The Montgomery County Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying three suspects involved in a residential burglary that occurred back in February.
The much-anticipated Pike’s Peek 10K is racing back to the Pike District on Sunday, April 27 and the Pike District Partnership is giving away one free race entry to kick-start your run! (more…)
This is a monthly sponsored post by attorneys John Berry and Kimberly Berry of Berry & Berry, PLLC, an employment and labor law firm located in Northern Virginia that specializes in federal employee, security clearance, retirement and private sector employee matters.
By John V. Berry, Esq
We have been representing and advising numerous federal employees regarding the Reductions-in-Force (RIF) that have recently been issued by several different federal agencies.
As most people have started to realize, these RIF actions have not been thought out very well and have been designed for speed as opposed to accuracy or compliance with the meaning of law and regulation. The question now is what to do if you receive an RIF.
What is a Federal Employee RIF
Federal employee RIFs are simply notices which start the separation process for federal employees. RIFs are supposed to be issued due to restructuring, department elimination, or lack of funding or work. RIFs are also supposed to follow laws, rules, and regulations. A federal employee is also supposed to be given 60 days’ notice before separation.
What We Have Been Seeing Lately
In many of the cases we have seen, most federal employee RIF notices simply state that their entire competitive areas have been eliminated. These mass RIF actions were never anticipated when the laws and regulations governing them were issued. The rules were supposed to be based not on speed but rather on a thoughtful process of eliminating positions that were no longer needed when government funds were low or when an agency needed to restructure.
In reality, the RIFs appear to simply be a means of getting rid of as many federal employees as quickly as possible based on a directive from the President. In most of the notices we have seen, there has been no consideration for performance ratings, years of service, or prior military service. The federal agencies directed to conduct these RIFs have simply looked at cutting numbers and not needs or proper reorganization. This is extremely unfortunate.
The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) has released additional information regarding a fatal single-vehicle collision that occurred on Sunday, April 6, 2025, in the 300 block of Travis Avenue. (more…)
The Butterfly Experience at Brookside Gardens is returning to Montgomery Parks later this week. Formerly known as Wings of Fancy, the exhibit is relaunching on Thursday, April 10, 2025, at 10 a.m., and runs through Sunday, September 21, 2025. Advanced timed tickets go on sale Monday, March 3.
According to Maryland Lottery and Gaming, Maryland’s six casinos combined to generate $172,105,632 in revenue from slot machines and table games during March 2025. The total was down $6,032,191 (-3.4%) from March 2024 when the casinos registered their fifth-best monthly gaming revenue performance ($178,137,823).
With 13% of full-time employees now working entirely from home and another 26% having a hybrid schedule, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the Best States for Working from Home, with Maryland ranked the third best state in the country for working from home.
Demonta King, 18, of Chevy Chase, MD, pleaded guilty today for carjacking a taxicab driver at knifepoint in November 2024 and robbing another victim at gunpoint when he was 16 in August 2022, announced U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin, Jr., Chief Pamela Smith, of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
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UPDATE: Savannah Michelle Snowden has been located safe and unharmed. Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division are asking for the public’s assistance in […]
Commas Food Hall, a new 13,000-square-foot food destination on the third level of Ellsworth Place (8661 Colesville Rd) in Downtown Silver Spring, is slated to open later this spring. One of its featured stalls is Tokoa Cheesesteaks, which local food reviewer “Big Schlim” has rated with his highest honor, “STAMP,” after several visits.
Continuing from the report earlier this year that showed significant reductions in many crime categories in 2024 compared to 2023, the Downtown Silver Spring area has maintained its downward trend in most areas into the first quarter of 2025, according to 3rd District Commander Jason Cokinos.