A record-breaking 100-plus women were sworn into Congress in January as the Democrats regained the majority in the House of Representatives. They included the first Muslim women, the first Native-American women, and the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. None, of course, would prove more significant than Nancy Pelosi, the now-79-year-old mother of five, grandmother of nine, and daughter of former three-term Mayor Thomas D’Alesandro Jr. from Baltimore’s Little Italy. The first female Speaker of the House in U.S. history when she first took the gavel in 2007, Pelosi is also the first speaker in six decades to regain the position. This year, she has been front and center in the impeachment of President Donald Trump. The 2020 elections—and history—will judge whether bringing articles of impeachment against Trump was a wise decision politically, but there is no doubt Pelosi will be remembered as a fiercely strong and decisive speaker, as well as a vexing figure for a president who is used to getting his way. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster

When Michael Harrison was sworn in as the Baltimore Police Department's 41st Commissioner on March 12, he became the city’s fifth commissioner since the death of Freddie Gray in 2015 and the subsequent—and ongoing—spike in homicides. Before coming to Baltimore, Harrison served the New Orleans Police Department for nearly 28 years. How soon the beleaguered Baltimore Police Department can regain the trust of the citizenry—broken once again with the corruption revelations involving the department’s Gun Trace Task Force—remains to be seen, but Harrison came with reform experience from New Orleans. Regaining local trust is as crucial as any crime-fighting strategy Harrison may develop if the city is ever going to bend the curve on murder, which has claimed the lives of more than 300 of our fellow Baltimoreans this year. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

From a culinary perspective, 2019 was the year that Maryland made it on the map. Station North’s Le Comptoir du Vin earned a spot on two lauded lists. It came in at No. 8 on Bon Appetit’s Hot 10 List of the most happening restaurants in the U.S., and No. 18 on Esquire’s list of Best New Restaurants in America. Esquire also gave a shout-out to Chelsea Gregoire as Beverage Director of the Year, and Bon Appetit named Fadensonnen, Larder, and Sophomore Coffee—all part of the Socle complex—best new restaurant finalists. As if that’s not enough to make us proud, Charleston chef Cindy Wolf was a finalist for the James Beard Award for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic for the eighth time, while Clavel’s bar program was a semi-finalist in the Outstanding Bar category. Baltimore rates—now the country knows what we’ve always known. Photography by Kate Grewal

The Healthy Holly book scandal—which first drove former Mayor Catherine Pugh to resign from office and then to plead guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion charges—unfolded across the entire year. It began during the last General Assembly, when reporting by The Sun’s Luke Broadwater broke the story of University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) board members (which included Pugh) and their personal financial interests tied to UMMS contracts. After initially defending hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales to UMMS for her poorly written, self-published children’s books—and then disappearing from public view for weeks—Pugh joined Sheila Dixon and became the second Baltimore mayor forced from office because of criminal conduct in recent years. It’s not over yet, however. Pugh’s sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 27. Meanwhile, Dixon has been weighing another run for mayor. AP Photo/Steve Ruark

Last May, longtime WJZ anchor Mary Bubala was fired from the network after asking a question perceived to carry racial overtones and gender bias regarding Baltimore’s mayors. “We’ve had three female, African-American mayors in a row,” Bubala said on air to a Loyola University Maryland professor. “They were all passionate public servants. Two resigned, though. Is this a signal that a different kind of leadership is needed to move Baltimore City forward?” Within days, the longtime anchor was fired and Bubala was apologizing on Twitter. “I wanted to do an on-air apology but was not allowed,” she tweeted. “I hope that the people of Baltimore know that I would never do anything to hurt anyone.” By late September, Bubala was given a second chance when WBFF Fox 45 hired her as a reporter. Then, in mid-November, when anchor Jennifer Gilbert announced her retirement, Bubala was bumped up to the role of evening news co-anchor with Kai Jackson, with whom she once co-anchored at WJZ. Mary Bubala via Facebook

