The C4 Show Podcast

Baltimore’s Edgar Allan Poe House and Museum is launching an emergency fundraising campaign to cover preservation-related costs. The historic house is at the very corner of a major redevelopment project in West Baltimore. While they support new development, the organization must first navigate the challenges caused by the construction. “Over this past summer, we were inundated with a lot of extraordinary costs, cures, the museum, water intrusion, pests, and when the project was delayed over the summer, those costs continue to drag out,” Enrica Jang, executive director of Poe Baltimore, said. Listen here for interview:  [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/09/03220924/2-way-poe-house-intv.mp3"] The nonprofit is asking the public to help raise money to protect the house from the potential impacts of the project. The hope is to raise $50,000. “I think people are generally supportive. Their impression is that surely it’s Poe House, surely it’s Edgar Allan Poe, surely in the city of Baltimore,” Jang said. “There’s a lot of support.” The upcoming ninth annual International Edgar Allan Poe Festival, Oct. 2-4, 2026, will also raise funds for the Poe House’s future. You can donate to the donation campaign here.

The Navy Midshipmen are set to open their 2026 season on Saturday at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in a matchup with the Towson Tigers. The Midshipmen finished their 2025 campaign 10-2 and defeated the Cincinnati Bearcats in the Liberty Bowl. They also won a close matchup against the Army Black Knights in the annual Army-Navy Game. Ahead of the 2026 opener, Navy head coach Brian Newberry spoke with WBAL’s Glenn Clark. When asked about the upcoming season, Newberry said the preparation has them ready for Saturday. “I’m excited about the work and excited about where we’re at and the preparation, and hopefully we’re a team on Saturday that can go out and just let it rip,” Newberry said. | LISTEN: Navy Midshipmen head coach speaks with WBAL’s Glenn Clark [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/09/03133835/coach-newberry-with-glenn.mp3"]   Senior Braxton Woodson takes over as starting quarterback for Navy following Blake Horvath graduating earlier this year. When asked about his confidence in Woodson, Newberry said the senior has played in some meaningful moments for the Midshipmen and has put in the work during the offseason. “The great thing about Braxton is he’s played meaningful snaps and big situations for us and done some really good things. I think over the course of going through the spring and the summer and fall camp, I think he’s really improved tremendously,” Newberry said. “As a leader, his grasp on the offense, I think, is really good right now and he’s comfortable with everything that we’re doing.” You can listen to live coverage of the Midshipmen taking on the Tigers on WBAL NewsRadio 1090, FM 101.5 and the WBAL Radio app starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a new round of sanctions aimed at Iran on Monday and warned every country that does business with the Islamic Republic to sever those financial ties or face retaliation from the United States. The new warnings to further cut off Iran from the rest of the world economy were issued after President Donald Trump pledged last week to unleash an “economic D-Day” against Tehran as the administration struggles to find an off-ramp after nearly six months of war. “We are level-setting with every country to tell them our expectations. We know who they are. They know who they are,” Bessent told a news conference. “So when the hammer of U.S. Treasury actions falls upon them, they will have no one to blame but themselves.” LISTEN: WBAL’s White House correspondent Christopher Salas covers the story for WBAL News Now at 6 with Robert Lang  [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/24220000/wbal-news-now-in-depth-iran-sanctions.mp3"] Washington has promised the new sanctions would put even more pressure on an Iranian economy already battered by previous sanctions and a U.S. naval blockade. But the announcement Monday provided little detail and did not name which countries could face secondary sanctions. China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates are Iran’s largest trade partners. Bessent said Trump has been “making phone calls to world leaders with specific requests to cease their interactions” with Iran and has already seen results. The UAE announced last week that it was suspending all trade, commercial exchanges and financial transactions with Iran until further notice after a reported missile attack on the Gulf country. “I am confident the president, as you all know, is quite persuasive,” Bessent said, adding that the UAE decision was “not a coincidence.” Shortly before the announcement, Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the U.S. is not in an economic position to further restrict Tehran’s relations with other countries. “Iran’s trading partners, both in the media and through messages sent to us, have made it clear that they don’t take these statements into account anywhere,” Qalibaf, who has been Iran’s lead negotiator over the past six months, posted on X. Iranian currency falls to a record low Hours before Bessent’s announcement, Iran’s currency hit a record low. The rial dropped to 2.02 million to the U.S. dollar as trading opened on currency markets. Iran’s official Central Bank rate stood at around 1.5 million rial to the dollar, but the market rate is what most Iranians pay. The currency had already been under pressure before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, as Iran faced double-digit inflation and negative growth. The rial has repeatedly hit new lows as nearly six months of war have taken an even greater toll. Iranians find daily staples increasingly unaffordable. Since the war began, rice is up some 60% and beef prices are more than 150% higher. The International Monetary Fund forecasts that gross domestic product will contract more than 5%. Still, economic pressure has not yet translated into political pressure. Iran retains a key strategic advantage: Its attacks and threats on ships in the Strait of Hormuz have brought traffic in the vital waterway to a near halt, damaging the world economy and heaping pressure on U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of congressional elections. The war, as a result, has devolved into a fight over who controls the strait, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil transited before the conflict. Iran is now refusing to fully reopen it unless it can charge ships. Iran and Oman, which is on the opposite side of the strait, are reportedly in the final stages of agreeing on a plan for joint management of the waterway. Oman’s foreign minister is set to visit Iran on Tuesday. Pakistani delegation visits Iran Pakistan, which played a key role in brokering a 60-day ceasefire in June, sent a high-level delegation to Iran on Monday to encourage the U.S. and Iran to return to negotiations, two senior officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media on the record. The military confirmed only Field Marshal Asim Munir’s visit, saying it was aimed at de-escalating tensions in the region. Trump spoke with Munir ahead of the army chief’s visit to Iran, according to a person familiar with the discussion. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to confirm a private conversation. Reuters, citing Pakistani sources, first reported the call. Munir met Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni in Tehran, according to the two senior officials. Munir was accompanied by Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and other officials. Munir was expected to remain in Iran overnight and meet the Iranian president and other senior officials before returning to Pakistan. His previous visit to Tehran in May helped pave the way for a memorandum of understanding signed by the U.S. and Iran in June. In downtown Tehran, 73-year-old Sadegh Mahmoudi did not hold out hope for a resolution. He joined a line of about a dozen people to purchase U.S. dollars with his remaining savings to hedge against further declines. “There is no hope for a deal and peace,” he said.

