AGP Executive Report

Memorial Day travel pressure: AAA says gas prices are set to hit the highest Memorial Day levels in four years, with the national average now around $4.51 and oil still elevated—so road trips may cost more than expected. Ocean City safety drills: Ahead of the holiday rush, Ocean City rescue crews trained for inlet rescues near the jetty rocks, practicing the full response from 911 call to EMS handoff. Lower Shore history project: “Voices 250” is launching to collect and share at least 250 oral histories from Somerset, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties for America’s 250th anniversary. Heat readiness: Cooling centers are open statewide as intense heat moves in, with Baltimore running Code Red Extreme Heat Season through mid-September. Ravens on the move: Baltimore will hold joint practices with Washington (Aug. 26 at Owings Mills) and Minnesota (Aug. 19-20 in Minnesota) before preseason games. Key Bridge case: The Dali owner/operator asked to delay the civil trial after criminal charges were unsealed.

Tour Buzz: The Smashing Pumpkins just announced the fall “Rats in a Cage” North American Tour, with a Baltimore stop at CFG Bank Arena on Oct. 3 and tickets going on general sale May 21. Gas & Getting Around: Higher gas prices are nudging Americans back toward public transit, with ridership rising most where transit is strong and fuel costs bite hardest. Maryland Safety Watch: An NBC News correspondent, Tom Costello, helped pull a teen from a crash on the Capital Beltway after a speeding vehicle hit a barrier and burst into flames. Local Crime: A Camden County man was arrested for allegedly setting a Walmart fire in Elkton using camping fuel and fireworks as a distraction in a nearly $10,000 jewelry theft. Outdoors Health: Tick activity is climbing, and ER visits for tick bites are at their highest for this time of year since 2017. Preakness Prep: The 151st Preakness is this weekend at Laurel Park in Maryland, with NBC/Peacock coverage starting at 6:50 p.m. ET.

NFL Schedule Shock: The Cowboys’ 2026 slate is getting slammed for brutal travel—opening in New Jersey, then a massive swing to Brazil for a Week 3 showdown with the Ravens, plus a late-season grind that leaves little breathing room. Preakness at Laurel Park: The 151st Preakness runs Saturday, May 16 at 6:50 p.m. ET at Laurel Park (Pimlico is under renovation), with NBC/Peacock coverage and a field led by Iron Honor as the early favorite. Public Safety: A masked Walmart shopper in Elkton, MD allegedly set a cart of fuel and fireworks on fire in the kids section as a distraction for a nearly $10,000 jewelry heist; a NJ man is charged and awaiting extradition. Health Watch: Tick bites are driving ER visits to their highest levels for this time of year since 2017, with the Northeast and Midwest hit hardest—plan for extra caution outdoors. Local Culture: Salisbury’s “History & Hymns: An Evening of Gospel on the Shore” brings performers to Asbury United Methodist Church this weekend.

Fed Watch: Jerome Powell’s Fed tenure ends with a long inflation fight and a test of central-bank independence, after he pushed back on an unusual Justice Department probe. Maryland Travel & Outdoors: DCNR is spotlighting Laurel Caverns State Park—Pennsylvania’s first underground state park—as a fresh “oh wow” stop for visitors heading into peak season. Ethics & Tourism: Kash Patel’s “VIP snorkel” near the USS Arizona memorial is drawing fresh scrutiny over what’s allowed at sacred sites. Sports (Baltimore): The Orioles’ bats finally woke up, but a brutal 7th-inning bullpen collapse sank them 13-3 to the Nationals. Preakness Weekend (Laurel Park): The 151st Preakness runs Saturday at Laurel Park (Pimlico renovations), with betting guides and odds already in motion. Road Safety: Preliminary federal data shows Maryland traffic deaths dropped in 2025, down to 483.

Preakness at Laurel Park: Pimlico’s renovation pushes the 151st Preakness Stakes to Laurel Park on Saturday, with post time set for 6:50 p.m. ET, 14 horses in the field, and Ocelli (6-1) leading the morning line ahead of Iron Honor (9-2) and several Derby returnees. Maryland Travel & Deals: If you’re planning around the race, expect big demand—plus there’s fresh buzz on nearby travel options, from Southwest’s first-ever Alaska flights (Denver and Las Vegas to Anchorage) to practical guides for Marylanders comparing online casino markets across state lines. Local Spotlight: Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s No. 7 jersey was retired at Boynton Beach High School, with a street renamed and “Lamar Jackson Day” declared. Public Safety: Maryland AG Anthony G. Brown announced no charges in a fatal Howard County police-involved crash after an independent review. Weekend Weather: Warm, summerlike conditions are on tap with only spotty showers and highs climbing into the 80s, with 90s possible early next week.

