Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: “Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a coalition of 23 Attorneys General in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in the case Career Colleges and Schools of Texas v. U.S. Department of Education, et al. The brief urges the court to uphold the Department of Education’s Borrower Defense Rule (Rule), which provides relief for student loan borrowers who experience fraud and abuse by educational institutions.

The brief was filed in support of the Department of Education in a lawsuit brought in February 2023 by the Career Colleges and Schools of Texas (CCST), an organization representing forprofit colleges and trade schools, which seeks to challenge the Department’s Borrower Defense Rule. The Rule, amongst other protections, allows borrowers who experienced certain misconduct on the part of their schools to receive debt forgiveness on their federal student  loans.

“The Borrower Defense Rule is one of the best protections we have for students who were deceived or defrauded by for-profit schools, so they are not unfairly saddled with federal student loan debt,” said Attorney General Brown. “Weakening those protections would make it harder for these students to obtain debt relief.”

In April 2023, CCST filed a motion for a preliminary injunction against the student borrower protections. The motion was initially denied by the federal trial court but then granted by the Fifth Circuit in July 2023, allowing CCST to temporarily evade compliance with the Department’s borrower defense protections. CCST’s appeal from the trial court’s denial of a
preliminary injunction is set to be heard in November 2023.

The coalition’s brief describes how states regularly investigate and take enforcement action against predatory postsecondary institutions through their consumer protection offices to redress widespread and systemic unfair and deceptive practices, primarily by private, for-profit institutions. CCST’s lawsuit seeks to eliminate such critical protections.

The Rule has been lawfully implemented by the Department, the brief argues, in accordance with the federal Higher Education Act. In cases where state investigations have revealed wrongdoing by predatory institutions, the Rule augments the other remedies available through state enforcement actions by providing borrowers with the possibility of discharging their federal student loans that were based upon institutions’ fraudulent misconduct – thereby not only granting meaningful relief to borrowers, but also deterring future institutional misconduct. In the brief, the coalition, also rebuts CCST’s claim that, in order to be eligible for borrower defense relief based on their schools’ misconduct, borrowers must first go into default, with all the grievous harms default entails for borrowers, their families, and their communities. Rather,
the coalition argues, the Department has the legal authority to grant student loan discharge through the Rule for borrowers, regardless of whether the loans are in default.

In accordance with the states’ experience investigating widespread and systemic misconduct and wrongdoing by predatory institutions – often impacting large cohorts of borrowers – the amici states further argue in support of the Rule’s group application process. This process enables the states to file discharge claims on behalf of groups of affected borrowers instead of on a studentby-student basis. Not only does the Rule’s group discharge process better ensure that larger numbers of harmed borrowers are able to access relief, but also acts as a more cost-effective method of recourse than adjudicating individual claims.

In submitting the brief, Attorney General Brown joins the Attorneys General of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Below is a list of businesses that have recently opened, closed, or are coming soon to the Gaithersburg Square shopping center: 
Coming Soon: Carter’s/OshKoh
Children’s clothing chain Carter’s is returning to its previous Gaithersburg Square location at 520 N. Frederick Ave. The store closed in July 2021 and was replaced by Charik African Fashion in March 2022. Charik recently relocated two doors down to the former T-Mobile location at 530 N. Frederick Ave.  Charik is a family-owned African fashion store that sells shoes, clothing, and accessories and previously had a location inside of Lakeforest Mall.

According to its website, Carter’s is the largest branded marketer of baby and children’s clothing in the U.S. According to signage on the building, the store is expected to open this fall.

Closed: Kogi Asian Grill
Kogi Asian Grill, a fast-casual restaurant that opened in August 2021, closed its location at 560 N Frederick Ave over the summer. Kogi featured “classic Korean BBQ meats like bulgogi, options such as sesame chicken and chicken katsu curry with assorted veggies all served in a bowl you can customize.” No word yet on what will be replacing it.

