The Banner Montgomery – ĂÛÌÒÊÓÆ”app News Washington's Top News Sat, 16 May 2026 01:40:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 /wp-content/uploads/2021/05/WtopNewsLogo_500x500-150x150.png The Banner Montgomery – ĂÛÌÒÊÓÆ”app News 32 32 Braveboy moves to oust beleaguered Prince George’s planning board chair /prince-georges-county/2026/05/braveboy-moves-to-oust-beleaguered-prince-georges-planning-board-chair/ Sat, 16 May 2026 01:40:07 +0000 /?p=29258909 Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy on Friday moved to oust planning board Chair Darryl Barnes, whom she appointed last summer.

The move came one day after three planning board members removed the vice chair from his leadership position and just hours after The Banner published a story detailing misconductÌęÌędating to his appointment in July.

Barnes, reached by phone Friday, declined to comment on Braveboy’s push to remove him.

The County Council will have the final say over Barnes’ removal, and it has scheduled a virtual meeting for May 22 to vote, according to a notification letter sent from council Chair Krystal Oriadha to Barnes and reviewed by The Banner.

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NBC News correspondent helps rescue teen driver from burning car on Capital Beltway /montgomery-county/2026/05/nbc-news-correspondent-helps-rescue-teen-driver-from-burning-car-on-capital-beltway/ Fri, 15 May 2026 13:55:44 +0000 /?p=29256802 A veteran NBC News correspondent helped rescue a driver from a burning car after the teenager crashed into a concrete barrier on the Capital Beltway in Montgomery County at high speed.

The journalist, Tom Costello, told NBC News he was driving home Tuesday when he witnessed a “horrific crash” as the car broke into pieces, flipped and landed on the ground.

“It was smoking. It was crushed,”Ìę.

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Wes Moore replaces campaign manager weeks before primary /maryland/2026/05/wes-moore-replaces-campaign-manager-weeks-before-primary/ Thu, 14 May 2026 01:51:51 +0000 /?p=29251089 Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is replacing his campaign manager less than two weeks afterÌęÌęto kick his reelection effort into high gear.

Ron Owens, who had been the Democratic governor’s campaign manager since last summer, will exit at the end of the week.

He’ll be replaced by Dylan Arant, who currently works in the governor’s State House office and ran Attorney General Anthony Brown’s successful campaign in 2022.

The change comes roughly six weeks before the June 23 Democratic primary, in which Moore faces token opposition from Eric Felber, a Montgomery County doctor.

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Montgomery County Council passes progressive income tax plan /montgomery-county/2026/05/montgomery-county-council-passes-progressive-income-tax-plan/ Wed, 13 May 2026 20:14:50 +0000 /?p=29250018 In the lead-up to a June primary, the Montgomery Council Council Wednesday narrowly approved a progressive income tax hike.

The plan passed 6-5 following a heated debate over whether the council should increase taxes amid rising unemployment and inflation.

The current income tax rate for all residents is 3.2%. Under the new tax rates, residents making more than $150,000 annually will pay a 3.3% income tax — a 0.1% bump.

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Washington Nationals team dog Natty to make major league debut Friday /washington-nationals/2026/05/washington-nationals-team-dog-natty-to-make-major-league-debut-friday/ Mon, 11 May 2026 19:46:30 +0000 /?p=29242219 The Washington Nationals will debut their new team dog, Natty, an 8-week-old golden retriever and Labrador retriever mix, this Friday at home against the Orioles.

Born March 5, Natty and his five siblings will train to be service dogs to help people with disabilities. Natty will be the club’s first-ever team dog and will train alongside Nationals players, staff and fans as he prepares for the next step in his development.

He arrived in D.C. on May 4 and met volunteers Jackie and Laura, who’ll teach him manners, basic cues and a proper diet to prepare him for professional training with Canine Companions instructors in 18 months.

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Bowie State University to lay off employees amid $18 million deficit /education/2026/05/bowie-state-university-to-lay-off-employees-amid-18-million-deficit/ Thu, 07 May 2026 17:11:14 +0000 /?p=29225631 Bowie State University will eliminate 79 jobs through reorganization, vacancies and layoffs as the university deals with its second multimillion-dollar deficit in two years.