Baltimore County Public Schools will open for students one week from Monday. The school system is nearly 100% staffed and will have 400 new teachers this academic year. “We just have 34.6 vacancies remaining as of Friday,” Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Bill Heiser said. “That number has probably dropped as of today.” Heiser said he will look to build on math and English assessments. “We’ve seen 103 schools seeing an increase in a percentage of students scoring proficient in both ELA and math for our students,” Heiser said. “They’ve made gains in 13 of 16 English and math assessment data points.” LISTEN: WBAL’s Phil Yacuboski reports for WBAL News Now at 6 [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/24220450/wbla-news-now-in-depth-new-baltimore-co-superintendent.mp3"] After a successful pilot program, teachers will teach cursive writing. “Whether it’s fine motor development, letter formation, writing fluency – all the things that worked years and years ago,” Heiser said. “I’m really happy to see that being implemented.” The school system will also continue to provide free breakfast and lunch to students regardless of income. “We’re going to continue to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students. We’re committed to that,” Heiser said. “No application is required.”

The Supreme Court on Monday cleared the way for President Donald Trump to move ahead with his executive order restricting mail-in voting, though it remains unclear how much his administration can implement before the fast-approaching midterm elections. The decision appears to leave room for additional court challenges that could further slow Trump’s order. The U.S. Postal Service laid out how it would implement the order last week, but time is running short to impose major changes with some states beginning to send mail ballots to voters in just a few weeks. Mail balloting has long been a favorite target for Trump, who has claimed that it breeds fraud despite strong evidence to the contrary and his own use of the voting method. The case could be one of multiple voting-related challenges before the justices. The Justice Department had filed an emergency appeal asking the high court to allow work on implementing the changes before the midterms. LISTEN: ABC News legal analyst Royal Oakes explains the decision on WBAL News Now at 6 with Robert Lang.  [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/24220646/wbal-news-now-in-depth-supreme-court-mail-in-ballots.mp3"] Trump’s executive order, signed in March, calls on his administration to create lists of eligible voters and orders the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to people on those lists. Democratic officials in 23 states and the District of Columbia sued to block the order. They argued that the Constitution gives states and Congress the power to run elections, and Trump’s changes could lead to chaos and partisan abuse. “The consequences of allowing such transformative changes to take effect so close to this fall’s elections would be extreme,” attorneys for the states wrote. Dozens of state and local election officials weighed in, asking the justices to leave the order frozen while election preparations are already underway. A judge in Massachusetts blocked the plan for the midterm elections in those states. An appeals court upheld her decision. She later granted a second order blocking it nationwide. The Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court on procedural grounds in late July, arguing that the states sued too soon. They also pointed to another ruling out of Washington, where a judge allowed Trump’s order to proceed. An appeals court backed that decision, while still leaving room for future court action if the changes are implemented. Federal attorneys argued that the Massachusetts order “blocks the government’s ability to finalize and implement the President’s proposed policies to promote election integrity for the upcoming federal elections in November.” A dozen Republican-leaning states supported the federal government in their own appeal before the high court, saying states would have input on the final voter lists. The Supreme Court has previously ruled against Trump-backed arguments on mail-in ballots, finding in June that states can count ballots that arrive after Election Day. That case was decided after full briefing and arguments, rather than on the court’s emergency docket. Trump has blamed mail voting — without credible evidence — for his loss to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. He has promoted the proposed changes in his executive order as safeguards to keep non-U.S. citizens from voting. He’s also repeatedly pressed for the passage of the legislation that requires proof of citizenship to vote. Noncitizen voting has been shown to be rare, and is a felony that can be punishable by deportation. Using mail ballots has become increasingly popular with voters of both parties, with about 30% of all ballots cast that way during the 2024 presidential election, according to federal data. The process also is secure. A 2025 Brookings Institution study found only about four cases of fraud out of every 10 million mail ballots cast.

The Community Justice Action Fund found that Baltimore is second-best in the country for what it argues are innovative, public health-centered approaches to violence intervention and prevention, guided by the city’s Comprehensive Violence Prevention Plan. The survey ranked 100 U.S. cities with some of the highest gun violence rates. The survey also examined how cities are using their resources to fight crime other than traditional policing. LISTEN: WBAL’s Phil Yacuboski talked with Adzi Vokhiwa of the Community Justice Action Fund  [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/20220135/phil-crime-interview.mp3"] “The historic progress we have made as a City is not a coincidence; it’s because Baltimore has been intentional about evolving the way we think about public safety, building the systems needed to support our shared vision for public safety, and investing in intervention and prevention alongside constitutional law enforcement,” Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott said in a news release. “Our focus now is sustaining this work, because any one life lost to violence in Baltimore is one too many.” In 2025, Baltimore saw a 31% decrease in homicides and a 24% decline in non-fatal shootings. This year’s score is the second year in a row that Baltimore has achieved the second-highest score in the country. “Baltimore continues to show up as a national leader in public safety and violence prevention. Our achievements in creating the infrastructure needed to truly address violence as a public health issue are not ours alone. They are thanks to community partners, frontline violence intervention workers, hospitals, government, law enforcement, and prosecutors all working together for Baltimore,” Stefanie Mavronis, director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement, said in a news release. “This index is a valuable snapshot for how far we have come, as well as a resource as we continue our collective work to create a safer, stronger city for all.” As of Aug. 19, 2026, homicides in Baltimore dropped 22.9% and nonfatal shootings by an 6.7%.

A U.S. judge on Monday blocked plans to move the FBI’s headquarters to a federal office building in Washington, finding that President Donald Trump’s administration illegally tossed out a previously approved plan to build a new facility nearby in Maryland. The ruling is the latest development in a yearslong battle over where to house the main office for the nation’s premier law enforcement agency. A site in Greenbelt, Maryland, was picked during former President Joe Biden’s administration, but Trump appointees sought to reverse that decision last year in favor of repurposing the Ronald Reagan Building, a federal office complex a few blocks from the FBI’s existing headquarters. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore responded to the decision Tuesday morning. “We won this competitive process fair and square. The president does not get to change a competitive process decision simply because he does not like us, and so we are ready to get to work,” Moore said. “We’re ready to get it done quickly and we believe that the FBI deserves a world class facility that will be delivered by the state of Maryland, in Greenbelt, in the State of Maryland.” | LISTEN: Gov. Wes Moore talks to reporters about the judge’s decision on FBI headquarters [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/18013856/gov-moore-on-fbi-decision.mp3"]   The Trump administration is expected to appeal the decision.