Preakness at Laurel Park: Golden Tempo won’t run the Preakness this Saturday after a short two-week gap from the Kentucky Derby, with trainer Cherie DeVaux citing health and rest. Local Racing Legacy: Laurel Park is hosting the event as Pimlico undergoes renovations, and the track’s “global stage” era is ending—so expect a big sendoff. FBI Fallout: Kash Patel’s Senate grilling over drinking claims turned into a sharp back-and-forth with Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, adding fresh heat to the bureau’s credibility fight. Supreme Court Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether police can use geofence-style location searches and how the “third-party” rule applies to app-tracked location history. Rescue on the Susquehanna: Maryland State Police aviation helped rescue two people from Piney Island near Holtwood Dam after difficult terrain delayed access. Travel Pulse: Sint Maarten tourism is surging again, with new flights and expanding hotels boosting Caribbean momentum.

Hantavirus Watch: U.S. cruise passengers tied to the MV Hondius outbreak are settling into a 42-day quarantine after returning home, with officials stressing risk is low but monitoring is ongoing—one traveler is even isolating on the remote Pitcairn Islands. Maryland Courts & Guns: The MD Supreme Court upheld Montgomery County’s authority to regulate firearms but narrowed how far it can go, leaving room for further legal fights. Local Parks & History: Freedman’s State Park opened in Montgomery County, spotlighting the Howard family and African American resilience on more than 1,000 acres. Travel & Events: Preakness racegoers marked a wistful farewell to Laurel Park as the track’s future shifts; and Ocean City is merging Wine on the Beach with Sunfest for a bigger fall festival weekend. Sports Schedule Buzz: The Bengals released their 2026 slate, including primetime matchups vs. Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Washington, plus an international trip to Madrid.

NFL Schedule Drop: The full 2026 slate is out, kicking off Sept. 9 with a Super Bowl LX rematch—Seattle hosting New England—and starting on a Wednesday to fit the league’s first regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia (Rams vs. 49ers). The NFL also sets a record with nine international games across four continents. Maryland Travel Hook: Preakness is the big local draw this weekend, but it’s not at Pimlico—construction forces the 151st running to Laurel Park in Laurel (about a 45-minute drive from Baltimore), with the change expected to be temporary. Health Watch: Hantavirus coverage continues to focus on low public risk in Maryland while officials monitor people exposed through a cruise outbreak. Budget Travel Update: With Spirit Airlines shutting down, travelers are scrambling for new loyalty plans and routes—especially those who relied on low-cost nonstop options.

Hantavirus Watch: Federal health officials say 41 people across 12 states are being monitored after possible exposure, with Maryland officials stressing the public risk is “very low” while they track symptoms in real time. Coastal Growth: Ocean City’s homegrown donut brand Fractured Prune is pushing a fresh franchise push for 2026, aiming to bring its made-to-order experience to more markets. Travel Disruption: Spirit Airlines’ exit from the Dominican Republic is expected to be absorbed by competitors, with routes from places like Baltimore and Philadelphia likely to keep flying. Sports Travel: The 2026 NFL schedule is out, and Vikings fans can plan around a long season road slate—plus international games are reshaping travel for multiple teams. Local Safety: A 16-year-old at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda was arrested and accused of bringing a gun to school. Maryland Money: Maryland reached a $2.25B settlement tied to the Francis Scott Key Bridge disaster.

Judicial Independence on the Line: Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson warned that attacks on judges are “an attack on our society,” as President Trump keeps publicly criticizing court rulings and even calls for impeachment of judges. Consumer Protection Fight: Senate Republicans blocked Democratic moves to reverse Trump-era Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rollbacks, including rules tied to medical debt, overdraft fees, and protections for military families. Immigration Pressure in the Spotlight: Deportations to El Salvador nearly doubled in early 2026, with Bukele aligning closely with Trump’s deportation push. Maryland Travel Watch: Baltimore is adding four new speed-camera locations in school zones, with enforcement starting around May 20—another reminder to slow down near kids. Local Culture & Travel: Philly Pride is moving from the Gayborhood to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway as attendance surges. Airport Update: The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority named Joseph Kluh as its next police chief, starting May 17.

Hantavirus Watch: Health officials are tracking a rare hantavirus outbreak tied to the MV Hondius cruise ship, with three deaths and 11 suspected or confirmed cases so far, and weeks-long incubation keeping monitoring active as more people are checked in multiple states—including Maryland. NFL Travel Buzz: The league’s 2026 international slate is out, featuring a record nine games overseas, including the Vikings in Mexico City and the 49ers’ huge mileage run. Baltimore Shipping Fallout: A federal grand jury has charged operators tied to the MV Dali in the Key Bridge collapse, alleging serious misconduct and concealment. Maryland Tourism Dollars: The state is awarding $100,000 in grants for six tourism projects, adding fuel to local travel plans. Federal Workforce Shift (regional): In the Philly metro, thousands of federal workers left jobs after layoff threats—mostly through resignations/retirements rather than layoffs.

