The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) has arrested a federal agent accused of sexual assault. Detectives believe there may be additional victims. The agent, Eduardo Valdivia, was previously found not guilty of attempted murder by a jury in 2022 after he was charged for an off-duty shooting that occurred on a Metro train in Bethesda on December 15, 2020.
In the early hours of the morning, a resident in the Bethesda area alerted authorities to a potentially dangerous situation unfolding in their neighborhood. While many were settling in for the night, the midnight shift officers received a call about a suspicious individual attempting to break a window at a local business. This timely tip-off would soon lead to a series of events culminating in the arrest of the suspect, according to a social media post by District 2 Commander Amy Daum of the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD).
Four Montgomery County companies in the financial services, AI, biopharma, and clean tech industries raised just over $460 million across public offerings and private investment activity in June and July, signifying continued investor confidence in Montgomery County’s business ecosystem.
In June, Forbright, a Chevy Chase-based bank holding company with 545 employees, successfully completed its initial public offering on the Nasdaq. The D.C. region’s fastest-growing bank raised $142.2 million, valuing the company at approximately $950 million, marking not only a major milestone for the company but also for Montgomery County’s rapidly expanding financial services industry, which boasts companies spanning venture capital, private equity, financial technologies, and investment asset management.
Also in June, Bethesda-based Xometry announced a $225 million secondary public offering. Founded in Gaithersburg, the AI-powered manufacturing marketplace has become one of Montgomery County’s homegrown innovation economy success stories, connecting businesses with manufacturing capacity around the world through its intelligent digital platform. The additional capital will allow the company, which employs over 1,000 people, to continue expanding and investing in advanced manufacturing innovation.
Known as the anchor of the third-largest biopharma hub in the nation, it’s not surprising that life sciences companies in the County also continue to attract attention from investors. In July, RegenxBio, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of gene therapy treatments, raised $90.04 million in its second public offering on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange. Located in Rockville with over 370 employees, RegenxBio is a leader in developing therapies for retinal, neuromuscular, and neurodegenerative diseases.
In clean tech, Arculus Solutions, a developer of hydrogen-barrier coatings designed to protect infrastructure from hydrogen embrittlement, raised $1.95 million of Seed-1 funding from undisclosed investors, putting the company’s pre-money valuation at $20.05 million. The company’s coatings can be used in various applications, such as hydrogen fuel cell pipelines, storage tanks and hydrogen-powered vehicles, enabling the energy industry to reduce the risk of accidents and improve safety. Based in Bethesda, Arculus is yet another example of Montgomery County’s growing position as a hub for clean tech, which is home to several leading clean tech companies, including X-energy and Liatris.
From innovative financial institutions and AI leaders to biopharma and clean tech companies that are developing technologies that are shaping to future, Montgomery County continues to remain a place where companies can start and scale quickly.
Montgomery County has announced it is advancing its zero waste goals through expanded recycling and composting programs, improved waste diversion technologies, and community engagement, achieving a 45% recycling rate—significantly above the national average of 32%. The County plans to implement advanced waste processing technologies, close its Resource Recovery Facility, and transition to more sustainable systems while maintaining current operations through a short-term contract extension. (more…)
A $50,000 Double Play-winning Powerball ticket was sold at Shoppers Food in Germantown for the November 25 drawing, while Wednesday’s Powerball jackpot is estimated at $196 million. Addition details below courtesy MD Lottery: (more…)
HouseMouse Books is excited to announce the debut of Escape the Bookshop IV, our brand new limited-run escape room experience.
Escape the Bookshop games are always based on a real crime with connections to the DC region. They are designed and built by HouseMouse Books to be played in our atmospheric bookshop. This latest game was inspired by a true local museum theft and the goal is simple – to find the stolen object before the suspect flees the country!
Barbour Sample Sale
Join us for our Georgetown Sample Sale
The Montgomery County Office of Food Systems Resilience (OFSR) has allocated $3,549,500 through the Fiscal Year 2025 Community Food Assistance (CFA) Program to support 48 food assistance organizations, serving nearly 165,000 residents monthly. The program aims to address food security challenges by funding organizations that provide culturally inclusive food options, strengthen local food systems, and enhance data collection and community impact.
Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a two-vehicle collision Tuesday morning in Gaithersburg. (more…)
African Caribbean Market is now open at 9999 Stedwick Rd in Montgomery Village. (more…)
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) announced it has arrested an FBI Special Agent accused of sexually assaulting two adult women. Detectives from the Special Victims Investigations Division will hold a news conference on November 26, 2024, at 11 a.m. at police headquarters in Gaithersburg to encourage any additional victims to come forward. (more…)
The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) and the Maryland Office of the Attorney General are partnering to issue an alert for consumers in the market for a used car to be aware of flood damaged vehicles originating from states recently impacted by hurricanes and flooding.
Cougars Clash with Bruins in Semifinal Showdown of Grit and Glory: The Maryland high school football landscape is no stranger to epic playoff battles, but this week’s Class 4A semifinal between Quince Orchard and Broadneck promises to be a clash for the ages. On one sideline, the Cougars—a perennial powerhouse with a resume glistening in playoff dominance—boast just one loss in the last decade. On the other hand, the Bruins have surged to prominence as the terror of Montgomery County, going 3-0 vs MoCo, dating back to last year.