U.S. Sen. Cardin won't seek reelection; Walther Gardens sets grand opening

Good morning Baltimore!

It's going to be cool and breezy today with temperatures in the upper 50s and a good chance of a rain shower.

Now, onto the news of the day.

Why you should book your summer flights ASAP

Airlines are increasing the number of flights and some have added larger planes to their fleets, but Helane Becker, a senior airline analyst for TD Cowen, says that won't be enough to meet demand. The demand, combined with Federal Aviation Administration staffing challenges and delivery setbacks from Boeing , will likely mean ticket prices will remain high in the coming months . The increase in travel is especially noticeable in the Pacific Northwest, where leisure demand and international service remain high. Airlines are also planning for traffic to New York, D.C. and Boston, as well as popular routes like Denver, Phoenix and Las Vegas.

U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin won't run for reelection

U.S. Sen Ben Cardin yesterday announced that he will not seek reelection as he approaches 58 years in elected office. Cardin, 79, said his age is a factor in the decision. He was first elected to public office in 1966 in the Maryland House of Delegates where he later became the youngest-ever speaker of the House. He moved to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1986 and won election to the U.S. Senate in 2006. By selecting not to run, he opens up a major seat and we're likely to see a rush of politicians looking to fill the position.

Washington Commanders sale is moving forward

National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell said last week that "progress is being made" on finalizing the sale of the Washington Commanders and that he expects some sort of official announcement in the next several weeks. It’s been more than two weeks since owners Dan and Tanya Snyder reached an agreement in principle to sell the team for a record $6 billion to a group led by Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris.

5 things to know about JPMorgan Chase's deal for First Republic

News broke early yesterday that 摩根大通 will purchase most of the assets of First Republic after regulators seized the troubled institution — the country's second-largest bank failure. So what happens now? First Republic's 84 branches reopened yesterday and will continue operating normally until Chase can integrate the two systems. Here's a few other takeaways related to the deal from our sister paper the San Francisco Business Times .

Edgewater restaurant accused of fraud in multimillion-dollar suit

Investors in an Edgewater restaurant have sued its founder and former managing member for more than $3.3 million , the Baltimore Sun reports. The lawsuit against Harvey Blonder of Yellowfin Steak and Fish House accuses him of manipulating profits toward his other ventures and away from his partners. A jury trial began yesterday in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court.

Walther Gardens sets grand opening date

A beloved Northeast Baltimore nursery will officially open May 13 with a new name: The Margaret Cleveland, Walther Gardens & Nursery. The business changed hands earlier this year after local business owners Chris Heller and Ryan Sirois Heller, who also own The Margaret Cleveland gift shop in Midtown, purchased the Lauraville garden center. An Instagram post announcing the grand opening notes that in addition to the garden items, plants and "goodies" for sale, the popular snowball stand will also reopen as The Peggy. The stand is one of the oldest in the country.

U.S. could default on debt as soon as June 1

The U.S. is facing the reality that it could default on its obligations as soon as June 1 , setting up a standoff between Biden and House Republicans over raising the national debt ceiling this summer or risk an economic and financial meltdown. The two parties have been going back and forth for weeks, with House Republicans calling for spending cuts and undoing some of Biden's agenda in exchange for votes to raise the debt ceiling.

The Met Gala was last night and of course, everyone looked incredible

The 2023 Met Gala took place in Manhattan last night, featuring designs from or inspired by legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld, who died in 2019. The Washington Post has a photo gallery of all of the top looks of the night . Be sure to scroll down to Jared Leto — the actor arrived in a full mascot-style costume of Lagerfeld's legendary cat, Choupette. In fact, there were a lot of cat-related designs. The night wasn't without controversy though . Many on social media discussed Lagerfeld's controversial comments and beliefs, including some who described the former fashion designer as being "fatphobic."

This newsletter was written by Carley Milligan, Digital Editor at the Baltimore Business Journal. I can be reached at [email protected].?