Maryland

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Montgomery County Council members, and representatives from the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD), the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority (WMATA) welcomed Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Lt. Governor Aruna Miller to the Pike District for a presentation and update on the UM-Institute for Health Computing project. The Institute for Health Computing is a planned research facility and academic presence at the North Bethesda Metro Station in the Pike District that will serve as an anchor and attraction to developers and businesses. The Institute will include research in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning and Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR).

Here is a Power Point presentation from the event.


MoCoSnow

We have certainly had a milder February, but temperatures may reach 80° later this week. Today, we are expected to reach the lower 60s. A cloudy morning should become a mix of clouds and sun later today with temps getting into the 60° this afternoon. Tuesday is expected to be a bit sunnier and a couple degrees warmer today, with temps in the low to mid 60s.

Things will cool down on Wednesday with rain possible and temperatures in the mid 60s before a big warm up comes to town on Thursday, February 23 with temperatures expected to reach the upper 70s and possibly as warm as 80°!  DC has reached 80° in February just three times in history– 84° on February 25, 1930, 82° on February 21, 2018, and 82° on February 28, 1948.


Germantown

Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a collision with entrapment on Sunday afternoon in Germantown. According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, the collision occurred around 3:00PM in the area of Father Hurley Boulevard and Crystal Rock Drive, near Cloverly Center Drive. EMS is currently evaluating several patients. Some lanes are blocked and drivers are advised to seek an alternate route. We will post an update when additional information is available.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “IAO Father Hurley Boulevard and Crystal Rock Drive near Cloverly Center Drive, collision with entrapment, @mcfrs M729, RS729, PE729, SA700, EMS703, BC705, A734, A722 responding and on scene, some lanes blocked”


Burtonsville

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a fire around 3pm on Sunday afternoon in Burtonsville.  According to Chief Spokesperson for MCFRS Pete Piringer, firefighters responded to the report of a boat on fire in the rear of a garage in the 15500 block of Santini Rd. The fire was knocked down and there was no extension. The garage contained one boat and one RV motorhome. One civilian was evaluated for injury. The cause of the fire has not been released. We will post an update if additional information becomes available.

Per @mcfrsPIO on Twitter: “Update – Santini Road, fire/smoke showing upon arrival, (Bass) boat on fire in rear of garage, no extension to garage, fire knocked down, otherwise garage contains a boat & RV motorhome, 1 civilian injury MCFRS_EMIHS evaluating”


DMV

Last week Representative Jamie Raskin warned travelers who plan on traveling this Spring that processing times for are increasing for passport applications due to a seasonal increase in applications. Processing times are now up to 8-11 weeks for regular applications and 5-7 weeks for expedited applications. Rep. Raskin’s full message can be seen below:

”I’ve just been alerted that a seasonal increase in passport applications has increased processing times to 8-11 weeks for regular apps and 5-7 weeks for expedited apps. If you have travel plans, please submit your application ASAP.”


Business

Gaithersburg’s Emergent BioSolutions, located at 300 Professional Drive, announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its travel health business to Bavarian Nordic (BVNRY) for a total value of up to $380 million, including potential future milestone payments. this announcement was made the same week the company announced that its NARCAN nasal spray was one step closer to FDA approval.

Per the press release: Under the terms of the definitive agreement, Bavarian Nordic will acquire the rights to VIVOTIF®, indicated for the active immunization to prevent typhoid fever, and VAXCHORA®, indicated for the active immunization to prevent cholera, as well as the development-stage chikungunya vaccine candidate CHIKV VLP. Bavarian Nordic will also acquire Emergent’s manufacturing site in Bern, Switzerland, and development facilities in San Diego, California. Approximately 280 current Emergent employees are expected to join Bavarian Nordic as part of the transaction.


Business

Rockville-based DSFederal, Inc., a government focused leader in data science and digital solutions located at 6100 Executive Blvd, announced the appointment of Clement Chen as its new chief executive officer. He will join Sophia Parker in leading the company’s next phase of transformation and growth. Parker will remain as chairwoman of the company. Chen will be focused on achieving the firm’s strategic, financial and operational goals and Parker will continue to focus on the people side of the business including client relationships, partnerships and employee engagement.

Per the press release: Founded in 2007, DSFederal is focused on empowering federal agencies to achieve their mission by connecting the dots between data, policy, people and technology. The company’s highly specialized team, deep public health expertise combined with a broad technology skill set enables them to derive insights to help shape federal policies and decisions.


Business

Rockville-based Supernus Pharmaceuticals, a biopharmaceutical company, located at 9715 Key W Ave, and focused on developing and commercializing products for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, announced it entered into a credit line agreement (the “Credit Line”) with UBS Bank USA (“UBS”) providing the Company an uncommitted demand secured line of credit of up to $150 million, which can be drawn at any time.

Any fixed rate borrowing will bear interest at a fixed interest rate, equal to the sum of the UBS Fixed Funding Rate plus the applicable Percentage Spread established in the Credit Line. Any variable rate borrowing will bear interest at a variable interest rate, equal to the sum of the UBS Variable Rate plus the applicable Percentage Spread established in the Credit Line.


Bethesda

Montgomery County Police responded to a call for a stolen vehicle around 1:40am on Sunday, February 19, at Glenwood Road near Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda. According to MCPD, the adult male victim was making a food delivery in the neighborhood and left his his Hyundai Elantra running and the door open. The suspects were in another car, when they stopped and demanded the car key from the victim, but when they saw the car was already running, they stole the victim’s car.

The suspects abandoned a white Toyota at the scene. Officers searched the area, but were not able to find the suspects who are reported to be late teens or early twenties, wearing dark clothing and hoodies. We will post an update if additional information becomes available. Feature photo courtesy of Google Maps.


Beyond MoCo

As part of Frederick County’s 275thAnniversary Celebratory year, the Frederick County 275 Planning Committee is holding a community contest to redesign the County flag. Frederick County all residents are encouraged to submit a design! Submissions can be made from 5 p.m. January 30, 2023, until March 31, 2023, by emailing [email protected] Submission criteria include:

All designers are required to submit a rules and agreement form. Designers younger than eighteen years of age must submit a parental content form upon submission of the design.  Designs should be submitted as a full color, high-resolution PDF, JPG, or PNG in landscape format and can be submitted no later than the deadline. Incomplete submissions will not be accepted.


Crime

At approximately 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Rockville City Police responded to the 700 block of Fallsgrove Drive for the report of an armed robbery.

According to Rockville Police, a food delivery driver was approached by two men in their late teens to early 20’s dressed in all black clothing. The suspects displayed a handgun, robbed the victim of cash and fled on foot. The victim was not injured. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Rockville City Police Criminal Investigations Unit at 240-314-8938, as always callers may choose to remain anonymous. Featured photo courtesy of Google Maps.