AGP Executive Report

Maryland Voting Glitch: Maryland is reissuing hundreds of thousands of primary mail-in ballots after a vendor mix-up sent about 500,000 voters the wrong party’s ballots; the State Board of Elections says replacement ballots will arrive between May 18 and May 29 and that votes cast with the incorrect ballots will be invalidated. State Politics: Maryland Senate Democrats are set to convene to discuss a redistricting special session, with Senate President Bill Ferguson warning the national redistricting fight is escalating after a late-April Voting Rights Act shift. Arts & Community: DelFest in Cumberland got a big moment when Gov. Wes Moore declared May 21 “Del McCoury Day,” adding to Maryland’s growing slate of music celebrations. Sports Spotlight: USA Lacrosse invited three Penn State lacrosse alumni—now tied to Maryland’s Whipsnakes and other pro teams—to a U.S. Men’s National Team training camp in Charlotte. Tech & Kids: A Kentucky school district’s lawsuit over social media “addiction” claims has been settled, part of a broader push that also included Maryland in early cases.

Arts & Community: Baltimore’s Lyric Baltimore faces backlash after a ticket-seat mix-up allegedly led to a Black mother and her son being escorted out; a petition is calling for the CEO and general manager to resign. Public Life: Baltimore City Rec & Parks is rolling out summer pool openings with new kids’ programs, plus a clear warning: no lifeguard, no swimming after hours. Sports Journalism Loss: Howard Fendrich, the AP’s award-winning tennis writer and longtime Olympics reporter, died at 55 in Baltimore. Local Sports Spotlight: The NCAA women’s lacrosse Final Four tips off Friday in Evanston, with Maryland set to face North Carolina and Northwestern hosting Johns Hopkins. Music in Maryland: Country star Jackson Dean returns to Arundel High School for “Arundel Bands Together,” a benefit for the music department. Business/Industry: PrintAxis launched an AI print marketplace aimed at routing jobs to nearby HP Indigo presses.

Lottery Luck: A St. Mary’s County man says a long line at ABC Liquors pushed him to buy scratch-offs instead of waiting for a virtual horse-racing machine—and one ticket paid $50,000, enough to knock out his mortgage. Sports & Culture: The Players Era Festival bracket is set, with Tennessee taking on Maryland in the first round on Nov. 24 in Las Vegas, as the NIL event expands to 24 teams. Public Health Shake-Up: Two U.S. Preventive Services Task Force leaders were fired, raising alarms about how independent the panel can stay as new members are chosen. Arts & Community: Memorial Day remembrance is front and center at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens, where Gold Star families are urging visitors to honor the people behind the holiday. Maryland Spotlight: Maryland Commerce Secretary Harry Coker Jr. touts Sphere’s planned Prince George’s County expansion as a major investment signal, while PGA TOUR Superstore announces a new Baltimore-area store opening July 18 in Timonium. Artscape Prep: Baltimore DOT is flagging Artscape road closures and parking limits starting Friday.

Artscape logistics: Baltimore is already setting up for Artscape’s return this weekend around City Hall and under I-83, with crews cleaning the area and parking restrictions plus road closures starting Friday at 3 p.m. Shore summer music: A fresh roundup spotlights big-name concerts and beachside shows across the region, including Shakira at Boardwalk Hall and picks for Ocean City, Atlantic City, and Delaware. Community arts access: Wicomico County cut the ribbon on the new Lewis R. Riley library branch in Parsonsburg, moving a long-running trailer operation into a permanent home. Local weather reality check: Cool, rainy conditions are expected to linger across the Baltimore area, a reminder of why Artscape’s covered layout matters. Sports culture, Maryland-adjacent: MLB’s “Tarps Off” shirt-twirling trend keeps spreading through ballparks, while the Orioles’ sweep-ending win over the Rays storyline continues to draw attention. Public safety note: Pocomoke River State Park’s historic pool is closed for summer due to a lifeguard shortage.

