Justin Fenton
@justinfenton.bsky.social
Investigative reporter at the Baltimore Banner
Reposted by Justin Fenton
NEW: Peña-Melnyk emerges as favorite to become next Maryland House of Delegates speaker
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Peña-Melnyk emerges as favorite to become next House of Delegates speaker
In the race to succeed Del. Adrienne A. Jones as speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates, Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk said Sunday that the other top candidates have dropped out and pledged their supp...
www.thebanner.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:05 AM
NEW: Peña-Melnyk emerges as favorite to become next Maryland House of Delegates speaker
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Reposted by Justin Fenton
Who will be the next speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates?
Meet 10 delegates who could contend for the top job:
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Meet 10 delegates who could contend for the top job:
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Who could be Maryland’s next House speaker?
With Maryland House of Delegates Speaker Adrienne A. Jones resigning from her leadership post, delegates will need to elect a new leader to preside over the chamber as they face challenging issues fro...
www.thebanner.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Who will be the next speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates?
Meet 10 delegates who could contend for the top job:
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Meet 10 delegates who could contend for the top job:
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Reposted by Justin Fenton
SCOOP from @emilyopilo.bsky.social & @leeosanderlin.bsky.social: Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said he is “terminating” his coordination with the mayor’s public safety office, which oversees the city’s flagship anti-violence initiative www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Bates to cut ties with mayor’s public safety office, citing ‘cloak of secrecy’
Ivan Bates outlined numerous complaints about the office, according to a seven-page letter sent to Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott Tuesday.
www.thebanner.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:20 PM
SCOOP from @emilyopilo.bsky.social & @leeosanderlin.bsky.social: Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said he is “terminating” his coordination with the mayor’s public safety office, which oversees the city’s flagship anti-violence initiative www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
The U.S. Department of Justice wants Maryland’s voter rolls and is suing the state elections administrator for not offering them up, @brendawintrode.bsky.social reports www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
The Trump administration wants Maryland’s voter rolls
Attorney General Pam Bondi is suing Maryland Elections Administrator Jared DeMarinis to get the state’s voter rolls.
www.thebanner.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:19 PM
The U.S. Department of Justice wants Maryland’s voter rolls and is suing the state elections administrator for not offering them up, @brendawintrode.bsky.social reports www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison, back home in New Orleans, will serve as a deputy mayor for public safety there www.wdsu.com/article/new-...
New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno announces key administration members
New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno is set to announce key members of her administration, including a very familiar face.
www.wdsu.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison, back home in New Orleans, will serve as a deputy mayor for public safety there www.wdsu.com/article/new-...
SCOOP from @emilyopilo.bsky.social & @leeosanderlin.bsky.social: Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said he is “terminating” his coordination with the mayor’s public safety office, which oversees the city’s flagship anti-violence initiative www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Bates to cut ties with mayor’s public safety office, citing ‘cloak of secrecy’
Ivan Bates outlined numerous complaints about the office, according to a seven-page letter sent to Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott Tuesday.
www.thebanner.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:20 PM
SCOOP from @emilyopilo.bsky.social & @leeosanderlin.bsky.social: Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said he is “terminating” his coordination with the mayor’s public safety office, which oversees the city’s flagship anti-violence initiative www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Please state your name for the record, the court clerk said.
"Justice"
What is your age?
“Timeless.”
What year were you born?
“I have been born many times.”
Alleged leader of violent "Zizian" group makes appearance in Maryland federal court
www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
"Justice"
What is your age?
“Timeless.”
What year were you born?
“I have been born many times.”
Alleged leader of violent "Zizian" group makes appearance in Maryland federal court
www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Alleged leader of cultlike ‘Zizian’ group pleads not guilty to federal gun charge
Ziz LaSota gave meandering answers at her initial appearance and arraignment in U.S. District Court related to a Western Maryland gun arrest, which ended what had been a cross-country search.
www.thebanner.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Please state your name for the record, the court clerk said.
"Justice"
What is your age?
“Timeless.”
What year were you born?
“I have been born many times.”
Alleged leader of violent "Zizian" group makes appearance in Maryland federal court
www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
"Justice"
What is your age?
“Timeless.”
What year were you born?
“I have been born many times.”
Alleged leader of violent "Zizian" group makes appearance in Maryland federal court
www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
New: Nearly six years after having them sealed, Pennsylvania prosecutors drop opposition to the release of autopsy records in the mysterious 2003 death of Maryland federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna lancasteronline.com/news/local/d...
DA asks judge to lift seal on federal prosecutor's autopsy records of Jonathan Luna
Nearly six years after having them sealed, the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office has dropped opposition to the release of autopsy records in the 2003 death of federal prosecutor Jonathan
lancasteronline.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:21 PM
New: Nearly six years after having them sealed, Pennsylvania prosecutors drop opposition to the release of autopsy records in the mysterious 2003 death of Maryland federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna lancasteronline.com/news/local/d...
