Mark Pappas, the beloved founder of Pappas Restaurants and a fixture of Maryland’s dining community for more than half a century, has passed away at the age of 93. The restaurant’s social media page announced that he died peacefully over the weekend, surrounded by loved ones.
Update: Toys “R” Us will open on Wednesday, November 26th. More info here.
A new Toys“R”Us flagship store is expected to open at Arundel Mills mall in Hanover by the end of the month, according to a mall employee who spoke with us on Sunday. While an exact opening date has not yet been announced, the store is described as opening “very soon,” placing Maryland among the first states to receive one of the brand’s new full-scale locations.
DC-area television stations NBC4, FOX5, ABC7, and WUSA9 have all released their 2025-2026 winter outlooks, giving residents an early look at what the season may bring. As we do each year, MoCoSnow has compared the four forecasts to highlight similarities, differences, and who is calling for the most, or least, snow across the region.
In response to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage update suggesting that health authorities “ignored” possible links between vaccines and autism, Maryland Health Secretary Dr. Meena Seshamani reiterated that vaccines are rigorously tested, safe, and remain one of the most effective tools for preventing disease. (more…)
Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown announced that Clarence Woods Jr., 63, of Glen Burnie, MD, was sentenced for running a Ponzi-style scheme that defrauded 13 investors of more than $380,000 and for stealing an additional $175,000 from a client’s bank account, totaling over $550,000 stolen from 16 victims.
Maryland and AstraZeneca announced a $2 billion investment to expand the company’s manufacturing operations in Frederick and Gaithersburg, marking the state’s largest private capital investment in a decade and supporting an estimated 2,600 jobs.
Maryland has reported its first cold-related death of the 2025–2026 winter season, involving an adult male in Frederick County. Health officials are urging residents to take precautions against extreme cold, seek warming centers when needed, and use home heating sources safely to prevent illness, injury, or carbon monoxide exposure. (more…)
Maryland Natural Resources Police recently recovered a 4.5-foot American alligator from a Prince George’s County home after the owner died and the family contacted authorities for help. (more…)
Montgomery County Government recently shared on social media that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School’s own John Glodek has been named Middle School Physical Educator of the Year by the Society of Health and Physical Educators Maryland (SHAPE MD).
A federal grand jury indicted Erik Lee Madison of Halethorpe, MD on charges including sexual exploitation of a child, coercion and enticement of a child, and cyberstalking, following his arrest earlier this month.
According to court documents, Madison is accused of targeting minors while associated with an online extremist group, with potential federal prison sentences ranging from 10 years to life if convicted.
Maryland has launched a new statewide program that will provide free recommended vaccines to uninsured and underinsured adults through local health departments, beginning with four counties and expanding in the coming weeks.