Community

New Maryland Laws Taking Effect on January 1, 2026

New Maryland Laws Taking Effect on January 1, 2026

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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NAVAIR P-8A Poseidon Upgrade Hits Cloud-Connectivity Milestone With Minotaur “Labyrinth” Hub

NAVAIR P-8A Poseidon Upgrade Hits Cloud-Connectivity Milestone With Minotaur “Labyrinth” Hub

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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Two NAVAIR Employees Recognized at 70th Annual Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Ceremony

Two NAVAIR Employees Recognized at 70th Annual Distinguished Civilian Service Awards Ceremony

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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Four Charles County Senior Students To Represent CCPS in 2026 Maryland Student Page Program

Four Charles County Senior Students To Represent CCPS in 2026 Maryland Student Page Program

Four Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) seniors are representing the school system this year in the Maryland General Assembly’s Student Page Program. Students in the program, including the alternate, participate in the Maryland General Assembly’s legislative session. The following students were selected to participate in this year’s program. Paola Cercos Teverino, senior, North Point...
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Calvert Library Prince Frederick Presents “Art in the Stacks” Featuring Artist Sarita Pandey

Calvert Library Prince Frederick Presents “Art in the Stacks” Featuring Artist Sarita Pandey

Calvert Library Prince Frederick is pleased to announce the newest exhibition in its Art in the Stacks program, featuring the bold, rich paintings of North Beach–based artist Sarita Pandey. About two dozen works of Pandey’s are on view at the library from October 2025 through January 2026. Art in the Stacks transforms each Calvert...
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NAVAIR Releases V-22 Comprehensive Review Findings

NAVAIR Releases V-22 Comprehensive Review Findings

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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33 Students in Class 167 Graduate from U.S. Naval Test Pilot School

33 Students in Class 167 Graduate from U.S. Naval Test Pilot School

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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Dancing in a Winter Wonderland: 2026 Mother-Son Dance & Daddy-Daughter Dance Coming to Loffler Center

Dancing in a Winter Wonderland: 2026 Mother-Son Dance & Daddy-Daughter Dance Coming to Loffler Center

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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Charles County Sheriff’s Office Honors Retirees, Award Recipients, and Staff Commendations – Officers, Employees, and Community Member Honored for Service, Bravery, and Heroism

Charles County Sheriff’s Office Honors Retirees, Award Recipients, and Staff Commendations – Officers, Employees, and Community Member Honored for Service, Bravery, and Heroism

Charles County Sheriff Troy D. Berry and members of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office honored 23 retirees and 27 award recipients at its Annual Retirement and Awards Banquet held recently at the Greater Waldorf Jaycees. Honorees were recognized for their dedicated service, excellent fieldwork, and acts of bravery and heroism. NBC News 4 Anchor...
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Student Member of the Board Application Process Opening Soon for 2026-2027 School Year

Student Member of the Board Application Process Opening Soon for 2026-2027 School Year

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is seeking the next Student Member of the Board of Education of Charles County, also known as the SMOB. Current high school sophomores and juniors can apply for a term to serve during the 2026-2027 school year. Interested students must meet CCPS academic eligibility requirements. The position of Student...
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Southern Maryland Schools on Two Hour Delays for Monday, December 15th, 2025

Southern Maryland Schools on Two Hour Delays for Monday, December 15th, 2025

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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Noise Advisory – NAS Patuxent River Sets Noise Advisory for Dec. 16, 2025

Noise Advisory – NAS Patuxent River Sets Noise Advisory for Dec. 16, 2025

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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NAS Pax River SAR Dogs, Navy Corpsman Complete Rigorous Qualification Flight, Enhancing Combat Readiness

NAS Pax River SAR Dogs, Navy Corpsman Complete Rigorous Qualification Flight, Enhancing Combat Readiness

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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Fun Spring Events to Support Care and Community at Hospice of the Chesapeake

Fun Spring Events to Support Care and Community at Hospice of the Chesapeake

Hospice of the Chesapeake invites the community to celebrate spring with three unforgettable signature events designed to fuel its mission of providing compassionate hospice, supportive and grief care across the region. Mark your calendars for these April, May and June experiences that each offer their own blend of excitement, elegance and community impact: Bubbles...
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Bob Hall Beverage Company is Bringing the Budweiser Clydesdales to the Calvert County Christmas Parade & North Beach, Maryland on December 13 & 16

Bob Hall Beverage Company is Bringing the Budweiser Clydesdales to the Calvert County Christmas Parade & North Beach, Maryland on December 13 & 16

