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Rona Kobell

@rkobell.bsky.social
1.8K followers 717 following 1.2K posts

Cover Balt Co. for The Baltimore Banner. Priors: Balt Sun, Bay Journal, Md. Sea Grant, etc. Produced Eroding History, on PBS.org now. Wolverine, Terp, Yinzer. Hopkins SNF AGORA, Knight-Wallace fellow. Writing book on E. Shore for JHU Press. Bunny/girlmom.

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Reposted by Rona Kobell
Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 3h
Prof. Eliot Jacobson: The final results are in and 2026 came in 2nd place behind 2023 for the total number of days with global surface temperature above 16.0°C. 2023: 128 days 2026: 126 days
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 10h
Come and meet @thebaltimorebanner.com Baltimore County reporters and tell us what's important to you!
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
SCOOP: New library director for Baltimore County 10 months after previous one resigned. Prior director fired 14 part-time librarians right before Thanksgiving, then had to re-hire them after public outrage spurred by our reporting. www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
thebanner.com
Baltimore County names new library director
After 10 months without a library director, the Baltimore County Public Library has chosen one: Jason Homer of the Worcester Public Library System in Massachusetts.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
It took one old man to save these very old kilns. Thank goodness he did, because they're spectacular.
thebanner.com
He saved Cromwell Valley’s kilns for the history, but the foxes and birds love them, too
Restored kilns at Cromwell Valley Park still bring visitors.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
A former Baltimore prep school swimmer assaulted his Hinge date for three hours. Charged with multiple sexual assault counts, he pleaded to lesser offenses and got 5 years. Judge Mickey Norman let him out after 23 months. @dylansegelbaum.bsky.social and I report. www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
thebanner.com
Outrage after judge cuts sentence in Towson sex assault case
Baltimore County Circuit Judge Mickey Norman modified the sentence of Samuel Logue, 28, of Towson, less than two months after ordering him to serve five years in prison for first-degree assault and fo...
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Check out this article: Outrage after judge cuts sentence in Towson sex assault case www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
thebanner.com
Outrage after judge cuts sentence in Towson sex assault case
Baltimore County Circuit Judge Mickey Norman modified the sentence of Samuel Logue, 28, of Towson, less than two months after ordering him to serve five years in prison for first-degree assault and fo...
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The @podsaveamerica.crooked.com did not mention the teenager shot sixteen times in the back when they interviewed Rahm, either. Or the way his administration covered it up. What gives? Do we not think such a question is relevant? Did everyone forget the 16 shots on video?
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Such a loss to the Chesapeake scientific community. Walter was a gem of a person, and a wonderful scientist. @chesapeakebayfdn.bsky.social @umces.bsky.social @mdseagrant.bsky.social @chesapeakebay.bsky.social www.thebanner.com/obituaries/w...
thebanner.com
Walter Boynton, folksy dean of Chesapeake Bay science, dies
Boynton, 79, died Sept. 14 at the George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., after a long-term illness.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Grateful to @ncronline.bsky.social and multiple local publications for covering the bankruptcy in more detail. This is an important story and I just did one part of it. www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
thebanner.com
Baltimore archdiocese’s church sales earned millions. Abuse survivors may see none of it.
Baltimore Archdiocese church sales have brought in millions, but a court ruling means clergy abuse survivors may never see the proceeds.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
For the last several weeks, I have been interviewing sex abuse survivors and attorneys to bring you this story. www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
thebanner.com
Baltimore archdiocese’s church sales earned millions. Abuse survivors may see none of it.
Baltimore Archdiocese church sales have brought in millions, but a court ruling means clergy abuse survivors may never see the proceeds.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
This bridge is deep in Baltimore County. So, why is Baltimore City responsible for the $35 million in repairs? www.thebanner.com/community/tr...
thebanner.com
Why Baltimore City doesn’t want to pay for a new Baltimore County bridge
A back-and-forth between Baltimore County and Baltimore City over an old bridge is about way more than just who should foot the bill — it indicates the localities could be moving toward a bigger chang...
