Adam Willis
@adampwillis.bsky.social
environment & climate reporter for The Baltimore Banner | formerly western North Dakota | onetime 3rd place finisher in Wilmington marathon | [email protected]
Reposted by Adam Willis
It happens thousands of times every year.
More than 35% of all applications for charges statewide in 2024 came from people outside law enforcement.
More than 35% of all applications for charges statewide in 2024 came from people outside law enforcement.
In Maryland, anyone can apply for criminal charges on their own with no input from police or prosecutors.
I found the system can be easily abused and wreak havoc on people’s lives. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)
I found the system can be easily abused and wreak havoc on people’s lives. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)
Maryland lets anyone file for criminal charges — and innocent people pay the price
Maryland’s district court commissioner system allows people to file criminal charges with little oversight, a Banner investigation found. The process can be abused and upend lives.
www.thebanner.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:50 PM
It happens thousands of times every year.
More than 35% of all applications for charges statewide in 2024 came from people outside law enforcement.
More than 35% of all applications for charges statewide in 2024 came from people outside law enforcement.
Reposted by Adam Willis
A fantastic set of @thebaltimorebanner.com must-reads about one aspect of the criminal justice system that has truly gone off the rails. ⚖️
In Maryland, anyone can apply for criminal charges on their own with no input from police or prosecutors.
I found the system can be easily abused and wreak havoc on people’s lives. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)
I found the system can be easily abused and wreak havoc on people’s lives. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)
Maryland lets anyone file for criminal charges — and innocent people pay the price
Maryland’s district court commissioner system allows people to file criminal charges with little oversight, a Banner investigation found. The process can be abused and upend lives.
www.thebanner.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM
A fantastic set of @thebaltimorebanner.com must-reads about one aspect of the criminal justice system that has truly gone off the rails. ⚖️
An Eastern Shore lab houses one of the world's largest oyster hatcheries. Scientists there have churned out billions of oysters and helped drive an oyster resurgence in the Chesapeake Bay.
But thanks to a ~50% cut in NOAA funds, their work is in jeopardy:
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
But thanks to a ~50% cut in NOAA funds, their work is in jeopardy:
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Trump cuts to Eastern Shore oyster hatchery could endanger Chesapeake Bay progress
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently slashed support for an Eastern Shore lab that has helped to seed an oyster resurgence in the bay.
www.thebanner.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:25 PM
An Eastern Shore lab houses one of the world's largest oyster hatcheries. Scientists there have churned out billions of oysters and helped drive an oyster resurgence in the Chesapeake Bay.
But thanks to a ~50% cut in NOAA funds, their work is in jeopardy:
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
But thanks to a ~50% cut in NOAA funds, their work is in jeopardy:
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Reposted by Adam Willis
Under Armour’s Kevin Plank built an empire. Now Rome is burning.
Under Armour’s Kevin Plank built an empire. Now Rome is burning.
After years of regularly being profitable, Under Armour lost $200 million last year and is expected to operate at a loss, though a smaller one, this fiscal year, too.
buff.ly
December 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Under Armour’s Kevin Plank built an empire. Now Rome is burning.
Reposted by Adam Willis
Trump comes for the oysters, slashing budget of Maryland hatchery that produces billions
Trump cuts to Eastern Shore oyster hatchery could endanger Chesapeake Bay progress
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently slashed support for an Eastern Shore lab that has helped to seed an oyster resurgence in the bay.
buff.ly
December 21, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Trump comes for the oysters, slashing budget of Maryland hatchery that produces billions
Reposted by Adam Willis
New: Gov. Moore's admin invited a natural gas industry insider to sit in on interviews to determine the latest Public Service Commission appointees. Records show the official was the only non-government employee present for the interviews: www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Gas industry insider sat in on Moore administration interviews for new utility regulators
An American Gas Association employee participated in the interview process for the top leadership roles at the state’s utility regulating agency.
