Executive producer and managing editor at Spotlight on Maryland @WeAreSinclair @baltimoresun @fox45 @7NewsDC | Former Congress and campaigns editor at @usatoday
Joined April 2012
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Candy Woodall retweeted
The press serves the governed, not the government. Unfortunately, too many news outlets have lost sight of that mission.
At Spotlight on Maryland, we serve YOU—the reader, the voter, and the everyday Marylander—not the political class.
We are committed to delivering the raw truth, not the narrative shaped by powerful politicians. Facts can be uncomfortable, especially for those in power, but we believe you deserve them regardless.
If you are looking for accountability, follow Spotlight on Maryland.
We report in the public interest, not for political interests.
Jun 14
The issue has never been whether the Army questions Moore's integrity. The issue is whether the record supports the claims he has made about his service. bit.ly/3Q4kkDE
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Candy Woodall retweeted
A Maryland lawmaker is running a nonprofit that has received over $100 million in taxpayer funding.
But behind the funding is a history of recurring audit failures and financial reporting issues.
Experts and fellow lawmakers are now questioning whether the organization and its leadership should continue to receive public money, given the repeated concerns flagged by auditors.
Spotlight reporter @PatrickHauf is investigating:
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Candy Woodall retweeted
After a legal battle for public records, letters have surfaced showing a heated dispute between County Executive Julie Giordano and Sheriff Mike Lewis over allegations of nude photos sent to deputies.
Read the full report from Spotlight reporter @realgarycollins:
Letters allege 'revenge porn’ and 'nude selfies’ in Maryland county foxbaltimore.com/spotlight-o…
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Candy Woodall retweeted
Maryland's crabbing season is in full swing, but the math behind the harvest has become as precarious as the tides. Rising fuel costs are squeezing watermen and hitting consumers at the register.
Spotlight on Maryland reporter @TessaBentulan has the full story at 5:30 p.m. on @FOXBaltimore. Read more tomorrow in the @baltimoresun.
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A lot of Marylanders played an important role on D-Day. Veteran Drew Sullins tells me the Maryland Army National Guard’s 115th Infantry Regiment, part of the 29th Infantry Division, landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day. So too did Maryland’s 110th Field Artillery and 104th Medical Battalion. The state, nation and world has much to be thankful for because of their bravery and service.
82 years ago today, nearly 160,000 Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, launching the liberation of Europe.
We are free because they were brave. 🇺🇸
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May 22
Fraud alerts are taxpayer money at risk. Spotlight reporter @conrad_brooke is looking at how your tax dollars are being managed and protected.
Are your tax dollars being managed efficiently?
State auditors are flagging repeated failures by Maryland officials to address potentially improper payments in public assistance programs.
Maryland's Office of Legislative Audits found a lack of timely follow-up on fraud and error alerts.
Find out more about what Spotlight reporter @conrad_brooke learned by watching @FOXBaltimore at 5:30 p.m. today and reading the @baltimoresun tomorrow morning.
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May 22
Why are Marylanders leaving? As migration data paints a challenging picture for the state, we pressed top leadership on whether current policies are failing to keep residents. @TessaBentulan reports for @SpotlightMDNews:
Maryland is losing residents to lower-cost states at a high rate. While families pack their bags, citing crushing taxes and costs, state and local leaders are doubling down on their current policies.
We pressed Governor Moore, Mayor Scott and county leaders on why they believe the migration data doesn't tell the whole story.
Watch Spotlight on Maryland reporter @TessaBentulan's full story below, which aired on @FOXBaltimore, and read more in the @baltimoresun.
baltimoresun.com/2026/05/22/…
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May 22
Other states have tightened the reins on grant spending, but Maryland remains behind the curve. @PatrickHauf investigates the systemic gaps in our state’s grant process and the push for much-needed accountability. Important reading:
Maryland distributes billions in grants every year, yet the state lacks a centralized system to track where the money goes. While other states have moved to tighten oversight, reform efforts in Annapolis remain stalled, leaving taxpayer dollars vulnerable to waste.
Spotlight on Maryland reporter @PatrickHauf investigates in a new series. Link below.
baltimoresun.com/2026/05/22/…
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May 22
Important reporting from @conrad_brooke on the real-world impact of these DDA budget cuts. Stories like this are why @spotlightmdnews shines a light on how state policy decisions affect our most vulnerable neighbors.
For 10 years, Brielle Thomas has cared for her disabled brother at home in Frederick County.
Now, she says Maryland's planned cuts to Developmental Disabilities Administration caregiver payments may force her to stop.
Beginning July 1, some family caregivers will see their pay reduced by dollars per hour under changes tied to broader DDA budget cuts approved earlier this year. Families say the reductions come as the cost of living continues to climb and many caregivers already work without health insurance, retirement benefits or paid leave.
"It's already hard enough," Thomas said. "But now having the pay decrease as well when the price of everything is going up, I don't see how I could manage that."
Spotlight on Maryland's @conrad_brooke examines how the cuts are impacting families who say they are being asked to do more with less while caring for some of the state's most vulnerable residents.
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Candy Woodall retweeted
For some Maryland business owners, the struggle to stay open is getting harder.
From empty storefronts in Fells Point to concerns about taxes, permit delays, labor shortages and rising costs, business owners across the state tell Spotlight on Maryland they feel squeezed from every direction.
“I feel like the only thing not being taxed right now is the air we breathe."