The Baltimore skyline got a bright red addition this year, thanks to the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Maryland. The 26-foot-tall red heart marks the RMHC’s new Jonestown location, which provides a home away from home to families with seriously ill or injured children by accommodating 2,200 families annually. The 60,000-square-foot facility incorporates some of the creature comforts from the previous house on West Lexington Street, such as gift cubbies for the children and volunteer-made meals, while also providing loved ones with brand-new amenities such as a business center, classroom, and a meditation room. Photography by Matt Roth

In July, the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue from Penn North to Upton, which has long been a center of culture and creativity, was officially designated as the Pennsylvania Avenue Black Arts and Entertainment District. The new status will allow for tax breaks for artists and art spaces, and advocates for the neighborhood hope it will allow Pennsylvania Avenue development to thrive—following in the footsteps of successful efforts in neighborhoods such as Station North. The good news for area artists also goes beyond city limits. In November, it was announced that, starting in July 2020, Catonsville will be home to the first arts and entertainment district in Baltimore County. Photography by Mike Morgan

It’s almost inconceivable right now, but less than a year ago, fans were clamoring for coach John Harbaugh to take Lamar Jackson out in favor of Joe Flacco. The Ravens were playing the Chargers in the AFC Wild Card game, and Lamar was, admittedly, not having a good night. Passes were flailing, the defense was getting to him, and he looked a bit lost out there. Even though he came on stronger in the second half, the Ravens still lost the game. Fans were not happy. Oh, what a difference a year makes. Flacco is out, traded to Denver. And Lamar Jackson is the leading candidate for MVP and the most celebrated and beloved athlete in these parts since a fellow named Cal Ripken Jr. His quickness, escapability, and field vision were already in full view during last year’s rookie campaign. But he worked hard on his passing in the off season and now throws as accurate a ball (and as tight a spiral) as anyone in the league. And he’s a nightmare for opposing defenses. Cover the pass? He’ll beat with you his legs. Try to stop the run? He’ll throw the ball downfield. He’s also a natural-born leader, beloved by teammates and coaches alike. It’s almost unfair—and it’s why the Ravens are (gulp) a serious contender to go to the Super Bowl. It’s Lamar Jackson’s town. We’re just living in it. Shawn Hubbard / Baltimore Ravens

This summer, the Piano Man rocked Camden Yards during the first standalone concert in the ballpark’s 27-year history. The rock 'n’ roll legend gave an unforgettable two-and-a-half-hour performance to the nearly 40,000 fans that packed the stands to dance along with classic hits such as “Uptown Girl”and “She’s Always a Woman.” Plus, the 70-year-old brought some much-needed excitement to the Orioles park after a record-breaking low season for the Baltimore Orioles. Shutterstock

We’re used to Trump insulting people on his Twitter feed. But on July 27, it hit close to home. In a feud with Congressman Cummings, he wrote: “Cumming [sic] District is a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess.” He went on to call Baltimore a “very dangerous and filthy place.” Many Baltimoreans did not take this lightly. The Baltimore Sun wrote an editorial in response that concluded with the line: “Better to have some vermin living in your neighborhood than to be one.” Mayor Young called Trump a “disappointment to the people of Baltimore, our country, and to the world.” And, on September 12, when Trump came to Baltimore for a Republican retreat at the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Harbor East, those who took issue with the comments were able to express their anger in person. He was greeted with sign-wielding protestors, chants, a giant inflated rat, and lusty boos from the majority of the gathered crowd, though supporters did show up to President Street as well. Photography by Lorann Cocca

After a cancelled summer season, subsequent lockout, and many months of tumultuous infighting between the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra musicians and management, the BSO reached a new agreement in late September that would open the ensemble’s 104th season on time and extend their contract another year. It also guaranteed increased salaries and continued benefits for members of the ensemble, the return of summer shows, and the creation of a vision committee. But as one door opens, maestra Marin Alsop has recently expressed her own frustrations at the orchestra’s operations, according to the Sun, and hinted at the end of her tenure as conductor of the BSO. Photography by David Colwell