Bryan Sears

Bryan P. Sears

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Bryan Sears covers the governor and General Assembly, state politics and transportation for Maryland Matters. He has covered the Maryland State House for the last two decades at the Baltimore Sun Media Group, Patch.com and most recently, The Daily Record. Sears has won multiple state and national awards for police and crime reporting, local and state government coverage and investigative reporting that resulted in a guilty plea by a government official for stealing from his own campaign account. He’s a frequent radio and television contributor.

Transportation officials hold firm on $5.2 billion price tag to replace Key Bridge
Maryland

Transportation officials hold firm on $5.2 billion price tag to replace Key Bridge

Jun 03, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
State transportation officials are holding firm on a projected cost of $5.2 billion to rebuild the Francis Scott Key Bridge, despite reports of some estimates nearly twice that amount. Maryland will part ways later this year with the current contractor...
Imhoff will not challenge Penman’s request to be reseated on the Harford Council
Maryland

Imhoff will not challenge Penman’s request to be reseated on the Harford Council

Jun 02, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
A member of the Harford County Council says she will not challenge her removal so that her predecessor can return to his position. Alison Imhoff, 39, said in a court filing Tuesday, that she will not challenge the reinstatement of...
Hale calls for color-coded mulligan on mail-in ballot mixup
Maryland

Hale calls for color-coded mulligan on mail-in ballot mix-up

Jun 02, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
One Republican candidate for governor is calling on the Maryland State Board of elections to send out yet another round of mail-in ballots, saying the first attempt to fix more than 400,000 ballots just led to more confusion. Monday’s comments...
Gas tax in Maryland to increase slightly on July 1
Maryland

Gas tax in Maryland to increase slightly on July 1

Jun 01, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
Maryland motorists will face an increase in the state gas tax rate starting next month, but whether they notice the change is another thing entirely. New tax rates released Monday by the Office of the Comptroller set the new tax...
Kittleman breaks with Republicans, the party of his father
Maryland

Kittleman breaks with Republicans, the party of his father

May 30, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
On the afternoon of May 7, former Howard County Executive Allan Kittleman walked into his county board of elections. What happened next — aside from going unrecognized — would perhaps strike some who know Kittleman as surprising. Kittleman, 67 and...
Judge ready to reverse order removing Penman from council; won’t say if he should be reinstated
Maryland

Judge ready to reverse order removing Penman from council; won’t say if he should be reinstated

May 29, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
Former Harford County Council member Aaron Penman inched closer Friday to being returned to his former seat after a hearing in circuit court. Circuit Judge W. Michel Pierson vacated a 2025 order forcing Penman from office. But he stopped short...
State dumps Moody’s a year after it downgraded Maryland bonds
Maryland

State dumps Moody’s a year after it downgraded Maryland bonds

May 28, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
Maryland has ended a decades-long relationship with one of three major bond rating firms a year after that firm downgraded the state’s credit rating. The state is scheduled to go to an $800 million bond sale on Wednesday with ratings...
In Allegany County, flood recovery pushes forward a year later
Maryland

In Allegany County, flood recovery pushes forward a year later

May 23, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
Historic flooding undercut the foundation of Westernport’s town library a year ago and buried its books in mud. But two blocks away, the town’s recovery is pressing ahead. A building that was once home to a beloved local medical clinic...
Biden’s back, Buckel’s upset, Moore signs a baseball — or a crystal ball? — in notes
Maryland

Biden’s back, Buckel’s upset, Moore signs a baseball — or a crystal ball? — in notes

May 23, 2026
Bryan P. Sears Danielle J. Brown William J. Ford
Forget prediction markets. When it comes to Wes Moore’s chances of becoming president (he insists he’s not running), Kathy Murphy may have the inside track. Murphy, manager of the Westernport Branch of the Allegany Library System, has a so-far —...
Ferguson opens the door to redistricting, slightly, in wake of Supreme Court ruling
Maryland

Ferguson opens the door to redistricting, slightly, in wake of Supreme Court ruling

May 22, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
Saying “the rules have changed” since the U.S. Supreme Court last month “gutted the Voting Rights Act,” Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said Friday he’s talking with Democratic senators about calling a special session to address the state’s...
Board of Public Works votes to expand park registration program
Maryland

Board of Public Works votes to expand park registration program

May 21, 2026
Christine Condon Bryan P. Sears
The Maryland Park Service can move forward with its plan to expand an online registration system for state parks and shooting ranges after receiving a green light Wednesday from the Maryland Board of Public Works. The Park Service began requiring...
Trio of GOP candidates for governor — out of nine total — meet in debate
Maryland

Trio of GOP candidates for governor — out of nine total — meet in debate

May 20, 2026
Bryan P. Sears
A debate among Republican candidates for governor Tuesday lacked fiery exchanges, name recognition and two-thirds of the nine primary candidates. The 60-minute debate, hosted by Maryland Public Television and WYPR, featured Douglas Larcomb, John Myrick and Shannon Wright. Among the...