www.thebanner.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:36 PM
New: Gov. Moore's admin invited a natural gas industry insider to sit in on interviews to determine the latest Public Service Commission appointees. Records show the official was the only non-government employee present for the interviews: www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
New: Gov. Moore's admin invited a natural gas industry insider to sit in on interviews to determine the latest Public Service Commission appointees. Records show the official was the only non-government employee present for the interviews: www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Gas industry insider sat in on Moore administration interviews for new utility regulators
An American Gas Association employee participated in the interview process for the top leadership roles at the state’s utility regulating agency.
www.thebanner.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:36 PM
New: Gov. Moore's admin invited a natural gas industry insider to sit in on interviews to determine the latest Public Service Commission appointees. Records show the official was the only non-government employee present for the interviews: www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Reposted by Adam Willis
In new Chesapeake Bay chapter, Maryland passes a symbolic torch to Pennsylvania
Maryland passes torch to Pennsylvania on Chesapeake Bay clean-up
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore passed a wooden gavel to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, marking the start of more prominent role for the Keystone State in the campaign to restore the bay.
buff.ly
December 3, 2025 at 12:00 AM
In new Chesapeake Bay chapter, Maryland passes a symbolic torch to Pennsylvania
Reposted by Adam Willis
Governors Moore, Shapiro, Youngkin, Mayor Bowser and other top leaders across the Chesapeake Bay watershed are meeting in Baltimore right now to discuss the way forward for restoring the bay.
@adampwillis.bsky.social has a great primer on the state of the efforts:
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
@adampwillis.bsky.social has a great primer on the state of the efforts:
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
As the Chesapeake Bay cleanup enters a new era, it’s fighting for relevance
As the Chesapeake restoration enters a new era — governors from across the watershed are expected in Baltimore this week to extend cleanup to 2040 — the movement appears uncertain about its future.
www.thebanner.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Governors Moore, Shapiro, Youngkin, Mayor Bowser and other top leaders across the Chesapeake Bay watershed are meeting in Baltimore right now to discuss the way forward for restoring the bay.
@adampwillis.bsky.social has a great primer on the state of the efforts:
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
@adampwillis.bsky.social has a great primer on the state of the efforts:
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Reposted by Adam Willis
Facing sustained resident ire, Baltimore City Council housing bill stalls
Facing sustained resident criticism, Baltimore City Council housing bill stalls
The bill is the final and most controversial piece of a package of housing bills that have crossed the finish line in recent weeks.
buff.ly
December 1, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Facing sustained resident ire, Baltimore City Council housing bill stalls
Reposted by Adam Willis
New: A grad student at Johns Hopkins has been stranded in Canada for months after his visa was canceled at the border. He’s been incurring thousands in expenses without being paid by the university, which says it won’t petition officials for six months:
www.thebanner.com/education/hi...
www.thebanner.com/education/hi...
Visa canceled at the border, a Hopkins grad student has been stuck in Canada for months
Ehsan Rajabi said the university declined to advocate for him.
www.thebanner.com
December 1, 2025 at 1:23 PM
New: A grad student at Johns Hopkins has been stranded in Canada for months after his visa was canceled at the border. He’s been incurring thousands in expenses without being paid by the university, which says it won’t petition officials for six months:
www.thebanner.com/education/hi...
www.thebanner.com/education/hi...
15 years ago, it looked like the effort to save the Chesapeake Bay had turned a corner. "There was a collective sense," said one longtime federal scientist, “that we had broken through."
Today, he and others worry that, four decades in, the movement is losing steam:
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Today, he and others worry that, four decades in, the movement is losing steam:
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
As the Chesapeake Bay cleanup enters a new era, it’s fighting for relevance
As the Chesapeake restoration enters a new era — governors from across the watershed are expected in Baltimore this week to extend cleanup to 2040 — the movement appears uncertain about its future.
www.thebanner.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:30 PM
15 years ago, it looked like the effort to save the Chesapeake Bay had turned a corner. "There was a collective sense," said one longtime federal scientist, “that we had broken through."
