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CBS News
16 hours ago
- Health
- CBS News
Baltimore leaders continue to examine opioid trends, consider solutions to drug crisis after mass overdose
The Baltimore City Council's Public Safety Committee heard about opioid trends and potential solutions to the drug crisis during a meeting Tuesday, nearly two weeks after a mass overdose in the Penn North community. Advocates and members of local and state fire, health and law enforcement agencies attended the hearing to share their perspectives on the city's opioid crisis and available addiction resources. "I believe that it is integral to the success of our city that we talk about it openly," said Councilman Mark Conway. "That we get folks out of the shadows and out of…some of the difficulties and shame that comes with addiction to talk about what we're experiencing in our city." During the hearing, agencies and advocates shared the latest data on opioid use and overdoses, and considered resources to curb the drug crisis. According to City Council President Zeke Cohen's office, the city recorded more than 6,000 overdose deaths between 2013 and 2022. Between 2012 and 2022, the city's overdose death rate passed that of other major cities, despite an effort to reduce cases by distributing naloxone, a medication that reverses overdoses, and implementing syringe exchanges. In 2024, overdose deaths dropped by 25%, according to Cohen's office. The mass overdose in Penn North, which hospitalized 27 people, "reinforced the need for sustained public health engagement and stronger interagency coordination," Cohen said. The mass overdose in Baltimore on July 10 is still under investigation, according to police. However, scientists with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) claim that samples collected from the site revealed a mix of illicit drugs that included fentanyl and N-Methylclonazepam, a powerful sedative. Mayor Brandon Scott said police are still working to determine the source of the overdose, and were wary of NIST's results, saying they collect samples from several areas in the state. On July 18, five more people were hospitalized after another overdose was reported in Penn North. Police said there was no evidence to suggest that the two incidents were related. The overdoses prompted advocates and community partners to flood the Penn North community with resources and as part of an aggressive harm reduction effort. Leaders with the Mayor's Office of Overdose Response and the city Health Department handed out Narcan and shared information about addiction treatment centers in the area. Those in need of assistance can find resources by calling the 988 hotline or visiting the Maryland Department of Health's Overdose Response Program website here.
CBS News
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
After music festival cancellation, Baltimore city leaders spar over blame
Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway says political disputes are to blame for the cancellation of a local music festival that his office organized. The Heart of the 4th music and arts festival was scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 19. The family-friendly event would have shut down a half mile of York Road to bring live entertainment, food and local businesses to the community. It was organized through a partnership between the Office of Baltimore City Councilman Mark Conway and the York Road Improvement District. On Tuesday, Councilman Conway announced the festival's cancellation. He claims Mayor Brandon Scott put up last-minute barriers that made it impossible to hold the event on York Road and called it an act of political retaliation. The mayor's office says it raised public safety concerns that were not addressed. "My staff and I have worked tirelessly to meet every hurdle placed ahead of us by city agencies, no matter how arbitrary or irregular," Conway said in a statement. "We engaged their shifting demands in good faith, with no expectation that this event would be governed by procedures that deviate from the numerous events we have participated in." Conway said his office was notified about new hurdles that "defy both precedent and common sense" five days before the event was scheduled to take place. In response, the mayor's office said it met with Conway and explained the safety risks associated with the event. The mayor's office also said it provided alternative locations that would be acceptable. The city claims Conway rejected the proposed alternatives and continued to promote the event without receiving the necessary permits. "The Mayor's Office has met repeatedly in good faith with Councilman Conway regarding event permit requests for the Heart of the 4th event. Throughout those conversations, our office, in consultation with the Fire Department and DOT, relayed prohibitive concerns regarding the legitimate public safety issues presented with closing down such a large portion of York Road for the event," the Mayor's Office said in a statement. The York Road Improvement District said it is actively planning a new event for some time in late August. "I extend my deepest apologies to the vendors preparing for this day, to my partners at the York Road Improvement District who worked tirelessly towards this event, and to my constituents across the 4th District," Councilman Conway said in a statement.
