Maryland Capital with Jayne Miller

The 151st running of the Preakness is in Laurel due to the reconstruction at Pimlico. The future holds questions. What will the new Pimlico look like? What other purposes might the new facility serve?Should the date be changed so Derby winners don't skip it?Is the state subsidy too much or too little?Conversation is with Bill Knauf, president Maryland Jockey Club.

Legislators gave consumers a small break on their utility bills. in the 2026 session. But it may be progress on solar energy that’s a bigger winner. Changes in permitting should make it easier forresidential rooftop and plug-in solar.Challenges remain to hit clean energy goals—includingconvincing legislators that renewable energy is faster and more cost efficient to deploy. And getting past the culture of big fossil fuel powerplants.Plus..stop raiding the clean energy fund into which weare all payingMy conversation is with Emily Scarr, MarylandPIRG andJosh Tulkin, Maryland Sierra Fund.

Is it time for an upgrade of the structure of citygovernment? Baltimore is one of the few cities that still has a Board of Estimates.—created in 1898! Is the budget  just tweaked from year to year? Should policeget the lion’s share of the budget? Can a new process get the public more involved in the city's fiscal strategy?My conversation is with Nate and Adam Golden who have done excellent research and work through their organization, Maryland Institute for Progressive Policy - MDIPP.org

The days of big manufacturers in Maryland -- steel, auto--are gone. While the industry looks very different today, it is still a key part of the state's economy.110,000 workers. Most companies have less than 100 employees. Life sciences one of the most successful sectors.How does the industry grow? What's the pathway for a middle school student to become a manufacturer? Conversation is with Mike Kelleher,  CEOof the Maryland Manufacturing Extension Partnership  

What attracts people to live in a city. Baltimore hasseen decades of population loss. So what reverses it? For one—new housing. Affordability. A sense of community.A new trend—people who buy want to stay in their houses longer.My conversation is with Meghan McCorkell. Executive Director of Live Baltimore, an organization focused on attracting buyers and renters. The organization recently released a new report on how new and renovated housing can grow the population.

With the war on Iran causing rising oil prices, alternative energy development is all the more important. Including: wind energy.But the US has fallen way behind other countries includingChina, which leads the world in wind energy.What are its benefits, cost, and what has to happento move projects ahead, which are currently blocked by the Trump administration.My conversation is with Rebecca Rehr, who coordinates thework of the OffshoreWind Alliance (She is also Director of Climate Policy and Justice atthe Md. LCV). And Mike McHale, an official with IBEW –theInternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local 24.

Recently, the Sheraton Hotel closed. The latest blow tothe vitality of downtown Baltimore.So what is the vision to breathe new life?To fill vacant offices. To attract new business andretail. And residents.My conversation is with Zeke Cohen, Baltimore CityCouncil president. We focus on who needs to lead. How to better connect downtown’s sections. And fix the permitting system to make it easier to do business. 

Maryland State Senator Cory McCray is also an author—recently publishing a book about his own experience breaking the cycle of repeatedcontact in the juvenile justice system."The Apprenticeship that Saved My Life" tells of thementorship, discipline, and financial literacy he gained through an apprenticeship with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).It led to his career.We have college tours, why not apprenticeship tours? It’s a great conversation for those looking for moreeffective resources for youth.

Like other parts of the country, Maryland also has a K-shaped economy.Who's spending?Who's not?What businesses are hurting?My conversation is with Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman.Covering ideas to grow the private sector (cut down on 'Smith Island cake' layers of regulation)Make it easier to open and run a small businessAnd Baby Bonds to help close the wealth gap.

Maryland imports about 80% of its electricity which leads to a debate about how to generate electricity in-state. Regulators recently agreed to fast track review of gas-fired plants proposed by Constellation. Clean energy advocates strongly oppose. And what about the regional grid operator PJM?My conversation is with Brittany Baker, Maryland Director Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

This podcast is a recap of some of the of some of theinterviews I’ve done on issues of housing, energy, new vision for Baltimore, and how to make a city more walkable--a major issue for downtown Baltimore.Just a few of the people and ideas I tryto cover. And looking forward to 2026.You can find all of my podcasts on Spotify and Apple

Howard County Maryland is one of the wealthiest countiesin the country. Average home sales price - $640,000.Like many places it needs more affordable housing to meet the needs of its workforce--and requires creative solutions.How about home sharing?  The challenges are especially steep now with restrictions placed by the Trump Administration on housing support. My conversation is with Jennifer Broderick, executivedirector of Bridges to Housing Stability—a non profit that advocates foraffordable housing.. 

A recent investigative piece by the Baltimore Banner revealed a pattern of racial disparity in traffic stops. This has been a persistent issue in the county and a task force set up to address it -- just a handful of very brief meetings. The overriding question: Do people still care?My conversation is with Ben Conarck and Greg Morton of the Baltimore Banner.