Today, he and others worry that, four decades in, the movement is losing steam:
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Today, he and others worry that, four decades in, the movement is losing steam:
www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Reposted by Adam Willis
In journalism we’re used to pointing out problems, not solving them. This was a chance to think differently and offer Baltimore kids and parents solutions.
Take a look and tell us what you think.
www.thebanner.com/education/k-...
Take a look and tell us what you think.
www.thebanner.com/education/k-...
School buses for every Baltimore student seemed impossible — until now
School transportation company HopSkipDrive used AI and a Banner analysis to map how yellow buses, vans and cars could get Baltimore students to school safely and on time for less than 5% of the distri...
www.thebanner.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:27 PM
In journalism we’re used to pointing out problems, not solving them. This was a chance to think differently and offer Baltimore kids and parents solutions.
Take a look and tell us what you think.
www.thebanner.com/education/k-...
Take a look and tell us what you think.
www.thebanner.com/education/k-...
Reposted by Adam Willis
We investigated just how bad the problem was. Turns out it’s terrible — a quarter of city buses that students take in the morning don’t show up on time. Or at all.
And the result is Baltimore’s kids are left behind — often failing their first-period classes.
And the result is Baltimore’s kids are left behind — often failing their first-period classes.
November 20, 2025 at 7:25 PM
We investigated just how bad the problem was. Turns out it’s terrible — a quarter of city buses that students take in the morning don’t show up on time. Or at all.
And the result is Baltimore’s kids are left behind — often failing their first-period classes.
And the result is Baltimore’s kids are left behind — often failing their first-period classes.
Reposted by Adam Willis
For more than a decade I’ve heard Baltimore students and parents complain about the messy and sometimes dangerous process of getting to school.
And for more than a decade school leaders have ignored the problem.
And for more than a decade school leaders have ignored the problem.
November 20, 2025 at 7:23 PM
For more than a decade I’ve heard Baltimore students and parents complain about the messy and sometimes dangerous process of getting to school.
And for more than a decade school leaders have ignored the problem.
And for more than a decade school leaders have ignored the problem.
Reposted by Adam Willis
Constellation CEO to Maryland: Don’t let Exelon build your power plant
Constellation CEO to Maryland: Don’t let Exelon build your power plant
Joe Dominguez took shots at the investor-owned utility company Exelon as competition to build more power plants in Maryland reaches a pivotal moment.
buff.ly
November 20, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Constellation CEO to Maryland: Don’t let Exelon build your power plant
Reposted by Adam Willis
State environmental officials estimate 1.7 million gallons of raw sewage drained into Baltimore's Jones Falls this week, the latest in the city's long struggle to get a handle on wastewater overflows. www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Overflow of raw sewage into Jones Falls upped to 1.7 million gallons
The volume of raw sewage that flowed into the Jones Falls, the stream that cuts through the heart of Baltimore before emptying into the harbor, was bigger than first reported, Maryland environmental r...
www.thebanner.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:28 PM
State environmental officials estimate 1.7 million gallons of raw sewage drained into Baltimore's Jones Falls this week, the latest in the city's long struggle to get a handle on wastewater overflows. www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
State environmental officials estimate 1.7 million gallons of raw sewage drained into Baltimore's Jones Falls this week, the latest in the city's long struggle to get a handle on wastewater overflows. www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Overflow of raw sewage into Jones Falls upped to 1.7 million gallons
The volume of raw sewage that flowed into the Jones Falls, the stream that cuts through the heart of Baltimore before emptying into the harbor, was bigger than first reported, Maryland environmental r...
www.thebanner.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:28 PM
State environmental officials estimate 1.7 million gallons of raw sewage drained into Baltimore's Jones Falls this week, the latest in the city's long struggle to get a handle on wastewater overflows. www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Reposted by Adam Willis
For the fifth time, effort to clean-up the Chesapeake Bay gets a new deal and a later deadline, pushing the goal line farther away. Vy @adampwillis.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Decades-long Chesapeake Bay cleanup pushed off to 2040. Some worry it’s not enough.
