Author: Patrick Herron

Beyond MoCo

Mega Millions Jackpot Climbs to $1.25 Billion; Two $10,000 Winning Tickets Sold in Maryland

By Patrick Herron

Maryland’s two third-tier $10,000 winning tickets were both sold in Anne Arundel County. Check your tickets closely if you bought them at Pantry One Food Mart, 1090 Spa Road in Annapolis or South River Colony Exxon at 111 Mitchells Chance Road in Edgewater. Lottery officials encourage all winners to sign the back of their tickets immediately and put them in a safe location until they can claim their prize. Winners get 182 days from the date of the drawing to claim prizes.

Instructions on claiming prizes in person or by mail are available HERE. Players must redeem prizes larger than $25,000 by mail or at Lottery headquarters in the Montgomery Park Business Center, 1800 Washington Blvd., Suite 330 in Baltimore. The Lottery’s Claims Center in Baltimore is open by appointment only (no walk-ins). Click HERE to schedule an appointment.

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Maryland

Governor and First Lady Moore, Lieutenant Governor Miller Attend National Night Out Events

By Patrick Herron
National Night Out with Governor Moore

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore, First Lady Dawn Moore, and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller this evening attended National Night Out events in New Carrollton and Baltimore City. Annual National Night Out events promote police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie, and support for anti-crime efforts across Maryland.

“Public safety is my number one priority as governor and when we talk about public safety, everyone shares responsibility in making things better,” said Gov. Moore. “To all of our friends and neighbors in law enforcement, to the guardians, the parents, the village elders, and the community leaders—I want to partner with all of you to make our state safer. Together, we are going to build a safer Maryland for all.”

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MoCo Government

Small Businesses Along Purple Line Construction Route Encouraged to Apply for Phase III Purple Line Construction Impact Grants

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County will be offering funding support for independently owned and operated businesses with 20 or fewer employees impacted by the Purple Line construction through Phase III of its Purple Line Light rail grants program. Eligible businesses can start submitting applications on Aug. 15.

The County’s Business Center will host informational webinars on the program on Aug. 29, 30 and 31 in English, Spanish, and Amharic languages respectively at 8070 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring. This is the third round of grants through which the County’s Business Center will offer $5,000 to qualifying small businesses in the construction corridor. This grant program is made possible through an $815,000 grant provided by the Maryland Department of Commerce.

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Maryland

Governor Wes Moore Announces Public Employee Relations Board Appointments

By Patrick Herron

Per the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore today announced appointments to the Public Employee Relations Board. Erica Snipes, who previously served as shared executive director of the Public School Labor Relations Board, the State Higher Education Labor Relations Board, and the State Labor Relations Board, has been selected to serve as Acting Executive Director.

“State employees dedicate their lives to improving the delivery of public services for all Marylanders,” said Gov. Moore. “The Public Employee Relations Board will streamline the labor laws that impact these vital employees to make sure state workers receive the protections they deserve.”

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Germantown

Concern for Missing 17-Year-Old Last Seen July 15

By Patrick Herron

The Special Victims Investigations Division is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a missing 17-year-old. Brianna Powers was last seen on Saturday, July 15, 2023 at approximately 2 p.m., in the 13600 of Dover Cliff Place in Germantown. Powers is 5’3″ with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing black shorts and a black hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Brianna Powers is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).

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MoCo Government

Efforts Continue to Restore Power and Clean Up Damage Following Severe Weather Weekend

By Patrick Herron

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County officials continued storm cleanup efforts days after severe storms and heavy rain caused significant damage and power outages on Saturday evening.

“Even though efforts to clear and repair damage from this weekend’s storms continue across Montgomery County, I want to recognize and thank our storm responders for their hard work and long hours,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Over the last few days, countless Montgomery County Government employees have worked diligently to help residents and businesses recovering from severe storm damage. We assisted those in need to find shelter, rescued boaters during the thunderstorms, removed trees and debris from streets and sidewalks, distributed water on Ride On buses and directed traffic when lights were out. I thank my County colleagues, as well as those working for the State and utility companies, for their response to these storms. Their tireless efforts made recovery from a difficult weekend much better for so many people.”