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Ah, Baltimore...where shooting up an already deceased pig and showing how two-century-old medical procedures saved soldiers in battle is just part of a historical weekend re-enactment. www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
thebanner.com
Who is Dr. Shadyfellow? Meet the Defenders’ Day icon in Baltimore County.
Olafur Nelson is a member of the Dundalk-Patapsco Neck Historical Society, which commemorates the Battle of North Point.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
I'm writing the last chapter of my book today.
Photo of a house falling down on the Shore.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Something there is that doesn't love a mall. My ode to Eastpoint, its penguins and its monkeys, and the sad ending of another chapter of our collective youth. #Baltimore #Dundalk.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
The children of Turner Station saw the Key Bridge every day. A lot of them felt it collapse. Over the weekend, some neighborhood Girl Scouts got to see what's left of the bridge, part of a program to reconnect them with their historic waters. www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
thebanner.com
Turner Station Girl Scouts visit Key Bridge wreckage
The trip to the bridge’s remains was the culmination of a summer partnership between the Girl Scouts of Turner Station and the Pleasant Yacht Club.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Wait for it...Broadway's newest Hamilton is from a tiny town on the Eastern Shore that his ancestors settled in 1878 as free Black Marylanders. Marcus John tried out for the traveling cast 15 times before landing a role as a swing. Now he's the lead. #Hamilton www.thebanner.com/culture/thea...
thebanner.com
Wait for it... an Eastern Shore native is Broadway’s latest Hamilton.
The 32-year-old Eastern Shore native graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia just as the musical “Hamilton” was becoming a sensation.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
Awhile ago, I rescued an eagle. Here he is flying away after being rehabbed. I hope he found his family.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
I met Stephen Glass at a wedding in 2000. It was memorable; later that afternoon, I met the man who would become my husband. We were telling our older daughter about this encounter and decided we should watch this movie. It's interesting. The cinematography, to me, was somewhat off.
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Reposted by Rona Kobell
Colson Whitehead @colsonwhitehead.com · 31/07/2026
And the official announcement — variety.com/2026/tv/news...
variety.com
Colson Whitehead’s ‘Harlem’ Trilogy TV Show in Development at Apple (EXCLUSIVE)
Apple TV is in development on a series based on Colson Whitehead's 'Harlem' trilogy, including 'Harlem Shuffle,' 'Crook Manifesto' and 'Cool Machine.'
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
Most ‘Ovarian Cancer’ Isn’t. And That Fact Can Save Lives. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/28/h...
nytimes.com
Most ‘Ovarian Cancer’ Isn’t. And That Fact Can Save Lives. (Gift Article)
The vast majority of cases begin in the fallopian tubes — and removing them can reduce the risk by nearly 80 percent.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Elected officials hear that Baltimore County has too many vape shops at ever community meeting. And it has more than any other county in the state. A new bill will rein them in, but owners say they're immigrants making an honest living. www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
thebanner.com
Baltimore County wants to curb vape shops
In August, the Baltimore County Council will consider a bill to reduce the number of smoke and vape shops and restrict where they can go.
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Reposted by Rona Kobell
KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
Deborah Sandidge Photography "Roseate Spoonbill on a sunny afternoon at the wetlands. She flutters her wings sending droplets of water into the air, keeping her feathers fresh and clean, baths are a joyful moment in the life of a spoonbill!"
