Looking back on the Baltimore region’s headlines in 2024, the election year was shaped by breaking news, as the world awoke on March 26 to see the Francis Scott Key Bridge had plummeted into the Patapsco River after a cargo ship hit into a support column, killing six construction workers making road repairs.

While continuing to shed light on the impacts of the bridge collapse, The Baltimore Sun covered former State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s legal saga, the presidential and vice presidential debates, the arrest of former Gilman School valedictorian Luigi Mangione in connection with the killing of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson and other stories that struck the area.

Here are the 25 top-viewed Baltimore Sun staff articles and commentaries of 2024.

6 workers presumed dead; Baltimore’s Key Bridge collapses

Close to 1:30 a.m. on a cold March day, the Baltimore skyline was forever changed as the Dali ship collided with a major support column of the Key Bridge after issuing a “mayday” and losing power, sending the structure into the water. Families, friends and the region mourned the victims as agencies began investigations.

Former Ravens Jacoby Jones dies at age 40

Jacoby Jones didn’t play for the Ravens long, but he made a lasting impact on the team. The wide receiver was an All-Pro kick returner for the Ravens from 2012 to 2014. His talents were on full display at Super Bowl 47, where he had a 56-yard catch and a Super Bowl-record 108-yard kickoff return for a score, helping the team lock down the win. He was also on the receiving end of the “Mile High Miracle,” a long touchdown pass helping the Ravens earn a comeback playoff win in Denver aiding the team’s road to the Super Bowl. But on July 14, the team announced that Jones had died at the age of 40. A coroner later ruled he died of heart disease.

11 ships are trapped behind the Key Bridge

With mangled steel pieces blocking the channel into the Port of Baltimore after the Key Bridge collapse, 11 cargo ships were trapped. Of those, four were part of the U.S. Maritime Administration’s Ready Reserve Force and meant to be able to sail at any moment to provide support for the deployment of military forces overseas. The blockage of the four vessels raised concerns from some experts as others said the collapse should be a “wakeup call” for the investment needed in maritime infrastructure.

Key Bridge collapse will have lasting impact — including on state finances

Baltimore Sun editorial writers offered their analysis regarding the economic impact of the closed shipping channel to the Port of Baltimore in the wake of the bridge collapse. Clearing the debris, reopening the channel and working on plans to rebuild the bridge came at a time when state lawmakers were at a standstill in approving the $63 billion state budget. The editorial board argued that although the delay didn’t solve any of the looming fiscal issues, future problems could be better handled.

View the path of the cargo ship Dali

The 984-foot ship the Dali, sailing under the Singaporean flag, began moving at 12:51 a.m. March 26. The ship traveled out of the Port of Baltimore and then collided with the Key Bridge at about 1:29 a.m. The approximately 40-minute journey was mapped.

After parents’ viral reaction, Ravens coach John Harbaugh will attend national title game

It wasn’t the football coaching family’s first time in the spotlight when a video went viral on the social media platform X documenting Jackie and Jack Harbaugh’s expressive reactions to the Michigan Wolverines, coached at the time by their son Jim Harbaugh, clinching a spot in the college football championship. The reactions came as no surprise to Ravens coach John Harbaugh, who decided to attend the championship game to watch his brother, as the Ravens had a less intense week.

Yacht near Edgewater overturns

A 104-foot yacht named “Lovebug” overturned near the mouth of the Rhode River around Edgewater in July. Five passengers were safely removed from the scene after receiving help from a good Samaritan with a towboat passing the area.

Marilyn Mosby sentenced to a year of home detention for perjury, mortgage fraud

U.S. District Judge Lydia Kay Griggsby thought about former Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s children the most when deciding to sentence Mosby to one year of home detention for perjury and mortgage fraud. Rather than go to prison as sentencing guidelines called for, Mosby was given three years of supervised release and 100 hours of community service while on probation. The sentence came after a four-hour hearing, during which Griggsby also ordered Mosby to forfeit her Florida condo.

Mayor Brandon Scott, Hana Pugh married in ceremony that surprised guests

At a garden in Northeast Baltimore, Mayor Brandon Scott married Hana Pugh during a small ceremony overseen by Baltimore Circuit Court Judge Lynn Stewart Mays. The two met at a downtown music festival in 2022 and were engaged on Christmas Day in 2023, with their son, Charm, born the day after.

Foreclosure auction of Kevin Spacey’s Baltimore home postponed as actor says he is millions in debt

Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey appeared on an episode of “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” the British TV personality’s YouTube talk show, and discussed financial troubles preventing him from being able to pay his bills. Spacey shared that he was at risk of losing his Baltimore waterfront residence, which was in the process of foreclosure. The foreclosure auction was postponed to late July.

Joppatowne High School shooting: Student dies at hospital, suspect in custody

A 15-year-old Joppatowne High School Student, Warren Curtis Grant, died after being shot in the chest during an altercation in the first-floor bathroom of the school. Harford County law enforcement arrested a 16-year-old suspect in connection with the shooting.