  Former Baltimore Ravens linebacker O.J. Brigance has died following his battle with ALS, the team announced on Monday. Brigance, 56, joined the Ravens as a free agent linebacker in 2000. After playing in the NFL for seven seasons, he went on to work in the Ravens front office in 2004, where he led the team’s player engagement department for several years. | LISTEN: In a 2017 interview, O.J. Brigance talks to WBAL’s Robert Lang about his foundation and his legacy [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/17221411/oj-brigance-interview.mp3"]   After being diagnosed with ALS in 2007, Brigance and his wife, Chanda, established the Brigance Brigade Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to raising money and awareness for ALS. | LISTEN: In 2015, O.J. Brigance appeared before a State Senate committee to testify against a physician assisted suicide bill [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/17221411/oj-brigance-testimony-on-physician-assisted-suicide-bill.mp3"]   https://x.com/Ravens/status/2089466629847384403?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet Current and former Ravens personnel shared quotes on what Brigance meant to them and the organization. Those quotes can be found below. Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti “We are devastated by the awful news that we have lost O.J. Brigance. O.J. was a beloved legend, mentor and man to everyone who was fortunate enough to know him. He was a vibrant person who became one of the first Ravens heroes with his passionate play, including the first tackle in the 2000 Super Bowl. “Known for his big smile and welcoming nature, it was easy to feel a special connection with O.J. from the moment you met him. His infectious smile and the inspirational way he lived and played endeared him to everyone he touched, both inside our building and across this city. “This is a tremendously sad day for Baltimore. O.J. will be remembered for his service to our community, to the Ravens and to the fight to find a cure for ALS. With heavy hearts, the Ravens organization extends our deepest condolences to Chanda and the entire Brigance family. We are saddened by this loss, and O.J.’s spirit will remain part of this community forever.” Ravens Executive Vice President Ozzie Newsome “I am devastated and at a loss for words. O.J. was one of the most genuine, sincere people I have ever known. From the moment he arrived in Baltimore, you could feel his energy. His amazing smile, welcoming nature and infectious personality made everyone around him feel like family. “He was a hero to this city long before his courageous battle with ALS and became an even greater inspiration in the way he faced it with the same fight, faith and grace he brought to the football field. “O.J.’s service to our community, to the Ravens and the fight for a cure for ALS will never be forgotten. He was and always will be a beloved mentor and man. With heartfelt sorrow, we extend our deepest sympathies to Chanda and the Brigance family.” Ravens President Emeritus Dick Cass “We are heartbroken. No one embodied what it means to be a Raven quite like O.J. Brigance. Not just the unforgettable first tackle in Super Bowl XXXV, but for every day since, when he showed all of us how to fight with faith and grace. “O.J. brought his heart and soul into every room he entered. His smile and spirit never wavered, and his courage is now woven permanently into the fabric of this organization. “Chanda and the entire Brigance family are in our thoughts and prayers, and we will continue to celebrate the life of this incredible man.” Ravens Executive Vice President and General Manager Eric DeCosta “For 22 years, we’ve been blessed to have O.J. as a teammate, friend and brother. It’s a sad day, but also a celebration of all the gifts that O.J. bestowed upon our team and our city and the entire NFL community. “O.J. inspired us with humility, faithfulness, determination, competitiveness and love for humankind. We never once saw O.J. angry or frustrated by his disease. Instead, we all witnessed a hero who influenced so many people through his unwavering optimism and grit. O.J. Brigance is the definition of what it means to live like a Raven. “I will miss his smile and the twinkle of joy in his eyes. Our condolences to Chanda and the entire Brigance family.” Former Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh “O.J. Brigance was a great man. On behalf of Ingrid, Alison and our family, we extend our deepest condolences to the entire Brigance family. “O.J. was a great friend to me, my wife and my daughter, and I will always treasure the time we shared with him. We loved him, and we respected him. He was a hero in our eyes. “O.J. was a man of great faith who was given a very challenging purpose, and he met it perfectly in every way through the great glory of God. I look forward to seeing him again in heaven someday.” Former Ravens Head Coach Brian Billick “We have lost a very special soul in O.J. Brigance. O.J. has been a member of the Ravens family for over 25 years and was an inspiring symbol of grace, class, compassion and competitive competence. “If asked who best represents what we all aspire to as an organization and a person, O.J. would be the first person I would point to. “Our thoughts are with his family with this loss, but he will forever remain in our hearts.” https://x.com/Ravens/status/2089466428546003221?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

A Maryland state tax court has struck down the state’s first-in-the-nation tax on digital advertising and ordered state officials to repay the tax money already collected from big tech firms. The Maryland Tax Court said the tax violates the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act as well as the First Amendment and the commerce and due process clauses of the U.S. Constitution. The legal fight has been watched by other states that are considering taxes for online ads. Maryland estimated the tax, approved in 2021, could raise about $250 million a year to help pay for a sweeping K-12 education measure. | LISTEN: Doug Mayer, president of Americans for Digital Opportunity, spoke with WBAL’s Robert Lang [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/15073636/doug-mayer-president-americans-for-digital-opportunity.mp3"]   In Friday’s decision, the tax court ordered the state to repay the tax money already collected by Apple, Google and Peacock TV. The law taxed revenue that large companies make on digital advertisements shown in Maryland. Companies making more than $100 million in global annual gross revenues were taxed at a 2.5% rate. The rate increased for companies with larger revenues, topping out at a 10% rate for companies making $15 billion or more in global gross annual revenues. Supporters of the law contended that Maryland needed to overhaul its tax methods in response to significant changes in how businesses advertise. But attorneys representing Big Tech companies including Meta and Amazon challenged the law in multiple legal venues, arguing in part that they were unfairly targeted. Last year, 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled part of the law violated the Constitution because it blocked Big Tech companies from telling customers about the tax. That, Judge Julius Richardson said, violated the right to free speech. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Joseline Pena-Melnyk, both Democrats, issued a statement saying they “respectfully disagree” with the tax court ruling and expect the legal process to continue. They said the tax was enacted to keep the state’s tax system in pace with a changing economy. “We remain committed to ensuring that Maryland’s tax system is fair, sustainable, and reflects today’s economy,” they said. “We will continue working with the Attorney General and Comptroller as this matter proceeds through the courts.” The tax court said Congress — not the state legislature — is tasked with regulating interstate commerce, and that the tax law was inappropriately based on global revenue rather than revenue from in-state advertising. The federal Internet Tax Freedom Act bars the taxation of e-commerce if similar services are not taxed. At least for now, the tax court found, there isn’t much of a difference between digital advertising and print or billboard ads, which means the bar on taxation applies.

