races are scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 6, on a newly designed 17.9-mile circuit course entirely within Baltimore City.
The event, billed as the top professional road cycling race in the United States, will include technical terrain with 28 turns, 550 yards of cobblestones, two major climbs, and a flat 1,000-yard finishing stretch along East Pratt Street.
“You are going to see on the streets of Baltimore world-class athletes — Tour de France riders, Olympic medalists, national champions, the best of the best in cycling right here in Baltimore,” said Terry Hasseltine, president of the event’s owners, Sport and Entertainment Corp. of Maryland, at a news conference Wednesday.
The women’s race will begin at 8:30 a.m. and span four laps, totaling 71.6 miles. The men’s race, starting at 12:30 p.m., will run six laps for a total of 107.4 miles. Both races will begin at Harbor Point’s Central Plaza and finish near Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, where past editions of the men’s race have drawn tens of thousands of spectators.
The men’s course includes 5,682 feet of elevation gain, while the women’s course features 3,868 feet. Riders will compete for points during intermediate sprints and at the finish line, as well as at designated King/Queen of the Mountain segments on Northern Parkway each lap.
The race was postponed in 2024 because of the Key Bridge collapse, changes to the course and the Summer Olympics in Paris.
“It’s great to celebrate the return of the Maryland Cycling Classic,” Mayor Brandon Scott said. “It’s one of the most exciting events that we get to host here in Baltimore. We are anticipating 100,000 spectators citywide.”
Organizers announced that several Fan Zones will be positioned throughout the course, offering spectators access to live race coverage on large screens and free promotional items such as cowbells and thundersticks. Viewing locations will include Harbor Point, Thames Street, Patterson Park, Mount Vernon and the finish area on East Pratt Street.
The circuit route will take riders through a range of Baltimore neighborhoods and landmarks:
- In the opening mile, riders will cross Fells Point’s historic cobblestones, providing an early challenge.
- The course will then move through Canton and Patterson Park at mile 2, the latter including an uphill section on East Baltimore Street that could influence team tactics.
- At mile 5, riders will pass the Washington Monument in Mount Vernon and continue through the Hampden neighborhood by mile 8.
- The course’s most significant climb will occur near St. Mary’s Seminary on Northern Parkway, which serves as the King/Queen of the Mountain stage point each lap and marks the course’s highest elevation with a 1,000-yard ascent.
- The final portion of the race features a downhill return to the Inner Harbor, ending with a flat and fast sprint on East Pratt Street, the same finish line used in 2022 and 2023. According to race organizers, those past editions attracted crowds estimated at 20,000 spectators.
“Creating a race route through metropolitan area certainly comes with its challenges,” Maryland Cycling Classic Race Director Jim Birrell said. “One of the most important things that we take into consideration is that we know that people live and work here, and so we want to be very mindful of their daily activities. But at the same time, you know, developing a dynamic route that will challenge these athletes throughout the city of Baltimore. It’s a really delicate dance.”
The race will be broadcast internationally.
Organizers said that the addition of a women’s race and a city-centered course format is intended to expand the race’s appeal and accessibility for fans and partners.
“This race means a lot to me, not just because it brings world-class cycling to our city, but because it’s making real progress in the sport, especially this year,” said Maize Wimbush, a Clinton native who is a 2021 Junior National Road Champion and community ambassador for the Maryland Cycling Classic. “One of the most exciting developments in 2025 is the inclusion of the women’s Maryland Cycling Classic. For the first time ever, this is a new race on the schedule, and it’s a milestone for equity in sports.
“Women riders will now have the opportunity to race on American soil at the highest level.”
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]]>In a closely watched referendum held Tuesday, residents voted 834 to 800 against Ordinance 2025-04, which would have imposed new limitations on rentals in the town’s R-1 and MH zoning districts.
