Zuri Berry

Dolphins in the Potomac River? There are a lot more than you think. Researchers estimate that at least 500-600 dolphins have regularly visited the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay over the past decade.

I had no idea.

From the Washington Post: Dolphins in the Potomac River? There are a lot more than you think.

www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...

Trump fires labor statistics boss hours after weak jobs report The president implied that the BLS commissioner, long-time federal employee Erika McEntarfer, manipulated the data "for political purposes."

BREAKING: President Trump fires the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics hours after weak jobs report.

Why do so many Black Marylanders head to Massachusetts in the summertime? When summertime hits Maryland, Black Marylanders don't go to Ocean City, they head to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts. Some say it's a "Black Utopia."

Another insightful story from John-John on Black politics, wealth and elite circles — and the figures who have benefited from that mixture in Maryland.

Forget Ocean City. Why do so many Black Marylanders head to Martha’s Vineyard during the summertime?

Nonprofit news sites are built to generate impact — but these are also generating audiences In markets large and small, these nonprofit news organizations are achieving traffic numbers that many commercial outlets would envy. Here's our first monthly ranking of the top 25 nonprofit news…

Kinda stunned by this. We’re 8th on the list of most trafficked nonprofit news sites. Some of the news outlets and orgs we’re outpacing are absolutely phenomenal — or just really useful.

She unburied the past. Now she’s helping rebuild it. Janice Hayes-Williams is searching for the descendants of urban slavery in America, rebuilding the legacy of the James Brice House in a collaboration with Historic Annapolis.

Learning that your American story runs through this kitchen, these exposed-brick walls and those sleeping quarters beneath the eaves of that house in Annapolis will be a difficult, emotional moment.
www.thebaltimorebanner.com/opinion/hist...

Microsoft Used China-Based Support for Multiple U.S. Agencies, Potentially Exposing Sensitive Data Microsoft says it will no longer use China-based engineers to support the Pentagon. But ProPublica found that the tech giant has relied on its global workforce for years to support other federal clien...

NEW: Microsoft says it will no longer use China-based engineers to support the Pentagon.

But ProPublica found that the tech giant has relied on its global workforce for years to support other federal clients, including the Justice Department.

By @reneedudley.bsky.social

The tree remembers what the axe forgets.

I think about this in the context of journalism, and how our work can potentially leave lasting harm.

Care. Fairness. Diligence. Repeat. That’s the only way to operate. And the only way to build and sustain trust.

Gov. Moore disputes criticisms of reparations bill talks Maryland Gov. Wes Moore’s team is pushing back on criticism that the governor considered his own plan to study the thorny issue of reparations before ultimately vetoing a similar proposal from state l...

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's team responds to critics on how he handled reparations. The latest from me and @brendawintrode.bsky.social:

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...

There’s so much enthusiasm for The Banner in Montgomery County already.

It’s invigorating.

The Banner is expanding beyond the greater Baltimore region. You can find us in Montgomery County starting this fall ⤵️

Coming soon. We’re just getting things sorted out around here.

#montgomerycountymd #localnews

The week was long, but the conversations were so good!

I’m excited about the people who want to cover Montgomery County for The Banner. And I’m energized by community members eager for The Banner to launch.

More conversations and news to come. Just sharing the good vibes.

Super excited for @bannermoco.bsky.social to get up and running. In @zuriberry.com's hands, it's going to be thorough and a must-read! Follow them!

I had a fantastic conversation this morning about The Banner’s expansion to Montgomery County. Lots of interest from local leaders, activists and more. There was some good story ideas, too.

Keep the tips coming , please.

We’ll have official listening sessions soon. But this was nice.

Food, Arts & Culture Reporter - Montgomery County Montgomery County, MD

We just posted an opening for a Food, Arts and Culture reporter in Montgomery County. job-boards.greenhouse.io/thebaltimore...

Who’s really getting a tax break in Maryland? Maryland Gov. Wes Moore often touts that 94% of taxpayers will get an income tax break or see no change. Who really is going to save money and how much?

Gov. Wes Moore often boasts that middle class Marylanders are getting an income tax cut.

That’s true — many are. But the average cut is $43.

I break down who is paying less, who is paying more:

www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-pow...

This is the most crucial, unanswered question about the West Baltimore police shooting Baltimore Police’s fatal shooting of a 70-year-old woman highlights the department’s struggles to train its officers in de-escalation.

The footage reaffirms concerns raised after the shooting by experts in de-escalation tactics, who said it was unclear why officers would breach the door in that situation, given that Brooks was armed only with a knife and posed no threat to officers. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/cr...

Baltimore Police broke down door before fatally shooting 70-year-old woman Police on Wednesday released body camera footage depicting the final moments of 70-year-old Pytorcarcha Brooks, who was shot and killed on June 25 in her West Baltimore home by officers.

In the span of about 30 minutes, Baltimore Police officers who arrived at the scene of a 70 y/o woman’s behavioral health crisis went from telling a family member they had no ability to enter the home to breaking down the front door with a Taser in hand: www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/cr...

Yesterday was good. Claudia and I celebrated 12 years of marriage and the kiddos got to enjoy the beach at night. More fun to follow.

In The Banner app, you can now get Montgomery County news alerts.

Sign up for MoCo alerts when you get The Banner app here: www.thebaltimorebanner.com/app/

Can’t wait.

Thanks!

Some personal news: I’m going to be the executive editor for The Banner in Montgomery County, where we’re launching a newsroom this fall.

This is me, trying to contain my excitement, in the middle of planning, budgeting and HR meetings about the launch.

It’s going to be fun.

Maryland’s population grew more diverse, look up your county in these charts Charts show the demographic breakdown and change in every Maryland county, plus Baltimore, in 2024.

Maryland’s population grew more diverse. Look up your county in these charts.

Baltimore sheriff probes courthouse employee for allegedly inviting ICE to detain someone ICE agents detained a man at the Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr. Courthouse last week, sparking an investigation of a corrections department employee.

BREAKING: The Baltimore Sheriff's Office is probing a courthouse corrections dept. employee for allegedly inviting ICE agents in for a meeting, which led to someone being detained. Investigation is looking at potential crimes including misuse of state data. www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/cr...

Good morning. I’m enjoying Ironheart. Thank you for your attention to this matter. That is all.

Today marks seven years since we lost Gerald Fischman, Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Rebecca Smith, and Wendi Winters to a senseless, horrific act of gun violence at the Capital Gazette.

We will never forget them — and we can never stop fighting for a world without these terrible tragedies.

Amen

AP alert: Supreme Court rules Maryland parents can pull their children from public school lessons that use LGBTQ storybooks

My friends’ names are still on the wind, 7 years after their murder My friends, murdered seven years ago in Annapolis, find me where they do every morning, shortly after I wake and remember to be grateful that I’m alive. Then they find me when I least expect it.

This is a moving column by @rickhutzell.bsky.social. Let's not forget Gerald, Rob, John, Rebecca, Wendi and all the survivors at the Capital Gazette shooting.