CBS News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Baltimore City Council hosting public hearing on police accountability
The Baltimore City Council Public Safety Committee is hosting a public hearing on police accountability on Tuesday afternoon. The hearing comes after the transition of the Baltimore Police Department to local control and the dissolution of Baltimore's Civilian Review Board (CRB). In the hearing, the committee will examine how the number and outcomes of complaints against Baltimore police changed after Maryland's Police Accountability Act was passed. "Since the federal consent decree was signed, Baltimore has made strides in reform, but there is still a great deal of work to do," Mark Conway, Safety Committee Chair, said. "The Council must ensure that the City's new police accountability structures are fulfilling their promise to the public. We will be asking hard questions and demanding detailed answers about transparency, timelines, and impact." The hearing will take place at Baltimore City Hall at 1 p.m. What is the Maryland Police Accountability Act? In 2021, Maryland passed the Police Accountability Act, mandating the creation of police accountability boards in each county and Baltimore City. In 2022, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott signed into law a bill that established a police accountability board to restore trust between the community and the Baltimore Police Department. The legislation established a 17-member board that reviews police complaints and appoints civilians to serve on an administrative charging committee, which recommends discipline for officers formally accused of misconduct. Baltimore's shift to local control For years, residents and lawmakers pushed for local control over the Baltimore Police Department. The state initially held legislative control until Nov. 2023, when 80% of voters supported Ballot Question H to make BPD a city agency first time in more than 150 years. But Question H had limitations. It did not give the city the power to write laws that govern BPD. For a period, neither the city nor the state had legislative control over the department. Another vote in Nov. 2024 finally gave legislative control to the city. The restructuring disbanded Baltimore's Civilian Review Board, which was the city's original police oversight entity, founded in 1999.
Irish Times
09-07-2025
- Irish Times
‘I thought I was going to die': Woman beaten with golf club by partner in ‘savage' attack, court hears
A woman fled the country in fear for her life after her ex-partner punched and kicked her before raining 'full force' blows with a golf club in a 'savage attack', a court has heard. Father of two Mark Conway (39) of Marine View, Athlone, Co Westmeath , pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Kirsty Fitzpatrick (27), on February 16th, 2024, at his home address. At Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday, Judge Keenan Johnson lambasted Conway, describing him as having 'Jekyll and Hyde characteristics. Passive when sober, and when he is drunk, he is a menace, violent and a thug.' He indicated he was considering a six-year sentence but adjourned finalising the case until November to obtain a probation report.. The victim who was 'battered all over her body' watched the proceedings via video link. In evidence, Garda Sheila Fitzgerald saidshe responded to an alert and went to Conway's home, where she saw the woman was 'visibly shaken'. She revealed Conway had assaulted her with a golf club and used a wooden floorboard. They had lived on and off at the house where the accused resided with his father. On the date of the attack he had been drinking heavily. They went to bed and were sharing a pack of tobacco but he accused her of being a thief for taking some and told her to go back to her ex and accused her of texting him. The court heard he 'grabbed her face on her jaws with one hand and squeezed it'. His father came up and pleaded with him to stop, but Conway punched her on the side of the face and verbally abused her. Minutes later, he tried to cuddle her, but she pushed him away before he put his arm around her. Conway punched her in the face, kicked her in the ribs and kicked her head as she begged him to stop. He fetched a golf club, struck her on the right shoulder and kept swinging at her 'full force' as she put her arms up to protect herself. Gardaí arrived and Conway 'burst' from a room and lunged at them until they used an incapacitant spray. He was on bail for another assault on Ms Fitzpatrick, and that case is still before the District Court awaiting sentencing. Ms Fitzpatrick had suffered severe bruising, flashbacks, trauma and insomnia. She told the court: 'I thought I was going to die, he wrapped my hair around his hand, leaving no way of escaping'. She said she had been in excruciating pain and suffered nerve damage to her left arm and talked about the mental scars that she thought would take years to heal. The court heard that afterwards, Conway sent threats, putting her in constant fear. Ms Fitzpatrick recalled one of his messages said: 'Gardaí could not protect me even if I changed my name or colour of hair, he would still find me, or if I set foot in Athlone.'