Maryland’s oldest historically Black university is facing an $18 million deficit, President Aminta Breaux announced in a message to the campus. That follows last year’s $13.6 million budget shortfall, which was corrected through hiring delays and eliminating vacant positions, she wrote. Bowie State employs 1,175 workers, according to public data, so the workforce will shrink by about 6%.

“We recognize that this period may bring uncertainty and want to assure you that we are approaching each decision with care, thoughtfulness and deep respect for our faculty, staff and students,” Breaux wrote.

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Maryland is under a ‘drought disaster.’ What that means for you /maryland/2026/05/maryland-is-under-a-drought-disaster-what-that-means-for-you/ Mon, 04 May 2026 17:01:47 +0000 /?p=29212878 Federal officials have placed Maryland under a “drought disaster” designation. But that doesn’t mean the state is experiencing a water shortage — at least not yet.

It can sound confusing, Samantha Borisoff, a climatologist for the Northeast Regional Climate Center, said. There are “a lot of nuances” when it comes to drought, and different departments — say, agriculture and environmental officials — use different parameters and thresholds when issuing guidance to the public.

Still, Marylanders should use water wisely because rainfall has been below average and groundwater levels are below normal.

Here’s how drought conditions could impact Maryland.

What it means for agriculture

Most of the state is experiencing moderate or severe drought conditions, according to the Department of Agriculture, which takes many indicators into account. Precipitation, soil moisture and groundwater levels are only a few pieces of the puzzle, Borisoff said.

The Department of Agriculture monitors droughts to issue disaster declarations and loan eligibility — which is what officials did April 17 after designating disaster status to nine Maryland counties. Allegany, Carroll, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Washington counties are eligible for assistance from the USDA Farm Service Agency.

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Howard County kicks off Ellicott City flood tunnel construction this summer /howard-county/2026/04/howard-county-kicks-off-ellicott-city-flood-tunnel-construction-this-summer/ Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:17:38 +0000 /?p=29191344 Construction on the massive, mile-long tunnel designed to divert flash flooding from Old Ellicott City will begin this summer, Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said Monday.

The 18-foot tunnel will collect stormwater along the steep-sided valley to keep it out of the historic mill town, which experienced catastrophic, deadly floods in 2011, 2016 and 2018, and carry it down to the Patapsco River.

Ball announced that work would start this summer while standing 150 feet under Old Ellicott City in an access shaft for the project. He was joined by Del. M. Courtney Watson, state Senators Guy Guzzone and Katie Fry Hester, and Heather Owens, who survived the 2016 flood.

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Former US Rep. Eric Swalwell placed on leave from U.Md. law school board /maryland/2026/04/former-us-rep-eric-swalwell-placed-on-leave-from-u-md-law-school-board/ Mon, 27 Apr 2026 22:26:18 +0000 /?p=29189068 Former U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell has been placed on leave from an advisory position at the Maryland law school he attended amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

Swalwell, a Democrat first elected to the House of Representatives in 2013, suspended his California gubernatorial campaign and resigned from Congress earlier this month afterÌę. He has denied the allegations.

“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” Swalwell said in an April 13 social media post announcing his resignation from Congress. “I will fight the serious false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make.”

The Iowa native completed undergraduate and law studies in the University of Maryland system and has served on the Board of Visitors for the Francis King Carey School of Law since at least 2023. SwalwellÌęreceived his law degree from the school in 2006, then began his career as a prosecutor in California.

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The Key Bridge took her daughter’s father. Now, ICE is moving to deport her. /baltimore/2026/04/the-key-bridge-took-her-daughters-father-now-ice-is-moving-to-deport-her/ Fri, 24 Apr 2026 17:17:38 +0000 /?p=29178977 Roughly two years after the father of her daughter died during theÌę, Zoila Guerra Sandoval faces the possibility of deportation.

Guerra Sandoval, a native of Guatemala who has lived in Maryland for nearly two decades, is the former partner ofÌę, one of the workers repairing the Key Bridge overnight when the Dali struck it in March 2024.

The six men who died were immigrants from Central America and Mexico, survived by dozens of immediate and extended family members left not only to grieve but also to navigate new financial pressures and other demands resulting from the loss.

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Washington County ICE facility construction limited by federal judge /maryland/2026/04/washington-county-ice-facility-construction-limited-by-federal-judge/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 17:55:57 +0000 /?p=29147051 U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement cannot proceed with retrofitting a warehouse in Western Maryland into a detention facility, pending further court proceedings, a federal judge ruled Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Brendan A. Hurson said there are “internal inconsistencies” in the federal government’s report concerning possible environmental impacts on the surrounding area, including local water and sewer infrastructure.

