BALTIMORE, MD—An MS-13 gang member wanted in his home country for firearms offenses was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Maryland last week, according to the agency. Joel Armando Mejia-Benitez, a 38-year-old Salvadoran national, was taken into custody by ICE in Silver Spring on May 5, 2025. Mejia is a documented MS-13 gang member and has a […]
BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland’s six casinos combined to generate $162,640,960 in revenue from slot machines and table games during April 2025. The total was down $509,714 (-0.3%) from April 2024. Casino gaming contributions to the state during April 2025 totaled $70,574,438, an increase of $775,366 (1.1%) compared to April 2024. The April 2025 contributions included $50,904,734 to the Education Trust Fund, an […]
BALTIMORE, MD—The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has announced 23 schools across eight school systems as recipients of the 2025-27 Purple Star School designation. Tuesday’s State Board of Education meeting will formally honor the schools. These schools were recognized for their strong services and support for students from military families. Dr. Carey M. Wright, State Superintendent of Schools, praised […]
BALTIMORE, MD—An illegal immigrant who was arrested three times for illegally entering the U.S. and was previously deported twice is now back in custody after being released from a Maryland jail, federal authorities announced. Rene Pop-Chub, 32, a Guatemalan national, was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 12 in Hyattsville, Maryland, after Prince George’s County Department […]
NOTTINGHAM, MD—Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler on Tuesday thanked “Maryland Sheriffs and the residents of Maryland who made their voices heard loud and clear to save the 287(g) public safety partnership programs in Maryland.” House Bill 1222, introduced by Del. Nicole Williams (D-Prince George’s), would have prohibited local law enforcement agencies from entering into agreements with federal immigration officials such […]
BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland’s six casinos combined to generate $172,105,632 in revenue from slot machines and table games during March 2025. The total was down $6,032,191 (-3.4%) from March 2024 when the casinos registered their fifth-best monthly gaming revenue performance ($178,137,823). Casino gaming contributions to the state during March 2025 totaled $74,555,922, a decrease of $1,917,913 (-2.5%) compared to March 2024. The […]
UPDATE: Governor Moore has vetoed the bill. Original story below… ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Maryland House of Delegates gave final approval Wednesday to a bill establishing a commission to study reparations for the descendants of enslaved people, sending the measure to Governor Wes Moore amid ongoing questions about his stance on the proposal. The 101-36 party-line vote positions Maryland to join a […]
BALTIMORE, MD—A Maryland man has pleaded guilty to his role in a scheme to fraudulently obtain more than $1 million in unemployment benefits, authorities say. Mervyn Fombe Abiko, 35, of Prince George’s County, was involved in a conspiracy to impersonate victims and submit fraudulent unemployment insurance claims from February 2020 through February 2021, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Abiko […]