Federal judge denies Marilyn Mosby’s request for nightly curfew

Mosby asked Griggsby to amend her home detention sentence, which experts said is a common request, allowing her to travel throughout the state starting at 6 a.m. with a nightly curfew of 9 p.m. The request was due to Mosby’s new job with a California-based company that acquires and runs mental health, substance abuse and transitional housing facilities. However, the request was denied because Mosby had not provided probation authorities with sufficient information about her job.

Towson-area mass shooting: 10 people wounded, one killed

The one killed and nine others injured in a mass shooting and crash in Parkville’s Ridgeleigh community were all traveling in one minivan when gunfire erupted, causing the vehicle to crash into a funeral home and catch fire. Charles Graham Jr., 26, of Baltimore, was killed in what police believe was a targeted attack while the others injured ranged between 14 and 27 years old. Of the nine injured, eight suffered from gunshot wounds.

Dali, the ship that knocked down Key Bridge, to sail to China

After being moved from the Patapsco River to the Port of Baltimore and then from Baltimore to Norfolk, Virginia, to undergo repairs, the Dali was set to depart for China in September, about six months after it toppled the Key Bridge. There also was a Sept. 24 deadline to file claims in federal court against the Dali’s owner and manager Grace Ocean and Synergy Marine. However, several maritime companies and firms pushed to extend the deadline to Jan. 24 to allow them more time to review the cargo’s damage while Grace tried to limit its liability.

New Maryland laws that took effect Jan. 1, 2024

New laws took effect on Jan.1, 2024, kicking off the year with changes to minimum wage, insurance and plastic bag restrictions. The minimum wage for most employers was raised to $15 a year early, while new restrictions for phone solicitors calling Maryland residents worked to wrangle telemarketers. The Trans Health Equity Act required the state’s Medicaid program to expand coverage for gender-affirming care, and the list of plastic bag bans grew to include the city of Frederick and Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties.

Engineers say a cable-stayed bridge could be in Baltimore’s future

There are 36 cable-stayed bridges in the United States, and Baltimore could see the next one constructed. Engineers said a cable-stayed bridge, which is the most common in areas where cars pass over a span above wide, heavily navigated waterways, could be built in replacement of the Key Bridge. This style of bridge has advantages that could help as ships get larger and heavier.

Tornadoes sweep through region

Tornadoes aren’t usually associated with Maryland, but in June, five tore through the region injuring five and bringing flooding and damage. The tornadoes hit Arbutus, Columbia, Poolesville, Sykesville-Eldersburg and Montgomery County, where the five were injured. At least six other areas also could’ve seen tornadoes during the June storms.

Seize the Grey, at 9-1 odds, wins Preakness Stakes

Seize the Grey won the 2024 Preakness Stakes, beating out Kentucky Derby winner and Triple Crown hopeful Mystik Dan. Seize the Gray is uniquely owned by MyRacehorse, which allows people of all financial statuses to own a piece of the horse. The Preakness win was a good day for the 2,500 people who had a stake in the horse.

Key Bridge collapse updates on information, resources

One of the final entries in the Baltimore Sun’s blog of Key Bridge coverage outlined the April launch of a state website with information for people grappling with the impacts of the collapse, featuring resources for those facing financial struggles and traffic updates. Links to salvage operations from Unified Command, traffic updates and the state’s 511 Traveler Information Service also were announced.

Commuters directed away from Key Bridge

With the southeast corridor of Interstate 695 shut down due to the bridge collapse, commuters were advised to take alternate routes I-95 and I-895 and plan more travel time for congestion. Experts said the impact on traffic would have a ripple effect as congestion would build with drivers using different routes.

Several dozen ships lost propulsion in Maryland waters before Key Bridge collapse

A Baltimore Sun analysis of Coast Guard reports found that cargo vessels underwent a total loss or reduction of power, propulsion, or steering at least 42 times from the beginning of 2021 to April 18, 2024, while sailing in Maryland. The incidents are rare, but the Dali’s complete loss of power and propulsion proved to be catastrophic as it crashed into the Key Bridge and sent it instantly tumbling into the water.

Howard County man spent thousands building a go-kart track for son

A Howard County father spent around $100,000 to build his son, who dreams of becoming a professional racecar driver, an asphalt go-kart track to train at home. But without obtaining the proper county and state permits to construct the track, along with the noise of the go-kart, neighbors raised concerns. The property owner is working to correct the permit mistakes to make everything right.

Baltimore Key Bridge collapses into Patapsco River | PHOTOS

Twists and turns of steel debris and dented shipping containers are seen in gut-wrenching photos documenting the Key Bridge collapse as the nation watched in disbelief.

Who won the debate? Biden vs. Trump

As President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump faced off in a 90-minute debate with high stakes to persuade voters who were largely unhappy with either candidate, the debate was considered a tie in a staff commentary.

Who won the debate? Harris vs. Trump

As the Democratic nominee for president after Biden had stepped down, Vice President Kamala Harris faced Trump in a debate she won, according to this staff commentary. Yet it was still unclear if the win was enough for her to secure the election, which she then lost to Trump in November.

Have a news tip? Contact Kiersten Hacker at khacker@baltsun.com or @KierstenHacker on X.