Charles News

Board Chairperson Moore Lee, Esq., Appointed Leadership Roles in National Education Associations

Board Chairperson Moore Lee, Esq., Appointed Leadership Roles in National Education Associations

Board of Education of Charles County Chairperson Yonelle Moore Lee, Esq., was recently appointed as chairperson of the National Black Council of School Board Members (NBCSBM). She was also named an ex officio director of the of the National School Boards Association (NSBA). As Chairperson of the NBCSBM, she will lead efforts to support...
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Letter to the Editor: Say No To The Charles County Recordation Tax Hike – Public Meeting on May 20th, 2025

Letter to the Editor: Say No To The Charles County Recordation Tax Hike – Public Meeting on May 20th, 2025

Charles County Commissioners voted 3-1 on April 22, 2025, to introduce Proposed Bill 2025-04, which would raise the recordation tax rate applied to real estate transactions, another public hearing is scheduled for May 20, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Letter to the Editor: On behalf of the Southern Maryland Association of Realtors® (SMAR), which represents over...
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Charles County Public Schools Summer Camp Registration Opens

Charles County Public Schools Summer Camp Registration Opens

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) is offering several camp offerings for students. Enrichment camps, academic and athletic programs, and career exploration will be held this summer. To learn more about the summer camps, visit www.ccboe.com. Summer Enrichment camps – Summer enrichment camps for students in kindergarten through eighth grade will be held July 28 to 31....
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Celebrate Mom with a $1 Italian Ice This Mother’s Day at Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard!

Celebrate Mom with a $1 Italian Ice This Mother’s Day at Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard!

WHAT: In celebration of Mother’s Day this Sunday, May 11, Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard is offering a $1 Small Italian Ice with a $1 minimum purchase to their app users to help guests treat their mom to something as sweet as she is! New and existing Rita’s app users can claim the...
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Study Reveals Emerging Cases of Babesiosis from Tick Bites in Mid-Atlantic Region

Study Reveals Emerging Cases of Babesiosis from Tick Bites in Mid-Atlantic Region

Annapolis, MD; April 29, 2025 – A newly published study in the Journal of Medical Entomology provides critical insights into the emergence of babesiosis in the Mid-Atlantic region, documenting human cases and the presence of Babesia microti in local tick populations. CDC states many people with Babesiosis do not feel sick and have no...
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Enterprise Community Development Celebrates New Workforce Housing at Grand Opening of Magnolia Gardens in La Plata

Enterprise Community Development Celebrates New Workforce Housing at Grand Opening of Magnolia Gardens in La Plata

Enterprise Community Development celebrated the grand opening of Magnolia Gardens, a new 72-unit affordable housing community in La Plata, Maryland, on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Local and state officials, including State Senator Arthur Ellis, State Delegate Kevin Harris, State Delegate Edith Patterson and La Plata Mayor Jeannine James, joined Enterprise and project partners to...
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Maryland State Fire Marshal Warns of Social Media Trend Leading to Fires

Maryland State Fire Marshal Warns of Social Media Trend Leading to Fires

The Office of the State Fire Marshal is alerting the public to a concerning new trend circulating on social media. Students insert electrically conductive objects into the charging ports of school-issued and personal electronic devices. This reckless behavior has been linked to several incidents resulting in fires, smoke, and property damage. As of May...
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Department of Natural Resources Reminds Marylanders to Keep Deer Fawns Wild

Department of Natural Resources Reminds Marylanders to Keep Deer Fawns Wild

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources cautions anyone who encounters a fawn that is alone to avoid disturbing it and resist the urge to feed or handle it. Removing deer from the wild and keeping them in captivity is against the law in Maryland in order to protect animal welfare and ensure public safety.  “Too often,...
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Deputies Recover Loaded Handgun After Domestic Call in Lexington Park

Deputies Recover Loaded Handgun After Domestic Call in Lexington Park

Howard Junior Simpson, age 51, of Indian Head, was taken into custody following a domestic disturbance in Lexington Park that escalated into a firearm-related confrontation, according to court documents filed in St. Mary’s County District Court. Simpson was arrested on May 6, 2025, and charged with seven criminal offenses, including first-degree assault and illegal...
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Charles County Commissioner Meeting Agenda for May 6 and 7, 2025, Meetings on May 7th and 20th for Proposed Tax Hike on Property

Charles County Commissioner Meeting Agenda for May 6 and 7, 2025, Meetings on May 7th and 20th for Proposed Tax Hike on Property

The County Commissioners will hold this public meeting “virtually” and in-person. SHOW UP AND MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!! Meetings is Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 4:30, public comments held at 6:30 p.m. (Full schedule below) This follows after the Charles County Commissioners voted 3-1 on April 22, 2025, to introduce Proposed Bill 2025-04, which...
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UPDATE: Public Meeting TODAY – Statements Released Following The Proposed Crisis Stabilization Center in Charlotte Hall

UPDATE: Public Meeting TODAY – Statements Released Following The Proposed Crisis Stabilization Center in Charlotte Hall

Maryland Delegate Matt Morgan released the following statement on May 5th, 2025. “This post is designed as a PSA for residents of Northern St. Mary’s. I am gathering more information about the proposed psychiatric urgent care facility on Mount Wolf Road in Charlotte Hall. I had no involvement in recruiting or funding this proposed...
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Cocaine and Vape Recovered from Thomas Stone High School Student

Cocaine and Vape Recovered from Thomas Stone High School Student

On Monday, May 5, 2025, at 12:55 p.m., a Youth Engagement Advocate (YEA), while conducting an administrative search, recovered a vaping device and cocaine from an adult student. The student will face disciplinary consequences in accordance with the Charles County Public Schools Code of Student Conduct and will also be charged criminally with possession...
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Maryland AG Joins 23 Other States in Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration’s Dismantling of AmeriCorps, the National Volunteer Public Service Agency