‘Marooned’ in Baltimore: Crew of ship that destroyed Key Bridge are still here 19 months later, not permitted to leave. “A few have been granted permission to temporarily return home, including one for his own wedding.” By @hayesgardner.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/economy/dali...
Deal between Dali and U.S. has left crew ‘marooned’ for 19 months
The NTSB will discuss probable cause of the Key Bridge collapse during a meeting Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, nine crew members of the Dali ship that struck the bridge are stuck in Baltimore...
www.thebanner.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:19 PM
‘Marooned’ in Baltimore: Crew of ship that destroyed Key Bridge are still here 19 months later, not permitted to leave. “A few have been granted permission to temporarily return home, including one for his own wedding.” By @hayesgardner.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/economy/dali...
Reposted by Justin Fenton
Scoop: Reps for Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank have been lobbying Gov. Wes Moore’s office in an effort to persuade Maryland to buy Plank’s horse farm, email show.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Kevin Plank wants Maryland to buy his horse farm
Emails detail a pitch to turn Sagamore Farm into a state-owned horse training facility.
www.thebanner.com
November 17, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Scoop: Reps for Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank have been lobbying Gov. Wes Moore’s office in an effort to persuade Maryland to buy Plank’s horse farm, email show.
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Update: The commander of the Eastern District is among the officers suspended amid a criminal investigation in San Francisco www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
November 17, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Update: The commander of the Eastern District is among the officers suspended amid a criminal investigation in San Francisco www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Breaking: Four Baltimore Police officers suspended amid criminal investigation in California www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Four Baltimore Police officers suspended amid California criminal investigation
Four members of the Baltimore Police Department are suspended amid a criminal investigation in California, the department confirmed Monday.
www.thebanner.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Breaking: Four Baltimore Police officers suspended amid criminal investigation in California www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
BREAKING at @thebaltimorebanner.com: Man charged with second degree murder in 2022 Stricker Street blaze that killed 3 Baltimore firefighters www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Man charged in 2022 Stricker Street fires that killed 3 Baltimore firefighters
More than three years after three Baltimore firefighters died battling a blaze in vacant buildings on Stricker Street, James Barnett is now charged with their deaths.
www.thebanner.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:17 PM
BREAKING at @thebaltimorebanner.com: Man charged with second degree murder in 2022 Stricker Street blaze that killed 3 Baltimore firefighters www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Why is this influential member of the Baltimore Jewish community on prosecutors’ stay-away list for at least one of the defendants in the Dalya Attar extortion case? W/ @leeosanderlin.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
What does the founder of Tov Pizza have to do with Dalya Attar’s case?
A member of the Baltimore City Democratic State Central Committee for the 41st District, Ronald Rosenbluth, 62, is a fixture in political and Jewish civic circles.
www.thebanner.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Why is this influential member of the Baltimore Jewish community on prosecutors’ stay-away list for at least one of the defendants in the Dalya Attar extortion case? W/ @leeosanderlin.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Breaking: BPD Officer Robert Parks has been indicted on charges of attempted second degree murder and related charges www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Baltimore officer shown in viral video charged with attempted murder
The charges against Officer Robert A. Parks were not immediately clear. Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates announced he would discuss charges against an unnamed officer today at a noon news confere...
www.thebanner.com
November 12, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Breaking: BPD Officer Robert Parks has been indicted on charges of attempted second degree murder and related charges www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Breaking: The Baltimore Police officer seen in a recent viral video driving into a vacant lot and towards a man has turned himself in after being criminally indicted. Details expected at noon press conference … www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Baltimore officer indicted in viral video case
The charges against Officer Robert A. Parks were not immediately clear. Baltimore State’s Attorney Ivan Bates announced he would discuss charges against an unnamed officer today at a noon news confere...
www.thebanner.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Breaking: The Baltimore Police officer seen in a recent viral video driving into a vacant lot and towards a man has turned himself in after being criminally indicted. Details expected at noon press conference … www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Breaking: Baltimore Police carried out pre-dawn raids and made arrests this morning related to continuing investigation into July’s Penn North mass overdose event www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Police carry out raids related to summer’s Penn North mass overdose event
Authorities carried out pre-dawn raids and made arrests in the city Wednesday as part of a continuing investigation, sources familiar with the matter said.