Spotlight reporter @TessaBentulan has the full story. Watch on @FOXBaltimore and read more tomorrow in the @baltimoresun.
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Candy Woodall retweeted
A year after Spotlight on Maryland exposed the state's squatting crisis, Gov. Wes Moore signed new anti-squatting laws targeting alleged fake lease schemes and online squatting rings.
But homeowners and lawmakers say the problem is far from solved.
Spotlight reporter @realgarycollins has the full story at 10 p.m. on @FOXBaltimore. Read more tomorrow in the @baltimoresun.
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May 14
Gov. Wes Moore says Maryland has no choice but to act on redistricting amid what he calls “the greatest assault on Black voter representation” in generations.
But when asked by Politico’s @jmart whether he could guarantee Marylanders and Democrats across the country that this fall Maryland will redraw its map, Moore said no.
He said he could only guarantee that Maryland knows “they have a fighter as a governor.”
And when pressed on whether he would oppose Senate President Bill Ferguson — who blocked the redistricting effort and is on the ballot with a primary challenger — Moore sidestepped the question.
“I think he really knows how much I need for the Senate to take seriously this moment,” the governor said.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says the state needs to move on redistricting.
“We don’t have a choice but to act, particularly when we’re watching the greatest assault on Black voter representation ... that we have seen in generations," he tells our @jmart.
🔗 politi.co/4fiRbP0
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Candy Woodall retweeted
Spotlight on Maryland, the state’s newest investigative team, is honored to be nominated for #CapitalEmmys in two categories: News Feature - Serious Feature (Multiple Reports) for @realgarycollins’ series on squatting, and Politics/Government - News (no time limit) for @TessaBentulan’s series on the Baltimore mayor’s $163,000 SUV — the most expensive executive vehicle in Maryland. Thank you to photojournalists Morgan Pravato, who worked on squatters, and @LangZackary, who worked on squatters and the SUV series. And congratulations to all of our wonderful colleagues at @FOXBaltimore, @Project_Bmore and @7NewsDC who are nominated in several categories! We look forward to seeing all the nominees in June and celebrating the capital region’s best journalism.
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Over the past several months, I’ve received an overwhelming number of messages from Marylanders telling me they want to leave.
Not because they hate Maryland. In fact, most of them love it here. Their roots are here. Their memories are here. Their favorite teams are here. Their identities are tied to this place.
But they say the numbers no longer work, often citing high taxes, energy bills and housing costs.
Again and again, people tell me they feel squeezed from every direction. And many say they’ve started looking at Pennsylvania, Delaware, the Carolinas, Florida, Tennessee or beyond.
While gas and groceries are high far beyond Maryland’s borders, it’s clear residents are leaving in search of lower state taxes and fees elsewhere.
Spotlight reporter @TessaBentulan has been covering this issue in a weekly series: Moving out of Maryland.
As Maryland’s costs keep climbing, some families are leaving generation by generation.
Spotlight on Maryland reporter @TessaBentulan spoke with one family whose departure from Maryland became a domino effect as rising housing costs, taxes and everyday expenses pushed them to other states.
foxbaltimore.com/spotlight-o…
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More Maryland residents are moving to Delaware for lower costs, tax relief foxbaltimore.com/spotlight-o…
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Rising costs push thousands of Marylanders to other states foxbaltimore.com/spotlight-o…
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From a $5 billion surplus and a “fortunate financial position” to a deficit to a surplus to several projected deficits, Spotlight on Maryland has thoroughly covered the state’s fiscal position. Here’s the latest on how the governor’s rhetoric lines up with the facts.
Gov. Wes Moore says he turned a Maryland deficit into a surplus. State budget forecasts tell a different story, and the governor is sidestepping questions about it.
Spotlight on Maryland reporter @realgarycollins explains what the governor has said about Maryland’s financial position—and what the facts show.
foxbaltimore.com/spotlight-o…
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Maryland Del. Joe Vogel says lobbyists aren’t spending $1 million to take state lawmakers to dinner because they’re fun. It’s “because it’s a way to get special access and to, essentially, I believe, buy some influence with legislators.”
In Annapolis this year, lobbyists, companies and special interest groups spent nearly $1 million treating Maryland lawmakers to dinner at some of the city’s most expensive restaurants.
“We’re not that fun to have dinner with, right?” said Democratic Del. Joe Vogel, who represents Montgomery County. “They’re not taking legislators out to dinner because they find us to be enjoyable dinner companions. They’re doing it because it’s a way to get special access and to, essentially, I believe, buy some influence with legislators.”
Spotlight on Maryland reporter @conrad_brooke has the full story.
foxbaltimore.com/spotlight-o…
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Dozens of hospitals and clinics across the country— including in some of the bluest areas like Los Angeles — are scaling back access to puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for gender dysphoria. But Maryland’s top leaders and medical providers are holding course.
While answering a hypothetical question on a podcast, Gov. Wes Moore said this week he would support his 14-year-old son if he chose to transition.
His comment comes as dozens of U.S. clinics and hospitals have reversed course on pediatric puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.
Maryland is holding steady.
Spotlight on Maryland reporter @PatrickHauf examined the issue.
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Candy Woodall retweeted
May 8
The @Pirates have one of the most dominant starting rotations in baseball, to go with one of the most improved lineups from last year 💪
@mikelowell25 dives in on what makes Pittsburgh such a tough matchup:
“When you look at the Postseason... nobody wants to face these guys.”
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