For the second year in a row, the “It’s Academic” team of La Plata High School team clenched first place in the county’s annual competition. Held Dec. 3 at St. Charles High School, the “It’s Academic” event challenges high school students to correctly answer questions on various subjects in a quiz show format. The Warriors...
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The FDA is actively reviewing a petition filed for FD&C Red No. 3, which is authorized for use as a color additive in food and ingested drugs. The petition states that the Delaney Clause obligates the FDA to repeal the color additive regulations that permit the use of FD&C Red No. 3 in foods...
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Retiree wins top prize playing $50,000 Cash game It was like every other day, just his typical morning, an Anne Arundel County man told Lottery officials earlier this week. He went to the store, bought his daily game tickets and one scratch-off and returned home, just as he always does. The $50,000 top prize...
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A Voice that We Have Ignored: Works by Miyuki Akai Cook. Through Dec. 13. Tony Hungerford Memorial Art Gallery, La Plata Campus at 8730 Mitchell Road in La Plata. Textile artist Miyuki Akai Cook uses weaving, knitting, and crochet to explore themes of generational well-being and environmental awareness. A unique, illustrative pedagogy pairs earlier work...
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The Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal crash that took place on Friday. The deceased passenger in one of the involved vehicles is 22-year-old David Romero of Upper Marlboro. On December 6, 2024, at approximately 3:45 pm, officers responded to the area of Ritchie Marlboro Road and Sansbury Road in the...
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The second part of Maryland’s split muzzleloader deer hunting season will open Dec. 21 and run through Jan. 4. The first half of the split season was held in October. Hunters may use muzzleloading firearms to harvest sika and white-tailed deer during this time. “The late muzzleloader season provides hunters with another opportunity to...
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On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at approximately 1:00 a.m., police responded to the Wawa located at 22520 Three Notch Road in Lexington Park, for the reported strong-armed robbery 911 callers reported a white male wearing a black hoodie and red mask had stolen multiple packs of cigarette’s before shoving an employee and fleeing on...
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The Alcohol Beverage Board of St. Mary’s County will hold its next meeting on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 1:00 PM in the County Commissioners Conference Room, Chesapeake Building, 41770 Baldridge Street, Leonardtown. The meeting is open to the public, and citizens are welcome to attend in person or watch the live broadcast on...
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Joseph Robert Willet III, 31, of Hughesville, was arrested on December 8, 2024, following an alleged domestic assault at a residence in California, Maryland. The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office responded to the incident, which resulted in multiple charges against Willett, including assault and firearm-related offenses. According to court documents, Deputy Ocasio-Rivera responded to...
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On Monday, December 9, 2024, at approximately 1:00 p.m., police, firefighters and emergency medical services responded to the PNC Bank located at 37650 Oak Station Drive in Charlotte Hall, for the reported motor vehicle collision with injuries involving a structure. Crews arrived on the scene to find a single vehicle in the support pillar...
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UPDATE: Michael Darnell Lassiter, 59, of La Plata, was arrested on December 7, 2024, following an incident at a residence on Hemlock Court, in La Plata. According to court documents, Lassiter faces multiple charges, including resisting arrest, second-degree assault, property damage, failure to obey a lawful order, endangerment due to intoxication, and making arson...
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Michael Anthony Deep, 31, of Lexington Park, has been charged in connection with a burglary at the Seabreeze Restaurant on South Sandgates Road in Mechanicsville. The incident, which occurred over 2 years ago, on October 13, 2022, involved theft, property damage, and unauthorized entry, according to court documents filed by the St. Mary’s County...
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UPDATE 12/7/2024: La Plata Police Department investigators have identified the individual killed as Robert Martin Pope, 66-years old, of Glen Burnie, Maryland. On December 6, 2024, at approximately 8:18 p.m., officers were in route to a carry out/restaurant, located in the 6500 block of Crain Highway, to check the welfare of an individual. While...
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Shuree Sinese Weems, 43, of Lusby, was arrested on November 14, 2024, at Mimi’s Station, a liquor store located at on Rousby Hall Road, in Lusby. Weems faces multiple charges, including trespassing, possession of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office and court records. Deputy...
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The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will continue its routine bridge inspection of the MD 4 bridge over the Patuxent River (Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge) on Monday night, December 9, 2024. Starting at 9 p.m., crews will close one lane and alternate traffic in the open lane using a flagging operation. Overnight...
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An investigation by the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Enforcement Section led to the arrest of Adrian Carlos Farris, 35, of Waldorf, on December 3, 2024. A search warrant executed at his residence on Vane Court uncovered drugs valued at over $30,000, a firearm, and various drug-related paraphernalia. The operation was part of an...
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The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Homicide Unit identified and charged a suspect wanted for a fatal shooting in the city of District Heights in late May. The suspect is 19-year-old Chance Waters of Hyattsville. He’s charged with the murder of 14-year-old Khamya Ferrell of Suitland. On May 31, 2024, at approximately 1:50 pm,...
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Sobriety checkpoints are common tools law enforcement uses to ensure road safety by identifying impaired drivers. If you find yourself approaching one, it can be helpful to know what to expect and how to handle it smoothly. As you approach a sobriety checkpoint, you’ll likely notice signs and flashing lights, along with uniformed officers...
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A 21-year-old Waldorf man was arrested on November 29, 2024, following a traffic stop that led to the discovery of a stolen vehicle, according to court documents filed in Charles County. Chidozie Charles Obinna Udoji, 21, of Waldorf, was charged with theft of property valued between $1,500 and $25,000. The charge carries a potential...
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To mitigate alcohol-related accidents and their devastating consequences, the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office (SMCSO) will conduct a roadside sobriety checkpoint in the vicinity of California, MD, on Friday evening, December 6, 2024. Deputies will evaluate drivers for signs of alcohol or drug impairment. SMCSO recognizes that roadside sobriety checkpoints are highly visible and...
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The Town of La Plata does siren testing in the spring and winter. The next testing will take place on Saturday, December 7 at 10:00 am. The testing takes about 30 minutes. The tests consist of both siren alerts and audible notifications. The tests are conducted in conjunction with the Charles County 911 Communications...
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The Maryland State Police Leonardtown Barrack is a full-service barrack, meaning it provides a comprehensive range of law enforcement services to the community in St. Mary’s County. These services include enforcing motor vehicle and criminal laws, conducting investigations into various offenses such as assaults, burglaries, drug-related crimes, murders and serious violent incidents. Additionally, the...
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UPDATE 12/5/2024: Investigation is ongoing. Anyone who witnessed the collision is encouraged to contact Captain Matthew Norris or Captain Michael Payne at 301-934-1500. On December 4, 2024, at approximately 4:07 p.m., officers responded to the area of Rosewick Road and Rosewick Crossing Place for the report of a vehicle collision. Preliminary investigation revealed a...
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Unsolved Cold Case Files: HENRIETTA RAGAN – In 1959, Leonardtown, Maryland, was a quaint little place where everyone knew one another. Tonight, 65 years ago, there was an incident that shook our quiet community; Henrietta Wilmer Ragan was raped and murdered. Her killer was never apprehended. Henrietta Ragan was born and raised in Leonardtown;...
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UPDATE 12/4/2024: The suspect wanted for a fatal shooting early Saturday morning outside of a restaurant is in custody. He’s 35-year-old Terrelle Robert Bailey of Washington, DC. He’s charged with fatally shooting 33-year-old Cornelius McDonald of Upper Marlboro. The preliminary investigation revealed the suspect shot the victim at approximately 12:45 am on November 30,...
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