While the Naval Academy is known for developing our nation’s future Navy and Marine Corps officers, in recent years under the tutelage of Brian Newberry its football program has also been known for developing some of the nation’s best nose guards including last season’s 1st team AP All-American and current Cincinnati Bengals DL Landon Robinson. Coming-off back-to-back double digit winning seasons, Navy junior Xavyer Arrington is looking to uphold that standard this season as he entered the team’s current fall training camp as the Midshipman’s starting nose guard. Listen to Scott Wykoff’s WBAL Radio Navy Athletics interview with Navy Jr nose guard Xavyer Arrington [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/14075222/navy-jr-ng-xavyer-arrington-fall-camp-interview-8-11-26.mp3"]   “It means a lot, especially with the guys coming before us, Biscuit (Donald Berniard ’24) and Landon Robinson last year,” said the big defensive lineman from Vero Beach, Fla. after a spirited practice on the banks of the Severn River on-the-Yard in Annapolis. Nose Guard means so much to our defense and our team in general. So playing that position, just getting to be the starter in that position just means so much to me.” “I’m going to try to bring my own little style to the nose guard position, but really (his goal this season) is just upholding that standard that the nose guard has always had for Navy.” Seeing action in 12 of  13 games as a sophomore for last year’s 11-2 Midshipmen, Arrington was a member of Navy’s defense that held each of its final 3 opponents to under 300 yards of total offense (288 yds by Memphis, 202 yds by Army, 239 yds by Cincinnati). A season spent playing side-by-side and practicing daily with arguably one of the best nose guards in 146 seasons of Naval Academy football. “I learned a lot from him,” says the 6-foot tall, 279 pounder.  “Like worth ethic, stances, everything like that, analyzing how offense moves and just being aggressive no matter how they try to come at you.” Arrington showed flashes of brilliance last season backing-up the American Conference Defensive Player of the Year, including recording a tackle and a half a sack for a loss of 4 yards in Navy’s dominating defensive effort late in the season at Memphis as the Mids held the Tigers to just 58 total yards and scoreless over the final 30 minutes in the come-from-behind win. And is Arrington ever excited about what lies ahead as a junior both on and off the field at Navy. “Going into my second class year (junior year), I’m really just getting to learn how to lead, having a fire team, leading my own fire team, getting to get to know my plebes, my youngsters, and trying to get to set up my leader style for when I hit the fleet.” Fire teams in the Brigade of Midshipmen are comprised of an upperclassmen and 3 younger Mids and Xavyer is a fire team squad leader this year. All while Xavyer is majoring in naval architecture and marine engineering. “I’m from Florida, so boats have been my entire life,” says the 2023 graduate of Coral Shores High School in Tavernier, Fla., who went on to attend the Naval Academy Prep School during the 2023-24 academic year. “So once I got to the academy I said say, oh, I get to build boats all day. You know, it’s just, it comes to me naturally. I’m not a big writing guy. I’m not a big math guy, but getting to work with my hands, it just comes full circle for me.” A major theme of the off-season and now fall training camp for the Midshipmen has been building on the recent success the program has had the past 2 seasons going 21-5, beating Army twice, winning the Commander-in-Chief’s trophy in back-to-back seasons, winner of the Lambert Trophy, which is awarded to the best team in the East, finishing in a 3-way tie for the American Conference regular-season title with North Texas and Tulane and taking the program’s success to yet another level, “The success you’ve had is not enough, says Arrington.  “There’s the room to build on that. Yeah, Coach Newberry always says he doesn’t want to maintain success. He wants to build on it. So that means, you know, we had a lot of success last year. We want to build on that. We want to build to a conference championship. We want to build to making the playoff and hopefully winning the CFP. That’s a big goal we have, but it all starts with winning the opener.” Navy opens the 2026 season on Saturday, August 5 against the Towson Tigers at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium at 3:30pm and will be broadcast on WBAL Radio and CBS Sports Network. Navy will also host American Conference foes Tulsa, North Texas, Temple and Memphis. The Midshipmen will renew their rivalry with pre-season top ranked Notre Dame on Saturday, October 31 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. The Army-Navy Game presented by USAA will be played on Saturday, December 12 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, The Sporting News College Football Preview, Lindy’s College Football and Athlon Sports are among the pre-season magazines that have picked the Midshipmen #1 in the American Conference. Navy Jr NG Xavyer Arrington talks with WBAL Radio’s Scott Wykoff after a spirited fall training camp practice in Annapolis (WBAL Photo)          

The Pacific-based aircraft carrier USS George Washington has begun heading toward the Middle East as reports have emerged of mental health and supply issues aboard the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln. The Lincoln has been supporting the U.S. war against Iran, and its deployment has included a record-setting uninterrupted time at sea of more than 240 days. Several Democratic lawmakers are pressing for accountability from the Pentagon over conditions aboard the carrier, which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday said were “completely misrepresented.” LISTEN: WBAL’s Washington correspondent Amy Lu reports this story for WBAL News Now at 6 [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/13220653/wbal-news-now-in-depth-uss-abraham-lincoln.mp3"] Extended deployments of carriers during the Iran conflict have raised concerns about the impact on service members who are away from home for long periods as well as the increasing strain on the ship and its equipment. While renewed hostilities between the U.S. and Iran have calmed in recent weeks, the Navy has reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports in the crucial Strait of Hormuz, and the Trump administration has offered no clarity on how it intends to wind down the war. Hegseth told reporters that the U.S. can maintain the blockade “indefinitely.” A new aircraft carrier is heading west from the Asia-Pacific The USS George Washington left port in Da Nang, Vietnam, last week, a Navy statement said. The carrier, along with a cruiser and a destroyer, have since been spotted crossing the Singapore Strait. A Navy official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail sensitive ship details, confirmed that the Washington was in the Strait of Malacca, which links the Pacific and Indian oceans and puts the carrier on a course to head into the Indian Ocean. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that the Washington would replace the Lincoln as one of the two aircraft carriers now stationed in the Middle East. The move would leave the waters of the Pacific without a U.S. carrier presence for an unknown period of time. The Trump administration sees China, the dominant power in the region, as “a settled force” that only needs to be deterred from dominating the U.S. or its allies and not the top global adversary that it was under the Biden administration. The Lincoln originally deployed Nov. 21 from San Diego, and it arrived in the Middle East in January, ahead of the launch of the Iran war on Feb. 28. The Navy conceded that the conflict created a “highly contested environment where traditional supply hubs in the Middle East were disrupted by combat actions.” That, in turn, led to shortages and loss of mail aboard the aircraft carrier, the Navy said in a statement. “Leadership prioritized mission-critical supplies: first food, then hygiene items, then mail,” the statement said, before assuring that sailors aboard the ship now have access to clean water and “healthy meal options.” Democrats call for scrutiny, while the Pentagon defends conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln Democratic lawmakers are calling for investigations, more information and greater visibility into conditions aboard the ship, which was originally set to return home in May. “The Lincoln’s prolonged deployment is especially significant because it is occurring in the context of continuing military operations against Iran and the possibility that substantial US naval forces will be required in the region for an extended period,” Connecticut Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote in a letter to Navy leadership asking for a response to several questions. Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Marine Corps veteran, said on social media that he is looking to take a bipartisan delegation on an official oversight visit to the ship and that the way sailors are being treated is “not just disgusting; it’s dangerous.” Hegseth told reporters during a visit to Panama that he wants the Lincoln’s sailors home and crews rotated as quickly as possible but pushed back against reports of problems aboard. “We make sure that every ship, every crew, every captain has everything we can provide them at every single moment. Some deployments are longer than others, and I have more respect and gratitude for those sailors than anybody. What they do in those high seas in those austere ⁠conditions with less port calls — it’s incredible.” Navy leaders, including acting Secretary Hung Cao, last week held a tense town hall for families of troops aboard the USS Lincoln, at which the commanders of the Navy’s air and surface forces promised to do everything they could to relieve the aircraft carrier. MS NOW reported earlier on the meeting. When reports of food shortages aboard the ship first surfaced in April, the Navy pushed back, calling those reports “false.” Reports of mental health concerns and more aboard the ship Reports have since emerged that sailors on the Lincoln are struggling with mental health concerns. The Navy said in its statement that it has “not observed an increase in suicidal ideations or attempts aboard the ship,” but officials declined to provide data, citing operational security and patient privacy concerns. The Navy official said that a sailor aboard the Lincoln went overboard in early August but that the person was quickly recovered, treated by the ship’s medical department and transferred off ship for follow-on care. The official would not say if it was being considered a suicide attempt. Other carriers also have had long runs that have raised concerns about morale. The USS Gerald R. Ford returned home in mid-May after an 11-month deployment, the longest since the Vietnam War, that had it support the U.S. war with Iran and the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. During its deployment, the Ford experienced a fire in a laundry space that forced the carrier to turn around and return to the Mediterranean Sea for repairs and left hundreds of sailors without places to sleep. Concerns about the demands of battle and the dangers of overextending ships and their crew predate the Iran war, with a number of mishaps on ships battling Houthi rebels in Yemen in 2024 and 2025, including the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman on a longer-than-expected deployment.

