Niche, a national rankings and review site that analyzes schools and neighborhoods across the country, has released its 2026 list of the top public high schools in Maryland (top 25 available below).
Maryland
The Montgomery County Council unanimously approved Zoning Text Amendment 25-09, introduced by Councilmember Natali Fani-González, to allow alkaline hydrolysis, also known as water cremation as a funeral option in the county, aligning local zoning with state law and industry standards.
With almost half of the population saying that they’d prefer to live in a suburban area, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2025’s Best Small Cities in America, with five areas in Maryland (not all technically cities) listed in the top 8% of the
list. Three of them are in Montgomery County.
Governor Wes Moore announced that Manny Welsh has been appointed Principal Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief Administrative Officer effective October 15, where he will oversee executive branch operations and support the administration’s priorities as part of a leadership reorganization.
Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined 19 other attorneys general in a joint statement opposing efforts to restrict access to mifepristone, emphasizing its long-standing safety and effectiveness and pledging to protect reproductive healthcare if access is challenged.
A Pennsylvania man pleaded guilty to participating in a felony theft scheme that defrauded construction workers of wages on University of Maryland projects, collecting over $63,000 through falsified payroll records. He was sentenced to five years in prison, with all but 90 days suspended to home detention, three years of probation, and has already repaid the stolen wages. (more…)
The U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland entered a default judgment finalizing the forfeiture of 14 ancient Egyptian artifacts, including a $6 million Old Kingdom limestone funerary statue, that had been illegally smuggled into the United States.
One of the most infamous episodes of Bar Rescue took Jon Taffer to Silver Spring, MD, where he confronted the struggling Piratz Tavern, located at 8402 Georgia Avenue. The pirate-themed bar sat in a prime downtown spot surrounded by office buildings, but its gimmick-heavy atmosphere, inconsistent service, and unprofessional staff alienated the very customers who might have kept it afloat. (more…)
Chief Judge George L. Russell III sentenced Kamal Khalid, 44, of Pasadena, Maryland, to three years in federal prison and his brother, Fnu Shahrukh, 31, of Severna Park, to 18 months for their roles in an odometer rollback scheme, with both ordered to pay about $1.2 million in restitution. (more…)
Mayan Monkey, the new concept from the team behind local favorites Taco Bar El Güero, Ixtapalapa, and La Gula Mexicana, opened last year at 227 E. Diamond Avenue in Gaithersburg, located in the former longtime home of Growlers. Since its debut, it’s been quietly building a reputation as one of the area’s must-visit spots for creative Mexican cuisine (video below).
Fans from across the region gathered in Ocean City this weekend for Ocean’s Calling, a three-day music festival that has quickly become one of the East Coast’s signature live music events. But for Montgomery County residents in the crowd, one detail stood out above all… the headlining set by O.A.R. featured a massive stage backdrop designed to look like a Maryland license plate proudly stamped with “Montgomery County.”