Brianna N. Rhodes
11 Articles

Brianna Rhodes is a journalist in the Capital News Service Annapolis bureau. She has worked as an editorial intern for The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a contributing writer for the Washington Informer Bridge newspaper and a student writer for The Hyattsville Life and Times.

Maryland
Baltimore’s arabbers keep history alive

BALTIMORE, Maryland — “The Last of the Mohicans” is how Donald Savoy III described the remaining handful of arabbers left in Baltimore on a sunny Wednesday, while watching a fellow horse-drawn cart vendor load up with fresh fruit and vegetables.…

Members of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland gather for a presentation of their priority agenda items on, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, in Annapolis, Md. The Caucus is prioritizing issues ranging from the ongoing lawsuit involving historically black colleges, medical cannabis, and the suspension of pre-kindergarten students in Baltimore City. (Hannah Klarner/Capital News Service)
Annapolis
Maryland Black Caucus agenda tallies some wins, some losses

Members of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland gather for a presentation of their priority agenda items on, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, in Annapolis, Md. The caucus prioritized issues including medical cannabis, and the suspension of pre-kindergarten students. (Hannah Klarner/Capital News Service)

Wanda Draper, executive director of the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore, Md., and Helen Yuen, director of marketing, look at the performing arts exhibit on display on March 9, 2017. (Brianna Rhodes/Capital News Service)
Lewis museum expects bright future under new management

Wanda Draper has set two goals to improve Marylanders’ and tourists’ visiting experiences at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture: Invigorate and move forward.

Olukayode Akinpelu Jr., left, a 14-year-old 8th grader at St. Francis, waives a flag at the non-public school advocacy day in Annapolis, Md., on March 2, 2017. Gov. Larry Hogan spoke at the rally in support of using state funds for non-public schools throughout the state. (Hannah Klarner / Capital News Service)
Battle lines drawn on public funding for private schools

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland — More than 1,000 private school students and chaperones greeted and cheered Gov. Larry Hogan’s arrival down the steps of the Maryland State House on Nonpublic School Advocacy day Thursday morning.

Lawmakers, educators push for less classroom testing time

ANNAPOLIS, Maryland – Maryland is ranked as the second-worst state in the nation for teacher classroom autonomy, according to the Learning Policy Institute, and testing mandates are a major contributor to this ranking, according to the Maryland State Education Association.

Governor Larry Hogan, left, and Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh watch as a row of empty buildings is demolished in Baltimore, Md. on February 10, 2017. The buildings were torn down to make way for revitalized businesses, homes, and mixed use spaces in the area as a part of Project C.O.R.E. (Hannah Klarner/ Capital News Service)
Block of homes in Baltimore destroyed for city revival

BALTIMORE – Gov. Larry Hogan visited Baltimore Friday to demolish a row of homes on Chester Street as a part of Project C.O.R.E, a state and city initiative that aims to revitalize the city by creating mixed use retail and housing spaces, parks, and small business opportunities.

Toni Holness, public policy director of the ACLU in Maryland, speaks at a press conference in Annapolis, Md., on February 8, 2017. She was discussing a bill promoting transparency in police departments, and changes files relating to internal complaint investigations so they are no longer personnel files and can be accessed with a Public Information Act request. (Hannah Klarner\ Capital News Service)
Civil rights groups push legislation on police transparency

Maryland is one of the least transparent states regarding police misconduct complaints, civil rights advocates said in Annapolis Wednesday.

Sen. Will Smith. D-Montgomery, speaks at a Legislative Black Caucus meeting on Jan. 11, 2017, in Annapolis, Md. Smith is sponsoring a bill to ban suspension in nearly all cases for all pre-kindergarten students in public schools. (Hannah Klarner / Capital News Service)
Maryland bills would ban, study early childhood suspensions

Students of color and students with disabilities in prekindergarten through second grade are disproportionately suspended at a higher rate than their peers, according to a state schools report.

Senate bill would allow student refusal of animal dissection

State Sen. Ronald Young, D-Frederick and Washington counties, this week proposed legislation requiring that public and nonpublic schools allow students the right to refuse to participate in or observe coursework that involves live or dead animals.

Dan Jewiss, standing, a state trooper from Connecticut, at a school safety seminar at St. John’s College in Annapolis, Md., on January 19, 2017. (Hannah Klarner/Capital News Service)
Maryland school safety training includes Sandy Hook speakers

Just over four years after the Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut, schools across the nation are continuing their efforts to promote safety and security for students, including in Maryland through the state’s 2017 School Safety Initiative.