Key Bridge case: Federal prosecutors filed criminal charges against Singapore-based Synergy Marine and a senior employee over the 2024 Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse that killed six workers, alleging crew issues and failures to report onboard blackouts. Travel safety watch: Maryland is among states monitoring possible hantavirus exposure tied to a cruise outbreak, with health officials stressing transmission risk remains low while monitoring continues. Big trip, big optics: President Trump heads to Beijing for a summit with Xi Jinping, with reports suggesting a more subdued welcome than in 2017 as both sides weigh the Iran conflict and trade tensions. Local travel angle: Southwest says a cracked windshield forced an emergency landing in Tulsa for a flight originally bound for Baltimore—passengers were unharmed and were rebooked. Maryland culture & movement: Route 40 gets a fresh spotlight for travelers with historic National Road markers and mile markers along the corridor.

Key Bridge Case: Federal prosecutors have unsealed new criminal charges tied to the Dali collision that killed six people and collapsed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, with allegations including conspiracy and obstruction—while the bridge replacement is still projected to run into late 2030. Public Health Watch: Maryland is monitoring two residents after possible hantavirus exposure linked to a cruise outbreak; officials stress the risk of widespread spread is very low, but incubation can run weeks. Wildlife & Travel Timing: Bird migration radar shows peak spring movement over New Jersey overnight, and experts say simple steps like adjusting household lights can help reduce bird collisions. Maryland Outdoors: The state plans to expand online reservations for popular parks starting this summer, aiming to cut early-morning lines and turn-away days. Deals for Getaways: Southwest is running a limited-time sale with one-way fares starting at $59, including routes to Baltimore from Boston. Local Events: OceanCity.com launched its Best of Ocean City 2026 photo contest, with submissions now open.

Hantavirus Watch: Maryland health officials are monitoring two residents after a flight briefly included a passenger from the Hondius cruise ship outbreak. Officials say the risk to the public in Maryland remains very low, and the two people were not on the ship itself—just exposed during international air travel. Road Safety: Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal Anne Arundel County crash involving three vehicles and an MTA bus; impairment and speed are suspected. Crime Crackdown: Five members tied to the “Sin City Deciples” motorcycle club were sentenced in an interstate theft ring that prosecutors say targeted high-value bikes, including at Ocean City’s 2024 BikeFest. Travel Demand: AAA expects Memorial Day weekend travel to stay strong despite higher gas and airfare, with road trips leading the way. Local Life: Ocean City’s spring sports scene keeps rolling with MPSSAA playoff brackets out for lacrosse, baseball, and softball.

Gas Prices & Taxes: With Iran ceasefire talks still stuck, the national average for gas is about $4.52 and rising fast, and President Trump is floating a suspension of the federal gas tax—while some states already paused theirs. Baltimore Biking Push: Mayor Brandon Scott says Baltimore will add or upgrade 17 miles of bike lanes over the next three years, aiming to connect safer routes for more riders. Border Tech Court Fight: EFF and partners urge the 4th Circuit to require warrants for border searches of electronic devices, arguing Dulles-area phone searches shouldn’t happen without court approval. Maryland Travel/Leisure Watch: Pitango Gelato is expanding—its next franchise opens in Northern Virginia in July, with Maryland among the targeted growth markets. Local Safety & Community: A Towson High School junior died after a bicycle crash; and Baltimore police arrested a suspect in a shooting near Lexington Market. Outdoors & Policy: Interior is moving to ease “unnecessary” hunting/fishing restrictions at some national park sites.

In the past 12 hours, Maryland-focused travel and public-safety coverage centered on disruptions and health alerts. At BWI Thurgood Marshall, two Southwest flights “clipped” each other during pushback, causing minor wingtip damage; Southwest removed the aircraft from service and the FAA is investigating. Separately, Maryland health officials are monitoring a rise in measles cases, with three infections confirmed in the state this year and concerns heightened by the virus’s contagiousness—even though officials say there’s currently no evidence of ongoing community transmission.

Travel planning and local commuting also featured prominently. A weather update noted showers moving out of the Baltimore area into Thursday, with cooler temperatures and a later, more intermittent rain pattern. For active transportation, Bike to Work Week is set to return to Annapolis and Anne Arundel County May 11–17, including a Bike to Work Day celebration at Annapolis City Dock on May 15 with safety checks and a group ride option.

Several other items in the last 12 hours were more “community calendar” than major developments, including sports and entertainment coverage (e.g., NCAA/AVCA volleyball regional rankings and All Things Go’s 2026 Maryland lineup) and local event promotion. There was also continued attention to aviation and travel affordability in the broader news mix, including coverage of Spirit Airlines’ shutdown and its ripple effects—though the most detailed Maryland-specific aviation impacts in this set were the BWI collision and the measles/commuting updates.

Looking slightly further back for continuity, the coverage reinforces that travel-related risk and infrastructure issues are recurring themes. Earlier reporting included Maryland’s measles exposure warnings tied to travel and transit lines, and it also covered broader airport disruption context around airline failures. Meanwhile, Maryland infrastructure and safety topics continued to appear in the wider set of articles (for example, Morgan State researchers testing a multisensory work zone alert system), supporting the sense that public safety—especially around roads and mobility—remains a steady focus alongside travel logistics.