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
The Today Show anchors are still a big enough deal that People had a story yesterday about Savannah Guthrie taking a vacation. My kids never heard of Matt Lauer, or Today, so when I told them what a big deal the show was, they really didn't have a sense. www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
thebanner.com
How Matt Lauer’s sexual assault allegations shaped Baltimore County’s next top prosecutor
Sarah David’s friendship with former NBC producer Brooke Nevils informs how she will run the Baltimore County State’s Attorney Office.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Brooke Nevils lays her soul bare in her book and was just as open in person about her low point – the day she says Matt Lauer, America's Dad, sexually assaulted her in a Russian hotel room. The book is "Unspeakable Things" and it's a tough read but informative. www.thebanner.com/community/cr...
thebanner.com
How Matt Lauer’s sexual assault allegations shaped Baltimore County’s next top prosecutor
Sarah David’s friendship with former NBC producer Brooke Nevils informs how she will run the Baltimore County State’s Attorney Office.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
The new Baltimore County prosecutor is best friends with the woman who accused Matt Lauer of sexual assault. Sarah David's relationship with Brooke Nevils will change the way Maryland's third largest county considers and prosecutes sexual assault. Advocates say change is long overdue.
thebanner.com
How Matt Lauer’s sexual assault allegations shaped Baltimore County’s next top prosecutor
Sarah David’s friendship with former NBC producer Brooke Nevils informs how she will run the Baltimore County State’s Attorney Office.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
People ask me for career advice a lot and I am not sure I have much because we all have our own paths but what I can say is that there are no shortcuts and you have to put in the work. Some people sail to the top quickly, but if they haven’t built a foundation, they won’t last long up there.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
Love them. We got to meet the rescuers recently and they’re the real deal.
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Reposted by Rona Kobell
Block Club Chicago @blockclubchi.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
The Shedd Aquarium is rescuing 10 beluga whales from a shuttered Canadian park. blockclubchi.co/4wA3egg
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
Excited to be part of this panel with @mdhumanities.bsky.social.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
The county that gave birth to Michael Phelps had no public swimming pools - a vestige of segregation. Even Phelps' mother, Debbie, told me it was challenging to find places, as a single mom, to get her kids in the water. There are efforts being made to change that. www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
thebanner.com
Baltimore County gets more public swim hours. Some say it’s a drop in the bucket.
Baltimore County has no public pools for its 856,000 residents. It has tried to expand public swimming for decades, with little success.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
This is a day to distract ourselves with puppies, baby birds, and other adorable things.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Scouts in the house tonight at County Council.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Check out this article: What would a Julian Jones administration look like in Baltimore County? www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
thebanner.com
What would a Julian Jones administration look like in Baltimore County?
To see what kind of administration Julian Jones will lead in Baltimore County, look at where he stands on certain issues.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
One called council members “sissies.” Another blasts them for favoring developers. A third writes a running commentary on Facebook calling them “the Real Househusbands of Towson.” They've criticized the Baltimore County Council. And they just won their primaries. www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
thebanner.com
They were Baltimore County council’s fiercest critics. Now, they might be in charge
Anti-establishment candidates who won their primary races promise to shake up business as usual.
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Reposted by Rona Kobell
Sarah Pinsker @sarahpinsker.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
I am browsing a bookstore and I just heard someone, having asked specifically for books by a specific author, and having had the clerk hand her a book and say "this is my favorite of hers," ask "So do I have to buy it or can I just rent it?" Madam, what you are looking for is called a library.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
We are still asking where Baltimore County’s public pools are. Stay tuned!
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
app.thebaltimorebanner.com/A5V2VFIVBNHO...
app.thebaltimorebanner.com
Bobby LaPin lost the race. He’s not ready to leave the fight.
The morning after his primary election loss to Senate President Bill Ferguson, Bobby LaPin woke up and smashed together a grilled cheese and a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. Then he jumped into his T...
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
We have made history in Baltimore County. Councilman Julian Jones is the Democratic nominee for County Executive. He will face a Republican in November. But only two Republicans have ever won the office. One was Spiro Agnew; the other Roger Hayden in 1994. www.thebanner.com/community/lo...
thebanner.com
Julian Jones wins Democratic nomination for Baltimore County executive
Baltimore County Councilman Julian Jones has won the Democratic primary for county executive.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
This is my favorite election story I did in a season of them. I raise my own glass to the faded memory of learning how to be the reporter I am today in bars like this one.
