Howard County Reporter

April Santana

April Santana covers Howard County with a focus on county council and local government. A New Jersey native, she previously worked at The Post and Courier in Columbia, South Carolina, covering Lexington County — the region next to the state's capital. Her work is also featured in Lohud.com, The Arizona Republic | La Voz and Syracuse.com. She studied journalism and political science at Syracuse University. In her spare time she enjoys crocheting, reading and attempting to bake sourdough. Email her at asantana@baltsun.com.

Authors Ashley Woodfolk, left, and Dhonielle Clayton respond to questions from Howard County Public School students during the Bauder Book Talk hosted by Howard County Library System on Nov. 6.( Karen Jackson/Freelance)

‘Stories worth being told’: Black teens’ voices celebrated at Howard Library event

November 12, 2025 at 8:00 a.m.

Over 120 students from middle and high schools across the county packed into the East Columbia Library on Nov. 6 to listen to authors Ashley Woodfolk and Dhonielle Clayton talk...

The new community food fridge at Whitelock Community Farm in Baltimore stocked with bagged meals and grocery items. (Gabriella Fine/Staff)

Community fridges have arrived in Howard County. Here’s where to find them.

November 11, 2025 at 5:35 p.m.

Pocket food pantries will be located at the Rachell L. Gray Community Foundation in Elkridge, the Long Reach Village Center in Columbia and Heritage Realty Services in Lisbon.

A veteran checks out one of the renderings during the unveiling of the design for The Howard County Veterans and Military Families Monument at Bailey Park on the Columbia Lakefront on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

Veterans in Howard County can find special events, services throughout November

November 10, 2025 at 2:26 p.m.

Legal clinics, discounted fitness memberships and other benefits await Howard County veterans and active-duty military.

Howard County Board of Appeals granted a Highland dad the right to keep the go-kart track he built for his son. (April Santana/Staff

3 members of influential Howard land-use board resign, citing political pressure, mistreatment

November 10, 2025 at 5:24 p.m.

Three members of the Howard County board that decides high-profile land-use and zoning cases have resigned, citing political pressures and mistreatment.

The Howard County Council meets in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)

$700,000 price tag for Howard County Council renovations called ‘silly’ by Jones

November 5, 2025 at 4:06 p.m.

Howard County Council is renovating the Banneker Room at the George Howard Building, that which will cost the county thousands of dollars.

Billie Eilish is caught mid jump in this performance photo, in which she is wearing a basketball jersey and loose shorts

Billie Eilish donates thousands of dollars to Howard County Conservancy

November 4, 2025 at 5:10 p.m.

Grammy- and Oscar-winning singer Billie Eilish has donated millions to organizations focused on addressing climate change.

Howard County Health Department distributed dozens of gunlock boxes and cables at a giveaway on Oct. 26. (Courtesy of Howard County Health Department)

Handgun lockbox giveaway in Howard aims to conquer leading cause of suicide

November 3, 2025 at 1:34 p.m.

The gun safety mechanisms are a way to address firearm violence and suicide. From 2019 to 2023, firearms were used in 36% of suicides in Howard County.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball announced on Oct. 21 a fundraiser to bring back one of Ellicott City's long-missing emblems. To promote the fundraiser, Ball made the announcement on Oct. 21, also known as "Back to the Future Day" referencing the 1985 film that features townspeople trying to save their own clock tower. Ball started the Oct. 21 news conference by stepping out of the driver's seat of a DeLorean, the vehicle used as a time machine in the film. The Ellicott City clock was destroyed twice during the historic floods of 2016 and 2018. The original clock on Railroad Plaza, in front of the Baltimore & Ohio Station Museum, was gifted to the county by the Kiwanis Club in 2001 to celebrate the sesquicentennial of Howard County. (Courtesy of Howard County government)

The return of Main Street’s missing symbol in Ellicott City will cost $30,000

November 3, 2025 at 9:42 a.m.

"The clock is so much more than just a clock. It's a symbol of who we are as a town, as a community."

Chris Siperko built a go-kart track on his 11 acre property that is located nearly 1,000 feet from the main road, for his son to practice on. It is at the center of controversy in the community as it was built without permits. Mink Hollow Road is seen upper-right. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff)

Howard County councilmember wants lawyer with newly ousted hearing-examiner’s firm to review zoning cases

November 5, 2025 at 3:10 p.m.

In May the Howard County Council forced out hearing examiner Katherine Taylor in a closed-door session. Now a new lawyer from Taylor's firm will be nominated to review county zoning...

Eight Howard County Police Department K9s received bullet and stab protective vests, donated by nonprofit Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. (Courtesy of Howard County Police Department)

8 police dogs in Howard County get new bullet- and stab-proof vests

October 29, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

"It's important for the dogs to have body armor because they're in harm's way. Oftentimes they're the first ones sent into a dangerous situation."