Read more about the article New $50M Homebuyer Program Supports First Responders and Teachers
Education / Housing and Community Development / News You Can Use / Public Safety and Corrections
New $50M Homebuyer Program Supports First Responders and Teachers

Maryland has launched a new mortgage program offering lower interest rates and down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers who work as first responders or teachers. Applications for the new program are now open. The First Homes for First Responders and Teachers program offers eligible buyers a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with an interest rate 0.5 percentage points below the standard Maryland Mortgage Program First Time Advantage 5% loan. Buyers can also receive assistance equal to 5%…

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September 9, 2026
Read more about the article Congress Averts Government Shutdown, Delays New Federal Grant Rules
County News / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use
Congress Averts Government Shutdown, Delays New Federal Grant Rules

Last week, Congress approved a short-term spending bill that keeps the federal government funded through December 11 while delaying a sweeping rewrite of federal grant rules. The delay gives counties additional time before the proposed changes to federal grant administration can take effect. The US House passed the Senate version of the continuing resolution on September 1 by a 370-48 vote, following the Senate’s 90-6 vote in August. President Trump signed the measure into law,…

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September 9, 2026
Read more about the article MD Supreme Court Clears Redistricting Question for November Ballot
Elections / General Assembly News / News You Can Use
MD Supreme Court Clears Redistricting Question for November Ballot

The Supreme Court of Maryland has cleared a proposed congressional redistricting amendment for the November ballot, overturning two circuit court rulings that would have blocked the measure. The Court found the ballot language approved by the General Assembly misleading but ordered revised language, ending weeks of uncertainty as State and local election administrators move deeper into preparations for the November 3 general election. The divided Court issued its order Thursday evening after hearing arguments earlier…

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September 4, 2026
Read more about the article Frederick Secures $110M Community Benefits Agreement for Data Center Campus
County Budgets / County News / News You Can Use / Planning and Zoning
Frederick Secures $110M Community Benefits Agreement for Data Center Campus

Frederick County has negotiated more than $110 million in developer-funded community investments tied to the Frederick Digital Campus, along with changes aimed at reducing the impact of the already-approved data center development on surrounding communities. County Executive Jessica Fitzwater announced the agreement September 1 with Catellus, the campus’s master developer. Catellus will reduce planned data center development by nearly 20%, cut potable water use by 80% once its reclaimed water system comes online, and preserve…

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September 2, 2026
Read more about the article Mail-In Voting Saga Continues as DOJ Appeals Latest Block
Elections / News You Can Use
Mail-In Voting Saga Continues as DOJ Appeals Latest Block

New US Postal Service requirements for mail-in ballots are back on hold after a federal judge blocked their implementation for two weeks. The administration appealed the ruling Friday, continuing a fast-moving legal fight just weeks before Maryland begins sending ballots for the November election. The latest turn comes days after the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) intervened in the case. As previously reported on Conduit Street, SCOTUS ruled that states had challenged the…

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August 31, 2026
Read more about the article News or Noise: Blueprint Pressure, AI Surveillance, and College Sports
County News / Cyber / Education / Information Technology / News You Can Use
News or Noise: Blueprint Pressure, AI Surveillance, and College Sports

Summer Conference is in the rearview mirror, but many of the conversations shaping Maryland policy are just getting started. In the latest round of News or Noise, Kevin Kinnally and Michael Sanderson are joined by Sarah Sample for a look at the headlines, policy debates, and emerging issues that could follow county leaders from #MACoCon into the 2027 legislative session.   Tune in to the Conduit Street Podcast weekly, wherever you get your podcasts! Subscribe…

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August 27, 2026
Read more about the article Baltimore Housing Forum to Examine Federal Action, Local Impact
Housing and Community Development / News You Can Use
Baltimore Housing Forum to Examine Federal Action, Local Impact

A September 2 housing forum in Baltimore City will bring together local, state, and national leaders to discuss how federal housing legislation could affect communities on the ground. Baltimore City Council Member Odette Ramos will host “The Impact of Federal Legislation on Baltimore City” on Wednesday, September 2, at Baltimore Unity Hall. The discussion will focus on the federal ROAD to Housing Act and other housing initiatives moving at the federal level. The program will…

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August 27, 2026
Read more about the article Mail-In Voting Fight Escalates: Judge Lifts Block, Maryland Sues USPS
County News / Elections / News You Can Use
Mail-In Voting Fight Escalates: Judge Lifts Block, Maryland Sues USPS

A federal judge has lifted the final injunction blocking new US Postal Service requirements for mail-in ballots, clearing USPS to apply the rules to the November midterms unless another court intervenes. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown immediately joined a new lawsuit seeking to stop them. US District Judge Indira Talwani vacated her nationwide injunction Wednesday after the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) ruled that states had challenged President Donald Trump’s executive order too…

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August 26, 2026
Read more about the article FCC Proposal Could Preempt Local Broadband Permitting Authority
Broadband / County News / NACo and Federal Issues / News You Can Use / Planning and Zoning
FCC Proposal Could Preempt Local Broadband Permitting Authority

The Federal Communications Commission is considering new rules that could preempt local authority over broadband permitting, including project timelines, fees, and access to public rights-of-way. The FCC is considering new federal standards aimed at speeding up wireline broadband deployment. The proposal includes mandatory timelines for local approvals and potential limits on the fees local governments can charge providers. The National Association of Counties (NACo) is actively engaging with the FCC as the rulemaking moves forward.…

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August 26, 2026
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