“Last Congress – through the united efforts of President Biden in the White House and Democratic majorities in the House and Senate – we led one of the most productive legislative sessions in history – from critical legislation to confront the climate crisis and lower costs for American families to vital investments to modernize our infrastructure to common-sense, bipartisan first steps on gun safety, election integrity, marriage equality, and veterans’ health care.

“This session, it’s essential that we build on this progress by overseeing the effective implementation of these initiatives as we continue to build a more inclusive economy with greater shared prosperity. For Maryland, I’ll be working to invest federal resources in key initiatives across our entire state to support our schools, our workforce, our seniors and our communities, including removing the Highway to Nowhere so we can reunite divided neighborhoods in West Baltimore. And I’ll be fighting to build on the progress we’ve made to preserve and clean up the Chesapeake Bay by moving forward on our proposed Chesapeake National Recreation Area.


The Montgomery County Council is currently seeking applicants to fill three upcoming vacancies on the Montgomery County Planning Board. In October 2022, the County Council appointed five temporary acting Planning Board members. All members serve until their successors are appointed.

The Council intends to appoint successors, before February 28, 2023, for three members. The Council is expected to appoint the remaining two positions, including the chair, by June 14, 2023 and will advertise to fill those positions at a later date.


The tour will leave Rockville on Friday, March 24, and return on Saturday, April 1. The tour will travel to Greensboro, N.C.; Atlanta; Birmingham, Montgomery and Selma, Ala.; Memphis, Tenn.; Little Rock, Ark., Sumner and Jackson, Miss. It will retrace the steps of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Medgar Evers, the Little Rock Nine and many other civil-rights heroes.


The Montgomery County Police Department is investigating a shooting in the 8500 block of 16th Street at/near the Summit Hills apartment complex. According to a news release earlier today, an adult male victim was transported with serious injuries. No suspect is in custody at this time and officers believe this is an isolated incident.

Earlier today police was investigating a shooting on the 9200 block of New Hampshire Ave. An adult male victim was transported with non-life threatening injuries. No suspect is in custody at this time. Councilmember Kate Stewart released the following statement regarding the shootings:


Per Montgomery County: The Policing Advisory Commission (PAC) of Montgomery County is holding a virtual public forum on Jan. 9, 2023, to solicit community testimony and feedback on traffic enforcement in the County by the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD). Other police departments — municipalities, park police, state police, etc. — are not under the PAC’s purview. Community members are invited to register to provide live testimony during the public hearing or to submit written, audio, or video testimony. Community members are asked to limit their live testimony to no more than three minutes and to one speaker per organization (if applicable). Written, audio, and visual testimony submitted prior to the public hearing may be longer, if needed. The deadline to register to speak at the public hearing is 4 p.m. on Jan. 9, 2023.

The PAC believes that traffic enforcement practices in the County do not meet basic tests of effectiveness, efficiency, and equal enforcement, and that a change in mission, focus, and strategy is necessary. The PAC’s report on traffic enforcement, including recommendations, can be found here. The PAC is very interested in hearing from the Montgomery County community regarding their experience with traffic enforcement, and what changes or improvements they would like to see.


“Live” Christmas trees with root balls and artificial trees cannot be collected as yard trim. You can also recycle branches and needles at home by placing them under trees and shrubs– or chop them up and add them to your compost pile!

From your apartment or condominium: Residents of apartments and condominiums: check with your property manager or representative for specific recycling instructions.


“As we can tell from recent weather, having a proper winter coat is very important; unfortunately, for many County families they are costly purchases,” said County Executive Elrich. “I encourage everyone to donate new or gently used coats at this time of the year. I want to thank Silver Spring Cares Inc., CHEER, along with the Montgomery County Police, Montgomery County Recreation and the Silver Spring Regional Services Center for providing this easy and accessible opportunity to help out our neighbors most in need.”


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There will three testing and vaccination sites open on Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2.


With winter weather, there are several factors that residents should be aware of and prepare for, such as: slippery road/sidewalks, cold temperatures, heavy snow and ice, frostbite, hypothermia, wind chill and power loss.


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