Rona Kobell
@rkobell.bsky.social
Cover Balt Co. for The Baltimore Banner. Priors: Balt Sun, Bay Journal, Md. Sea Grant, etc. Produced Eroding History, on PBS.org now. Wolverine, Terp, Yinzer. Hopkins SNF AGORA, Knight-Wallace fellow. Writing book on E. Shore for JHU Press. Bunny/girlmom.
Reposted by Rona Kobell
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
This @emilynussbaum.bsky.social profile of @kerirussell.bsky.social is just so, so good. @newyorker.com
October 9, 2025 at 12:30 AM
This @emilynussbaum.bsky.social profile of @kerirussell.bsky.social is just so, so good. @newyorker.com
A private firm got a judge to pre-emptively seal this lawsuit #baltimore county IG brought against a former employee. Unusual, even unprecedented. What don't they want us to know? #journalism #FOIA @reason.com @cjciaramella.bsky.social @jasonleopold.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
$100K question: Why was the Baltimore County inspector general case sealed?
The suit stemmed from a disagreement over what Patrick Murray told Kelly Madigan over breakfast at a Towson coffeehouse.
www.thebanner.com
October 6, 2025 at 4:45 PM
A private firm got a judge to pre-emptively seal this lawsuit #baltimore county IG brought against a former employee. Unusual, even unprecedented. What don't they want us to know? #journalism #FOIA @reason.com @cjciaramella.bsky.social @jasonleopold.bsky.social
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
National news is busy, but we don't sleep on the local news here at The Banner!
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Baltimore County zoning bill benefits Catonsville developer
Baltimore County Councilman Pat Young introduced legislation that would allow a Catonsville developer to temporarily store construction equipment in an area zoned for office-residential.
www.thebanner.com
October 6, 2025 at 1:09 PM
National news is busy, but we don't sleep on the local news here at The Banner!
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
Catherine’s really good.
Some news: Psyched to announce that I'm joining @thebulwark.com as economics editor next month.
I'm currently still on mat leave, but will return to co-hosting @theweekendprime.bsky.social as well soon.
crampell.substack.com/p/nu-news
I'm currently still on mat leave, but will return to co-hosting @theweekendprime.bsky.social as well soon.
crampell.substack.com/p/nu-news
Nu, News
I'm joining The Bulwark as Economics Editor.
crampell.substack.com
October 6, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Catherine’s really good.
Reposted by Rona Kobell
By @rkobell.bsky.social: Woodlawn sculptor fulfills dream as show opens at American Visionary Art Museum. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)
Woodlawn sculptor fulfills dream as show opens at American Visionary Art Museum
Junius Wilson, an 82-year-old Woodlawn artist who has battled cancer and other health issues, got a big break Friday when his show debuted at the American Visionary Art Museum.
www.thebanner.com
October 5, 2025 at 1:41 PM
By @rkobell.bsky.social: Woodlawn sculptor fulfills dream as show opens at American Visionary Art Museum. (via @thebaltimorebanner.com)
I am glad so many readers are interested in this!
“The disagreement about what happened that morning at The Bun Shop has stretched over 4 years and cost county taxpayers $190,000 — legal fees and a settlement paid to Murray that the county requested remain sealed.” More great @rkobell.bsky.social reporting: www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
How a colleague coffee left Baltimore County taxpayers with a $190,000 tab
The most expensive breakfast in Baltimore County costs $190,000. How taxpayers got stuck footing the bill.
www.thebanner.com
October 4, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I am glad so many readers are interested in this!
Junius Wilson has been to hell and back. Now, he gets to have his art at AVAM and he has never been happier.
www.thebanner.com/culture/arts...
www.thebanner.com/culture/arts...
Woodlawn sculptor fulfills dream as show opens at American Visionary Art Museum
Junius Wilson, an 82-year-old Woodlawn artist who has battled cancer and other health issues, got a big break Friday when his show debuted at the American Visionary Art Museum.
www.thebanner.com
October 4, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Junius Wilson has been to hell and back. Now, he gets to have his art at AVAM and he has never been happier.
www.thebanner.com/culture/arts...
www.thebanner.com/culture/arts...
Four years ago, #Baltimore Co Inspector General Kelly Madigan and then-chief of staff Patrick Murray met at the Bun Shop for what could be the most expensive breakfast in #Baltimore County history. Taxpayer tab: $190,000. County got judge to seal case. We explain!
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
How a colleague coffee left Baltimore County taxpayers with a $190,000 tab
The most expensive breakfast in Baltimore County costs $190,000. How taxpayers got stuck footing the bill.
www.thebanner.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Four years ago, #Baltimore Co Inspector General Kelly Madigan and then-chief of staff Patrick Murray met at the Bun Shop for what could be the most expensive breakfast in #Baltimore County history. Taxpayer tab: $190,000. County got judge to seal case. We explain!
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
Reposted by Rona Kobell
One of my least favorite pieces of writing advice is the phase, 'show, don't tell.' Heck, just tell it well! Tell it in vibrant ways, with wacky sentences and varying structures. Tell it simply one sentence and verbosely the next, and the show will come naturally. Anyway, back to baseball
September 27, 2025 at 6:53 PM
One of my least favorite pieces of writing advice is the phase, 'show, don't tell.' Heck, just tell it well! Tell it in vibrant ways, with wacky sentences and varying structures. Tell it simply one sentence and verbosely the next, and the show will come naturally. Anyway, back to baseball
Standing room only for Erik Larson!
