MCPD

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Darwin Rivera, a missing 17-year-old from Silver Spring.

Rivera was last seen on Tuesday, June 13, 2023, at approximately 2 p.m., in the 900 block of Browning Ave.   Rivera is approximately 5-feet, 3-inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. He has medium length black hair and brown eyes. Rivera has a mustache, pierced ears and tattoos on his left forearm and hands. It is unknown what clothing he was last seen wearing.


Maryland

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition of 24 Attorneys General in a comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services supporting stronger protections for patients’ reproductive health information. The Biden administration is considering adding amendments to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule, the federal law that governs the disclosure of protected health information (PHI). If implemented, the changes would make it illegal to share a patient’s PHI if the PHI is being sought for certain criminal, civil, and administrative investigations, and proceedings against a patient in connection with a legal abortion or other reproductive care.

These changes are critical to protecting patients as the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade spurred many anti-abortion states to enforce draconian restrictions that could lead to criminal or civil penalties for anyone seeking, providing, or assisting with reproductive care. In the letter, the coalition welcomes the federal government’s proposed HIPAA amendments, which aim to protect against such misuse of this data. The coalition asserts that additional guardrails would help safeguard reproductive health data from being wrongfully accessed and exploited to harm pregnant people or healthcare providers.


MCDOT

Leading up to Public Works Week, eleven Montgomery County middle schools participated in the “Paint the Plow” contest to celebrate the many contributions made by public works employees that keep the County running.

The snowplow entries were showcased during MCDOT’s family-friendly ‘Truck Day’ event that was held on Saturday, May 20. The free event had more than 1,000 attendees who were invited to vote for their favorite snowplow design. The decorated plows will be part of the MCDOT fleet that will be clearing snow from streets this winter. The middle school winners selected were (pictured below):


Gaithersburg

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire in the 10000 blk of Trafalgar Sq, off King James Way, near Muddy Branch Rd in Gaithersburg around 4am on Monday, June 19. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the fire was located in a bedroom on the second floor of a townhome.


Event

Online event (see link)

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Potomac

Colony Grill, a popular Connecticut Pizza restaurant offering “bar pies”, opens its newest location today (Monday, June 19), at 11:30am in Potomac’s Cabin John Village. Pricing for Colony Grill’s pies range from $10.50 to $13.50 with options for adding additional toppings or glutenfree crust. The menu also features a “salad pie,” as well as a breakfast pie that features a choice of bacon or sausage, egg, and cheese and is available all day. 

”Colony Grill, the 85-year-old restaurant brand known for its family-friendly tavern settings, gracious hospitality, and famous “hot oil” bar-style pizzas, has announced the opening of its newest location at Cabin John Village, a bustling mixed-use development located at 11325 Seven LocksRoad in Potomac, Maryland. Beginning Monday, June 19, the 4,800-square-foot space will be open daily from 11:30 a.m. until late closing, offering seating for about 175 across its dining room, bar, and patio.


Clarksburg

Baked Potato House, featuring “delicious stuffed potatoes”, is coming to the Clarksburg Premium Outlets, taking over the space that was previously home to Day & Night Cereal Bar. The cereal bar cleared out of the space last month.

Currently not much is known about Baked Potato House, but similar restaurants and carts have recently opened in areas like New York. Baked Potato King is a similar restaurant in New York and a new cart, known as Potato House, has recently opened. They both offer a variety of stuffed baked potatoes that allow customers to stuff a large baked potatoes with their choice of salads (chicken, tuna, chicken, salmon, eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms and more) and their choice of sauces including ketchup, mustard, ranch, sour cream, and more.


Beyond MoCo

Lawsuit Filed Holding Two Companies Responsible: Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and Maryland Department of the Environment Secretary Serena McIlwain announced a lawsuit filed on behalf of the Maryland Department of the Environment, seeking to hold D.M. Bowman, Inc. and Day and Sons, Inc. responsible for a release of diesel fuel in Frederick, Maryland.

On December 7, 2021, the Oil Control Program at the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) received a report of a release of diesel fuel at the D.M. Bowman facility, located at 6816 English Muffin Way in Frederick, Maryland. The Oil Control Program subsequently determined that the release occurred when horizontal drilling conducted by Day and Sons, Inc. struck the underground diesel lines at the D.M. Bowman facility. Initial estimates indicate that over 7,000 gallons of diesel were released into the subsurface; however, the full scope of the incident is still being investigated. The Department alleges that D.M. Bowman failed to properly maintain inventory records and investigate unusual operating conditions in accordance with Maryland law, resulting in the release going unreported for days. The limestone and other geological features in the area create difficulties in locating the released fuel, but site assessment and remediation activities are ongoing.


Crime

Montgomery County Police responded to a fatal shooting in the 9800 block of Bethesda Church Road on  Sunday, June 18. According to MCPD, “at approximately 9:58 p.m., the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center received a call for a shooting at the above location.

Upon arrival, 5th District officers and Montgomery County Fire Rescue personnel located a 32-year-old male suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead on scene.  


MCDOT

MCDOT plans to install temporary combined bus and bicycle lanes on University Boulevard to speed riders and cyclists along and enable data collection for a future redesign. In the longer term, the corridor will get a comprehensive overhaul with the addition of a Flash Bus Corridor. Montgomery County’s Bus Rapid Transit is marketed as Flash.  Flash is Montgomery County’s bus rapid transit (BRT) system.

Nationally, BRT is recognized as a high-capacity bus-based transit system that delivers fast service that may include dedicated bus lanes, traffic signal priority, off-board fare collection, elevated platforms and enhanced, modern stations. Pedestrian and bicycle enhancements are incorporated as part of the Flash implementation long term.


Maryland

The Maryland Department of Agriculture announced that 16 projects will receive grant funding totaling $650,000 through the new Healthy Soils Competitive Fund. This unique program provides financial assistance to qualifying farms—large and small—and organizations that adopt innovative conservation practices that benefit climate, soil, and water.

“We are delighted with the response to this new grant program that encourages innovative conservation ideas and strategies from local farmers and growers,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks.  “It’s a win-win for healthier food, cleaner air, and improved water quality in our streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay.”.


Maryland

The Maryland Department of the Environment has issued a Code ORANGE Air Quality Alert on Monday, June 19th for the Maryland suburban DC region, which includes all of Montgomery County. Additional information below per the Maryland Department of the Environment:

Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) ozone concentrations remain possible Monday, compounded by persistent, though diffuse, wildfire smoke. Winds turn from the south on Monday. This will cause a recirculation of the regional airmass bringing pollution from Sunday back northward. Despite the anticipated lower emissions due to the state holiday Monday, ozone development leading to potential USG conditions for a wider area along and north of I-95 from DC to Baltimore remains possible outside of thunderstorms. As flow turns towards the east on Tuesday into Wednesday and increased chances for rain develop, air quality improves, with generally categorical Good AQI air quality expected. For current air quality conditions please check this website.