Artscape & Summer Culture: Baltimore’s Artscape is back downtown this weekend (11 a.m.–9 p.m., plus after-hours), with The Roots headlining Saturday and Stephanie Mills topping Sunday—plus the Scout Art Fair and a focus on fixing last year’s long food lines. Community & Parks Funding: The Maryland Board of Public Works approved $9.2M for park pavilions, playgrounds, and land conservation across Allegany, Baltimore, Frederick, and Montgomery counties, including upgrades to Gaithersburg’s Walder Park and renovations at Long Branch Local Park. STEM for Maryland’s Brainpower: UM School of Medicine’s UM-MIND landed $2.9M for an advanced microscopy facility, aiming to speed up neuroscience discovery. Sports on the Local Screen: ESPN is carrying the NCAA lacrosse semifinals and championships this weekend, with Maryland in the women’s hunt (vs. North Carolina) and the men’s bracket featuring Princeton, Notre Dame, Syracuse, and Duke. Quick Maryland Watch: Hagerstown announced a full summer events slate, starting with Potterfield Pool opening May 23 and a May 29 “Snakes at the Train” program.

DelFest Kicks Off: Western Maryland’s 18th annual DelFest starts Thursday at the Allegany County Fairgrounds, turning the fairgrounds into a multi-stage Americana/bluegrass hub through the weekend. Baltimore Theater Buzz: Apple Alley Players is staging “John & Jen” with a Baltimore debut May 22 at Spotlighters Theatre, then a homecoming run May 29–31 in Keyser. Arts & Community on Stage: Artscape’s “Beyond the Reel” brings Baltimore City student short films to the spotlight, with drama, documentary, and animation made mostly during students’ free time. Local Education Spotlight: Harford County’s Board of Education confirmed Dyann Mack as superintendent after an interim stint. Maryland Politics, Loud and Fast: Trump escalated claims over a Maryland mail-in ballot mix-up, while election officials say no “illegal” ballots were sent—just wrong-party ballots for some voters. Sports Culture: MLB’s “Tarps Off” shirt-twirling trend keeps spreading, adding a new kind of stadium energy.

Heat Safety: Johns Hopkins pediatric ER doctors are urging parents to watch for early heat illness signs—cramping, heavy sweating, and trouble cooling—while slowing down, hydrating, and seeking air-conditioned breaks as temperatures threaten records. Local Arts & Community: Baltimore’s Howard County Arts Council is now based at the newly opened Capitoline Center in Ellicott City, where multimedia artist Pamela Woolford has been named an artist-in-residence. Live Music in Maryland: Hagerstown’s “Live at Hub City Vinyl” is set to close out May with five nights of shows from Chris Duarte to ’90s Rockfest tributes. Artscape Energy: Organizers are gearing up for the Artscape POSH Pride Kickoff Party in Baltimore, adding another arts-and-community event to the city’s busy spring calendar. Public Safety & Health: A Baltimore County puppy rescue case continues to spotlight parvovirus risk after officials seized dogs from a hoarding situation. Business/Everyday Life: Dunkin’s big “free coffee” promo is already claimed—1 million codes redeemed—while a new Maryland paint stewardship fee is pushing some shoppers to cross state lines.

Maryland Election Firestorm: President Trump is pushing for a DOJ investigation into Maryland’s mail-ballot mix-up after officials said a vendor coding error sent some voters the wrong party’s primary ballots—prompting the state to reissue roughly 400,000 to 500,000 ballots, while election safeguards are said to prevent duplicate voting. Courtroom Shockwave: In the Luigi Mangione case, a judge tossed out key parts of evidence tied to a warrantless backpack search, but prosecutors still preserved major physical links to the alleged killing. Baltimore Pride Meets Artscape: The Artscape x POSH Pride Kickoff Party lands Saturday at M&T Bank Stadium with a free rooftop celebration and music. Power & Data Centers: A proposed NextEra–Dominion utility merger would reshape electricity supply for the data-center boom in northern Virginia. Arts Funding: The Getty Foundation awarded $1.8M to expand access to Black visual arts archives. Sports Spotlight: The Orioles reinstated Jackson Holliday as he works back from injury, while the Rays’ bats lit up Baltimore in a lopsided win.