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Reposted by Rona Kobell
Jesse Walker @notjessewalker.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
"We come not to eulogize the corner bar, but to raise a Natty Boh to its role in the Free State's long and boozy political tradition..."
thebanner.com
The taverns where candidates concocted their messages are gone. So is the fun.
Old-school Baltimore bars offered a (poorly lit) place for local candidates to try new lines, and were mandatory stops for those seeking higher office.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
View from here!
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Strip steak at a strip club. www.thebanner.com/culture/food...
thebanner.com
The Dish: I went to this Baltimore strip club for the steak. Really.
The Penthouse Club reopened this month after a $5 million renovation with hopes that its steakhouse will entice guests as much as the dancers will.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Smart story from @hayesgardner.bsky.social on why Baltimore may be better off without legions of Scottish #Worldcup fans drinking up our Natty Bohs and slurping up our oysters. www.thebanner.com/sports/world...
thebanner.com
Baltimore isn’t hosting World Cup matches. Maybe that’s for the best.
When M&T Bank Stadium missed out on hosting World Cup matches, Baltimore missed out on a boom of foreign visitors. But as other cities have learned, the economics of hosting doesn't always make sense.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
A lovely story about one of the town’s favorite Orioles, even if he plays elsewhere these days.
app.thebaltimorebanner.com
Trey Mancini’s MLB comeback was all about who was in the stands to see it
Mancini’s cancer diagnosis put his dream of having kids in doubt. But his daughter Sadie was there for his return to the bigs.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
There is a retired blackface performer and former cop running in the Md. Republican primary, but he's not the most shocking candidate because there's a guy who just got censured for harassment, and another who served a sitting senator at a Memorial Day service. www.thebanner.com/politics-pow...
thebanner.com
Blackface performer, peace order clash: Have Baltimore County Republicans gone full MAGA?
The coarsening discourse, attention-grabbing tactics, and efforts to out-MAGA one’s opponent mirror national politics.
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Reposted by Rona Kobell
Jason Hazeley @jasonhazeley.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Released 40 years ago today. Still the greatest day off.
A still from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
"We come not to eulogize the corner bar, but to raise a Natty Boh to its role in the Free State’s long and boozy political tradition." Do you miss these old corner bars? There are only a few left for old-fashioned politicking alongside a whiskey, neat.
thebanner.com
The taverns where candidates concocted their messages are gone. So is the fun.
Old-school Baltimore bars offered a (poorly lit) place for local candidates to try new lines, and were mandatory stops for those seeking higher office.
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Rona Kobell @rkobell.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
Scott Pelley on the Bari Weiss Era and His Last Days at ‘60 Minutes’ www.nytimes.com/2026/06/07/m...
nytimes.com
Scott Pelley on the Bari Weiss Era and His Last Days at ‘60 Minutes’
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Reposted by Rona Kobell
Doug Mack @douglasmack.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Just need everyone to know that the Belgium men's soccer team has new jerseys based on the art of Rene Magritte and this is the official photo shoot
Soccer player wearing fedora and with a green apple floating in front of his face, mimicking the Magritte painting "The Son of Man." The soccer player is wearing a jersey with a pattern of pink and blue stripes with half-visible spheres.Soccer player wearing fedora and with a green apple floating in front of his face, mimicking the Magritte painting "The Son of Man." The soccer player is wearing a jersey with a pattern of pink and blue stripes with half-visible spheres.Soccer player biting an apple. The soccer player is wearing a jersey with a pattern of pink and blue stripes with half-visible spheres.Soccer player wearing fedora and with a green apple floating in front of his face, mimicking the Magritte painting "The Son of Man." The soccer player is wearing a jersey with a pattern of pink and blue stripes with half-visible spheres.
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