Luigi Mangione is expected to plead guilty as early as Friday in the federal case accusing him of stalking and killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person, who was not authorized to talk publicly about the case and spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that Mangione could change his mind. If he follows through, it would be a stunning development in a case that rattled business leaders while galvanizing their critics. Mangione’s lawyers, and spokespeople for the Justice Department and Manhattan federal prosecutors, declined to comment. | LISTEN: Baltimore criminal defense attorney Tom Maronick speaks with WBAL’s Robert Lang [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/13221433/wbal-news-now-in-depth-possible-mangione-guilty-plea.mp3"]   Mangione is accused of traveling to New York City to ambush Thompson, 50, then shooting him outside a Manhattan hotel on Dec. 4, 2024, as the executive walked to UnitedHealth Group’s annual investor conference. Mangione is due in court on Friday for a hastily scheduled hearing in the federal case, which involves two counts of stalking. It wasn’t clear what charge or charges Mangione is expected to plead guilty to. The hearing, in Manhattan federal court, comes as his lawyers have been talking with federal prosecutors about a possible resolution to one of two criminal cases against Mangione in Thompson’s death. Previous talks in June broke down. Mangione, 28, has been charged in both federal and state court in New York and still faces the possibility of a trial in his unresolved state case. Mangione’s state murder trial is set to begin Sept. 8. Both sets of charges carried the possibility of a life sentence. Mangione has pleaded not guilty and has spoken out publicly against the prospect of two trials, telling a judge in February: “It’s the same trial twice. One plus one is two. Double jeopardy by any commonsense definition.” Under New York law, a state prosecution could be barred if the federal case is resolved first, but it isn’t automatic. The state’s double jeopardy protections kick in if a jury has been sworn in a prior prosecution, such as a federal case, or if that prosecution ends in a guilty plea. Mangione’s cases involve different charges arising from the same course of conduct. Once Mangione pleads guilty, his lawyers could then ask the judge in the state case to throw out those charges on double jeopardy grounds. State prosecutors argue their case is distinct and double jeopardy shouldn’t apply. Mangione’s federal charges allege that he traveled across state lines by bus to stalk and kill Thompson and that he used means such as a cellphone, the internet, interstate highways and staying at a hostel that serves out-of-state customers while planning and carrying out the attack. The state charges pertain to the killing itself, as well as firearms offenses. In a letter last month, state prosecutors objected to the possibility of a guilty plea in the federal case wiping out the state case. “Obviously, any guilty pleas in these matters must account for the seriousness of defendant’s offenses, the loss of an innocent life, the impact of those crimes on the victim’s family, and the other state interests that are implicated, including the sanctity of life principle that underpins the state homicide charges,” Seidemann wrote. Mangione’s decision to plead guilty comes after a series of setbacks for his defense. In January, U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett took the death penalty off the table but ruled that prosecutors could use items collected from Mangione’s backpack during his arrest as evidence against him. They included a 3D-printed pistol that investigators said matched the one used to kill Thompson and a notebook in which authorities say Mangione described his intent to kill an insurance executive. In June, Mangione’s lawyers said they would pursue a psychiatric defense in the state case but reversed course a day later. The defense, involving claims that he was suffering from extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the killing, isn’t allowed in federal court. Surveillance video of the killing showed a masked gunman shooting Thompson from behind. Police say “delay,” “deny” and “depose” were written on the ammunition, mimicking a phrase used to describe how insurers avoid paying claims. Mangione, an Ivy League graduate from a wealthy Maryland family, was arrested five days later at a McDonald’s in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about 230 miles (about 370 kilometers) west of Manhattan. He has become a cause célèbre for people upset with the health insurance industry. An online fundraiser for his legal defense fund raised more than $1.5 million, and several dozen supporters have shown up to his court appearances, some wearing green clothing — the color worn by the Mario Bros. video game character Luigi — and “FREE LUIGI” T-shirts.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the youngest person to hold the role, will leave at month’s end, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday. Leavitt, 28, just recently returned to the White House after taking a brief leave for the birth of her second child in May. Leavitt has been one of the most visible advocates of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement. The Republican president described her as one of his “most trusted aides” in a social media post announcing her departure. He said Leavitt “will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect! Karoline will now be one of my top outside advisors, and an influential voice within the Republican Party, as we work to defy History, and conclusively win the Midterm Elections.” LISTEN: On WBAL News Now at 6, WBAL’s White House correspondent Christopher Salas reports on Leavitt’s departure.  [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/12220649/wbal-news-now-in-depth-leavitt-leaving.mp3"] Leavitt recently returned to work after taking leave following the birth of her second child, a daughter, in May. She also has a two-year-old son. “The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary — and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life,” Leavitt said in a social media post. Trump did not outline plans for who might replace her in the high-profile role. She worked as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting Trump, before joining his 2024 campaign. In 2022, she ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to incumbent Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. During Trump’s first term in office, Leavitt worked as a press aide in the White House press office. She then became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik. Leavitt briefed from the White House press room less frequently than some of her recent predecessors. Trump, who regularly engages with reporters during White House events and during his travels, primarily deployed Leavitt to Fox News and other conservative news outlets to trumpet his agenda and take shots at Democrats and the mainstream media. Trump’s first-term press secretaries were Sean Spicer and Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who were known for quarreling with reporters. Another, Stephanie Grisham, never held a briefing. Her successor, Kayleigh McEnany, often lectured the news media during her appearances in the press briefing room.

