Headshot of newsletter writer Danielle Gaines

Danielle Gaines

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Danielle Gaines is the Evening Wrap newsletter author at States Newsroom.

She is based in Maryland, where she worked for Maryland Matters for six years, including as editor-in-chief for nearly three years. Previously, she spent six years at The Frederick (Md.) News-Post ― as the paper’s principal government and politics reporter for half that time, covering courts and legal affairs before that. She also reported for the now-defunct The Gazette of Politics and Business in Maryland and previously worked as a county government and education reporter at The Merced Sun-Star in California’s Central Valley.

Federal prosecutors to drop charges against Frederick County sheriff
Maryland

Federal prosecutors drop gun conspiracy charges against Frederick County sheriff

Nov 12, 2024
Danielle Gaines
Federal prosecutors on Tuesday dropped criminal charges against Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins (R), who had been accused of using a loophole in federal law to help a local gun shop owner illegally obtain machine guns. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine...
6th District race too close to call; few surprises in other House races
Maryland

6th District race too close to call; few surprises in other House races

Nov 06, 2024
Danielle Gaines Elijah Pittman
It’s wait-and-see in Western Maryland. Republican former Del. Neil Parrott and Democratic political newcomer April McClain Delaney told supporters at election night parties Tuesday that the race was still too close to call, with Parrott holding a 1.75% lead with...
Understanding Question A in Harford County
Maryland

Understanding Question A in Harford County

Oct 31, 2024
Danielle Gaines
Harford County voters will consider in November whether to impose new term limits on its county council, though the proposal doesn’t go as far as some term limit advocates had hoped. Question A would set a limit of three consecutive...
Baltimore City ballot explainer: Voters could decide Harbor development, council size
Maryland

Baltimore City ballot explainer: Voters could decide Harbor development, council size

Oct 19, 2024
Danielle Gaines
Eight local ballot questions will be decided by Baltimore voters in November. While many of the questions are routine monetary issues, a couple have generated debate and controversy: an Inner Harbor redevelopment plan and an effort to cut the size...
Anne Arundel ballot questions — to guide open meetings, county auditor and more — explained
Maryland

Anne Arundel ballot questions — to guide open meetings, county auditor and more — explained

Oct 19, 2024
Danielle Gaines
Voters in Anne Arundel County will consider four amendments to the County Charter in November, which could reshape county government to slight degrees. Any changes to the charter must receive supermajority approval from the County Council before going to the...
Baltimore County ballot explainer:  County Council expansion, Inspector General powers and more
Maryland

Baltimore County ballot explainer:  County Council expansion, Inspector General powers and more

Oct 19, 2024
Danielle Gaines
Baltimore County voters will decide in November whether to expand the county council, strengthen the Office of the Inspector General and impose term limits on the county’s planning board. County voters will consider a total of 12 questions, with several...
Cecil County ballot questions — on elected leaders’ pay, replacement — explained
Maryland

Cecil County ballot questions — on elected leaders’ pay, replacement — explained

Oct 19, 2024
Danielle Gaines
Cecil County shifted to a charter government in 2012 and voters are now considering the first batch of recommended changes to the county’s structure by a charter review commission. The charter review commission, which met and considered changes for nearly...
Breaking down Prince George’s County’s 2024 ballot questions
Maryland

Breaking down Prince George’s County’s 2024 ballot questions

Oct 19, 2024
Danielle Gaines
Prince George’s County voters will have the chance to tweak county government staffing rules, but the biggest issue for voters when they go to the polls the fall will likely be the raft of bond questions on the ballot. Prince...
McClain Delaney, Parrott to face off in Western Maryland for 6th District seat
Maryland

McClain Delaney, Parrott to face off in Western Maryland for 6th District seat

May 15, 2024
Danielle Gaines
A former state delegate from Western Maryland and a Biden administration telecommunications official claimed victory in their respective primaries Tuesday, setting the stage for a campaign this fall to represent Maryland’s most competitive congressional district. With all but one precinct...
Trone, Alsobrooks vie for support from high-turnout senior living community
Maryland

Trone, Alsobrooks vie for support from high-turnout senior living community

Mar 29, 2024
Danielle Gaines
With little more than a month before early voting centers open in Maryland, the leading Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate made their pitches to residents at a vote-rich senior living community in Montgomery County on Thursday evening. Prince George’s County...
Howard County man sentenced to prison for threats against lawmakers, LGBTQ advocacy group
Maryland

Howard County man sentenced to prison for threats against lawmakers, LGBTQ advocacy group

Jan 11, 2024
Danielle Gaines
A Howard County man was sentenced to two years in prison Thursday, after pleading guilty last year to threatening state lawmakers and a group that advocates for LGBTQI+ people. Adam Michael Nettina, 34, of West Friendship, was sentenced by U.S...
Kalman Hettleman: Elected officials and the public must do their school homework in the New Year
Maryland
Commentary

Kalman Hettleman: Elected officials and the public must do their school homework in the New Year

Jan 11, 2024
Danielle Gaines
For the New Year, the first wish must be for peace for all people in all nations. Here at home, my top political wish is for a much better education for our schoolchildren. That’s no surprise to readers of my...