Patrick Herron, Author at The MoCo Show

Ride On Bus to Resume Collecting Fares One Week From Today, Monday, Aug. 1, with New Rate Set at $1

Published July 25, 2022 at 8:28AM

The one-way pre-pandemic fare was $2 per ride. Monthly passes, which were $45 per rider prior to the health crisis, will be $22.50 starting Aug. 1. The new fares were supported by County Executive Marc Elrich and approved by the County Council in May.

County bus fares will be free for seniors (age 65 and older), persons with disabilities and youth under 19 (older if still in high school). Specialized SmartTrip cards are needed and can be obtained through the MCDOT Mobile Commuter Store, Silver Spring TRiPS Commuter Store, any County library or the Montgomery County Division of Treasury in Rockville. Students can also obtain their specialized ‘Youth Cruiser’ card through their school.

Health

Maryland Department of Health launches 988, the New National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

By Patrick Herron

Published July 25, 2022 at 7:59AM

“988 is an easy-to-remember number and an incredibly fast way to get anyone who experiences a behavioral health crisis the help they need right away,” said MDH Secretary Dennis R. Schrader. “In addition, in Maryland, we are integrating 988 into our existing and expanding crisis system support network.”

Suicide was a leading cause of death for people ages 10 to 34 years in 2020, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Moreover, from April 2020 to 2021, over 100,000 individuals died from drug overdoses in the U.S.

White Oak

Fatal Collision Involving a Metro Bus Sunday Night

By Patrick Herron

Published July 24, 2022 at 11:15PM

There was a multiple vehicle collision that occurred in the area of New Hampshire Ave. and Lockwood Dr. (White Oak) on Sunday night that left one adult male dead. The following details courtesy of MCPD:

On Sunday, July 24, 2022, at approximately 8:52 p.m., 3rd District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel responded to the location for the report of a collision, involving a van, a car and a Metro bus. As a result of the collision, the male driver of the van was pronounced dead at the scene. There is no confirmed age for the deceased at this time.

Rockville

Concern for Sixteen-Year-Old Missing From Rockville

By Patrick Herron

Published July 24, 2022 at 10:31PM

Beyond MoCo

World Health Organization Declares Monkey Pox Outbreak a Global Health Emergency

By Patrick Herron

Published July 23, 2022 at 12:35PM

Today the World Health Organization (WHO) officially declared the spread of monkeypox to be a global health emergency, its highest alert designation, just days after Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services announced that they had received a limited number of monkeypox vaccine doses that will only be offered to a limited number of eligible residents who are at highest risk of contracting the virus.

According to NBC News, the designation means the WHO “now views the outbreak as a significant enough threat to global health that a coordinated international response is needed to prevent the virus from spreading further and potentially escalating into a pandemic.” So far there have been more than 2,500 monkeypox cases reported across the United States.

Gaithersburg

Former MoCo Resident Vince McMahon Announces His Retirement From WWE Amidst Sexual Misconduct Allegations

By Patrick Herron

Published July 22, 2022 at 5:56PM | Updated July 22, 2022 at 6:13PM

Former Montgomery County resident Vince McMahon announced his retirement today from World Wrestling Entertainment. McMahon and his family lived on Stedwick Dr in Montgomery Village in the late 60’s/early 70’s. On June 8, the Wall Street Journal released an article alleging that McMahon paid a secret $3 million “hush money” settlement to a former WWE employee he allegedly had a sexual relationship with. One week later, McMahon announced he was temporarily stepping down from his role as Chairman and CEO while the company ran an internal investigation. The Wall Street Journal then released a second article on July 8, alleging that McMahon paid more than $12 million in total over the past 16 years in settlements with women, all who were associated with the WWE.

Vince’s daughter Stephanie McMahon, along with WWE President Nick Khan, have been named co-CEO’s of the company moving forward. McMahon remains the majority shareholder of WWE, owning about 32% of its stock. McMahon released the following statement Friday afternoon on the company’s corporate website:

MoCo Government

Montgomery County Leaders and Officials to Announce Resolution to Address and Define Antisemitism

By Patrick Herron

Published July 22, 2022 at 2:39PM

The resolution, introduced by the Council and led by Councilmember Friedson, comes in response to the disturbing rise of antisemitism and acts of assault, vandalism and harassment against Jewish community members and Jewish organizations across the County and nation.

The resolution adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism and reaffirms the Council’s commitment to combat all forms of hate and extremism and reflects the Council’s strong support for and solidarity with Montgomery County’s Jewish community.

MoCo Government

County Council Seeks Applicants for Policing Advisory Commission

By Patrick Herron

Published July 22, 2022 at 12:33PM

The public members on the Commission should reflect a range of ethnicities, socioeconomic status and places of origin to reflect the racial and economic diversity of the County’s communities, including religious creed, age, sex – including on the basis of gender identity or orientation, disability and geographic location, with emphasis on those disproportionately impacted by inequities; and have an interest or expertise in policing matters. Public members must participate in the Montgomery County Police Department’s Citizen Academy.

The 15-member Commission consists of nine voting public members nominated and appointed by the County Council; four voting public members nominated by the County Executive and appointed by the County Council; and two non-voting ex officio members appointed by the County Council: the Police Chief or the Police Chief’s designee, and the President of an employee organization certified under Article V of Chapter 33 (Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 35) or the President’s designee.

Gaithersburg

Signage Up at CVS in Kentlands

By Patrick Herron

Published July 22, 2022 at 12:11PM

Construction continues to progress at the upcoming CVS location in the Kentlands and “coming soon” signage was erected earlier this week.

We first reported that CVS would be taking over the old Tommy Joe’s/Boulevard Tavern/Brasserie Beck/O’Donnell’s location in the Kentlands back in 2019. There’s no timetable for when CVS will be ready to open, but it wouldn’t surprise us if it opened by this end of this fall.

Rockville

(Located) Detectives Ask for Assistance in Locating Missing 14-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Published July 22, 2022 at 11:20AM | Updated July 23, 2022 at 8:55AM

Jackson Hoppe was last seen at approximately 4:40 a.m., on Friday, July 22, 2022, walking in the 100 block of Watkins Pond Boulevard in Rockville.

Hoppe is approximately 5-feet, 3-inches tall and weighs 90 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray hoodie and either black sweatpants or black shorts.

Burtonsville

Police Investigating String of Bank Robberies in Montgomery County

By Patrick Herron

Published July 22, 2022 at 10:54AM

On Tuesday, January 18, 2022, Montgomery County Police 3rd District officers responded to the Sandy Spring Bank, located on the 3500 block of Spencerville Rd. in Burtonsville, for a bank robbery that just occurred. The preliminary investigation revealed that at approximately 3:10 p.m., the male suspect entered the bank and approached a teller window. Once at the window, the suspect slid a note to the teller, announcing the robbery and demanding money. The teller complied and gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect left the bank in an unknown direction.