Baltimore City has not one waterfront but two. The Middle Branch of the Patapsco River--11 miles of shoreline now being restored to protect against the effects of climate change. It is an area under new development--from Baltimore Peninsula to Westport. The marshland restoration is led by South Baltimore Gateway Partnership. Funding partly comes from casino revenue.My conversation is with Brad Rogers, Executive Directorof SBGP and Samantha Rose, Senior RestorationManager.  

My conversation focuses on the rising cost of electricity, which is not likely to abate, and the demand from data centers and electrification and other factors.There is the potential for rolling brownouts by 2027 due to the lack of stable generation in Maryland. And can clean energy be achieved with the Trump administration pushing back? My conversation is with BGE’s  Director ofClean Energy Solutions, Divesh Gupta, and Sonya Harbaugh, BGE Director of Strategy.

There is a campaign underway to expand the use of restorative practices in schools in Maryland. The aim is to change school culture to emphasize respect and accountability, reduce absenteeism, address mental health issues. My conversation is with David Hornbeck, former state superintendent of schools in Maryland and Philadelphia and leading advocate for restorative practices.

The Baltimore Banner--in just its 3rd year of operation--includes in its mission events like Impact Maryland, coming up on October 14th. It's a day long discussion of the economy, housing, education from the people who have to make the decisions. My conversation includes the Banner's recent expansion to Montgomery County and its success as a non-profit model in journalism.Guests are Bob Cohn, president and CEO of the Banner and Sharon Nevins, Chief Revenue officer and Executive Director of Impact Maryland.

A significant hearing is coming up on October 6 in the bankruptcy proceeding involving the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Should the Archdiocese be granted charitable immunity to fend off the claims filed by sex abuse survivors? The Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy following the passage of the Child Victims Act, which lifted the statute of limitation for victims of sex abuse in Maryland institutions.Conversation is with Jonathan Schochor, attorney representing people who have filed claims.

A recent report found that vacant land in Baltimore could be underassessed by as much as $484 mil. The same problem could exist statewide in Maryland.This on a top of a property tax system that puts Baltimore City's rate as double the rate of all other jurisdictions. Might a shift to a land value tax address the problem?My conversation is with Greg Miller, author of the report published for the Center for Land Economics, Vanessa Beck of Baltimore Thrive, and Stephen Janis and Taya Graham, producers of the documentary "Tax Broke".

Cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. Diversion of research dollars. Access to vaccines.The impact of the Trump administrations policy and funding decision can add stress to families already stretched thin. My conversation is with Casey Baynes, founder and CEO of Casey Cares, an organization that helps families of children with serious illness and medical conditions.

There are nearly a dozen communities in Baltimore in which half of the residents don't have access to a car. Can they succeed without one?My conversation is with Marty Schwartz, president of Vehicles for Change which works to get people cars they can afford and trains people to be automotive technicians--jobs that are in high demand. His organization is also one of the non-profits that is scrambling to make up for loss in federal funding.

Baltimore's Black Arts District aims to restore the cultural and entertainment legacy of Pennsylvania Avenue, once the heart of Black entertainment and bring new investment to one of the city's most challenged communities. It seeks to support Black artists and creatives so that one doesn't have to leave Baltimore to succeed. (A well circulated belief) My conversation is with Lady Brion, executive director.

Recent underground fires have put Baltimore's 100 year old conduit system under scrutiny--again. What's going on down there? How long to replace the old system? All in the face of growing demand for electricity which flows though the conduit's wires.My conversation is with two representatives of BGE--the conduit's biggest user. Nick Alexopulos, senior manager of communications and Sterling Sumwalt who oversees the conduit work for the utility.

Autism --its cause and effects--is a main focus of the agenda of HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr. Controversial and disputed. My conversation separates fact from fiction and underlines the concern of what will happen to research. My guest is Dr. Roma Vasa, Director of Psychiatric Services, Center for Autism Services, Science and Innovation at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore.

Baltimore is not seeing the aggressive ICE raids and street encounters of Los Angeles but the effort to detain and deport the City's migrants is underway. My conversation is with Mark Parker, Baltimore City Council member who represents the SE district, home to the largest number of immigrants.

Think of what's happened to play--kids' play. In some countries, it's enshrined in the culture. In the US, it's increasingly been commercialized--leading to 'pay to play' and leaving some kids behind. My conversation is with Mel Brennan, the creator of an interesting TEDx talk--How to Win the World Cup in 2026.