The first poll is out ahead of November’s gubernatorial race in Maryland. The Maryland Now poll shows Gov. Wes Moore with a commanding 27-point lead over former Republican Del. Dan Cox, 58-31%. “Marylanders love Wes Moore because he delivers real results for real people, and in November they’re going to send a message by sending him back to Annapolis for another four years,” Maryland Democratic Party Chairman Steuart Pittman said in a news release. “Since taking office Maryland has created 60,000 new businesses, homicides have fallen 44%, and nearly every single grade has made improvements in reading and math scores. This is a governor who has worked across the aisle to grow our economy, make our communities safer, and strengthen our public schools–all while working to drive down costs for Maryland’s working families.” Four years ago, Moore beat Cox by 33 points. The poll of 800 likely voters finds 56% approve of the job Moore is doing, while 39% disapprove. | LISTEN: WBAL’s Robert Lang talks to Zenith Research pollster Adam Carlson [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/12171720/rob-and-adam-carlson-on-gov-poll.mp3"]   The poll also found that 31% approve of the job  President Donald Trump is doing while 67% disapprove. The poll addressed other issues. It found 58% supported using toll revenue to privatize projects to improve or replace aging roads. It also found 56% support building more nuclear power plants and 56% support keeping natural gas plants operating longer to meet growing electricity demand. In a Maryland Now poll released Tuesday, 42% of Marylanders say they struggle to pay their electric bills and the state’s top priority should be lowering them. The poll was conducted July 27-Aug. 3 by a combination of telephone text and web.  It has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.5%. Zenith Research conducted the poll for Blended Public Affairs and Perry Jacobsen.

Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist and chef, narrowly lost the Wisconsin gubernatorial primary to moderate Democrat David Crowley after her tweets about Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day drew criticism. [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/12134248/spiegel-commentary-08-12-26.mp3"]   Listen to all of Josh Spiegel’s commentary here. Catch him from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. weekdays on “Justin, Scott and Spiegel” on 97.9 FM or on the 98 Rock app.

  Baltimore Gas and Electric is asking Maryland regulators to approve a $156 million electric rate increase. But Baltimore leaders and consumer advocates say customers have already paid enough. Baltimore City Council President Zeke Cohen spoke outside BGE headquarters in downtown Baltimore before the Public Service Commission opened the rate case a few blocks away. “There is no Baltimore comeback story if people can’t afford to pay their electricity bills,” Cohen said. The hearing focused on setting the schedule for testimony, evidence and public input. PSC Chair Kumar Barve said the approval is not guaranteed. “The burden of proof is on the company, BGE, to prove that they’re correct and that they need higher rates,” Barve said. BGE spokesperson Nick Alexopolus spoke after the PSC hearing, which set the schedule for evidence and testimony on whether the increase is justified. “These are the costs that are required to keep the lights on. We are facing cost pressures just like every other organization, just like Baltimore City,” Alexopolus said. The commission expects to issue its final decision in late January. The hearing took place on a day when a new poll finds anxiety about the economy in Maryland is high, and voters say their top concern is affording their energy bill. “The through line is crystal clear. Marylanders are really struggling financially,” said pollster Adam Carlson, co-founder of Zenith Research which conducted the poll for Blended Public Affairs and Perry Jacobsen. Carlson said  the poll of 800 likely voters finds 51% are “really struggling financially” or “just getting by,” while 53% are concerned someone in their households won’t be able to pay their bills. LISTEN: WBAL’s Robert Lang talks to pollster Adam Carlson for WBAL News Now at 6 [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/11221225/rob-and-pollster-adam-carlson.mp3"] The poll also found 42% said they struggle to pay their electric bills and the state’s top priority should be lowering them. Carlson adds 54% favor raising taxes on those making more than $500,000 a year,  though more Democrats than Republicans support that. Carlson also said 75% of those polled have concerns about the impact of data centers both on the power grid and the water supply. He told WBAL NewsRadio that Democrats and Republicans both express concerns about data centers. The poll was conducted  from July 27-August 3,  by phone text and web. It has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3.5%  

Todd Blanche, President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, has gained critical support from Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, breaking a Senate deadlock despite ongoing opposition from other lawmakers. Cassidy announced his support Friday morning despite having serious concerns about Blanche. LISTEN: WBAL’s White House Correspondent Christopher Salas reports for WBAL News Now at 6. [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/07230100/rob-and-chrisopher-with-sound.mp3"] “Mr. Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this, but the choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche,” Cassidy said. “It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting attorney general who may not run the department effectively under President Trump. And who, indeed, may not be as good as Mr. Blanche.” Cassidy’s support comes amid a tightly divided Senate, with Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska opposing Blanche’s nomination. Murkowski cited the $1.8 billion so-called anti-weaponization fund as a factor in her decision, arguing that it was rescinded while Blanche’s nomination was in limbo and could be reinstated if he is confirmed. She also expressed doubts about Blanche’s ability to act independently of the administration. “When there are decisions that I have to make that I believe are in Alaska’s best interest, I will stand up for those despite where the president may or may not weigh in,” Murkowski said. “That’s my obligation, to the people of Alaska, not necessarily to the president.” Cassidy acknowledged his own reservations during a Senate floor speech, citing Blanche’s “poor judgment” in exempting President Trump from IRS audits and approving the anti-weaponization fund. Blanche formally rescinded the fund in writing, which helped secure the support of two other Republican holdouts. Democrats have long opposed Blanche, accusing him of prioritizing loyalty to President Trump over the independence of the Justice Department. Blanche, who previously served as Trump’s personal defense attorney, has been acting attorney general since April, following the firing of Pam Bondi.

