Patrick Herron, Author at The MoCo Show

12-Year-Old Identified as Individual Responsible for Multiple Bomb Threats

Published October 25, 2023 at 9:48AM | Updated October 25, 2023 at 10:58AM

Montgomery County Police released the following statement from Chief Marcus Jones regarding the person identified in school bomb threats (the statement by MCPD initially listed the incorrect high school, but has since been corrected):

“The person responsible for multiple bomb threats targeting Montgomery Blair High School and Oak View Elementary School has been identified. On October 13, 16, and 23, Montgomery County Public Schools received threats sent via email to Montgomery Blair High School. Similarly, on October 15, Oak View Elementary School was also targeted with a separate email threat. This reckless and dangerous behavior posed a direct threat to the safety and well-being of our schools and students.

Kensington

MCPD Responding to Reported Bomb Threat at Albert Einstein High School

By Patrick Herron

Published October 25, 2023 at 9:40AM | Updated October 25, 2023 at 11:52AM

11:05am UPDATE: Albert Einstein HS has been cleared. Students, faculty, and staff are returning to the building. Once Newport Mill Rd. is open, parents can reunite with their child at the main office of Albert Einstein HS.

We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.

Maryland

Governor Wes Moore Delivers Keynote Address at Maryland Minority Business Counts Event, Tours Coppin State University’s New College of Business

By Patrick Herron

Published October 25, 2023 at 8:56AM | Updated October 25, 2023 at 9:46AM

Governor Moore Delivers Keynote Address at Maryland Minority Business Counts Event, Tours Coppin State University’s New College of Busines

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore today delivered the keynote address at the Maryland Minority Business Counts “Engage and Elevate” event at Coppin State University. The governor was joined by Comptroller Brooke Lierman; Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson; and Maryland Department of General Services Secretary Atif Chaudhry. Also in attendance was Governor’s Office of Small, Minority, and Women Business Affairs Special Secretary Yolanda Maria Martinez; Greater Baltimore Urban League Chief Executive Officer Tiffany Majors; and Coppin State University President Dr. Anthony Jenkins, Ph.D.. Governor Moore spoke before hundreds of event attendees who gathered to promote state and municipal contracting opportunities and resources for minority owned businesses.

The Maryland Minority Business Counts initiative is a coalition of advocacy, business, civic, and community leaders dedicated to supporting and encouraging existing and future Black business owners across the state. Participants in today’s event had the opportunity to directly engage with state government agencies and attend panel discussions pertinent about doing business with the state.

Education

MCPS: Brian Hull to Serve as Acting Superintendent While Dr. Monifa McKnight on Leave

By Patrick Herron

Published October 25, 2023 at 8:46AM

Montgomery County Public Schools Chief Operating Officer Brian Hull is currently acting superintendent while Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight is out on medical leave. According to a report by MoCo360, Dr. McKnight has been absent from the office the past week and sent MCPS staff the following message, “I have been dealing with a medical condition that required hospitalization. I am home now, getting better every day, and looking forward to getting back to the office.” No timeframe has been announced for McKnight’s return.

Hull became Chief Operating Officer of MCPS in August 2022. The Chief Operating Officer oversees and supports all aspects of District Operations, Finance, and Human Resources and Development. According to MCPS, “The mission of the Office of the Chief Operating Officer is to provide the highest quality business operations and support services that are essential to the educational success of students through staff committed to fiscal and operational excellence and continuous improvement.” We will provide an update if additional information becomes available.

MoCo Government

Montgomery County’s Asian American Health Initiative’s Healthy Community Fund Awards $1.5 Million to Programs for the Asian American and Pacific Islander Community

By Patrick Herron

Published October 24, 2023 at 8:25PM

Per Montgomery County: “Montgomery County’s Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI), a program of the County’s Department of Health and Human Services, has awarded 14 local programs a total of $1.5 million from its Healthy Communities Fund. The funding will be used to develop new and sustain existing culturally and linguistically appropriate programs and services in behavioral health, senior wellness and health and social support services for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.

AAPI communities account for about 15 percent of Montgomery County’s overall population and the County is one of the most diverse communities in the United States, with more than 49 percent of population comprised of minorities. The AAPI community can be further broken down into multiple communities, each characterized by a unique mix of language, culture, religion and social norms. Because of the growing diversity and wide range of languages, cultures and socioeconomic status within AAPI communities, providing community health education, services and programs to residents of AAPI descent is more complex and requires custom approaches to reach the at-need communities.

Crime

Update: Major Crimes Division Investigating Fatal Triple Shooting and Burglary; Identity of Victim Released

By Patrick Herron

Published October 24, 2023 at 8:15PM

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Major Crimes Division are investigating a shooting that occurred on Monday, October 23, 2023. At approximately 10:57 p.m., 3rd District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the 14300 block of Fairdale Rd., for the report of a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, officers located 22-year-old Rakiy Deinol Gardner, of an unknown address, outside of the residence, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Despite lifesaving attempts, Gardner was pronounced dead at the scene.