The Maryland legislature amended the Child Victim's Act to lower the amount of damages victims of sex abuse in institutions and churches can claim. It has caused a 'stampede' of new court filings to beat the the new limit. And has raised concerns about whether it is unconstitutional. My conversation is with attorney Jonathan Schochor, who represents sex abuse victims of the Catholic Church,

The "Abundance Agenda" is working its way into politics. My conversation is with Nick Stewart, a Democrat running for County Executive in Baltimore County, one of Maryland's most populous jurisdictions. "Government has overpromised and underdelivered"

Rising costs of electricity.A renewed debate of fossil fuels vs clean energy.A president who's going after climate change policies and even the popular Energy Star program. My conversation is with Emily Scarr from Maryland PIRG.

Most people want government to address the lack of affordable housing and housing affordability. But how to get there--especially with less support from the federal government.My conversation is with Jake Day, Maryland Secretary of Housing and Community Development

Public's view of the two party system is increasingly negative, according to polling. But why can't other parties gain traction? My conversation is with Andy Ellis, candidate for Maryland governor in 2026 from the Green Party. Conversation includes what Ellis refers to as a "dark decade" for Maryland with "defederalization."

The Baltimore Banner recently did a deep, investigative dive into the challenges Baltimore City students face with transportation to get to school. My conversation is with Liz Bowie, veteran education reporter and Greg Morton who created a database to track public transit buses literally every five seconds of the day. Their work is a great example of using data to reveal issues that need to be addressed.

Medicaid and SNAP provide a lifeline to millions of Americans. Who steps in if Trump and the GOP make cuts to the programs? My conversation is with Robin McKinney, co-founder and CEO of CASH Campaign of Maryland. Her organization may also have to scramble for funding.

The supply of affordable housing remains critically short of demand. And now federal cutbacks in funding and staff throw up new hurdles. My conversation is with Tom Coale, lawyer, lobbyist and advocate for affordable housing.

Maryland faces a budget deficit plus the potential loss of federal funding and cuts to the federal workforce. My conversation is with Eric Luedtke, Senior Policy Advisor to Gov. Wes Moore. We talk about the tax proposals, how the state' economy can absorb the loss of federal jobs, and Medicaid--is it untouchable.

Conversation about how to avoid unscrupulous tax preparers, the impact of reductions to the IRS workforce, and the future of Direct File. With John Hardt, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service

Recent progress in behavioral health and the opioid crisis face pressure from state budget issues and loss of federal funding. My conversation is with Adrienne Breidenstine and Dan Rabbit from Behavioral Health System Baltimore.

Conversation with Brandon Butler and Kirk Murray from the Maryland Workforce Association about the work going on in schools to better prepare students for the workforce. It is a pillar of the Blueprint for education in Maryland which is under scrutiny due to cost.

Maryland legislators are considering reducing the number of crimes that require youth to be charged as adults. There are 33 such crimes and Maryland's rate of automatic charging is among the highest in the nation. Advocates for youth say it is expensive and ineffective.More info: https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/model-programs-guide/literature-reviews/youth-in-the-adult-criminal-justice-system

The Maryland legislature is considering several bills that address energy costs and the transition away from fossil fuels. It's not without a fight. My conversation is with Brittany Baker, Maryland director of Chesapeake Climate Action Network.

The Maryland Supreme Court recently upheld the constitutionality of the Child Victims Act which lifts the time limit on lawsuits filed by victims of child sex abuse.I talk about what happens now with attorneys Jonathan Schochor and Andrew Janet who represent people who have sued the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Archdiocese of Washington.

Conversation with employment law attorney Elaine Fitch about the Trump Administration's effort to push federal employees out of their jobs. The legal options they may have .

A recent report by Maryland's Economic Council described Maryland's economic growth as "anemic" despite high median income and low unemployment. What factors explain it? My conversation with Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman

Conversation with Dr. Sandra Kurtinitis, president of the Community College of Baltimore County about the emergence of the community college system in higher education and workforce development.

Conversation with Amanda Daflos, Executive Director of Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation. Discussion focused on strengthening staffing in city governments, using data to better provide services, and making public sector work more attractive. Recent survey showed nearly half of young people want nothing to do with working in the public sector.

The sightings of unmanned aircraft along the East Coast come at a time when the use of drones is increasing fast. The drone economy expected to clear $50 bil per year by 2030.

Conversation with city planner Jeff Speck about the benefits of walkable cities and street changes that achieve them. Author of Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America One Step at a Time. "..a down and dirty, step by step seminar on city repair.." -The Globe and Mail-

A wide ranging conversation with a man who's spent 58 years in public service. How politics have changed Trump and the Senate What happens to abortion rights now Why VP Harris lost

Baltimore has received more than $600 mil in settlements and awards by suing opioid manufacturers. But where will the money go? Public health advocates push for innovative investments. I discuss with WBAL-TV investigative reporter Tolly Taylor.

10 recommendations to increase the supply of affordable housing from a new paper by Tom Coale and Salim Furth. Included--redirecting the public participation process so NIMBYs can't stall the project.