The Maryland State Department of Education released data on the four-year cohort graduation rate for students graduating from Maryland public schools in the spring of 2023. The four-year 2023 cohort graduation rate was 85.8%, down from 86.3% in the prior year. Students in the 2023 cohort entered ninth grade in the 2019-2020 school year...
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U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson sentenced Dementrous Von Smith, a/k/a “Meecho” and “El Meecho,” age 36, of Waldorf, Maryland, to 53 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for a wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft, in relation to the submission of fraudulent CARES Act unemployment...
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Visitor volume, spending top pre-pandemic levels with more than 43.5 million people visiting Maryland in 2022 and spent $19.4 billion, topping pre-pandemic levels, according to an economic impact report released by the Maryland Department of Commerce Office of Tourism. In total, the economic impact of tourism was $30.3 billion and generated $2.3 billion in...
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The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) will be hosting free flu and COVID vaccine clinics for children ages six months – 18 years. No appointments are necessary. These clinics are being scheduled in lieu of the onsite school-based flu vaccine clinics normally provided by SMCHD with the St. Mary’s County Public Schools. Clinics have...
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Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced that Wellspring Therapy Services, LLC (Wellspring), a speech and occupational therapy practice in Anne Arundel County, pleaded guilty to felony Medicaid fraud in Baltimore City Circuit Court. Judge Fletcher-Hill ordered Wellspring to pay $399,228.62 in restitution to the State. In addition, the company must terminate its participation...
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Naval Air Station Patuxent River announced Jan. 30 that the installation is now in Health Protection Condition (HPCON) Alpha. Commanders and public health personnel use HPCON levels to guide specific actions personnel can take in response to a health threat. While it’s always important to prevent the spread of germs, there are additional steps...
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The Leadership Southern Maryland (LSM) Executive Program met with state and regional educational leaders to unpack the implications of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Act, legislation passed in 2021 to enhance Maryland’s public school system. The meetings were held at the Prince Frederick campus of the College of Southern Maryland (CSM). After learning the...
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NAS Patuxent River transitioned from Health Protection Condition (HPCON) Alpha to HPCON Bravo Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023 HPCON B requires HPCON A Measures, plus: Less than 80% of normal occupancy in the workplace Permit liberal telework where possible, especially for individuals who self-identify as immunocompromised or being at high risk for severe disease Consider...
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Governor Larry Hogan today announced that, according to an economic impact report released by the Maryland Department of Commerce, the state’s tourism industry is continuing a strong recovery, recapturing nearly 90% of pre-pandemic visitor spending. In addition, the state reported increases over pre-pandemic levels in the key sectors of lodging and restaurants. The state continues to...
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As hospitals in the region and across the country experience an increase in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) admissions, Governor Larry Hogan today announced a series of new mitigation actions, along with preparedness efforts for potential fall and winter COVID-19 and flu surges in Maryland. “After meeting with our multi-agency public health task force yesterday...
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The 2022 Community Health & Wellness Fair, hosted by the Department of Aging & Human Services, will be held Friday, Oct. 14, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., in the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland campus, located at 44219 Airport Road in California. Health screenings will include body composition, glucose, skin cancer, hearing, vision...
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On Tuesday, Oct. 4, Deputy County Administrator Deborah Hall, Department of Planning and Growth Management Director Deborah Carpenter, Economic Development Department Director Kelly Robertson-Slagle, Department of Public Works Deputy Director Bernard Cochran, and Department of Public Works Chief of Environmental Services Frances Sherman provided a presentation on the Goal 3: Environment of the County Commissioners Goals...
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The County Administrator wishes to remind residents of changes to operating schedules for the month of October: Saturday, Oct. 8 (Scrap Tire Drop-off Day) The Charles County Landfill and Recycling Center (12305 Billingsley Road, Waldorf) will close at 2 p.m. to accept only scrap tires. The Piney Church Mulch Facility (5370 Piney Church Road,...
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On Tuesday, September 27, 2022, County Commissioners held a follow-up work session on 2023 Preliminary State Legislative Proposals and Associate County Attorney II Danielle Mitchell provided an update on the proposals. County Commissioners agreed to move forward on the following legislative proposals: Legalizing golf cars and low speed vehicles on Cobb Island Requiring emergency inpatient...
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The Justice Department announced the establishment of three Strike Force teams created to enhance the Department’s existing efforts to combat and prevent COVID-19 related fraud. “These Strike Force teams will build on the Department’s historic enforcement efforts to deter, detect, and disrupt pandemic fraud wherever it occurs,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Since...
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The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, September 8, 2022, to celebrate the official launch of the St. Mary’s County Health Hub. In 2021, the St. Mary’s County Equity Task Force, in partnership with the Housing Authority of St. Mary’s County (HASMC) announced plans for the St. Mary’s...
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Several Maryland-based MedStar Health organizations have been honored with 2022 Wellness at Work recognitions from the Maryland Department of Health’s “Healthiest Maryland Businesses” program. Wellness at Work recognizes businesses of all sizes for their success in building a culture of wellbeing in the workplace. This year, MedStar Health patient care and research organizations made...
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The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) announced the temporary closure of operations at the Health Hub, located at 21625 Great Mills Road in Lexington Park on Thursday, September 8, 2022. COVID-19 testing and vaccinations will be available on that date at the main office in Leonardtown. Normal operations at the Health Hub will...
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The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County held their regular business meeting in the Chesapeake Building Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, with the invocation and pledge, followed by approval of the consent agenda. The Commissioners then presented a Proclamation in honor of Women’s Equality Day and Commendations to local Special Olympics 2022 USA Games participants. Photos...
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The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) has been awarded $1.6 million in grant funding through the Maryland Community Health Resources Commission (CHRC) Pathways to Health Equity program, which aims to address health disparities, expand access to health services, and improve health outcomes in underserved communities. SMCHD was one of nine recipients selected for...
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The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Board of Trustees voted July 11 to modify the college’s current vaccine requirement for students – allowing unvaccinated students to attend Hy-Flex classes, which are taught online and face-to-face simultaneously. Currently, CSM requires vaccinations for most students who are taking classes onsite, and masking is optional, though highly...
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The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County held their regular business meeting in the Chesapeake Building Tuesday, July 12, 2022, with the invocation and pledge, followed by approval of the consent agenda. The Commissioners recognized National Parks and Recreation Month with a Proclamation. The Sheriff’s Office received approval for a request to submit the FY2023...
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A federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging nine defendants in relation to a Maryland and California CARES Act COVID-19 unemployment insurance scheme. The indictment charges the defendants with wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and theft of United States Postal Office arrow keys. The indictment was returned on June 21, 2022, and unsealed...
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NAS Patuxent River gate sentries have returned to handling of IDs at gates and entry control points on base as of June 20, 2022. The move back to handling of IDs is in accordance with Commander, Navy Installations Command Instruction 5530.14A, which dictates physical and visual checks are to be performed on Common Access...
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On Thursday, April 7, 2022, the St. Mary’s County Health Department awarded and thanked more than 50 partner organizations for their work through the COVID-19 pandemic, including the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office. The St. Mary’s County Health Department said, “The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, including the Detention and Rehabilitation Center team, has...
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