A Connecticut resident, Alexandre Henrique Costa-Mota, has been arraigned in U.S. District Court in Providence, RI, on charges of conspiracy and wire fraud, as reflected in an indictment that alleges that he participated in a scheme to defraud Home Depot stores in eight states, including Maryland, of approximately $297,332, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.

According to the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Rhode Island, it is alleged in charging documents that, from at least June 2021 to February 2022, Alexandre Henrique Costa-Mota, 26, executed non-receipted return fraud schemes at more than two dozen Home Depot stores located primarily in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, but also in Maine, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.


Per the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney: The former mayor of College Park pled guilty to 60 counts of distribution of child pornography, 40 counts of possession of child pornography, and 40 counts of possession of child pornography with the intent to distribute. Patrick Wojahn pled guilty in court today to 150 years suspend all but 30 years.

In February 2023, the Prince George’s County Police Department received notification from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that suspected child pornography had been distributed by someone in the county. Subsequently, the Department opened an investigation which led to Wojahn who now stands convicted on a host of child pornography charges.


The Maryland State Police Crash team continues the investigation into a multi-vehicle crash which claimed the life of a Pennsylvania woman and injured nine others last night in Montgomery County. Full press release per Maryland State Police below:

The deceased is identified as Elizabeth Velez, 36, of Easton, Pennsylvania.  She was the driver of a Nissan Pathfinder involved in the crash. Velez is the mother of three children, ages 2, 5, and 15, all of whom were passengers in the vehicle.


Per the Maryland Department of Health: Following Governor Wes Moore’s proclamation of August as Immunization Awareness Month in Maryland, the Maryland Department of Health has launched a social media campaign urging parents and caregivers to make sure their children are up to date on their back-to-school vaccinations. The campaign will take place across the Department’s TwitterFacebook and Instagram accounts.

“Our children deserve the best protection we can give them against preventable diseases, so we urge all parents to keep their children updated on their vaccinations, especially those required for school enrollment,” said Maryland Department of Health Secretary Laura Hererra Scott. “We want to start the new school year with every child healthy, happy and ready to learn.”


Per the State of Maryland: Governor Wes Moore, First Lady Dawn Moore, and Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller this evening attended National Night Out events in New Carrollton and Baltimore City. Annual National Night Out events promote police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie, and support for anti-crime efforts across Maryland.

“Public safety is my number one priority as governor and when we talk about public safety, everyone shares responsibility in making things better,” said Gov. Moore. “To all of our friends and neighbors in law enforcement, to the guardians, the parents, the village elders, and the community leaders—I want to partner with all of you to make our state safer. Together, we are going to build a safer Maryland for all.”


The Maryland Department of Natural Resources announced the award of more than $200,000 in competitive grants to support learning experiences and educational opportunities focused on environmental issues. Funding for the educational programs is provided by the state’s Chesapeake Bay Implementation Grant and Aquatic Resources Education Program, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Grant funding is awarded for Fiscal Year 2024 to the following organizations, pending final approval by federal partners:


The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will perform patching and resurfacing spanning four miles of roadway on MD 193 (University Boulevard), MD 201 (Kenilworth Avenue) and MD 410 (Riverdale Road) in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties beginning Wednesday, July 26.

Moving easterly, the work will be performed as follows:


The Maryland Department of Agriculture today announced a new grant program that helps urban farms and community gardens purchase and install equipment to access water and electricity needed to sustain and grow their operations. Approved by the Maryland General Assembly in 2022, the Urban Agriculture Water and Power Infrastructure Grant Program provides the department with up to $500,000 in annual funding through Fiscal Year 2027.

“Urban and community farms provide a needed source of fresh, locally grown food for many city residents,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks. “During the hot summer months, irrigation becomes essential for these growers. This grant program helps small, urban operations purchase and install equipment that will allow them to connect to existing water and electricity sources,” he said.


The Maryland Horse Industry Board  has announced they will begin accepting grant applications for the 2024 grant year. The goals of the grant program are to promote the Maryland equine industry by increasing public awareness and participation, advancing education and training, supporting and promoting equestrian events, programs, and activities, and preserving access and use of public lands for riding. The deadline to apply is October 6.

“I encourage all members of the horse industry to apply for these grants,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks. “The monies provide opportunities for growth of the industry in Maryland. Thank you to the Maryland Horse Industry Board for offering this fantastic grant opportunity.”


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