Public Ownership Push: On Reg CF’s 10th anniversary, the Crowdfunding Professional Association used the viral “Let’s Buy Spirit” pledge campaign to argue Americans want broader, everyday ways to share in ownership—without endorsing any specific deal. Faith & Youth Culture: Author Amy Schisler says Gen Z’s return to Catholic churches reflects a hunger for purpose and community, not just tradition. Maryland Arts & Civic Space: Capitol Crossing’s art program keeps expanding its gallery of local artists, while Voices for Children Baltimore County rebrands to spotlight foster kids’ advocates. Arts in the Making: A Martin Puryear retrospective spotlights an artist who keeps evolving, and a new Riverview Wellness Village project will let residents help forge and mark butterfly sculptures and benches. Politics & Voting: Maryland election officials dispute Trump’s “fake mail-in ballots” claim after a vendor mix-up, issuing replacement ballots. Community Safety: Mid-County’s new public safety complex opens, adding police and intelligence operations.

Foreign-Policy Pressure: Trump is set to convene a Situation Room meeting on potential military options against Iran after warning the “clock is ticking,” as the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program keeps escalating. Local Arts & Community: In Maryland, the William Holmes McGuffey Historical Society’s Poe-focused talk drew a packed room—another reminder that small-town history still fuels big cultural energy. Health & Access: Altitude Behavioral Care and Integrative Health says it’s now accepting new patients as it expands psychiatric capacity across Maryland. Sleep Science in Baltimore: AIOMEGA will bring pediatric and adult sleep-apnea research to SLEEP 2026, highlighting new airway-therapy insights. Civic Trust: Maryland election officials pushed back on claims of “fake mail-in ballots,” pointing to a mail-ballot vendor error and replacement plans instead. Arts Funding: Annapolis Musicians Fund for Musicians awarded $6,000 in David Glaser Education Grants to summer music programs for underserved youth. Sports With Maryland Ties: The Orioles avoided a sweep, beating the Nationals 7-3 behind Gunnar Henderson’s big day.

Preakness at Laurel Park: Napoleon Solo won the 151st Preakness Stakes at Maryland’s Laurel Park, holding off Iron Honor by 1¼ lengths after the race moved from Pimlico for renovations—an event that drew thousands but also sparked fresh debate over safety and crowd experience. Community & Youth Arts: “Junior Saints” Earth Day drawings and writing at St. Bartholomew Catholic School in Bethesda put environmental stewardship front and center, with student work urging recycling and protecting endangered animals. Public Health Watch: The FDA flagged a voluntary recall of Straus Family Creamery Organic ice cream in multiple flavors sold in Oregon and distributed to Maryland and 15 other states due to possible metal fragments. Sports, Maryland-to-the-world: A Maryland Crabs lacrosse connection helped kicker Trey Smack land with the Packers, while the Orioles and Nationals keep trading momentum at Nationals Park. Arts Calendar: Greater Annapolis Ballet is set to present “Playlist En Pointe” at Maryland Hall.

Laurel Park’s Preakness Moment: Napoleon Solo surged past favorite Taj Mahal and held off Iron Honor to win the 151st Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park, with Golden Tempo sitting out and the race running in Maryland because Pimlico is under renovation. Community & Culture: The move to Laurel didn’t erase the party—thousands showed up, and Park Heights kept its own Preakness energy going with the Anderson Music & Arts Festival, turning a traffic bypass into local momentum. Arts Calendar: Greater Annapolis Ballet closes its season with “Playlist En Pointe” at Maryland Hall on May 29, mixing classical ballet, familiar songs, live music, and audience-friendly fun. Sports Notes: In baseball, the Phillies shut out the Pirates 6-0 behind Cristopher Sanchez’s 13 strikeouts, while the Nationals pushed past the Orioles to reach .500. Local Sports Recruiting: Gonzaga transfer Cade Orness committed to Mount St. Mary’s in Emmitsburg, adding another piece to the area’s college basketball story.

