“Local warming: Climate change in Maryland” is Local News Network’s look at how climate change is affecting the state, along with what the state and federal governments are doing about it. Much of the data in the project stems from the fifth National Climate Assessment — which the Trump administration deleted from the web in June. However, the Local News Network downloaded and archived all that data before it was deleted. That data can be found here.
The project is the brainchild of LNN reporter Rachel McCrea, who conceived of the project, compiled the county summaries and wrote the story about Maryland climate policy and the Q&A explaining climate issues. Other reporters on the project were Sasha Allen and Sam Gauntt. Jerry Zremski, the director of the Local News Network at Merrill College, and Marty Kaiser, managing director of Capital News Service, served as its main editors, while Josh Land and Kaitlyn Wilson served as copy editors. Adam Martin, director of the Capital News Service Data and Graphics Bureau, designed the project.
The Local News Network will follow up this project with another series set to be reported and written this fall and published in early 2026. “Local warming: the search for solutions” will explore efforts to find ways to mitigate climate change and minimize its effects.