Two lawsuits in the works are designed to stop or at least delay the state’s constitutional amendment referendum question on congressional redistricting. One lawsuit was  filed by Republican lawmakers in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court on Thursday night. The other lawsuit is in the works, and will be filed  by the Maryland Republican Party in a state court on the Eastern Shore, WBAL-TV 11 News has learned. What Republicans contend WBAL-TV 11 News has confirmed the issues the lawsuits are designed to raise. The grounds are mostly about the process that the Democratic majority of the General Assembly used to pass the bill and its language through a special session earlier this week. “They suspended the rules, they rushed things. The wording on the ballot question is very misleading, and it was purposely done,” Anne Arundel County Sen. Bryan Simonaire, R-District 31, told WBAL NewsRadio on Thursday. Republicans claim Democrats sidestepped a requirement that the ballot question be written in plain language and submitted in July for public review. “They purposely don’t want the public to know what this bill is actually doing is giving them the power to do partisan gerrymandering with no checks and balances, which will end in the 8-0 map (benefitting Democrats),” Simonaire told WBAL NewsRadio. The Republicans also take issue with the bill mandating that any legal action against a congressional map must go straight to the Maryland Supreme Court to be heard, bypassing the legal process. The lawsuit was filed Thursday night by the seven members of the Maryland  House Freedom Caucus, and the Republican leaders of the Senate, Minority Leader Steve Hershey and Minority Whip Justin Ready. Listen: WBAL’s Robert Lang talks to Baltimore County Del. Kathy Szleliga, vice chair of the Maryland House Freedom Caucus and one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/07111345/kathy-szleiga-on-lawsuit.mp3"] They are represented by the Virginia based conservative activist group the Oversight Project. Gov. Wes Moore’s office responded to the lawsuit this afternoon. “We are confident the General Assembly acted within its constitutional authority in putting this question before Maryland voters. This lawsuit seeks to prevent Marylanders from having their say at the ballot box, and we will vigorously defend their right to do so,”  said Ammar Moussa, Senior Press Secretary for the governor. What the amendment calls for On Wednesday, Gov. Wes Moore signed the constitutional amendment referendum bill on congressional redistricting, which set the stage for Maryland voters to decide its fate in the November election. The amendment proposes separating the standards for drawing state legislative districts from those used for future congressional districts. Supporters of redistricting launched a campaign on Thursday to in an effort to win voter approval of the ballot question. The Fight Back Maryland campaign on Thursday launched a web site and sent emails and text messages to voters. Its effort will also include social media, TV and radio ads beginning in September. “Fight Back Maryland is all about making sure voters understand what’s going to be on their ballot this November, and to vote yes on Question 3 if they want to fight back against Donald Trump,” said Joe Francaviglia, political director for Fight Back. “This is about making sure that Maryland is on a level playing field across the nation because, as Donald Trump is calling up Republican states to say, ‘Get me more Republican seats,’ and to rig elections, Maryland needs to be able to fight back and take the fight directly to Donald Trump.” What led to this point New congressional maps are typically tied to the census and are drawn every 10 years. In 2021, state lawmakers tried to redraw the maps in a way that made Harris’ 1st District on the Eastern Shore more competitive for a Democrat to win. Their efforts included drawing the district lines to include communities across the Chesapeake Bay. In 2022, Judge Lynne Battaglia struck down those districts and issued a non-binding state court decision that applied to congressional districts the local standard that dictates Maryland House and Senate districts be compact and follow natural and/or jurisdictional boundaries. How the current redistricting debate evolved In August 2025, Moore ordered the state’s map to be redrawn after the Trump administration launched a national effort to redraw maps mid-decade to put more Republicans in Congress. Eight states — Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas — have redrawn maps to help Republicans, who could pick up as many as 16 seats due to the redistricting. New maps in California and Utah could give Democrats an advantage in six races.