BreakingNews.ie
08-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Woman beaten with golf club by partner in ‘savage' attack
A woman fled the country in fear for her life after her ex-partner punched and kicked her before raining "full force" blows with a golf club in a "savage attack", a court has heard. Father of two Mark Conway, 39, of Marine View, Athlone, Co Westmeath, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to Kirsty Fitzpatrick, age 27, on February 16th, 2024, at his home address. Advertisement At Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court on Monday, Judge Keenan Johnson lambasted Conway, describing him as having "Jekyll and Hyde characteristics, passive when sober, and when he is drunk, he is a menace, violent and a thug". He said Conway's late-stage expression of remorse "rings rather hollow" and rebuked him for his audacity in accusing Ms Fitzpatrick of lying. He indicated that he was considering a six-year sentence but adjourned finalising the case until November to obtain a probation report, to see if he could consider suspending a portion of the term. Victim impact statement The distraught victim who was "battered all over her body" watched the proceedings via video link and delivered a hard-hitting impact statement. Advertisement In evidence, Garda Sheila Fitzgerald stated that she responded to an alert and went to Conway's home, where she saw that the woman was "visibly shaken". She revealed Conway had assaulted her with a golf club and used a wooden floorboard. They had lived on and off at the house where the accused resided with his father. On the date of the attack he had been drinking heavily. They went to bed and were sharing a pack of tobacco but he accused her of being a thief for taking some and told her to go back to her ex and accused her of texting him. Advertisement The court heard he "grabbed her face on her jaws with one hand and squeezed it." His father came up and pleaded with him to stop, but Conway punched her on the side of the face and verbally abused her, and then took her phone and threw it across a room. Minutes later, he tried to cuddle her, but she pushed him away before he put his arm around her. He dug his fingers into her waist. It was sore, and she told him to stop, but he grabbed her arm, pulled her by her hair onto the ground, and she was "roaring for help". At this point, Conway punched her in the face, kicked her in the ribs, and kicked her head as she begged him to stop. Advertisement He fetched a golf club, struck her on the right shoulder and kept swinging at her "full force" as she put her arms up to protect herself. Ms Fitzpatrick begged him to stop, telling him she loved him and thought he would kill her, and that was his intention. He left the bedroom, and she blocked the door, but he used a metal bar to break through. Gardaí arrived and Conway "burst" from a room and lunged at them until they used an incapacitant spray. Garda interview In his garda interview, he admitted to drinking heavily and claimed he had no recollection of the previous night. He also tried to convince gardaí that his former partner was a liar and that she made things up. Advertisement He was on bail for another assault on Ms Fitzpatrick, and that case is still before the District Court awaiting sentencing. Ms Fitzpatrick had suffered severe bruising, suffered flashbacks, trauma and insomnia. She told the court: "I thought I was going to die, he wrapped my hair around his hand, leaving no way of escaping." She said she had been in excruciating pain and suffered nerve damage to her left arm. She opened up about the mental scars which she thought would take years to heal. The court heard that afterwards, Conway sent threats, putting her in constant fear. Ms Fitzpatrick recalled one of his messages said: "Gardaí could not protect me even if I changed my name or colour of hair, he would still find me, or if I set foot in Athlone." Michael Cooney BL, defending, said Conway had a history of alcohol abuse, and was "in a state of alcoholic blackout" when this happened. Business Financial consultant 'puts hands up' over alleged... Read More Conway apologised via his barrister and did not address the court. However, his victim spoke up, saying, "I will never, ever, ever accept it". His 21 previous convictions included public order, criminal damage, burglary, theft and knife possession. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Women's Aid (24-hour freephone helpline at 1800-341 900, email helpline@ or Men's Aid Ireland (confidential helpline at 01-554 3811, email hello@ for support and information. Safe Ireland also offers a number of local services and helplines at In the case of an emergency, always dial 999/112.