Preakness at Laurel Park: The 151st Preakness weekend kicked off with tragedy at Maryland’s Laurel Park—Hit Zero collapsed after the opening race and died; officials say a necropsy will determine the cause. The main event itself is set for 7:01 p.m. EDT on NBC/Peacock, with Pimlico in Baltimore under renovation and attendance capped at 4,800. MLB—Orioles move: Baltimore is signing veteran OF Tommy Pham to a minor league deal for outfield depth. MLB—Yankees setback: New York placed LHP Max Fried on the IL with a left elbow bone bruise and recalled RHP Elmer Rodriguez. NFL—schedule drop: The league released the full 2026 slate, including Steelers primetime matchups and a Black Friday home game for Pittsburgh. Arts & community: Annapolis Film Society continues its June programming with “The Essence of Eva” at Maryland Hall.

Preakness Weekend Turns Somber in Maryland: Black-Eyed Susan Day at Laurel Park opened with tragedy as racehorse Hit Zero died after the first race, prompting renewed safety scrutiny and a necropsy review by the Maryland Racing Commission. Park Heights Keeps the Preakness Spirit Close: With Pimlico under renovation, Park Heights Renaissance is doubling down—rescheduling the George “Spider” Anderson Festival to keep local Preakness culture and business momentum on Park Heights Avenue, featuring major performers and a street takeover. Election Admin Shake-Up: Maryland’s State Board of Elections will reissue mail-in ballots after a vendor error sent some voters the wrong party ballot. Arts & Opera: Washington National Opera announced a new 2026–27 season with multiple Maryland stops, including a Strathmore finale. Sports, Fast: Nationals edged Orioles 3-2 as Daylen Lile powered a big night, while the Astros shut out the Rangers 2-0.

Press Awards: Coastal Point just swept Maryland-Delaware-D.C. journalism honors, taking News Organization of the Year at the MDDC Advertising & Editorial Contest in Annapolis—plus five Best-in-Show awards—cementing its “local voice” mission. Sports Spotlight: In baseball, the Giants and A’s kick off an interleague series Friday in West Sacramento, while Subway Series momentum swings to the Mets at Citi Field as they host the Yankees. NFL Schedule Buzz: The league’s 2026 slate is fully out, with fans already circling the Super Bowl rematch opener and a packed Week 1 calendar. Maryland Arts & Culture: Salisbury’s Maryland Folk Festival is paused for 2026 after sponsorship and grant funding strain, even as Preakness weekend culture ramps up around Laurel Park. Community & Education: Sussex Central Middle School science teacher Emily Wright was named Teacher of the Year in the Indian River School District.

Baltimore Artscape: The city just unveiled its 2026 Artscape lineup and food vendors, with The Roots and Stephanie Mills set to headline the two-day festival at War Memorial Plaza (May 23-24). Arts & Heritage: Also in the spotlight, Hula Maryland in Crofton is sharing Hawaiian culture and sisterhood through performances tied to AAPI Heritage Month. Local Education: Miller Middle School’s Ann Jackson is among national nominees for National History Day Teacher of the Year. Sports (big national noise, local tie-ins): The NFL’s full 2026 schedule dropped, including major Ravens matchups and international games, while Preakness week heats up at Laurel Park with a full 14-horse field and fresh talk about Golden Tempo sitting out. Public Trust: In Maryland-adjacent governance news, Wisconsin’s governor signed an order targeting state workers profiting from insider info—another reminder that integrity fights are moving fast.