Michael Gerard Benedict, 50, of Newburg, is facing multiple criminal charges after two separate incidents earlier this month, according to court documents from the District Court for Charles County. In the most recent case, filed on April 28, 2025, Benedict was arrested and charged with three counts of second-degree assault on law enforcement officers,...
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UPDATE 4/29/2025: New court documents reveal that Keycy Robinson Alexi Barrera-Rosa, 24, of Waldorf, now faces additional charges in connection with the death of Lesbia Mileth Ramirez Guerra. According to the recently filed application for charges, detectives confirmed through forensic cellular analysis, video surveillance, and witness interviews that Barrera-Rosa murdered the victim inside their...
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This May, our grateful nation will come together to honor its fallen fire service heroes during the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, the official national tribute to firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty last year. As part of this heartfelt commemoration, we invite landmarks, buildings, fire departments, and communities across...
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The Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department proudly hosted the 79th Annual Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association Convention on Saturday and Sunday, April 26-27, 2025. This year’s convention held special significance as long-time Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department member Tommy Mattingly Jr., was instilled as President of the Southern Maryland Volunteer Firemen’s Association. The two-day event brought...
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Now is the time to voice your concerns, questions and opinions. The Board of Education of Charles County and Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) are hosting a virtual Town Hall on Tuesday, May 6, at 7 p.m. through Zoom. The event is open to the public. Attendees must have an active Zoom account to...
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Visitors to Maryland State Parks this year have a chance to win prizes such as a year-long admission pass and camping experiences by completing 25 parks-related challenges in 2025. The Maryland Park Service 25 in 2025 Adventure Challenge encourages visitors to find and photograph special scenic and historic features in several state parks. Visitors can register...
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Nicholas Adam, principal of J.P. Ryon Elementary School, was named the 2025 Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Principal of the Year. Before coming to Ryon in 2023, Adam spent five years as principal of Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School after serving as an assistant principal at William A. Diggs and Malcolm elementary schools. “He...
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Charles County Public Schools Released the following information on Thursday, April 24th, 2025. “This morning, Westlake High School administrators observed a student smelling strongly of marijuana upon arrival to school. Administrators investigated and found the student had marijuana, paraphernalia, a handgun and ammunition. The items were confiscated, and police are conducting an investigation. Westlake...
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Governor Wes Moore presided over the second bill signing ceremony of 2025, which included The Expungement Reform Act, a key piece of the Moore-Miller Administration’s legislative agenda. “The legislation signed strengthens the Moore-Miller Administration’s all-of-the-above approach to public safety while creating pathways to work, wages, and wealth for rehabilitated Marylanders.” “Our strategy to make...
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Georgia Green, a special education teacher at Gale-Bailey Elementary School, was named the 2025 Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) nominee for The Washington Post’s Teacher of the Year Award program. One of five children born to educators, Green was inspired to go into the field of special education by her brothers — twins who are intellectually...
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Nonprofit professionals from across Southern Maryland gathered April 10 at the College of Southern Maryland’s (CSM) 15th annual Nonprofit Institute Conference at the La Plata Campus where participants learned about several opportunities for success in the mission of helping others. With new director Stephanie Rolle, CSM’s Nonprofit Institute only continues to grow in scope...
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The Maryland State Police, in collaboration with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and allied law enforcement agencies across the country, are asking residents to dispose of unneeded prescription medications during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 26, 2025. The biannual program allows people to safely dispose of...
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The Town of La Plata will have a new town manager, starting on June 16, 2025, after the search committee completed an extensive search process. Initially, approximately 50 candidates were vetted and after careful consideration, the Town Council selected three highly qualified candidates for interviews, and ultimately, Chuck Stevens stood out as the best...
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Earlier this year, January 15, the FDA announced the revoking of authorization for use of FD&C Red No. 3 in Food and Ingested Drugs. Manufacturers who use FD&C Red No. 3 in food and ingested drugs will have until January 15, 2027 or January 18, 2028, respectively, to reformulate their products. Other countries still...
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Lottery player plans to take wife on a vacation to celebrate Easter Sunday turned into a big celebration for a lucky Marylander known as “Air Brown,” who scored a $50,000 prize on the Maryland Lottery’s popular MONOPOLY X50 scratch-off game. A longtime player, Air Brown’s journey with Lottery games began casually with friends, evolving...
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On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at approximately 10:50 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the 100 block of Drury Drive in La Plata, for a reported motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian. Crews arrived on the scene to find a 83-year-old female laying in the parking lot after being struck by...
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The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced that applications are open for up to $2 million in funding for projects that enhance safety and improve bicycling infrastructure in communities across the State. The Kim Lamphier Bikeways Network Grant Program is a competitive program that focuses on local priorities for building networks of bicycle infrastructure...
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The La Plata Police Department will be conducting a multi-agency Sobriety Checkpoint on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in La Plata. This initiative is made possible, in part, by grant funding from the Maryland Highway Safety Office. On average there are approximately 7,800 impaired (alcohol and/or drugs) driving crashes statewide, resulting in approximately 4,025 injuries...
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UPDATE 4/22/2025: The Charles County Sheriff’s Office has completed its investigation into the firearm discharge incident that occurred at Billingsley Elementary School on April 10TH, 2025. After a thorough investigation, officers determined that the firearm belonged to a relative of the student who was visiting from out of town. The facts of the case...
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Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, the largest Italian Ice concept in the world, is shaking up its flavor lineup once again with a bold new twist on a classic sip: Cola Italian Ice. Inspired by the iconic soda, this new flavor delivers the timeless taste of old-school cola nostalgia in a refreshingly cool,...
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A St. Mary’s County man is the latest to win a Big Money top prize. He told officials that his $50,000 ticket – delivered by his first-ever Lottery purchase – will likely be the last he’ll ever buy. “What are the chances that I’ll ever do this well again,” the federal employee joked. The...
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The Board of Education of Charles County recently received the Magna Award through the National School Board Association (NSBA) on behalf of Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) for the expansion of mental health services in the school system. For 30 years NSBA has recognized exemplary school-system programs and this year CCPS was one of...
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Lucky Locksmith opens door to a $30,734 Racetrax prize A Spotsylvania, VA., man trotted his way into the Maryland Lottery’s Winner’s Circle room on April 18 after winning $30,734 playing the popular computer-animated horse racing game Racetrax on April 6. The happy winner was joined by his wife as he claimed the big prize....
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University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center, a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System, announced the addition of Jasmin Garcia, LCSW-C, a mental health counselor, to its Behavioral Health team in La Plata. Garcia is a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical and a Board-Approved Clinical Supervisor with more than six years of...
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Food Lion is proud to announce more than 380 associates are celebrating 30-50 years of service this year. Among them is a long-term associate from a store in the Waldorf area. On April 10th, 2025, associates were honored during an annual event where the retailer shares appreciation and gratitude for those celebrating a service...
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