Closed: Boston Market / Coming Soon: Chase Bank 
Boston Market closed its Gaithersburg Square location at 494 N Frederick Ave Unit B back in April, leaving the Boston Market at 3825 Aspen Hill Rd as the chain’s last remaining Montgomery County location.  JP Morgan Chase has signed on to take over the space and will be moving in shortly. In 2022, JPMorgan Chase cut the ribbon to its newly renovated regional headquarters, the Bowen Building at 875 15th St. NW at the corner of McPherson Square in Washington D.C. This acquisition “reinforced the firm’s commitment to Washington D.C. and the Greater Washington region” as it is one of the only banks expanding its physical footprint in our area. Chase is doubling its original branch network commitment made in 2018 to 140 branches by 2025 throughout Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

Now Open: Oak Barrel & Vine
Montgomery County’s Department of Alcohol Beverage Services held the grand opening for its latest Oak Barrel & Vine location at 512 N. Frederick Ave. on June 15. The Oak Barrel & Vine branded stores feature handpicked items with a focus on spirits and locally manufactured products. The new Gaithersburg Square location will be the largest of the ABS stores and is the third to carry the Oak Barrel & Vine brand. It will feature a large tasting room and event space, an improved selection of small format items, a dedicated non-alcoholic products section, queue lines for faster checkout, wayfinding signs, and enhanced customer accessibility.
“The Gaithersburg Square Oak Barrel & Vine store will provide customers with the tasting and educational space they have been requesting,” said ABS Director Kathie Durbin. “The Oak Barrel & Vine brand is designed to reflect our community by showcasing local products and providing dynamic service in a safe and inviting environment. The large tasting room will allow customers to engage more fully, turning shopping into an experience.”

Per the Maryland Lottery: Maryland’s 13 retail and 12 mobile sportsbooks that operated during September 2023 combined to generate $3,231,427 in contributions to the state. Each sportsbook contributes 15% of its taxable win to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund, which supports public education programs.

Statewide handle in September totaled $442,450,666, with mobile handle accounting for 95.1% of the total at $420,957,789. Mobile wagering delivered $2,888,568 in contributions to the state during September, while retail sportsbooks contributed $342,859. The state’s sports wagering market added its 13th retail location when Canton Gaming and its operator partner Parx Interactive opened a sportsbook at The Greene Turtle in Towson on Sept. 29.

A detailed summary of each sportsbook’s September 2023 results, including handle, hold percentage, prizes paid, promotional play, taxable win, and contribution to the state, along with a summary of statewide handle and hold by sport is included in the attached chart and available for download at mdgaming.com.
Here are the statewide sports wagering totals for September 2023:

Handle (Amount players wagered, including free promotional wagers)

·         Retail: $21,492,877 (includes $29,190 in free promotional wagers)

·         Mobile: $420,957,789 (includes $23,953,299 in free promotional wagers)

·         Combined: $442,450,666

Prizes (Winnings paid to players)

·         Retail: $18,928,968

·         Mobile: $337,945,774

·         Combined: $396,874,742

Hold (Handle less prizes paid)

·         Retail: $2,563,908 (11.9%)

·         Mobile: $43,012,015 (10.2%)

·         Combined: $45,575,923 (10.3%)

Taxable Win (Amount remaining after deducting prizes, promotional wagers and other amounts)

·         Retail: $2,285,730

·         Mobile: $19,257,119

·         Combined: $21,542,849

Sports Wagering Tax (15% of the Taxable Win)

·         Retail: $342,859

·         Mobile: $2,888,568

·         Combined: $3,231,427

Since the inception of Maryland’s sports wagering program in December 2021:

·         Cumulative contribution to the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future Fund:  $37,241,435

·         Cumulative expired prizes contributed to the Problem Gambling Fund:  $2,580,684

Maryland’s sports wagering market launched with five retail locations in December 2021. The first seven mobile sportsbooks launched in November 2022. As of the end of September 2023, there were 13 retail locations and 12 mobile operators. Additional retail locations and mobile sportsbooks are expected to launch in the near future.

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call for a fire at a three-story garden apartment at 900 Clopper Rd., near Metropolitan Grove Rd. in Gaithersburg shortly before 8pm on Friday night. According to MCFRS Chief Spokesperson Pete Piringer, smoke coming from the building was revealed to stem from a fire on the second floor. Multiple units responded and the building has been evacuated, with  Clopper Road (MD-117) temporarily closed from Metropolitan Grove Road to Firstfield Road until late Friday night.