Maryland AG Joins 23 Other States in Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration’s Dismantling of AmeriCorps, the National Volunteer Public Service Agency

Attorney General Anthony G. Brown co-led a coalition of 23 attorneys general—joined by the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania—in filing a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle AmeriCorps by abruptly reducing the agency’s workforce by nearly 90%, cancelling its contracts, and closing $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs. AmeriCorps, an independent federal...
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Hoyer, Moore Release Statements on Trump Budget Proposal

Hoyer, Moore Release Statements on Trump Budget Proposal

Maryland Governor Wes Moore released the following statement on the Trump-Vance Administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal: “T​he president’s budget proposal would kill jobs, hollow out health care and public education, and accelerate the reckless assault on Maryland’s economy that started on January 20. This isn’t fiscal stewardship; it’s fiscal sabotage. This is not...
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La Plata Man Charged with Multiple ATV Thefts, Drug Possession with Intent to Distribute

La Plata Man Charged with Multiple ATV Thefts, Drug Possession with Intent to Distribute

On May 2, 2025, at 5 a.m., Demetrius Charles Dorsey, age 23, of La Plata, was arrested and charged in connection with numerous thefts of ATVs from across the region including King George County, Charles County, La Plata, Alexandria City, Prince William County, Prince George’s County and St. Mary’s County. Dorsey would seek out...
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CSM Offers Concerts, Writing Series, and More in May

CSM Offers Concerts, Writing Series, and More in May

Dance Performance: Unspoken Words. May 5, 7:30 – 10 p.m., Hank Willoughby Foundation Center for the Arts (FA Building), Brad and Linda Gottfried Theater, La Plata Campus at 8730 Mitchell Road in La Plata. This spring, CSM’s Dance Ensemble students dive deeper into exploring how “the body says what words cannot.” Join them as...
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Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2025 Photo Contest is Underway!

Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2025 Photo Contest is Underway!

Photographers and nature enthusiasts are invited to submit their most beautiful images of the state’s flora and fauna to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2025 Photo Contest. As in past years, winning entries will be featured on the next Maryland DNR nature calendar to be published in late fall, and all winners will receive...
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Town of La Plata Testing Early Warning Devices and Sirens Today, at 10:00 a.m

Town of La Plata Testing Early Warning Devices and Sirens Today, at 10:00 a.m

The Town of La Plata will test early warning devices/sirens on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. Testing is done twice per year in early May and early December. The testing lasts about a half hour. The tests consist of both siren alerts and audible notifications. The tests are conducted in conjunction with...
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Renaming Smallwood Middle School: What Our Facebook Readers Really Think – What do You Think?

Renaming Smallwood Middle School: What Our Facebook Readers Really Think – What do You Think?

Comments on Southern Maryland Newsnet’s Facebook page quickly followed the Board of Education’s vote to rename General Smallwood Middle School as Glymont Middle School, effective July 1, 2025. Between April 30 and May 1, about two hundred remarks appeared. Of those that clearly took a side, a little more than 70 percent objected to the change, just under 20 percent supported it, and the rest...
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Moore Announces Opening of Applications for Maryland Business Ready Sites Program

Moore Announces Opening of Applications for Maryland Business Ready Sites Program

Governor Wes Moore announced the launch of the Maryland Business Ready Sites Program, a new initiative to boost economic growth by developing shovel-ready business sites statewide. Established by the governor’s economic competitiv​eness executive order in December 2024, the program provides $3.5 million in matching grants for site characterization and improvements designed to accelerate investment across...
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Fatal Collision Involving Pedestrian in Waldorf Under Investigation

Fatal Collision Involving Pedestrian in Waldorf Under Investigation

On Thursday, May 1, 2025, at approximately 8:20 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the area of Old Washington Road and Trade Zone Court in Waldorf, for the reported motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian. Dispatchers advised they received multiple 911 callers reporting an unknown aged victim in a wheelchair was...
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Maryland’s Nontidal Fishing License Fees Increase June 1, 2025

Maryland’s Nontidal Fishing License Fees Increase June 1, 2025

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is implementing changes to nontidal fishing license and trout stamp fees effective June 1, 2025. This represents the first adjustment to nontidal–or freshwater fishing–fees in almost 20 years, addressing the rising costs of maintaining conservation efforts and angler programs in the face of inflation. Maryland’s freshwater fishing licenses...
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Charles County Public Schools and Board of Education Seeks Feedback on Draft 2026-2027 School Calendar

Charles County Public Schools and Board of Education Seeks Feedback on Draft 2026-2027 School Calendar

Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) and the Board of Education of Charles County would like input on the 2026-2027 school calendar. The Board of Education typically approves the school calendar two years in advance. At the April 8 Board meeting, staff presented three draft calendar options for the Board’s consideration. Review the options here on...
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Racetrax Leads to $75,000 FAST PLAY Win for Charles County Man

Racetrax Leads to $75,000 FAST PLAY Win for Charles County Man

A Charles County man, in the midst of playing Racetrax, wins big on a FAST PLAY ticket. The winner, who chose “Dark Knight” as an anonymous name to use because of a fond childhood memory, took home $75,000 playing THE GAME OF LIFE™. This exciting moment occurred on Saturday when the Indian Head man...
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Charles County Presents Proposed Fiscal 2026 Budget

Charles County Presents Proposed Fiscal 2026 Budget

On Tuesday, April 29, Jacob Dyer, Acting Director of the Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services, presented the county’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget of $594,293,300 an increase of 5.9 percent over last year.  The General Fund budget was developed in alignment with Commissioners’ strategic priorities, incorporates departmental needs, and is shaped by community input...
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