Charles County Government is warning residents and businesses about a scam involving fraudulent emails falsely claiming to be from the Department of Planning and Growth Management. According to county officials, the emails instruct recipients to submit payments through wire transfer for supposed fees or outstanding invoices. Officials emphasized that Charles County Government never requests...
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The State of Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board recently ruled in favor of the Board of Education of Charles County in regard to a complaint filed by a staff member from Southern Maryland News. The complaint, filed in November 2025, alleged the Board of Education violated the Open Meetings Act when it met on Sept. 23, 2025, to discuss Board member vacancy candidates. To fill...
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Governor Wes Moore today announced a historic $10.2 billion investment in Maryland’s K-12 education as part of his Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal. The announcement, made at Frederick High School, reinforces the Moore-Miller Administration’s commitment to building a world-class education system that eliminates achievement gaps and prepares every student for the jobs of the...
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Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is seeking parent volunteers to provide feedback on an upcoming family climate survey. Volunteers can join an upcoming virtual focus group to learn more about the survey and provide feedback. Feedback provided will help shape Goal 4 of the CCPS Strategic Plan, which focuses on family and community engagement....
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New employment estimates for October and November 2025 released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that federal employment in Maryland fell by an estimated 10,300 in October and November 2025 (combined) according to the bureau. The employment losses are the first monthly job numbers to reflect “fork in the road” deferred resignations...
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Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman joined Governor Wes Moore and Treasurer Dereck Davis for a meeting of the Board of Public Works. Governor Moore opened the meeting by discussing the jobs report released today by the Maryland Department of Labor. The report reveals the state had lost 24,900 federal jobs between January and November 2025,...
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UPDATE 1/8/2026: On January 6th, 2026, at 4:37 p.m., over 40 firefighters responded to 319 Forest Edge Avenue in La Plata, for the reported structure fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a single story single family home with fire showing from the attached garage. Firefighters quickly extinguished the fire, completed searches and checked...
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The Maryland Department of Natural Resources will open the winter firearm deer hunting season on Jan. 9, 2026 in Deer Management Region B, which includes all of the state except the westernmost counties. Hunters with a valid hunting license, or those exempt from the license requirement, may use firearms to harvest sika and white-tailed deer during this...
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The Town of Indian Head and Voice of Indian Head (VOIH) project have announced the launch of the First Annual Community Champion of the Year Award, a new civic recognition designed to honor individuals whose service, compassion, and integrity strengthen the heart of the community in and around Indian Head, MD. The award celebrates those...
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Maryland’s six casinos combined to generate $159,778,289 in revenue from slot machines and table games during December 2025. The statewide total was a decrease of $4,326,961, or 2.6%, compared to December 2024. Casino gaming contributions to the state during December 2025 totaled $67,897,383, a decrease of $1,940,566, or 2.8%, compared to December 2024. The...
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UPDATE 1/6/2026: A structure fire on Rufus Madeline Place in Marbury, Charles County, resulted in a total loss of a single-family home on January 5, 2026, according to the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The fire caused an estimated $125,000 in damage to the structure and $50,000 in lost contents. The blaze, discovered...
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The Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission), a division of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland (TCCSMD), is again offering grant funds to the community to support the purchase of farm equipment for the benefit of farmers in the Southern Maryland Region. SMADC invites agricultural entities (like County Farm Bureaus and Soil Conservation Districts) who...
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A suspect is in custody in Virginia in connection with a fatal shooting early Saturday morning outside of a banquet hall in Temple Hills. The suspect is 39-year-old Antonio Lancaster of the Landover area. He faces multiple charges, to include murder, for fatally shooting 27-year-old Ronez Proctor of Waldorf. Two other adult males were...
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January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, a time dedicated to recognizing the elevated cancer risks faced by firefighters and the long-term health consequences of the job. Fire fighter occupational cancer is the leading cause of line-of-duty death in the fire service. In 2025, nearly 80%* of IAFF member line-of-duty deaths were due to occupational...
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On Monday, January 5, 2026, at approximately 11:24 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the Wawa located at 4210 Crain Highway in White Plains, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian. 911 callers reported an unknown aged male was struck by a vehicle and had uncontrolled bleeding with a...
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Public libraries across Maryland will soon host dozens of events to help community members develop the skills they need to succeed in today’s workplace. The fourth annual Career Success Month runs from January 6 through February 28, 2026. Developed by the Maryland State Library Agency and supported in part by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS),...
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Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and two other attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education to stop unlawful cuts to congressionally approved funding for Full Service Community School (FSCS) programs. FSCS projects focus critical resources on elementary and secondary schools that need them most, offering students and their families additional...
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The Southern Maryland National Heritage Area today announced the launch of its new regional passport program, an interactive initiative designed to encourage residents and visitors to discover the region’s storied past, abundant culture, and natural beauty across Calvert, Charles, St. Mary’s, and Southern Prince George’s Counties. Fifteen designated heritage sites throughout the Area are now offering...
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UPDATE 1/5/2026 @1:15 p.m.: La Plata Police Department, MD has stated the following – Both Lotus King and Kemi Maye have been located and are safe. We appreciate the assistance in resolving this matter. The La Plata Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating or any information regarding the whereabouts of 3-year-old...
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In the midst of an emergency, every second counts. Firefighters rushing to extinguish fires or respond to emergencies rely heavily on their equipment, including fire hoses, to carry out their duties effectively and safely. However, a dangerous and illegal act has been posing serious risks to firefighters and their operations: vehicles running over fire...
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On Sunday, January 4, 2026, at approximately 4:31 p.m., firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 5400 block of Washington Avenue in La Plata, for the reported shed on fire. 911 callers reported a lawnmower was on fire, which then spread to a shed with dispatchers advising explosions were overheard during the 911...
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On Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at approximately 3:05 p.m., firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 6900 block of Carrico Mill Road in Hughesville, for the reported shed on fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find a 10×10 shed fully engulfed with fire spreading to the nearby brush and trees. Firefighters from...
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The Comptroller of Maryland has submitted amendments to the regulations governing Maryland’s tire recycling fee and new tire fee. Effective January 1, 2026, the tire recycling fee increases to $1.00 from $0.80 on the first sale of a new tire in the state by a tire dealer. Maryland will also implement a $5.00 new...
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On Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at approximately 4:07 p.m., firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the Patuxent Camp Sites located at 4774 Williams Wharf Road in Saint Leonard, for the reported camper on fire. 911 callers reported their family members camper was on fire with multiple explosions reported. Prior to the arrival of...
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Maryland hunters reported harvesting 27,620 deer during the two-week firearm season from Nov. 29 through Dec. 13. The firearms season harvest was 10.4% lower than last year’s official count of 30,833 deer but only 3% lower than the five-year average of 28,467 deer. The deer harvest fluctuates from year to year due to a variety of factors such as weather,...
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