Jess Nocera

The lore behind Columbia’s quirky street names Columbia's distinctive, some say quirky, street names have been around since its founding in 1967. But they’re gaining a new appreciation thanks to social media posts by a Columbia native who recently...

By @jessmnocera.bsky.social: The lore behind Columbia’s quirky street names. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)

Dozens of abandoned rabbits get care at bunny rescue based at Columbia home Friends of Rabbits, a large animal rescue, recently took in 60 abandoned bunnies from a farm. Many of the bunnies gave birth.

‘Rabbits deserve better’: A look inside a bunny rescue in a Columbia home, @jessmnocera.bsky.social reports. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)

Can’t afford to buy a home in Howard County? New census data offer clues why New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau suggests a harsh reality: it’s never been harder for young families to move to Howard County.

Howard county SHOULD be the perfect place for young families.

It has great schools, close proximity to DC and Baltimore, plenty of parks...

...so why are only 7% of homeowners under 35?

@jessmnocera.bsky.social & I on how HoCo became a "victim of its own success"
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...

The pandemic babies are off to pre-K and kindergarten In a major pandemic milestone, the babies born during the early days of COVID-19 are finally old enough to start school.

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...

They speak for the Gunpowder River. That includes warning about E. coli. Volunteers with the Gunpowder Riverkeepers are uncovering dangerously high E. coli levels in parts of Baltimore’s beloved river, raising concerns about water safety, pollution and what’s at stake for ...

Tubing down the Gunpowder River is the perfect way to spend a summer day— except when E. coli levels are soaring, as they have frequently this year. I spent time with the Gunpowder Riverkeepers to see how they’re working to protect the river. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/gunpowder-ri...

Hi, federal workers: Are you or someone you know stuck in job limbo because of court cases or legal uncertainty? Reporter Sapna Bansil at @thebaltimorebanner.com is looking to hear from those affected. Please reach out at sapna.bansil@thebaltimorebanner.com

After a century, the University of Baltimore is struggling Over the last 10 years, the University of Baltimore’s enrollment has dropped, its faculty has halved, leaving its deficit swollen amid state cuts.

EXCLUSIVE: The University of Baltimore turned 100 years old this year. It is also facing a structural deficit, 50% less enrollment in 10 years, and is cutting positions.

“Our ability to generate revenue is under duress," the CFO told me. Read:

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/un...

At 11, she’s turned heartbreak into hope on the National Spelling Bee stage This week, Amelia “Bindi” Ray will take the national stage as the youngest Maryland competitor in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

At 11, she’s turned heartbreak into hope on the National Spelling Bee stage

Read the story by @kris10griffith.bsky.social on the @thebaltimorebanner.com ---> tinyurl.com/2rj9mrb5

Her final assignment before graduation? Beating Stage 3 cancer Anne Arundel County teacher Kayla Case earned her second master’s degree after battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Getting a master's degree is hard. Kayla Case managed to study for her second while teaching part-time, pursuing the prestigious teacher's National Board certification and raising two toddlers. Oh: and she was also in chemo for Stage 3 cancer. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/hi...

New cat cafe in Baltimore aims to charm Affogato, a new cat cafe in Fells Point, is expected to open later this month.

cat cafe!!!!!!!!!!!!
For @thebaltimorebanner.com: www.thebaltimorebanner.com/culture/food...

“Even though she’s got aches and pains, she still gets to look beautiful for one more day.”

Once, they owned Pimlico. On Saturday, the De Francis family, friends and longtime employees grappled with saying goodbye to the track they’ve known so well.

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/sports/horse...

At Gunz of Steel, arm wrestlers flex muscles and mayhem A dozen costumed participants, many joined by a costumed manager, will lock arms across Stellmon’s custom-built arm wrestling table for four rounds of competition at Gunz of Steel.

Preakness, schmeakness. Tonight is also Gunz of Steel, an arm-wrestling competition for women and non-binary people featuring a deranged lunch lady, a gym-obsessed rat and a flying crocheted placenta. 📸: @jessicagallagher.bsky.social www.thebaltimorebanner.com/culture/life...

Want better school commutes? First, find out who’s riding the bus Without data, experts say, it’s all but impossible for school officials and transit planners to find solutions for the thousands of Baltimore City kids who struggle to get to class on time every day.

NEW: Thousands of Baltimore students begin their school days on MTA buses.

But how many? And what are their commutes like?

Neither City Schools nor MTA know for sure.

Experts say a survey would help. But ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​first someone has to conduct one.

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-...

Retired Howard schools chief to lead Western Maryland school district Michael Martirano left the Howard County Public School System abruptly last year.

Michael Martirano, who abruptly retired as superintendent of Howard County schools last year, will soon take the helm in Allegany County.

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-...

