Maryland’s only all-boys charter school faces closure vote January 14 as state demands funding transparency from districts By Doni Glover, BMORENews.com Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys—Maryland’s only all-boys charter school—faces a closure vote on January 14, 2026, caught in the middle of a statewide funding crisis that has prompted state education leaders to demand answers from school districts. The school board cites “not effective” ratings in academics and financial management. Yet Edwin Avent’s school graduates more than 90% of its boys—roughly 20 points higher than Baltimore City Public Schools’ approximately 70% graduation rate. Baltimore Collegiate’s fight for survival comes as…

(BALTIMORE – November 27, 2025) – The contrast couldn’t be starker in Maryland’s 41st District State Senate race. On one side: incumbent State Senator Dalya Attar, who pleaded not guilty Monday to federal extortion and conspiracy charges in an alleged blackmail scheme. On the other hand, Delegate Malcolm Ruff, who just secured a stunning $21.5 million jury verdict – including $10 million in punitive damages – against negligent landlords who hired convicted sex offender Jason Billingsley. Attar’s Legal Troubles Mount According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Attar, her brother Joseph “Yossi” Attar, and Baltimore Police Officer Kalman Finkelstein allegedly conspired…

(BALTIMORE – November 27, 2025) – I have to be honest. When we name our Woman or Man of the Year, it’s primarily from a Baltimore-centric perspective. Yes, we cover news about melanated people across the globe, and, sure, we host the Joe Manns Black Wall Street Awards in 9 U.S. cities, with followers worldwide. But our home is right here in Sandtown. The people who fueled BMORENews.com for the past 23 years are mostly right here in Maryland – from Baltimore City to Catonsville to Woodlawn, Randallstown to Owings Mills, Towson to Hunt Valley, Sparrows Point to Essex, and…

(COLLEGE PARK – November 15, 2025) – I believe fortune favors the bold. You have to get out there and try. That’s the only way anything comes to you. My dad told me years ago: “Get out there. Somebody might see you. They might even help you.” That advice shaped everything. The Ugly Website That Started It All When I ordered my very first website, the designer wanted to lock me into a regular maintenance fee. I told the designer no—I needed to learn how to update it myself. I wasn’t setting myself up to be dependent on someone for…

(BALTIMORE – November 13, 2025) – Baltimore! World! Last week showed me something I’ve been waiting to see for years: New Baltimore is here. The Renaissance isn’t coming—it’s already arrived. And it’s not just the City. Baltimore County is also waking up. If you’re watching from the sidelines thinking otherwise, you might want to look again. The Heavyweights Are in the Room Last week, Shelonda Stokes presented the Downtown Partnership’s Annual Report—a major networking event that celebrated downtown achievements, recognized leaders, and mapped the future. The room was packed with power: Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott. Otis Rolley, the new CEO…

(BALTIMORE – November 9, 2025) – When you hear “Penn-North,” what comes to mind? Be honest. There’s a pause. A look. That intersection at North Avenue—just south of Mondawmin Station, where the Freddie Gray uprising began—carries a stigma that most of Maryland would rather ignore. But here’s what the rest of the state doesn’t want to admit: Penn-North is where their kids go to die. BMORENews spoke with addictions counselor Steve Dixon, who revealed something that should alarm every family from Towson to Annapolis, from Montgomery County to the Eastern Shore. The drug unleashing havoc at Penn-North isn’t just fentanyl…

(BALTIMORE – October 30, 2025) – I guess Malcolm was right. No, not Malcolm X — the other Malcolm. The one from Park Heights. When he told me he was running for State Senator of the 41st, I was skeptical. “Nah, you should run for Delegate,” I said. But he stood firm on his decision. Now, barely three months into the campaign, the sitting State Senator faces a federal indictment. The timing couldn’t be more consequential. Suddenly, Delegate Malcolm Ruff’s Senate bid looks less like a long shot and more like vindication — a mental victory at minimum, but possibly…

(BALTIMORE – October 29, 2025) – Unbeknownst to many, a cultural revolution is quietly underway in America. It’s been simmering for generations — and now, it’s starting to boil. From Hawaii to California, from Georgia to Detroit, more and more melanated people are tracing their indigeneity, their true lineage. This isn’t just about ancestry websites. People are digging into family records, calling courthouses in other states, and connecting dots that were deliberately erased. What they’re finding is mind-blowing — history we were never taught. I saw this shift years ago when I posted a video on “Black Indians.” It got…

(BALTIMORE – October 27, 2025) – In the early 1970s, West North Avenue was alive with Black enterprise. I remember Ike Dixon Insurance, the beauty salons, the barbershops, the eateries — the heartbeat of our neighborhood. Fast-forward to more recent times, and only a few Black-owned businesses remain. My cousin Jamal ran Jamal’s Hauling in the 1800 block between Monroe and McKean. He loved his community deeply, and his business was one of the last to go after his passing. Everyone’s Place stands tall as a true staple. I remember when Nati started — from a street vendor to a…

(BALTIMORE – October 27, 2025) – Years ago, while in Jamaica, I found myself in conversation with a Rasta. I asked him what wisdom he’d have me carry back home. He paused, smiled, and said two simple words — words I will never forget: “Love life.” Then he repeated them, slower this time. “Love life.” Today, the world feels upside down. What was left is now right. What was right is now passé. It’s as if common decency has become retro — a relic from another time. People’s mental health is stretched thin as we try to make sense of…