September 21, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Standing room only for Erik Larson!
Reposted by Rona Kobell
I'm watching the very entertaining season premiere of The Morning Show, and there are several scenes in it that feel like they could have been written this morning. (Which speaks well for the show and quite poorly for this morning.)
September 19, 2025 at 1:03 AM
I'm watching the very entertaining season premiere of The Morning Show, and there are several scenes in it that feel like they could have been written this morning. (Which speaks well for the show and quite poorly for this morning.)
Sources are confidential. Period. You sign up for this job, and you have to be willing to go to jail to protect them. I almost had to once, in 1997. A benevolent federal judge quashed the subpoena. I remember the fear, but also the pride of being trusted with deep secrets. All we have is our word.
I find this extremely chilling:
I spoke w a reporter this morning about Kimmel. (Reporter was / is great) They got back to me a short while ago to say they sought White House comment & WH demands to know first which experts they spoke with. I told reporter I'm happy to be quoted IN THE STORY but 1/x
I spoke w a reporter this morning about Kimmel. (Reporter was / is great) They got back to me a short while ago to say they sought White House comment & WH demands to know first which experts they spoke with. I told reporter I'm happy to be quoted IN THE STORY but 1/x
September 19, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Sources are confidential. Period. You sign up for this job, and you have to be willing to go to jail to protect them. I almost had to once, in 1997. A benevolent federal judge quashed the subpoena. I remember the fear, but also the pride of being trusted with deep secrets. All we have is our word.
I mean, I’m here for the fox photos and the mushroom photos and the cute dogs and to share some good local stories but otherwise I’m sort of confused? So many arguments, so much shouting.
September 18, 2025 at 11:30 PM
I mean, I’m here for the fox photos and the mushroom photos and the cute dogs and to share some good local stories but otherwise I’m sort of confused? So many arguments, so much shouting.
I come on here for 10 minutes and realize I am not online enough to know what everyone is fighting about. Back to my book!
September 18, 2025 at 11:19 PM
I come on here for 10 minutes and realize I am not online enough to know what everyone is fighting about. Back to my book!
There is so much to be upset about these days. And then, there are the people who anonymously complained about a peach and an eggplant in a historic district....jeopardizing their future because...well, honestly, you just have to read the story.
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
Peach and eggplant art stir unexpected drama in Ellicott City
In Ellicott City, the placement of a peach sculpture has sparked controversy, while a nearby eggplant sculpture was accepted by the Howard County Historic Preservation Commission.
www.thebanner.com
September 18, 2025 at 9:56 PM
There is so much to be upset about these days. And then, there are the people who anonymously complained about a peach and an eggplant in a historic district....jeopardizing their future because...well, honestly, you just have to read the story.
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
What if we just keep talking about Robert Redford and sharing our favorite photos of him?
September 17, 2025 at 11:54 PM
What if we just keep talking about Robert Redford and sharing our favorite photos of him?
The Y would like to upgrade its facilities, but it can't, because #Baltimore county owns them. The county would like to provide more access to, but it can't, because the Y already heavily subsidizes membership. #swim
baltimorebanner-the-baltimore-banner-staging.web.arc-cdn.net/community/lo...
baltimorebanner-the-baltimore-banner-staging.web.arc-cdn.net/community/lo...
Baltimore County spent $10M to build a pool. It’s still not free for residents.
More questions about Baltimore County's lack of swimming opportunities and why more arrangements aren't provided.
baltimorebanner-the-baltimore-banner-staging.web.arc-cdn.net
September 17, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The Y would like to upgrade its facilities, but it can't, because #Baltimore county owns them. The county would like to provide more access to, but it can't, because the Y already heavily subsidizes membership. #swim
baltimorebanner-the-baltimore-banner-staging.web.arc-cdn.net/community/lo...
baltimorebanner-the-baltimore-banner-staging.web.arc-cdn.net/community/lo...
The art of silence is overrated. Not everyone has to comment on everything.
September 12, 2025 at 1:54 AM
The art of silence is overrated. Not everyone has to comment on everything.
I will never forget the quiet moment when a source on a story took me to this monument in Breezy Point. They lost so many neighbors that day. Secretaries at Canter. Traders. Firefighters. We looked out at the skyline and sobbed.
September 12, 2025 at 12:46 AM
I will never forget the quiet moment when a source on a story took me to this monument in Breezy Point. They lost so many neighbors that day. Secretaries at Canter. Traders. Firefighters. We looked out at the skyline and sobbed.
Things got testy last night in #Baltimore County over the latest iteration of the redistricting map.
baltimorebanner-the-baltimore-banner-staging.web.arc-cdn.net/politics-pow...
baltimorebanner-the-baltimore-banner-staging.web.arc-cdn.net/politics-pow...
More time for maps? Baltimore County Council divided over public’s plea.
Dozens of residents showed up at Tuesday’s Baltimore County Council work session to plead for more time to study the latest redistricting map, which dropped five hours before a public hearing.
baltimorebanner-the-baltimore-banner-staging.web.arc-cdn.net
September 10, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Things got testy last night in #Baltimore County over the latest iteration of the redistricting map.
baltimorebanner-the-baltimore-banner-staging.web.arc-cdn.net/politics-pow...
baltimorebanner-the-baltimore-banner-staging.web.arc-cdn.net/politics-pow...