www.thebanner.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Breaking: Baltimore Police carried out pre-dawn raids and made arrests this morning related to continuing investigation into July’s Penn North mass overdose event www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Update: Now the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office says they will announce the indictment of a police officer tomorrow at noon
NEW: In a possible sign of looming criminal charges, the Baltimore Police officer depicted in a viral video driving his car at a man in Northwest Baltimore has been suspended without pay www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Baltimore police officer, suspended after viral video, loses pay
In a possible sign of looming charges, the Baltimore Police officer depicted in a viral video driving his car at a man in Northwest Baltimore has been suspended without pay during an ongoing criminal ...
www.thebanner.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Update: Now the Baltimore State’s Attorney’s Office says they will announce the indictment of a police officer tomorrow at noon
NEW: In a possible sign of looming criminal charges, the Baltimore Police officer depicted in a viral video driving his car at a man in Northwest Baltimore has been suspended without pay www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Baltimore police officer, suspended after viral video, loses pay
In a possible sign of looming charges, the Baltimore Police officer depicted in a viral video driving his car at a man in Northwest Baltimore has been suspended without pay during an ongoing criminal ...
www.thebanner.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM
NEW: In a possible sign of looming criminal charges, the Baltimore Police officer depicted in a viral video driving his car at a man in Northwest Baltimore has been suspended without pay www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Breaking: Anthony Barksdale, Baltimore’s deputy mayor for public safety and a former deputy Baltimore Police commissioner, whose tenures in both roles corresponded with steep declines in gun violence, is dead at 53. W @emilyopilo.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/obituaries/a...
Anthony Barksdale, deputy mayor, dies
Anthony Barksdale, Baltimore City’s deputy mayor for public safety and a former deputy police commissioner, died Thursday. He was 53.
www.thebanner.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Breaking: Anthony Barksdale, Baltimore’s deputy mayor for public safety and a former deputy Baltimore Police commissioner, whose tenures in both roles corresponded with steep declines in gun violence, is dead at 53. W @emilyopilo.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/obituaries/a...
In a new statement, Sen. Dalya Attar, charged yesterday in federal extortion scheme, admits she did have a consultant followed and her family did capture an illicit video of the consultant. But she says it was legal. www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Dalya Attar says she’s the real victim in new statement
According to the senator, the consultant was a “disgruntled woman” whom she fired from her first campaign in 2018 “for cause.” Attar does not state why.
www.thebanner.com
October 31, 2025 at 8:50 PM
In a new statement, Sen. Dalya Attar, charged yesterday in federal extortion scheme, admits she did have a consultant followed and her family did capture an illicit video of the consultant. But she says it was legal. www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
New: This successful furniture chain owner sprinkled tens of thousands of dollars among Maryland politicians before becoming a Baltimore cop at age 48. Now he’s federally indicted in a political blackmail scheme www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
This furniture chain owner became a Baltimore cop. Now he’s federally indicted
Kalman Finkelstein was indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly being part of a blackmail scheme involving a Democratic state senator and former city prosecutor, Dalya Attar.
www.thebanner.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:33 PM
New: This successful furniture chain owner sprinkled tens of thousands of dollars among Maryland politicians before becoming a Baltimore cop at age 48. Now he’s federally indicted in a political blackmail scheme www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
A union election will be overturned and rerun as a result of social media posts from Baltimore Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming that interfered with the process, a judicial panel for the union ruled this week, @emilyopilo.bsky.social reports www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Union panel rules Baltimore IG interfered in election, orders new vote
Isabel Mercedes Cumming's social media posts constituted “an act of interference” and an endorsement, regardless of the intent behind them, the union panel ruled.
www.thebanner.com
October 25, 2025 at 5:28 PM
A union election will be overturned and rerun as a result of social media posts from Baltimore Inspector General Isabel Mercedes Cumming that interfered with the process, a judicial panel for the union ruled this week, @emilyopilo.bsky.social reports www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Update: More than two years after being charged, former Dunbar High School football coach Lawrence Smith pleaded guilty in federal court to charges that he stole $215,000 as a city schools police officer by lying about working overtime www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Ex-Dunbar football coach pleads guilty to stealing overtime pay
Lawrence Smith admitted that in his role as a school police detective for the district, he routinely claimed to be providing security at COVID-19 testing and food sites or assisting other law enforcem...
www.thebanner.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Update: More than two years after being charged, former Dunbar High School football coach Lawrence Smith pleaded guilty in federal court to charges that he stole $215,000 as a city schools police officer by lying about working overtime www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Ex-Baltimore cop Daniel Hersl, who went to prison for his role in Gun Trace Task Force corruption scandal and was released early due to cancer, has died www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
Notorious Baltimore cop Daniel Hersl dies
Hersl was released early in January, after serving about eight years of his 18-year prison sentence, due to cancer.
www.thebanner.com
October 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Ex-Baltimore cop Daniel Hersl, who went to prison for his role in Gun Trace Task Force corruption scandal and was released early due to cancer, has died www.thebanner.com/community/cr...