Hurson’s injunction prohibits building and operating detention space inside the facility while awaiting further arguments in the federal court case. But the ruling still allows ICE to proceed with certain construction activities like erecting an eight-foot security fence around the property, installing security cameras, fixing the HVAC system and creating office space inside.

The ruling comes as Hurson’s previous stop-work order was set to expire.

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Democrats outline deal to save Marylanders $150 on energy bills /maryland/2026/04/democrats-outline-deal-to-save-marylanders-150-on-energy-bills/ Mon, 13 Apr 2026 22:30:43 +0000 /?p=29140709 Top Maryland Democrats outlined a deal Monday to offer consumers swift, albeit limited, relief on soaring energy bills, finalizing a sweeping legislative package hours before the legislative session’s close.

Senate President Bill Ferguson and Speaker of the House Joseline Peña-Melnyk stood with Gov. Wes Moore on Monday for a news conference laying out their agreement, which theyÌę. The savings come via a temporary rollback to an energy efficiency surcharge on customer bills.

“We have spent these past weeks staying laser focused on making life just a little bit more affordable for the people of Maryland, because we’re all very clear of the complete onslaught that we’re enduring here,” Moore said.

The Democrats who dominate the General Assembly spent the session telegraphing a plan was in the works for what has become a dominant issue, but agreement on the details proved more challenging than they suggested when they first announced the bill,Ìę, a month ago.

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As energy costs soar, Pepco wants to raise rates again /local/2026/04/as-energy-costs-soar-pepco-wants-to-raise-rates-again/ Thu, 02 Apr 2026 20:56:21 +0000 /?p=29108436
Pepco Director of Regulatory Strategy LushaĂ© Cook speaks with ĂÛÌÒÊÓÆ”app's Shawn Anderson and Anne Kramer about a potential rate hike.

Pepco customers can bring their concerns over a proposed rate hike directly to the state’s utility regulator in the coming weeks.

The Exelon subsidiary, which serves more than 600,000 customers in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties, is seeking state approval to increase the fees it charges to deliver electricity to homes and businesses.

The Maryland Public Service Commission announced Wednesday that it will hold virtual hearings on April 14 and 17 to provide people a chance to comment on the proposal.

Pepco representatives have said the company must bring in more revenue to pay for hundreds of repair and maintenance projects, such as upgrading substations and replacing underground cables, to prevent power disruptions.

If the Public Service Commission approves the proposal, customers would see an average increase of $11.73 in their monthly bills, likely beginning in August. The five-member commission must issue a decision by Aug. 10.

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Ex-guitarist of Baltimore hardcore band Turnstile accused of attempted murder, targeting singer’s dad /baltimore/2026/04/ex-turnstile-guitarist-accused-of-attempted-murder-targeting-singers-dad/ Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:32:05 +0000 /?p=29108213 A former guitarist of the Baltimore hardcore band Turnstile is accused of intentionally hitting the lead singer’s father with a car and leaving him with severe trauma to his legs.

Brady Ebert, 33, of Silver Spring, was taken into custody on Wednesday on charges of attempted second-degree murder and first-degree assault, and a district court commissioner ordered him to be held without bond.

Turnstile “cut ties” with Ebert in 2022 due to “a consistent pattern of harmful behavior affecting himself, the band and the community,” the band said in a statement on Thursday. Ebert “began threatening violence” around that time, and those threats “escalated further” over the past few months, the band said.

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Major changes are coming for thousands of Montgomery County students /montgomery-county/2026/03/major-changes-are-coming-for-thousands-of-montgomery-county-students/ Thu, 26 Mar 2026 22:40:18 +0000 /?p=29085702 Big changes are coming to Montgomery County Public Schools.

With their vote Thursday night, the school board reshaped campus boundaries and academic programs. Their decisions came after months of protests and often contentious debate on both sides of the issues.

And while Thursday marks the board’s decision on a complex road map for the district, a group of parents has already pledged to pursue legal action over one of the most high-profile elements of the plan: relocating Wootton High School from its Rockville campus to a new building in Gaithersburg.

The meeting was tense, with security staff standing by and residents jeering as board members justified their votes.

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