Bob Hall Beverage Company, a 92-year-old family-owned beer and beverage distributor serving Calvert, Charles and Prince George’s Counties, is proud to bring the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales to two local parades this coming week to celebrate the holidays with the communities they love and serve. “For more than 90 years, this community has supported us, and we...
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Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack Collecting Food and Toy Donations for Local Families

Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack Collecting Food and Toy Donations for Local Families

The Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack is collecting food, hygiene items, and toys this month to help support local families in need during the holiday season. The effort is being done in partnership with several community programs, including the Mary Lou Gough of Our Lady of the Wayside and Saint Cecilia Catholic Church Food...
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U.S. Navy UAS Surpass One Million Flight Hours in ISR Operations

U.S. Navy UAS Surpass One Million Flight Hours in ISR Operations

Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD.: The Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program office (PMA-263) recently announced that the Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Services UAS surpassed one million flight hours in support of operations on land and at sea. Sailors aboard achieved the one million flight hours...
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UPDATE: Santa is Flying Into Town Today – Updated Times and Additional Locations!

UPDATE: Santa is Flying Into Town Today – Updated Times and Additional Locations!

Southern Maryland residents young and old should look skyward today, Tuesday, Dec. 9, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET as Adm. Saint Nicholas takes to the air on his annual holiday readiness flight — now with an expanded route that includes additional regional schools. Locals can catch a glimpse of Nicholas — flying...
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P-8A Program Leverages Partnerships to Achieve Winning Operational Outcomes

P-8A Program Leverages Partnerships to Achieve Winning Operational Outcomes

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, MD.: The Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft Program (PMA-290) and the P-8A program team planned and executed several Aircraft on Ground (AOG) events in recent months.  The successful AOG events were completed outside of the continental U.S. (OCONUS) with cooperative partnerships between the U.S. Navy and the Royal...
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Governor Moore Commits $10 Million to Nonprofit and Faith-Based Organizations to Help Protect Against Hate Crimes

Governor Moore Commits $10 Million to Nonprofit and Faith-Based Organizations to Help Protect Against Hate Crimes

Governor Wes Moore announced that his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 will maintain $10 million in funding for the Protecting Against Hate Crimes Grant Program. The program, which saw its funding doubled in the governor’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget, provides vital support to nonprofit organizations and faith-based institutions for security enhancements to protect their...
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Governor Moore and Chesapeake Bay Program Executive Council Approve Revised Agreement to Protect Jobs, the Environment, and Coastal Communities

Governor Moore and Chesapeake Bay Program Executive Council Approve Revised Agreement to Protect Jobs, the Environment, and Coastal Communities

Governor Wes Moore on Dec. 2 led the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Executive Council in approving the revised Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement, which includes goals that will improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay, increase access to nature, and support livelihoods that depend on this nationally treasured resource. The revised agreement supports the environmental and...
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Historic Donation Creates New Fund for CSM Scholarships and Student Support

Historic Donation Creates New Fund for CSM Scholarships and Student Support

The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Foundation will expand scholarships and break down student financial barriers through the Lorraine Diana ’79 and Robert Guite Pathways to Possibility Fund, established with the largest donation in the college’s history. The fund will provide students with traditional scholarships, as well as financial support for other needs which...
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Free “Sounds of the Season” Holiday Concert to Benefit East-John Youth Center at Lusby Sneade’s Ace Hardware

Free “Sounds of the Season” Holiday Concert to Benefit East-John Youth Center at Lusby Sneade’s Ace Hardware

Eastern United Methodist Church and St. John United Methodist Church will host “Sounds of the Season,” a free outdoor holiday concert and fundraiser, on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event will take place at the storefront of Sneade’s Ace Hardware, located at 11861 H G Trueman Road in...
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ALDI Scheduled to Open New Lexington Park Store on December 11th – Giveaways, and Prizes

ALDI Scheduled to Open New Lexington Park Store on December 11th – Giveaways, and Prizes

ALDI is officially opening its newest Southern Maryland location next week, bringing its well-known low-price grocery model to 21853 Three Notch Road, Unit 101, in Lexington Park. The grand opening celebration is set for Thursday, December 11, 2025, and the company is inviting the community to join in a morning of giveaways, prizes, and...
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School and Weather Updates for This Weekend – December 5th, 2025

School and Weather Updates for This Weekend – December 5th, 2025

PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY: Schools will open 2 HOURS LATE on Friday, Dec. 5th, 2025. ST. MARY’S COUNTY: St. Mary’s County, Maryland is under a Winter Weather Advisory from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, December 5, 2025.  Snowfall totals for St. Mary’s County are expected between 1–4 inches with very low temperatures. Snowfall is...
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