Per MCPD: 41-year-old Steven Michael Blank, of Damascus, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of vandalism and resisting arrest, for allegedly vandalizing two marked Montgomery County Police cruisers in Damascus.
On Saturday, August 26, 2023, at approximately 7:32 p.m., 5th District officers responded to the 10200 block of Lewis Dr. for the report of a vandalism.
Over the weekend, the Montgomery County Community Cat Coalition (MC C³) announced via social media that 33 Himalayan cats/kittens have been found in two Montgomery County parks. All 33 are currently in foster care with a trapper out for another cat that has been spotted.
According to MC C³, Himalayan cats and kittens have been found in the Wheaton area, most of them near the Sligo Creek Trail or in Wheaton Regional Park. Some have also been found in nearby neighborhoods. Citizens are engaged in an active effort to search for these cats and kittens and report sightings. Initially, over 20 of these cats were found and trapped and a later updated stated that 33 were found. Currently, there is no word on who released the cats in the area or why, with efforts concentrated on ensuring their safety.
Per WSSC: WSSC Water recently distributed $3.75 million to 4,350 income-constrained customers throughout Montgomery and Prince George’s counties to help pay past-due water and sewer bills incurred between January 27, 2020, and September 30, 2022. The average grant received by customers was $863.36. Funding enabled WSSC Water to restore water service for 377 vulnerable customers. Letters have been mailed to all grant recipients.
The grant is from Maryland’s COVID-19 State and Local Relief Fund award under the American Rescue Plan Act. The distribution of funds continues WSSC Water’s extensive efforts to assist customers financially impacted by the pandemic. Since March 2020, WSSC Water has provided more than $10.2 million in financial assistance to more than 5,500 customers thanks to various federal and state programs.
Montgomery County, MD is commonly known as being a suburb of the nation’s capital, but what might surprise some is that it is also home to a thriving biotech ecosystem. With over 350 life sciences companies, including global brands like AstraZeneca, United Therapeutics, and Novavax, Montgomery County anchors the third largest biophama hub in the U.S., behind only Boston and San Francisco.
Running annually in Washington D.C. for over 25 years, World Vaccine Congress attracts an international audience from over 80 countries and convenes more than 3,000 people to learn about the latest trends, research, and technologies in the vaccine industry. This year, Montgomery County took center stage, with a featured session on the extensive Biologics Value Chain in the County, as well as a session during which County Executive Marc Elrich spoke about the extensive resources available to companies here, and an exhibit space showcasing these resources.
A Complete Biologics Value Chain in One Region
One of the defining strengths of Montgomery County is its ability to support the full lifecycle of biologics, all the way from early research to large-scale manufacturing. During the panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Stefanie Trop, Director of Life Sciences at the Maryland Department of Commerce, local leaders emphasized that the region’s strength lies in its network of partners who work collaboratively across discovery, development, testing, and production. Panelists from companies in all stages of the value chain spectrum included Dr. Andrew Lees, Founder of Fina Biosolutions, Benjamin Moutier, Senior Vice-President, Vaccines and Immune Therapies at AstraZeneca, Dr. Helen Sabzevari President & CEO of Precigen, and Dr. Frederick Holtsberg, Chief Scientific Officer of Integrated BioTherapeutics.
This end-to-end capability in close geographical proximity gives companies a unique advantage and is rare to find in other markets, even established ones like San Francisco and Boston. In fact, only a handful of places worldwide offer the combination of infrastructure, expertise, and collaboration found in Montgomery County and if diversity, education and population density are taken into consideration – then Montgomery County standouts even more.
“Gaithersburg is one of the six places in the world where we can do what we’re doing,” explained Benjamin Moutier, Senior Vice-President, Vaccines and Immune Therapies, AstraZeneca. “We have the right partners at every step of the value chain [in Montgomery County].”
A Strong Partnership Network
Biotech breakthroughs rarely happen in isolation. They depend on strong partnerships between private companies, local and state governments, academic institutions, and workforce training organizations. Montgomery County has intentionally cultivated these connections, making collaboration and coordination defining characteristics of its life sciences ecosystem.
