A package of new state laws will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, bringing changes to tax-sale rules, rideshare driver reporting, and a wide slate of health insurance requirements — including new protections tied to pediatric care, anesthesia coverage, cancer screenings for firefighters, and limits on “fail-first” medication rules. Below are some of the...
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In a historic development, the U.S. Senate has passed the IAFF-endorsed Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), advancing a long-fought effort by the IAFF to secure federal recognition of occupational cancer as a line-of-duty death. The bill, which has strong bipartisan support in both chambers, now goes to President Donald Trump, who will sign it into law tomorrow....
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Devin Nichles Gear, 20, of Lusby, has been charged with multiple misdemeanor offenses in St. Mary’s County in connection with the alleged illegal transportation and sale of firearms, according to court documents. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on June 20, 2025. Gear is accused of transporting a firearm without a serial...
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Trinik Shatega King, 31, of Lexington Park, was arrested and charged with second-degree assault after an altercation inside the St. Mary’s County District Court building in Leonardtown, on December 16, 2025. According to charging documents, the incident occurred around 2:50 p.m. in the female restroom of the courthouse. An adult female victim reported being...
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Mary Ellen Caywood “Peggy” Lee, 91 of Mechanicsville, MD died December 6, 2025, in Lexington Park, MD with her loved ones by her side. Born November 6, 1934 in Columbia Hospital for Women in Washington DC, she was the daughter of the late Grace Raley Caywood and Alexander Caywood. She was preceded in death...
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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources asks those visiting the Chesapeake Bay or Atlantic coast to be vigilant of sea turtles who exhibit signs of cold-stunning, a condition that causes animals to become debilitated and experience hypothermia-like symptoms due to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. Cold-stunning typically occurs in late autumn and early winter...
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The Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft program office (PMA-290) achieved an airborne connectivity landmark when the P-8A Poseidon Increment 3 Block 2 (I3B2) aircraft successfully connected to the Minotaur Family of Systems (MFoS) Labyrinth hub. This pivotal connection occurred during a combined development test / operational test event this December at Naval Air Systems...
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Anthony Blankenship, deputy director, F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office, and Gregory Imhof, director of test technologies, Naval Test Wing Atlantic, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, were recognized at the 70th annual Distinguished Civilian Service Awards ceremony at the Pentagon December 3. This is the Department of War’s (DoW) highest award given to...
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Clifton Jermaine Cole, 20, of Prince Frederick, has been charged with possession of a firearm by a minor following the execution of a search warrant at his residence earlier this month, according to court documents filed in the District Court for Calvert County. The charge stems from a joint investigation involving the Calvert County...
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Michael Hemi Fischer, 28, of Hughesville, is facing multiple charges after being linked to two separate theft-related incidents in Southern Maryland, according to court documents filed in Charles and St. Mary’s counties. In the most recent case, Fischer has been charged with second-degree burglary and theft in connection with a break-in at a beauty...
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UPDATE 12/17/2025: The family has sadly announced the passing of Darius Jackson-Jordan, age 26 of Drayden. Funeral arrangements and additional information will be provided in the coming days. The motor vehicle collision remains under investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash or events leading up to it and has not already provided a statement is...
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Ryan Michael Page, 40, of Leonardtown, was arrested on December 12, 2025, and charged with two drug-related misdemeanors following a traffic stop conducted by the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. According to court documents, Deputy Devin Absher observed a silver 2003 Chevrolet Silverado fail to stop completely at the intersection of Old Great Mills...
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Jasmen Eliana Reyes, 19, of Lexington Park, has been charged in a new case involving multiple misdemeanors after a confrontation with law enforcement on December 10, 2025, at her residence on Chapman Drive. The charges follow an earlier incident from April 2025 in which Reyes was also charged with second-degree assault in a separate...
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NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PAXUTENT RIVER, MD.: Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) released the findings of a comprehensive review Dec. 12, 2025, on the V-22 Osprey aircraft flown by the Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy. The review reaffirmed the airworthiness of the V-22 platform under established controls allowing the continued safe operations of...
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For three Southern Maryland baseball leaders, a recent trip to the Ripken Futures Games in Florida offered a unique opportunity to serve the sport from a different perspective. James Jones (President, St. Mary’s Little League), Mikey Farrell (President, Chesapeake Ghost), and RJ Bean (President, Southern Maryland Bob Richardson League) traveled to Panama City Beach...
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UPDATE 12/15/2025: State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that William Francis Dixon, 52, of Mechanicsville, Maryland was convicted of attempted kidnapping, armed robbery, and other charges stemming from a March 2025 incident where he attacked a female victim with a knife in Mechanicsville, Maryland. After a five-day trial, a St. Mary’s County jury found Dixon...
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NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION, PATUXENT RIVER, MD.: The U.S. Naval Test Pilot School (USNTPS) graduated its Class 167 during a ceremony near Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland on December 12th, 2025. “As graduates of USNTPS, you are now part of an elite group of professionals who play a vital role in...
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UPDATE 12/16/2025: State’s Attorney Jaymi Sterling announced today that Lee L. Richardson, 24, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, was sentenced to LIFE in prison for the first-degree murder of a 19-year-old victim. In January 2025, the victim’s family reported their loved one missing. The family communicated daily with the young man until January 21, 2025, when...
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St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Recreation & Parks (R&P) is pleased to announce the opening of registration for the 2026 Mother–Son Dance and Daddy–Daughter Dance on CivicPlus, the new online registration platform for county recreation programs. Registration starts Thursday, December 18, 2025. The Mother–Son Dance will be held Saturday, January 24, 2026, from 6–8 p.m. and the Daddy–Daughter Dance will be on Saturday, February 7, 2026,...
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It is with deep regret and profound sadness that the members of the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department announce the passing of Past President and life member George R. Thompson. George began his fire service career as a Probationary Active Member of the Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department on April 9, 1964, after serving seven years...
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St. Mary’s County Government’s Department of Recreation & Parks (R&P) is excited to announce the opening of winter program registration on Thursday, December 18, 2025. Registration will be available through the department’s new online registration platform, CivicPlus. In preparation for the official transition to the new system, R&P recreation facilities will be closed to the public on Monday, December 15,...
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ST. MARY’S COUNTY: 2-Hour Delayed Opening – Code 5 for Staff – December 15, 2025 All SMCPS Schools will have a delayed opening of two hours Monday, December 15, 2025. Ten and eleven-month employees report to work two hours late. Twelve-month employees and food service workers are to report to work on time. Liberal leave...
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On Friday, December 12, 2025, at approximately 6:45 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Great Mills Road and Suburban Drive in Lexington Park, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian. Crews arrived on the scene to find a Chevrolet HHR struck a 36-year-old male who was...
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Communities surrounding the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Outlying Field Webster, and the Northern Neck of Virgina are advised that a noise-generating night-time test event is scheduled to take place December 16, 2025 from 5:30 p.m. through 7:30 p.m. Night testing and training is essential for the precision and safety of our military aviators...
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Story by Maria Scott, PATUXENT RIVER, MD.: Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Arsides Garay, assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command (NMRTC) Patuxent River, has completed the rigorous L00A Joint Qualification Requirement (JQR), culminating in a successful final qualification flight. The achievement provides Navy Medicine with another highly skilled corpsman ready to deliver advanced life...
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