A La Plata man was arrested late last month in Calvert County after authorities allegedly found him impaired behind the wheel and in possession of drug paraphernalia. According to court documents filed in the District Court for Calvert County, Matthew Kelland Novotny, 47, of La Plata, was taken into custody on April 24, 2025,...
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A loaded handgun that discharged inside a classroom at Billingsley Elementary School in Charles County, has been traced back to a visiting relative of the student involved. Authorities have since charged a Florida man in connection with the incident, following an investigation by the Charles County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office. The...
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It was a proud, reflective, and exciting day for College of Southern Maryland (CSM) as its faculty, staff, supporters, and community cheered for hundreds of its student graduates at the 66th Commencement exercises on May 9 held at the La Plata Campus. This year, 1,364 CSM students earned degrees or certificates, receiving 820 associate degrees,...
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The La Plata Police Department is proud to announce Acting Chief Matthew Norris and Captain Robert Bagley were part of the Liberty University Class of 2025 and both graduated with perfect 4.0 grade point averages. Acting Chief Norris obtained his Master’s Degree – With High Distinction majoring in Criminal Justice from Liberty University. He...
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The halls of La Plata High School filled as the bell rang for the next period. Students dressed in their college shirt of choice walked the halls as they switched classes to continue the day of learning. College Shirt Day is one of the many spirit days and for students at the school can...
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On Sunday, May 11, 2025, at 9:52 a.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the intersection of Leonardtown Road at Gallant Green Road in Hughesville, for a serious motor vehicle collision with reports of entrapment, fire, rollover and ejection. Dispatchers advised they were receiving multiple 911 calls with reports of a two vehicle...
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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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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 (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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Maryland Governor Wes Moore released the following statement on the Trump-Vance Administration’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget proposal: “The 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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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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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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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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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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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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