Dr. Frederick Holtsberg, Chief Scientific Officer at IBT Bioservices, a full service CRO offering clinical & preclinical contract research services, says the company’s close partnerships between them and local stakeholders have been crucial to its success. “As a Rockville-based company, we’re grateful for the partnership and support from city, County, and state leaders,” explained Dr. Holtsberg. “These programs have helped fuel our growth, and we’re excited about the continued momentum of our community.” (more…)
The Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Divanya Lima, a missing 16-year-old. Lima was last seen on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at approximately 1 p.m., in the 9200 block Falls Chapel Way in Potomac. She is 5’4″, 140lbs, with brown and red hair styled in braids, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a yellow short sleeve shirt and blue jeans .
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Divanya Lima is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).
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1:44pm Update: MPD’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal Squad conducted a precautionary sweep of the zoo and found no hazardous materials.
The Smithsonian’s National Zoo (3001 Connecticut Avenue NW DC) is being evacuated due to a bomb threat. According to FOX5, “Authorities say a reported bomb threat was received around 11:13 a.m. Tuesday morning. Visitors and staff have been asked to evacuate the zoo.”
According to the Rockville City Police, “at approximately 10:20 p.m. on August 28, 2023, Rockville City Police responded to the 700 block of Rockville Pike for a report of an assault. Through the course of our initial investigation, several juveniles, known to each other, met at an undisclosed location and engaged in mutual combative behavior which resulted in one of the juveniles being stabbed several times. The victim was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.”
The incident is under investigation and anyone with information is asked to contact the RCPD Criminal Investigations Unit at 240-314-8938 or [email protected]. Featured image courtesy of Google Maps.
Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – 5th District Investigative Section are investigating a shooting that occurred on Monday, August 29, 2023, at Topgolf in the 20100 block of Century Blvd. in Germantown.
At approximately 12:06 a.m., 5th District officers responded to the location for the report of a shooting. The investigation has revealed that an unknown male suspect allegedly shot two male employees following an altercation. The 18-year-old male victim was shot in the lower body and the 23-year-old male victim was shot in the upper body. The suspect then drove away in an unknown vehicle. The victims were transported to an area hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
The Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) is asking for the public’s assistance in locating Yerasbin Villeda, a missing 14-year-old. Villeda was last seen on Wednesday August 23, 2023, at approximately 9:30 p.m., in the 4100 block of Tulare Dr. in Wheaton. She is 5’6, 120 lbs, with black hair, brown eyes, pierced ears, and was last seen wearing a white long sleeve shirt, blue jeans and white shoes.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Yerasbin Villeda is asked to call Montgomery County Police Non-Emergency (301) 279-8000 (24-hour line).
Per MCDOT: Below is the transportation-related holiday schedule for the Labor Day Holiday on Monday, Sept. 4:
Additional schedule changes will be posted on the Montgomery County website at montgomerycountymd.gov.
We will post an update when additional information is available.
Kennedy High School is currently in lockdown as the result of a bomb threat. MCPD is on scene investigating the validity of this threat. More information will be released as it becomes available. #mcpd #mcpnews pic.twitter.com/6pYgDKG9Kq
On August 29, at approximately 3:04 am, Takoma Park Police responded to the 1300 block of University Boulevard (7-11) for an armed robbery that had just occurred.
According to Takoma Park Police, store surveillance video revealed that at approximately 2:55 am, an unknown Hispanic male suspect without a shirt on, wearing dark-colored pants/sweats, white sneakers, a black ski mask, and carrying a coral-colored shirt entered the 7-11, grabbed merchandise, and went to the register as if attempting to pay for the items. At this point, another unknown Hispanic male suspect entered the 7-11, wearing a dark-colored hoodie, light gray pants, gray shoes, and black ski mask, carrying a black handgun, pointed the gun at the cashier, and demanded money. The victim complied and the first suspect who entered the 7-11 grabbed the cashier tray and both suspects fled the 7-11 in an unknown direction; unknown if it was on foot or in a vehicle.