The R-1 zoning classification includes low-density, single-family residential neighborhoods, while MH zones regulate mobile home parks and subdivisions. Together, these areas account for about 3% to 4% of Ocean City’s estimated 10,000 rental properties — affecting roughly 300 to 350 units, according to City Manager Terry McGean.
Terry Miller, president of OCMD Property Rights, a group formed to fight the proposal, celebrated the victory, calling it a win for homeowners and the local economy.
“It was quite a fight,” Miller said. “I do feel good about it. I was hoping it wasn’t going to be quite so close. I thought we would have a bigger margin, but the opposition really pulled out all stops at the end, and I thought they were able to sway some people.”
The ordinance proposed a five-night-minimum stay in those districts starting this year, with a more stringent 31-night minimum taking effect in 2027. Bookings made before March 3, 2025, would have been exempt.
The referendum was triggered by a successful petition effort led by OCMD Property Rights. In May, the group submitted 1,090 verified signatures — exceeding the 990 required to put the measure on the ballot.
Supporters of the ordinance argued the restrictions would protect neighborhood quality of life, citing issues such as noise, trash and overcrowding associated with short-term rentals. Opponents countered that the measure threatened Ocean City’s tourism-driven economy and infringed upon property owners’ rights.
“From the beginning, we all acknowledged there are a few problems, but you don’t steal people’s property rights over a few problems,” Miller said. “You fix the problems or take away the rights of people who are causing the problems.”
In a statement, the city pointed out that more than 9,000 short-term rental licenses remain outside the affected areas, as well as 11,000 hotel rooms and more than 20,000 condos, townhouses and homes that remain unrestricted, “including the entire ocean block.”
Palmer Gillis relocated to Ocean City from Salisbury in 2000 and was an early supporter of the ban on short-term rentals in R-1 zones, which was later expanded by the mayor and City Council to include MH zones.
Gillis previously served on the Salisbury City Council, representing the city on the Salisbury-Wicomico Planning and Zoning Commission. He said his experience in local government gave him a firsthand understanding of how short-term rentals, much like student rentals, can significantly alter the character of residential neighborhoods.
“I think the folks who opposed this — and it might be two years, and it might be 10 years — will actually regret this because I believe what our community will see is an erosion of neighborhoods,” Gillis said. “There has to be a place for year-round residents to live and act as if they’re in a neighborhood.”
Despite the narrow margin, the vote signals strong community interest on both sides of the issue — and leaves Ocean City’s short-term rental market largely unchanged, at least for now.
Rob Bouse, co-owner of a real estate agency in the city, said he was “glad” voters overturned the ordinance He said it’s right for the homeowner who pays taxes to decide how they want to rent or not rent their property.
“I’m curious to see how the City Council responds and see if they try to draw up another referendum,” Bouse said.
Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.
]]>The study, published Monday in the “Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health” journal, argues that daily activity at CSX Corp.’s Curtis Bay Piers terminal is a significant contributor to air pollution in the surrounding residential area, which is already burdened by industrial operations and heavy diesel traffic.
Researchers set up air pollutant monitors throughout Curtis Bay and used cameras to track visible bulldozer activity at the terminal from July 2022 to July 2023. The data revealed that levels of black carbon and other fine particulate matter — pollutants linked to serious health risks — rose sharply when bulldozers were pushing coal and when winds carried dust from the terminal toward the neighborhood, according to the report.
“Curtis Bay residents have reported for years that they observe black dust that accumulates at their homes and in the community, and they attribute this to coal dust,” the study’s senior author, Christopher D. Heaney, associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Bloomberg School, said in the report. “The approach we used in this study revealed that the coal terminal is a significant driver of air pollution burdens in this community.”
CSX said in a statement to The Baltimore Sun that its Curtis Bay coal pier operations meet or exceed federal and state environmental standards and that air quality in the area complies with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. Citing data from a collaborative investigation reviewed by independent experts, the company said levels of particulate matter are within national safety standards.
