DMV

Matt Hilburn, Man Behind “Unsuck DC Metro”, Has Died

By MCS Staff

Matt Hilburn, the man behind the “Unsuck DC Metro” Twitter account and self-proclaimed Metro Lover Hater, has died at 54, according to a report by Washingtonian. Unsuck DC Metro began as a blog in 2009, but became almost exclusive to Social media (mainly Twitter and Facebook until the Facebook page was deleted in late 2021), with just four blog posts in the last 9 years compared to constant activity on Twitter as recently as late last week.

Per a 2019 DCist report, “The Unsuck D.C. Metro blog and social media account began a decade ago as one of the few ways that residents could learn about delays and other issues on the WMATA rail system.” Hilburn remained anonymous as the account continued providing updates, but also began to criticize Metro, Metro employees, and even passengers primarily through curated retweets and reposts of others doing the same as the account grew in popularity.

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MoCo

MoCo Department of Health and Human Services Shares Information From White House on Latest Omicron Variant

By MCS Staff

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Humar Services has shared a video on Twitter where Dr. Ashish Jah, the Covid Response Coordinator for the White House, let’s the public what they need to know about BA.5, a version of the Omicron variant, that’s causing the majority of Covid-19 cases in the United States.

In the video, “Dr. Ashish Jha shares what you need to know about BA.5, the Biden-Harris Administration’s strategy to manage BA.5, and the steps all Americans can take to stay protected.” In the video, Dr. Jha mentions that BA.5 is a version of last winter’s Omicron variant that has been tracked since April and is now the majority of Covid-19 cases in the United States. Dr. Jha refers to BA.5 as “highly immune evasive”, explaining that a lot of reinfections of those previously infected are occurring, and breakthrough infections in those who haven’t been vaccinated in a while. He notes that current tools, vaccines, and therapeutics still work against BA.5.

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Aspen Hill

Concern for Missing Twenty-Seven-Year-Old Man

By Patrick Herron

Update: Tyrell Jamaal Grice has been located deceased. No foul play is suspected in his death.

Grice is approximately 5-feet, 9-inches tall and weighs 190 pounds. He has short black hair and brown eyes. It is unknown what he was last seen wearing.He may be traveling in a black Cadillac ATS bearing MD registration plate 1EZ4621.

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Bethesda

Toys “R” Us Returning to MoCo

By Patrick Herron

Macy’s will be adding Toys”R”Us store-in-store shops to all of its U.S. locations over the next few months. The shops will range from 1,000-10,000 sq. feet, depending on the size of the Macy’s and will expand during the holiday season to offer a wider assortment of products. There are currently Macy’s locations in Lakeforest, Montgomery, and Wheaton Malls.

Depending on the success of the Macy’s version of Toys”R”Us, the company could consider bringing back standalone stores. The former Toy”R”Us location at 600 Frederick Rd in Gaithersburg has remained vacant since the company closed all its stores in 2018. Did you know the first ever Toy’s “R” Us opened in Rockville? 

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News

NBC 4’s Leon Harris Speaks About His Sobriety and Recently Served Jail Time

By MCS Staff

On Monday, Doreen Gentzler spoke with Leon Harris on NBC4 about his sobriety, as well as the time he recently spent in jail after his DUI conviction earlier this year.  Harris told that Gentzler that he was in worse shape than he thought at the time and that he could have killed someone while driving impaired, “I thought after having about four glasses of wine I was good.. I wasn’t, nobody is going to be good after that.” Harris said he now spends three hours a day in therapy talking to other people in recovery.