Baltimore Banner wins Pulitzer Prize for coverage of overdose crisis The Baltimore Banner was awarded the Pulitzer Prize on Monday for groundbreaking local journalism that exposed Baltimore as the deadliest large city in the nation for drug overdoses.

The Baltimore Banner, not even 3 years old, just won a Pulitzer Prize.

I am so, *so* proud to work here. Today and every day. The work continues.

‘The Mall in Columbia has become a different world’: Restauranteur blames crime for closures Bennie's Pizza owner Desmond Reilly alleges the closures of his Howard County restaurants The Walrus Oyster & Ale House and Chicken + Whiskey are because of crime at the Mall in Columbia.

‘The Mall in Columbia has become a different world’: Restaurateur blames crime for closures

Howard County will change how it picks schools for upgrades. Will it work? Communities at aging schools are still waiting to see how the fate of their buildings could change.

Howard County will change how it picks schools for upgrades. Will it work?

3 things to know about the gap in funding for Howard County schools Educators, parents, residents and others urged the Howard County Council to provide additional funding for the school system, which is warning that program and staff cuts will be necessary without additional...

3 things to know about the funding gap for Howard County’s schools

Baltimore County man gets 50 years in nonfatal road rage incident The Howard County State’s Attorney’s office sentenced a Baltimore County man to 50 years in prison for his role in a violent road rage shooting.

Baltimore County man gets 50 years in nonfatal Howard County road rage incident

BREAKING: U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Nancy V. Alquist on Thursday granted a petition to force Chasen Construction LLC into Chapter 11 involuntary bankruptcy. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com) (w/ @halliemiller.bsky.social, @invisibae.bsky.social)

Super proud of the @thebaltimorebanner.com newsroom for winning an IRE award for our Key Bridge collapse coverage. At the time, we didn't even have a live blog, but we did have great journalists who know this community and what the bridge meant to it.

Some Howard County schools will be redistricted. Will yours? The school system is about to embark on a boundary review, also known as redistricting, for 11 schools in Columbia and Ellicott City.

Redistricting is back in Howard County

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-...

Rachel Morin’s final hour traced through technology and witnesses Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five, was killed on Aug. 5, 2023.

From Wawa to the woods: Rachel Morin’s final hour traced through technology and witnesses. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)

Families of Key Bridge victims shut out of $16M relief fund A community foundation raised money for the Maryland Tough, Baltimore Strong fund under the explicit premise that Key Bridge victims’ families would see some of it.

New: Named after a turn of phrase from the governor, the Maryland Tough, Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Relief Fund raised $16 million. None of it went to help the victims’ families despite the Baltimore Community Foundation initially saying it would.

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/lo...

U.S. revokes visas of some international students at UMD, UMBC The campuses joined the Johns Hopkins University and campuses colleges the country in publicly acknowledging a wave of visa cancellations affecting their students.

BREAKING: The U.S. has revoked more student visas at Maryland colleges. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County reported four students lost their visas today, while the University of Maryland, College Park confirmed but did not share their number:
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/hi...

Johns Hopkins: About a dozen students have visas revoked by government The university confirmed to The Baltimore Banner on Tuesday morning that "approximately a dozen" international students have had their visas revoked.

SCOOP: "Approximately a dozen" graduate students and recent grads at Johns Hopkins University have had their student visas revoked by the federal government, a spokesperson confirmed to @thebaltimorebanner.com this morning. Read our exclusive:
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/hi...

Investigation casts doubt on whether Baltimore County schools chief is a resident Myriam Rogers’ contract requires the superintendent to live in Baltimore County.

The Baltimore County schools superintendent failed to move to the county by the deadline in her contract, according to Maryland’s Inspector General for Education, and it’s unclear where she lives now.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/k-...

At transgender visibility event, Gov. Moore called out for lack of action “We know who you, Governor Moore, can be for us. And I am begging you to do it,” Lee Blinder told Moore.

Blinder laid out how the Democratic governor has let down transgender Marylanders by not putting money in the budget and not backing needed policy changes.

“We know who you, Governor Moore, can be for us. And I am begging you to do it,” Blinder said.

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...

Johns Hopkins tells faculty not to “intervene” in ICE detainments A memo sent by the Office of General Council at Johns Hopkins instructs faculty and staff not to intervene if federal law enforcement detain a community member on campus.

NEW: Faculty and staff at Johns Hopkins were told not to intervene if ICE agents come to campus looking to detain community members. Employees were also told to not help community members leave or hide, if they are being sought by federal agents. Read:
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/education/hi...

Columbia Association eyes takeover of its village centers. But at what cost? The Columbia Association is weighing proposals to take over the community buildings and centers that are now run by the planned community’s 10 villages. The recommendations are triggering a debate about...

Columbia Association eyes takeover of community’s village centers. But at what cost?