In an update provided by Piringer on Saturday, approximately 50 firefighters responded to the apartment fire. Two adults were transported to the hospital. One of the adults was located and rescued from the apartment of origin (smoke inhalation), and another adult from a different apartment was transported due to an unrelated medical issue. The cause is still under investigation. Two apartment units were displaces (three adults, one dog, and one cat) and where was approximately $110K in damage.

Update (10/6 ~845p) 900blk Clopper Rd; Origin/Cause, 2nd fl living room (cause, under investigation); Damage ~$110K; FFs located & ‘rescued’ 1 adult from apt of origin; 2 residents of the apt bldg were transported by @MCFRS_EMIHS; ~50 FFs responded pic.twitter.com/cwu6cOl9pb

— Pete Piringer (@mcfrsPIO) October 7, 2023

The U.S. Marshals and Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Department are seeking the public’s help in locating a man who escaped the Virginia Department of Corrections in August and is suspected of a Sept. 1 carjacking in Gaithersburg, Maryland. A combined reward of up to $20,000 is now being offered. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to Roulack’s arrest. Crime Solvers of Maryland is offering up $10,000. Anyone with information about Roulack’s location is urged to contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-WANTED2, or tips can be submitted via the U.S. Marshals Tips App.

Naseem Roulack, 21, has been on the run from the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force since Aug. 12. He is facing kidnapping, armed robbery, armed carjacking, first-degree assault and vehicle theft charges for the Gaithersburg incident. Roulack was serving a 13-year sentence for charges of aggravated malicious wounding, grand larceny and hit-and-run when he escaped custody while getting medical help at St. Mary’s Hospital in Henrico, Virginia.

Per MCPD: At approximately 12:05 am on September 1st, 6th District officers responded to the 400 block of W. Deer Park Rd. in Gaithersburg for the report of an armed carjacking that occurred earlier. Detectives have determined that the adult female victim was sitting in her blue 2016 Nissan Sentra when the unknown suspect approached the suspect, pointed a black handgun at her and demanded her car. Through the course of the investigation, detectives identified Roulack as the suspect and determined that he is an escaped inmate from the Virginia Department of Corrections. Roulack is serving a 13-year sentence for charges of aggravated malicious wounding, grand larceny and hit & run. Roulack is described as a Black male, 5-feet, 6-inches tall, 225 pounds, black hair and brown eyes. He has tattoos on his right eye, left cheek and neck.

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Shalal Frazier, a missing 17-year-old from White Oak. Frazier was last seen on Monday, October 2, 2023, in the 11400 block of Steward Lane in White Oak. He is 5’9″, 180Ibs., with dyed blonde hair currently styled in short locs and has pierced ears.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Shalal Frazier is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).

Per MCPS: Set for Saturday, Oct. 14, the second annual Latina Legacy Conference is an event to empower and inspire Latina female high school students. The free event will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring campus. The keynote speaker is Vilma Nájera, principal at Watkins Mill High School.

This year’s conference theme is ¡Unidas, Adelante! and the topics to be discussed include Latina wellness and mental health, Latinas in education, Latina empowerment, and social justice and the Latina student voice. The event is being presented by the MCPS Office of Strategic Initiatives, Montgomery College and Poder Educators. To register, interested students should reach out to their school’s representative on this list by Monday, Oct. 9.

Per the State of Maryland: “Governor Wes Moore today announced the launch of the Build Our Future grant program, a financial resource for innovation infrastructure projects to support eligible technology sectors. Funded at $10 million, the pilot program will provide matching grants of up to $2 million to projects that demonstrate a transformative impact in accelerating growth and innovation in the state’s strategic industry sectors.

“From cybersecurity and manufacturing, to quantum and drug discovery, we believe the Build Our Future pilot program will grow our innovative industries throughout the state,” said Gov. Moore. “While building a more competitive and equitable Maryland, we need to ensure we’re looking toward the jobs of the future and supporting the progressive technology sectors. This program will help us invest in the tech-advanced facilities that tomorrow’s workforce depends on.”