Officials from Maryland, home to the Chesapeake’s largest and most depleted waters, had pushed for loftier goals but were outvoted by other states.
www.thebanner.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 PM
For the fifth time, effort to clean-up the Chesapeake Bay gets a new deal and a later deadline, pushing the goal line farther away. Vy @adampwillis.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Reposted by Adam Willis
Maryland says Patapsco needs radio tower for safety. Neighbors call it a ‘Tower of Terror.’
Why are neighbors against a safety tower for Patapsco Valley State Park?
Patapsco Valley State Park needs a radio tower for better communication. Neighbors, however, call it a 'Tower of Terror' and are against the project back by Maryland officials.
buff.ly
November 8, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Maryland says Patapsco needs radio tower for safety. Neighbors call it a ‘Tower of Terror.’
An industrial menhaden fishery out of Virginia is the last of its kind on the Atlantic seaboard. Some say it's decimating a keystone Chesapeake fish with big fallout for other bay species.
But, perhaps thanks to industry political donations, no one can prove it: www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
But, perhaps thanks to industry political donations, no one can prove it: www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
The little fish at the center of a big debate in the Chesapeake
No one — fisherman, conservationist or scientist — can say for certain how “the most important fish” is really faring in the Chesapeake Bay.
www.thebanner.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:32 PM
An industrial menhaden fishery out of Virginia is the last of its kind on the Atlantic seaboard. Some say it's decimating a keystone Chesapeake fish with big fallout for other bay species.
But, perhaps thanks to industry political donations, no one can prove it: www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
But, perhaps thanks to industry political donations, no one can prove it: www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Reposted by Adam Willis
This little fish is the center of a big debate in the Chesapeake Bay
The little fish at the center of a big debate in the Chesapeake
No one — fisherman, conservationist or scientist — can say for certain how “the most important fish” is really faring in the Chesapeake Bay.
buff.ly
November 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM
This little fish is the center of a big debate in the Chesapeake Bay
Reposted by Adam Willis
A must read, not for the portraits, but the uncomfortable question: How much power does any mayor of a legacy city have to reverse the harm caused by bigger forces outside his/her control: deindustrialization, white flight & the tax base “sucked out each time a commuter drives past the city limits?”
4 former Baltimore mayors had their portraits unveiled. How should we remember them?
4 former Baltimore mayors had their portraits unveiled. How should we remember them?
Mayor Brandon Scott, perhaps knowing he will one day have a portrait unveiling, kept his remarks gracious, respectful and relatively vague.
buff.ly
November 3, 2025 at 12:10 AM
A must read, not for the portraits, but the uncomfortable question: How much power does any mayor of a legacy city have to reverse the harm caused by bigger forces outside his/her control: deindustrialization, white flight & the tax base “sucked out each time a commuter drives past the city limits?”
After putrid green waters overwhelmed the Baltimore harbor and triggered historic fish kills, local scientists remain stumped about why this season’s pistachio tide was so bad.
But they think the billion dollar revamp of the downtown waterfront could help solve it: www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
But they think the billion dollar revamp of the downtown waterfront could help solve it: www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Can Baltimore’s Inner Harbor makeover prevent another stinky pistachio tide?
While thermal inversions like the one Baltimore’s harbor just experienced happen naturally, humans have made the consequences worse.
www.thebanner.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:08 PM
After putrid green waters overwhelmed the Baltimore harbor and triggered historic fish kills, local scientists remain stumped about why this season’s pistachio tide was so bad.
But they think the billion dollar revamp of the downtown waterfront could help solve it: www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
But they think the billion dollar revamp of the downtown waterfront could help solve it: www.thebanner.com/community/cl...
Reposted by Adam Willis
After ecological crisis, could redevelopment stem Baltimore’s pistachio tide?
Could redevelopment stem Baltimore’s pistachio tide?
While thermal inversions like the one Baltimore’s harbor just experienced happen naturally, humans have made the consequences worse.
buff.ly
October 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
After ecological crisis, could redevelopment stem Baltimore’s pistachio tide?