Baltimore weekly roundup: RealLIST Connectors; podcasts of note; new opportunities for federal workers

This week, Technical.ly announced the 20 latest ecosystem members deemed RealLIST Connectors. Also, check out a slew of local podcasts that embrace the role of storytelling for innovation scenes.

Scroll down for more news from throughout Baltimore.

📰 News Incubator: What to know

• Check out insights on higher education stats, shared concerns and more details from our RealLIST Connectors lists across Technical.ly’s ecosystems. [Technical.ly]

• LifeBridge Health finished a $61.6 million redo of Grace Medical Center after five years of work. [Baltimore Business Journal]

• Most US regions lack a strong institutional venture capital scene, but air travel (especially direct flights) helps connect entrepreneurs across ecosystems to cash. [Technical.ly]

• Local and state officials in Maryland are finding ways to get former feds connected to jobs, from the public sector to high-growth private industries like quantum, cyber and life sciences. Also, Maryland is continuing to join lawsuits against the Trump administration, including ones focused on mass layoffs at the federal level. [Baltimore Banner/Maryland Matters]

• Local company (and 2024 RealLIST Startup) Storytime AI is a semifinalist in the 2025 Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition, a contest for education entrepreneurs. [Storytime AI/Technical.ly].  

• Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott hosted a town hall on Tuesday for comments about the upcoming budget as the city faces an $85 million deficit. [WJZ]

• Remington residents are critiquing BGE’s plan to install an overhead transmission line because of how it could affect the city’s skyline. [WYPR]

• Attendees compared the Million Lives Book Festival to the Fyre Festival over poor planning and broken promises. [NBC]

• A food hall in West Baltimore is now open with seven local vendors. [Baltimore Beat]

🗓️ On the Calendar

• Partner event: Hacks/Hackers is hosting a summit May 7 to 8 for journalists and technologists to learn how AI can enhance news sharing. [Details here]

• For teens and young adults: Learn all about advanced manufacturing and explore career paths on May 10. [Details here]

• Celebrate the National Science Foundation’s 75th anniversary on May 10 at the Baltimore Museum of Industry. [Details here]

• Network with technologists and entrepreneurs on May 13 at the 200th Equitech Tuesday.  [Details here]

• Attend a debate about the AI race and chip controls between the US and China on May 14 at Johns Hopkins University. [Details here]

• Have brunch and listen to lightning talks with Baltimore Climate Tech Meetup on May 17.  [Details here]

• The annual National Economic Mobility and Opportunity Conference takes place May 21-23. [Details here]

• Watch demos from local technologists on May 24 at the next Baltimore Code and Coffee. [Details here]

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