A black Mercedes CLA 250 sedan was observed leaving the scene, at a high rate of speed, and collided with an officer responding to the scene in a marked patrol car. The driver of the Mercedes and the officer were transported to area hospitals for evaluation. A second male victim, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, was located a short distance from the scene and transported to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

MCPD

(Located) Continued Concern for Missing Thirty-One-Year Old Man With Down Syndrome

By Patrick Herron

Published October 24, 2023 at 8:06PM | Updated October 26, 2023 at 10:41PM

Update per Montgomery County Police: Rashawn Williams has been located safe and unharmed

The Montgomery County Department of Police – Missing Person/Cold Case Unit continues to ask for the public’s assistance in locating Rashawn Williams, a 31-year-old non-verbal male. Williams was last seen boarding a bus at the intersection of Plum Orchard Drive and Cherry Hill Road in Silver Spring. He is 5′ 05,” 150lbs with black hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing:

Maryland

Maryland Attorney General Brown and a Bipartisan Coalition of Attorneys General File Lawsuits Against Meta for Harming Youth Mental Health Through Its Social Media Platforms

By Patrick Herron

Published October 24, 2023 at 4:06PM | Updated October 24, 2023 at 8:01PM

Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: “Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown, along with 41 other state Attorneys General, filed a series of federal and state lawsuits against Meta, alleging that the company knowingly designed and deployed harmful features on Instagram and its other social media platforms with the intent of addicting children and teens, while falsely assuring the public that these features are safe and suitable for young users. The federal complaint (attached) seeks injunctive and monetary relief to rectify the harms caused by these platforms.

The Attorneys General assert that Meta’s business practices violate the federal Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which requires providers of online content, such as Meta, to abide by specific guidelines relating to the collection and handling of minors’ personal information. These practices have harmed and continue to harm the physical and mental health of children and teens, and have fueled what the U.S. Surgeon General has deemed a “youth mental health crisis” that has ended lives, devastated families, and damaged the potential of a generation of young people.

Beyond MoCo

Kayla DiCello, Northwest HS Alumna, Wins Gold at Pan American Games

By Patrick Herron

Published October 24, 2023 at 3:57PM

Kayla DiCello, a 2022 graduate of Northwest High School in Germantown, won the all-around gold on Monday at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. According to USA Gymnastics, “DiCello won the women’s all-around with a 54.699, thanks to posting the highest scores of the evening on uneven bars (13.633) and floor exercise (13.733) and scoring a 13.200 on balance beam and 14.133 on vault.” She is the first U.S. woman to win all-around gold at the Pan American games since 2011.

DiCello is a six-time USA National Team Member and currently attends the University of Florida. In 2021, DiCello made the Olympic team as an alternate and participated in the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Uncategorized

Montgomery County Expedites More Than $300,000 to Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian Communities to Address Increased Security Measures

By Patrick Herron

Published October 24, 2023 at 3:45PM

Per Montgomery County: “Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has expedited $311,700 in Nonprofit Security Grant funding to Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian communities in Montgomery County to enhance security measures. Since the outbreak of violence in Israel and Gaza, concern has risen that these communities have been, or will be, threatened by violence and other crimes motivated by hate and bias. These awards will provide immediate assistance to the organizations that are receiving funding to invest in various security measures to protect their communities and facilities.

“The conflict in the Middle East has created a heightened level of security concern in the Muslim and Jewish communities in Montgomery County,” said County Executive Elrich. “I have spoken with religious and community groups about the challenges they are facing, and the need to enhance security is paramount. As a result, I am expediting additional security funding. We will not tolerate acts of hate by anyone. I hope all of us can grieve as we need to, but that we can also restrain ourselves from lashing out at our neighbors and friends. What has happened abroad should not change how we interact with people here at home. I want to thank the community organizations, especially Ron Halber, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), for working with us to move this quickly. I am determined do everything in my power to make sure that Montgomery County remains a safe place for all.”

Beyond MoCo

$2 Million Winning Scratch-off Sold at Maryland Liquor Store

By Patrick Herron

Published October 24, 2023 at 3:41PM

Per the Maryland Lottery: “Congratulations to Maryland’s newest multimillionaire! A Mt. Airy resident won the top prize of $2 million on the $30 Cash is King scratch-off. The happy player scratched off his instant ticket and saw one of the winning numbers was 39. On the sixth row of the game, he found a matching 39 with the $2 million prize underneath the number.

The 63-year-old purchased the winning scratch-off at 108 Liquors in Clarksville. For selling the top-prize winning instant ticket, the Howard County retailer receives a bonus from the Lottery of $2,000, which is based on a percentage of the prize’s value.