Administered by the Maryland Department of Commerce, the program was established through The Innovation Economy Infrastructure Act of 2023 during this year’s legislative session as a key piece of the governor’s plan to bridge the gap between vision and success in Maryland. Grants may be awarded to private companies, nonprofit entities, local governments, or colleges and universities in Maryland. Eligible projects include cyber ranges, prototype manufacturing centers, research spaces, sensitive compartmented information facilities, and wet laboratories, among others.

“We’re proud to be leading the charge behind the state’s new Build Our Future program,” said Maryland Department of Commerce Secretary Kevin Anderson. “These grants will help some of our biggest innovators expand their efforts and keep doing what they do best: pioneer new ideas and products and grow Maryland’s impressive innovation ecosystem.”

Applicants must be in good standing with the state through the Department of Assessments and Taxation. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Applications will be accepted starting October 16, with an informational webinar to be held October 19.

Additional details including webinar registration and eligibility terms will be posted on the Commerce website.”

Popular sushi restaurant Sushi Damo, located at 36G Maryland Ave in Rockville Town Square, has announced that it will close permanently on October 1st. Sushi Damo was one of the first tenants of Rockville Town Square, signing on back in 2006 and opening in 2007.

The restaurant posted the following message on social media, “To our loyal community and guests, we sadly announce to all of you that we’re closing Sushi Damo Rockville forever in 7 days, it was a pleasure serving to all of you during the last 16 years. THANK YOU.” Currently the restaurant is offering 20% off wine bottles during its last week in business.

Back in 2019, Sushi Damo hosted The MoCoShow for an episode of The MoCoShow podcast. That’s available to view here.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CxoV55hx45m/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Tacos El Pariente has announced it will be holding the grand opening of its brick and mortar location at 7889 Cessna Ave. in Gaithersburg, in the space previously occupied by Daytime Eats. Daytime Eats closed this past spring.

Tacos El Pariente also has food trucks at 20220 Frederick Rd in Germantown (the original truck) and at 18000 Georgia Ave in Olney. Their menu items include birria tacos with consome (their specialty), tortas, burritos, enchiladas, esquite, and more. For its grand opening, the restaurant in Gaithersburg will be open from 9am until 9pm and offer breakfast options at 50% off from 9am-10am and free tacos (maximum of three) from 3pm-4pm.

https://www.facebook.com/100047300511017/posts/827578228828853/?mibextid=cr9u03

Per the Maryland Department of Health: The Maryland Department of Health today announced that an adult living in the Eastern Shore region has tested positive for West Nile virus – the first confirmed human case of the virus in Maryland this year.  The patient is recovering from the infection.

West Nile is transmitted to humans via mosquitoes infected by feeding on birds that have the virus. In rare instances, the virus may be spread from person to person through organ donation, blood transfusion, breastfeeding or from pregnant mother to fetus. The disease affects the nervous system, and up to 80% of people who are infected will not display any signs of illness. However, those who have underlying health conditions could become seriously ill.

“We are in the season when the West Nile virus can spread in Maryland,” said Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman. “We urge people to be vigilant and take steps to avoid infection and eliminate standing pools of water where mosquitoes can breed. Our teams are continuing to monitor mosquito activity across the state.”

West Nile virus was detected in the United States for the first time in 1999. In 2020, a single confirmed case was identified, four were identified in 2021, and a single infection was identified in 2022. While most people do not develop symptoms from this virus, some people who develop illness may experience mild symptoms such as fever, headache and body aches; occasionally, a skin rash and swollen lymph glands may be noticed. These symptoms may last a few days or as long as several weeks. People who are older than 50 or have immunocompromised conditions can become seriously ill.

People who are concerned about mosquitoes should cover up exposed skin and use an EPA-registered insect repellent. Residents are also urged to monitor their own yards and gardens for areas of high mosquito activity, especially standing water that can serve as a breeding ground. Even small amounts of water in a discarded can or container can support dozens of mosquitoes, as can clogged rain gutters or drain pipes.

Although birds are not routinely tested for West Nile virus in Maryland, sick or injured birds can be reported to an appropriate local wildlife rehabilitator. Residents can call 1-877-463-6497 for a list of licensed rehabilitators or visit the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife website.

For more information on West Nile virus, including data and educational materials, visit the Center for Zoonotic and Vectorborne Diseases or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention West Nile virus information page.