“CSX is committed to environmental compliance and strives to protect the environment and the safety and health of the public, our customers, and employees in all aspects of our operations,” the company said in the statement. “It’s our focus to continue constructive discussions with the Maryland Department of the Environment that can lead to a better understanding of our commitment to sustainability as well as collaborative efforts to reasonably address community concerns.”
The terminal, built in 1882, handles up to 14 million tons of coal annually — most of it bound for India and northern Europe. The coal is transported by train from West Virginia and Pennsylvania, stored in open-air piles, and loaded onto ships using bulldozers.
In 2021, an explosion at the terminal covered homes in coal dust, sparking renewed outrage and prompting government investigations. Residents have since intensified calls for stronger regulation and greater accountability.
Despite mitigation efforts, such as dust-suppressing water sprays and wind fences, researchers in the latest report found that these measures fall short. Bulldozers were visibly active an average of 35% to 40% of the time during the study period, with the worst pollution levels occurring when both wind direction and bulldozer movement aligned.
Officials with the Community of Curtis Bay Association could not be reached for comment.
The study builds on previous work published in 2024 by the same team, which said it confirmed the presence of coal dust up to 1.2 kilometers away from the terminal. This new research shows how specific terminal activities contribute to pollution in real time.
CSX also challenged that initial study as “materially flawed,” arguing that it showed “indicators” of coal dust but failed to prove its presence, and pointing to other technological and methodological shortcomings. The company argued that the university research “should not be used to inform regulatory decisions” about the coal transportation hub.
The conclusions arrive as Maryland officials weigh next steps for regulating the terminal. Options under discussion include requiring full enclosure of coal-handling operations, denying the terminal’s permit renewal or transitioning the site away from the sedimentary deposit altogether.
Curtis Bay has been at the center of environmental justice concerns over the past several years.
Last September, a study led by the University of Maryland found air pollution in Curtis Bay is on par with pollution near major highways and the city’s downtown area. In October, the Maryland attorney general’s office announced a $1.75 million penalty against Curtis Bay Energy for air pollutants, a record payment to settle an environmental criminal case in the state.
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]]>Emergency crews were dispatched to the 9800 block of Lyons Mill Road in Owings Mills around 8:30 a.m. following reports of a need for a trench rescue, according to the Baltimore County Fire Department.
Investigators said Luis Medrano, a worker for Dance Brothers Concrete Construction, was digging in a trench when pressurized water suddenly began spraying into the hole, quickly flooding the area. A wall of the trench then partially gave way, causing a significant amount of soil to fall on Medrano, according to Baltimore County Police.
Co-workers were able to extract him from the debris but he was later pronounced dead at the scene.
The most recently issued building permit for that portion of Lyons Mill is Deer Park Elementary School, including grading work, according to Baltimore County building permit data. A new Deer Park Elementary is expected to open fall 2026, boosting the school’s capacity from 431 students to 710.
“I am writing to inform you that a contractor’s employee was involved in a fatal accident at a construction site on school property this morning,” wrote Deer Park Principal Renee Jenkins in a message to the school community. “We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the contractor.”
Officials with Dance Brothers Concrete could not be reached for comment. The school property is temporarily closed to public access, according to Jenkins’ message.
Maryland Occupational Safety and Health, part of the state’s Department of Labor and Industry, and Baltimore County Police responded to the site and are investigating.
Baltimore Sun reporter Raquel Bazos contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.
]]>The suspect was taken into custody in the 1700 block of Carswell Street in Coldstream-Homestead-Montebello. She is accused of fatally shooting 33-year-old William Grant on Saturday in the 2800 block of Kennedy Avenue in the same neighborhood.
Officers responding to the scene found Grant suffering from gunshot wounds. He was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Following an investigation, police located and arrested the woman, who has since been transported to the Central Booking Intake Facility. She faces charges of first- and second-degree murder.
The motive behind the shooting remains under investigation.
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