According to WTOP, Harris spent 10 days in jail and is on three years of supervised probation. Harris returns to the anchor desk on tonight’s 6PM newscast. You can watch the full video below courtesy of the @nbcwashington Twitter:

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Dickerson

Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve (Aerial Video Included)

By MCS Staff

Courtesy of Montgomery Planning: Montgomery County is home to a surprising number of rural areas. The forward-thinking 1964 General Plan focused growth in defined corridors emanating from the population centers in and around the Capital Beltway. Between those corridors, the General Plan called for wedges of low-density residential uses, open space and protected farmland. The rural areas encompass the 93,000 acre Agricultural Reserve along with the larger rural communities of Damascus and Poolesville; small crossroad communities such as Beallsville, Sunshine and Dickerson; and areas with mixed open land and housing. Aerial video available below:

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Gaithersburg

Construction Continues at Progress Labs, Located on Corner of Montgomery Village Ave/355 in Gaithersburg (Progress Video)

By MCS Staff

Progress Labs at Progress Way in Gaithersburg, MD is a two-building approximately 495,000 SF development situated on 44 acres with I-270 visibility and access off of exit 11 Montgomery Village Avenue. Construction commenced at Progress Labs at 700 N. Frederick Avenue in Gaithersburg, MD back in October, and according to the video below (posted by Progress Labs on Monday, July 18th), is scheduled to be delivered in Q4 of 2022, which is ahead of schedule based on the schedule provided on its website, also seen below:

Commence Construction: 10/2021

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Maryland

Maryland U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Justice Department Launch Investigation of Maryland Department of State Police To Assess Whether MDSP Has Engaged in Racially Discriminatory Hiring/Promotion Practices

By MCS Staff

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron and Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today that the Justice Department has opened a civil pattern or practice investigation into the Maryland Department of State Police (MDSP) under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The investigation will assess whether MDSP has engaged in racially discriminatory hiring and promotion practices.

“This office strives to protect the civil rights of all Marylanders, including the rights of our sworn law enforcement officers,” said U.S. Attorney Erek L. Barron for the District of Maryland. “This investigation also furthers our mission to restore trust between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve by ensuring fair employment practices by police departments.”

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Bethesda

MacGuffins Bar to Open Soon at AMC Theater in Montgomery Mall

By Patrick Herron

A representative from Westfield Montgomery tells us that MacGuffins bar is very close to opening inside of AMC Theaters at the mall. MacGuffins is AMC’s in-house bar that offers beer, wine, and mixed drinks to moviegoers. According to AMC, “the term “macguffin,” coined by Alfred Hitchcock, refers to a plot device that propels a movie forward. Our specialty cocktails, craft beers and premium wines will be just the thing to turn this movie experience into a story worth remembering.”

A Drink Mighty Enough for a God!

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Germantown

Germantown Woman Wins $62,576 Playing Electronic Horse Racing Game

By Patrick Herron

“I was stunned, but I kept quiet,” the lucky winner said, recalling that she looked at the Racetrax monitor and back at her ticket in amazement. The Montgomery County resident plans to use her prize strictly to boost her savings account.

Her Lottery retailer shares in her good fortune. Germantown Liberty will receive a $625.76 bonus for its role in selling a winning Racetrax ticket worth $62,576. The bonus is equal to 1% of the prize.

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Bethesda

Malia’s Kitchen to Open in Montgomery Mall

By Patrick Herron

Popular local food truck Malia’s Kitchen will be opening up inside the Montgomery Mall food court, taking over the space that was previously occupied by Lazzaro’s Authentic Italian Deli and Big Al’s Sub Shop. Malia’s Kitchen serves soul food and seafood, which they describe as the best “homemade” down home cooking in the DMV. Items on their menu includes crab cakes, fried chicken, fried fish, and BBQ.  No opening date has been announced.

Lazzaro’s confirmed its closing on Sunday morning when owner Larry Lazarro wrote the following in response to a post on the Support MoCo FB page: “Thank you for all you and everyone has done on this page. Business was great and so was the feedback. It was a personal family health matter. But this is not the end I’m looking to move into a brick/ mortar. This place fell into my lap. Goin into the mall was never my first choice. lol Thank you to everyone we’ll miss seeing your beautiful faces every day! We love you and appreciate what everyone has done for us in this group! And the family is doing fine now.”

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