Emerging news reporter

Dan Belson

Dan Belson is a breaking news reporter for The Baltimore Sun focused on the justice system and various other topics, from public infrastructure to Maryland's growing cannabis industry. He's also reported award-winning work for The Capital, Southern Maryland News and The Dundalk Eagle. A lifelong Marylander, Dan was raised in Anne Arundel County and graduated from St. Mary's College of Maryland, where he managed the campus newspaper and radio station. You can reach him on Signal at @danbels.62.

Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley and Baltimore’s Chief of Fire Department James W. Wallace speak before a press conference on the drug overdoses in West Baltimore that occurred on Thursday. (Todd Karpovich, Staff)

What we know about the Baltimore mass overdose criminal investigation

July 12, 2025 at 9:10 a.m.

The Drug Enforcement Administration is working with Baltimore Police to find the source of Thursday's mass overdose in West Baltimore.

Baltimore City Police Department officers work on the corner of North Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue, where at least 25 people were suspected of suffering overdoses. Many discovered lying unconscious on the street. The area is cordoned off as emergency responders work to provide aid and investigate the scene. (Kenneth K. Lam/Sun Staff)

‘Bad batch’: Frantic response to Baltimore overdoses heard in recorded audio

July 10, 2025 at 7:38 p.m.

It started with an "unknown problem" in a West Baltimore alley. Then, there was a "man down" at a nearby bus stop. Officer and medics quickly realized the suspected overdoses...

Baltimore police and fire officials respond to a series of overdoses at the intersection of Pennsylvania and North avenues, where more than 25 people were reported to have overdosed by noon. First responders treated three people behind a CVS around 9:30 a.m., and additional cases were reported nearby, including near Penn Station and the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Narcan was distributed by community groups on site, and a mobile command center was established as people were transported to area hospitals for treatment. (Nia Meyers/Staff)

Man shot Thursday near scene of Baltimore mass overdose

July 10, 2025 at 6:54 p.m.

Police believe a 45-year-old man was wounded in a shooting Thursday morning in Penn North, blocks away from where officers responded to a mass overdose.

Supporters of Kilmar Abrego Garcia rally outside of the U.S. District Court in Greenbelt, Md., where a hearing was scheduled to be held on returning him to Maryland, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Judge considers temporary stop on U.S. from deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia again

July 10, 2025 at 6:45 p.m.

A federal judge is slated to hear from Trump administration officials this afternoon on their plans to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to another country.

A view of the proposed site of Evans Funeral Chapel & Cremation, on Philadelphia Road, which has met opposition. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff)

Environmental regulators approve White Marsh crematory despite opposition

July 9, 2025 at 6:30 a.m.

A neighborhood association vowed to continue pushing back with Evans Funeral Chapel after Maryland regulators greenlighted the chain Monday to install a crematory at its proposed White Marsh facility.

Masked federal agents staged outside a gate of Dodger Stadium on June 19, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles Dodgers said in a statement that federal ICE agents requested permission to access Dodger Stadium parking lots but were denied entry. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

ICE chides Maryland police about man’s release. Attorney says agency is ‘spinning a narrative.’

July 10, 2025 at 6:15 a.m.

The man, who entered the country illegally, had no convictions on record in Maryland or Indiana, where he was eventually detained by ICE.

Approaching the anniversary of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse—an image of the site today, marking a year of reflection and resilience. (Kevin Richardson/Staff)

Demolition work on Key Bridge remnants expected to start this week

July 7, 2025 at 2:04 p.m.

Demolition work on the remaining pieces of the Francis Scott Key Bridge was expected to start Monday, with several months of dismantling the remnants ahead.

Thousands of Marylanders are registering their cars in Virginia, avoiding state fees and fines. What can Maryland do?

July 7, 2025 at 12:38 p.m.

More than 11% of motorists who've been cited by Baltimore speed cameras this year had Virginia tags, according to city data. The drivers have racked up $1.2 million in fines,...

Fire crews are investigating what caused a sudden blaze in the steeple at St. Rita Catholic Church in Dundalk. (Dan Belson/Staff)

Fire officials confirm Dundalk church fire was caused by lightning strike

July 3, 2025 at 3:03 p.m.

A lightning strike caused Tuesday's two-alarm fire at a Dundalk church, the Baltimore County Fire Department confirmed Thursday.

In-custody death in West Baltimore followed breakdown in emergency dispatch system

July 3, 2025 at 4:12 p.m.

An outage snarled some communications between Baltimore police and fire officials last week, briefly causing disarray as officers repeatedly called for medics to help a man who later died in...

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