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Gaithersburg

Updated Security Measures for This Year’s Montgomery County Fair; Metal Detectors and List of Prohibited Items

By Patrick Herron

The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair has revised its safety/security measures for this year’s event, which takes place August 11th-19th. Per the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair: The Montgomery County Agricultural Fairgrounds is private property and we do not recognize any state or federal issued Concealed or Open Carry Firearm Permit. The Fair is a Family Friendly event that provides agricultural education and entertainment to children of all ages. Carrying firearms, weapons, and inappropriate behavior are prohibited.

Patrons entering the Fairgrounds will pass through metal detectors at each of our General Admission entry gates. These units will be adjusted to detect prohibited weapons and allow timely passage without the need to empty backpacks or pockets. Keys, cell phones, coins and other common items are permissible and will not be detected. Please leave hard, protective sunglass cases home as the metal in these cases will trigger the alarm. Accommodations will be in place at each gate to permit passage of strollers, child carriers, electric mobility chairs and similar devices.

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MDLottery

Tonight’s Mega Millions Jackpot Now at $1.1 Billion

By Patrick Herron

With excitement over the rising jackpot, the number of prizes won across the other eight prize tiers keeps growing. In the July 28 drawing, there were a total of 3,157,597 winning tickets across all tiers. Of those, 586,903 included the optional Megaplier (available in most states with an extra $1 purchase), which multiplies all standard non-jackpot prizes by a factor of 2x to 5x; Friday night’s Megaplier was 5x. In the current Mega Millions matrix and Megaplier configuration, which has been in place since October 28, 2017, there has never been a Megaplier of 5x drawn at this extraordinary jackpot level. That means a lot of prizes in other tiers have been multiplied by a factor of five!

They include a big $5 million winner in Pennsylvania, one of five tickets nationwide that matched the five white balls for the game’s second-tier prize. Another Pennsylvania ticket takes home the standard $1 million prize in the July 28 drawing, along with tickets in Arizona, California and New York. Across the country, 92 tickets matched four white balls plus the Mega Ball to win the third-tier prize. Fourteen of those tickets are worth $50,000 each, because they also included the optional Megaplier. The other 78 win the standard $10,000 each.

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Retail

Bed Bath & Beyond Relaunches Today as Online-Only Retailer 

By Patrick Herron

Bed Bath & Beyond, which had locations in Gaithersburg, Germantown, and Rockville, is being relaunched today as an online-only retailer. Bed Bath & Beyond’s intellectual property was purchased by Overstock.com for $21.5 million in June. Both companies will now fall under the Bed Bath & Beyond name and Overstock.com now redirects you to bedbathandbeyond.com. Per Overtsock.com: The beloved home brand, Bed Bath & Beyond, is back! This leading consumer brand, which was purchased by Overstock.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSTK) in June, announced today the launch of BedBathandBeyond.com in the U.S. This launch marks a transformation for both Overstock and Bed Bath & Beyond, merging the best of both companies into a single online shopping destination under the Bed Bath & Beyond name.

“This is a historic day for Bed Bath & Beyond and Overstock – and for the broader ecommerce industry,” said Jonathan Johnson, CEO of the new Bed Bath & Beyond. “Overstock has a great business model with a name that does not reflect its focus on home. Bed Bath & Beyond is a much-loved and well-known consumer brand, which had an outdated business model that needed modernizing. Through this rebranding, we’re breathing new life into Bed Bath & Beyond, positioning it as an asset-light, ecommerce retailer with an expanded home furnishings and furniture assortment. Think of it as Bed Bath & a much bigger, better Beyond.”

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Law

Congressman Raskin Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Allow Cannabis Users Access to Federal Employment and Security Clearances.

By Patrick Herron

On Thursday, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC-01) introduced the Cannabis Users Restoration of Eligibility (CURE) Act, legislation to prevent prior or current marijuana use from becoming grounds for failing to receive security clearance or for being found unsuitable for federal employment. The CURE Act will also allow for someone who has previously been denied a security clearance or a federal job opportunity based on marijuana use the chance to have that denial reviewed.

“Every year, qualified and dedicated individuals seeking to serve our country are unable to secure federal jobs and security clearances because the federal government has not caught up with the widely established legal use of medical and recreational cannabis,” said Rep. Raskin. “I am proud to partner with my friend Representative Mace to introduce the bipartisan CURE Act that will eliminate the draconian, failed and obsolete marijuana policies that prevent talented individuals from becoming honorable public servants in their own government.”

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