At the nations premier Thoroughbred yearling sale in Saratoga right now, it’s a Maryland consignor and his talented team from Sycamore Hall Farm and Northview Stallion Station who are once again creating a buzz like no other. While Northview Stallion Station’s Barn 8 at Fasig-Tipton’s Select Yearlings Sale is known not only for its magnificent yearlings groomed on the Golden family’s legacy Chesapeake City farm that have been known to bring upwards of 3/4’s of a million dollars in the sales ring, it is also known for the rich & creamy homemade ice cream churned daily during the sales in their tack room in the shadows of the the historic Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion across the street from legendary Saratoga Race Course this Whitney Stakes weekend. The Fasig-Tipton sales ring at the Humphrey S. Finney Pavilion in Saratoga (WBAL Photo by Scott Wykoff) “This is something that we look forward to the entire year,” says a very proud David Wade, Northview Stallion Station General Manager and consignor for the two brilliant yearlings that were shipped from Sycamore Hall Farm to Saratoga to be auctioned this weekend.  “It’s the top sale of thoroughbred yearlings and to be a part of that is an honor and it’s also something that shows that the program that you’ve put together is starting to work.” Listen to Scott Wykoff’s WBAL Radio interview with Sycamore Hall Farm and Northview Stallion Station General Manager David Wade ahead of The Saratoga Sale [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/07095527/david-wade-fasig-tipton-saratoga-preview-2026.mp3"]   A program that brother and sister Mike Golden, Lisa Hofstetter and her husband Greg have taken to an international level with their return four years ago to one of North America’s premier yearling auctions known for producing many of racing’s top superstars. Mike and Lisa’s father, legendary breeder and race horse owner Richard Golden, owned and operated Sycamore Hall for decades before his passing away a few years ago, building it into one of the most respected and top producing farms of its kind in the nation. He began the tradition of taking top horses from his Maryland breeding farm to the Fasig-Tipton Sale that his son and daughter are carrying-on in a big way. Last year 8-time Preakness winning trainer and 2-time Triple Crown winner Bob Baffert spent plenty of time at Northview’s Barn 8 at the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds before purchasing Sycamore Hall’s homebred dark bay filly by Medaglia D’Oro for $675,000. “That was really exciting,” says Wade, who has managed the Golden family’s Sycamore Hall Farm and racing stable for upwards of 4 decades now. “We’ve had Baffert there looking at horses. Wayne Lucas came by and looked at our horses and so did Steve Asmussen, but to see Baffert’s level of attention that he was giving our horse, and it was a Maryland bred, and he purchased that horse was really exciting for us.” “It’s something that we’ve been shooting for now for about five years,” Wade explains. “We’ve tried here to up our game with our broodmares. We really, in order to compete and to sell in a market like that, you have to have commercial mares and then you have to have commercial mares that you breed to commercial stallions. It’s an expensive proposition, but unfortunately right now that’s where the money is. So if you want to stay afloat, you’ve got to be able to play with the big boys.” Northview Stallion Station’s Barn 8 at the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds in Saratoga (Scott Wykoff WBAL Photo) And are they ever playing with the big boys now as real players in the Saratoga Sale that is the top ranked major North American yearling sale by percentage of Grade 1 winners and graded stakes winners according to statistics recently released by The BloodHorse MarketWatch. Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 230 selected yearlings for the 105th Saratoga Sale, to be held on Monday and Tuesday, August 10 and 11, in Saratoga Springs.  Sessions will begin each evening at 6:30 pm in the Humphrey S. Finney Sales Pavilion. This go around one of the two horses David is consigning and sending through the Fasig-Tipton sales ring was bred by his team at Sycamore Hall Farm led by farm manager Emma Trenary. He’s Hip 127, a magnificent Maclean’s Music KY-bred colt out of KY-bred Into Mischief mare Vivaciously. Hip 127 Maclean’s Music colt bred and raised for sale by Sycamore Hall Farm (Fasig-Tipton photo) “It was foaled in Kentucky just to get the designation of KTDF, which is a bonus program that’s offered at Kentucky races and tends to help the value of these horses at sale,” said Wade before packing his pick-up for Saratoga. “We couldn’t be happier with the foal that we got from the mare, so we’re hoping to get her off to a really good start and make a nice big bang at the sale with her first foal.” A yearling that has been under the watchful eyes and hands of Emma Trenary from the moment he was foaled at Sycamore Hall Farm. “The job she does, it’s amazing,” adds Wade.  “And to see her, not only here on the farm working with the horses, but then the pride she has when these different families and trainers and consigners are coming to Barn 8 at Fasig-Tipton to look at her horse.” To that end, David says Emma is quickly making a name for herself as one of the best at what she does in the breeding industry. “I can’t say enough good things about Emma and her attention to detail,” says Wade who originally hired Emma to work at the Golden family’s Northview Stallion Station before quickly putting her in-charge of things at next door Sycamore Hall Farm. “I’m kind of excited to see where she’s going to go from here but we’re fighting hard to keep her because I know other people have tried to take her away from us but as a horse person and a person in general, she’s special.” But enough talk about the amazing horses David, Emma and their team have taken to Saratoga. How about that now famous ice cream that the titans of the Thoroughbred breeding and racing industry flock to Barn 8 for during this week at the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds. While other regional, national and international treat visitors to their barns to a variety of treats this week, it’s the Northview Stallions Station ice cream churned daily by David Wade in their tack room that keeps the biggest names in breeding and racing coming back to Barn 8 for more. “I mean, there are people that come there that aren’t interested in looking at a horse. They just want a bowl of ice cream. So we serve them,” said Wade with his ice cream churns already loaded in his pick-up ahead of the 5 hour drive to Upstate NY. “I’ve got a joke every year that if I can just get Bobby Flay (famous chef and million dollar horse owner) to taste the ice cream, I’m going to be in the ice cream business and I can move out of the horses and retire. So far he’s been coming there, but he hasn’t yet tried the ice cream. He’s come into the tack room to watch how it’s made and has given me a thumbs up and he hasn’t yet tasted any, I think he’s a little bit afraid.” A cup of Northview ice cream Fasig-Tipton Barn 8 at Saratoga sale (WBAL Photo by Scott Wykoff) David’s grandfather taught  him how to make ice cream when he was a kid and then he says he’s just kind of gone into a bunch of different flavors and come up with some different recipes for it. So David has told us about his big horse for the sale in Saratoga, but how about what flavors of ice can folks enjoy when they come by Northview’s Barn 8. And you know they will. Here’s the menu for the week of ice cream offerings from David and his team at Barn 8 at the iconic Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Select Sale, the nations premier Thoroughbred yearling sale: Cherry, Very Berry, Pistachio, Bourbon Honey, Coconut Almond, Chocolate Overload, Strawberry, Peach, Espresso, Muddy Buddy, Brownie, Raspberry with White Chocolate, Mint Chocolate Chip, Cookie Dough, Cinnamon Apple with Walnuts You could say the buzz around Fasig-Tipton’s Barn 8 at this week’s Saratoga Sale is proof positive to both the incredible “grooming and scooping” talents of David Wade’s breeding team at the Golden Family’s legacy Sycamore Hall Farm and Northview Stallion Station. If you’re in Saratoga over the next few days, head over to the Fasig-Tipton sales grounds and find out for yourself! Bobby Flay visiting David Wade’s ice cream churns in the tack room at Northview’s Barn 8 (David Wade Photo)  

Amid concerns about the event’s future after Pimlico Race Course was excluded from new race series, the Maryland Jockey Club, Gov. Wes Moore and NBC Sports announced the Preakness Stakes will move back one week and a day starting in 2027. The 152nd Preakness Stakes will be held at Pimlico Race Course on Sunday, May 23, 2027, rather than its traditional date on the third Saturday in May. As part of the updated Preakness schedule, the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes will move from its usual Friday spot to Saturday, May 22, 2027. “Moving the Preakness to the fourth weekend in May is a historic announcement,” said Bill Knauf, president and general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club. “We believe the Preakness and the entire Triple Crown series are positioned for growth and great success. This extra week between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness opens the Preakness to potential participants who use modern training methods.” Listen: WBAL’s Robert Lang talks to BILL Knauf, president and general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club. [audio mp3="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/2100/2026/08/05214040/rob-and-bill-knauff.mp3"] The Preakness Stakes will remain the centerpiece of the weeklong celebration, with the signature race concluding the weekend festivities in Baltimore. The announcement also included an extension of the media rights partnership between the Maryland Jockey Club and NBC Sports. The partnership, which began in 2001, will make NBC Sports the longest-running broadcaster of the Preakness Stakes. “We have successfully secured the future of Preakness here in the state of Maryland for decades to come, and I am delighted that the Maryland Jockey Club has renewed its media partnership with NBC and Peacock as we enter this exciting new era,” said Moore. “The continuation of this relationship and the new schedule ensures optimal and accessible coverage for everyone from horse racing experts to casual fans, as our administration continues making historic investments and leveraging the iconic race as a cornerstone of Maryland’s history, culture and economy.” First held in 1873, the Preakness Stakes is the second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown and remains one of Maryland’s most recognizable sporting and cultural traditions.