About The Author: Bryan Russo

Bryan Russo returned to The Dispatch in 2015 to serve as News Editor after working as a staff writer from 2007-2010 covering the Ocean City news beat. In between, Russo worked as the Coastal Reporter for NPR-member station WAMU 88.5FM in Washington DC and WRAU 88.3 FM on the Delmarva Peninsula. He was the host of a weekly multi-award winning public affairs show “Coastal Connection.” During his five years in public radio, Russo’s work won 19 Associated Press Awards and 2 Edward R. Murrow Awards and was heard on various national programs like NPR’s All Things Considered, Morning Edition, APM’s Marketplace and the BBC. Russo also worked for the Associated Press (Philadelphia Bureau) covering the NHL and the NBA and is a critically acclaimed singer/songwriter and composer.

Curing Our Coast: Community Rallies Together To Talk Drug Addiction; New Group Pledges To Remain Active With Sharp Focus

Curing Our Coast: Community Rallies Together To Talk Drug Addiction; New Group Pledges To Remain Active With Sharp Focus

BERLIN — A community coming to grips with the harsh realities of heroin and opiate addiction came together in a big way on Tuesday night and became local warriors fighting side by side against America’s greatest epidemic.“I don’t want to hear about one more child dying from heroin abuse,” said Jackie Ball, one of the… Read more »

Q&A With Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford, Chair Of State’s Task Force On Heroin, Opioid Abuse

Q&A With Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford, Chair Of State’s Task Force On Heroin, Opioid Abuse

BERLIN — In February of 2015, just months after being elected to office, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued an executive order to create the Heroin and Opioid Emergency Task Force. That task force was chaired by Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford, and after months of research and deliberation with health officials, law enforcement and experts across… Read more »

Q&A With Worcester State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby: ‘We Cannot Prosecute And Arrest Our Way Out Of This Issue’

(Editor’s Note: As part of our ongoing series on opioid abuse, “Curing Our Coast,” News Editor Bryan Russo discussed with Worcester County State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby the prosecution side of the situation.)Bryan RussoNews EditorSNOW HILL — It’s Worcester County State’s Attorney Beau Oglesby’s job to put bad guys in jail. He’s good at it, and… Read more »

Legislators Seek New Strategy On Post-Labor Day Start Goal

OCEAN CITY– The 436th legislative session may be over in Annapolis, but if Wednesday’s Ocean City Economic Development Committee Meeting is any indication, planning for next year’s session is well underway on the local level.Ocean City business owners and community leaders listened intently on Wednesday morning at the Carousel Oceanfront Hotel as Senator Jim Mathias… Read more »

Q&A With Assateague Coastkeeper Kathy Phillips, Large-Scale Poultry Operations ‘Raising A Lot Of Concerns’ On Shore

Q&A With Assateague Coastkeeper Kathy Phillips, Large-Scale Poultry Operations ‘Raising A Lot Of Concerns’ On Shore

BERLIN — Kathy Phillips has been on the front lines of the ongoing debate between the region’s environmentalist and agriculture advocates for years as the Assateague Coastkeeper and as the head of the Assateague Coastal Trust.Phillips says finding the balance between preserving and protecting the region’s natural resources and not over-regulating one of the shore’s… Read more »