Maryland

Maryland Votes to Legalize Recreational Marijuana Use, According to a Projection by the Associated Press

By MCS Staff

Maryland voted to legalized recreational marijuana use Tuesday night, according to a projection by The Associated Press. The question was “Do you favor the legalization of the use of cannabis by an individual who is at least 21 years of age on or after July 1, 2023, in the State of Maryland?” According to the Maryland State Board of Elections, as of 9:35pm there were 481,436 votes (64.94%) for the constitutional amendment and 259,931 votes (35.06%) against it.

Additional explanation, courtesy of BallotPedia: The measure would amend the Maryland Constitution to add a new article, Article XX, which would authorize individuals 21 years of age or older to use and possess marijuana. The added section also authorizes the Maryland General Assembly to “provide for the use, distribution, possession, regulation, and taxation of cannabis within the state.” During the 2022 legislative session, the state legislature also passed the implementing legislation (HB 837) that would take effect once the amendment is adopted. Currently, marijuana is legal for medicinal use in Maryland under a 2013 law. In April 2014, possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana was decriminalized.

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Maryland

Governor Larry Hogan Congratulates Wes Moore on Being Elected Maryland’s Next Governor

By MCS Staff

Current Maryland Governor Larry Hogan took to social media to inform constituents that he has spoken with Governor Elect Wes Moore and congratulated him on being elected as Maryland’s next Governor, saying “There is no higher calling than public service, and no greater honor than to serve the people of this great state.”

The Associated Press called the race for Maryland Governor earlier on Tuesday night, naming Democrat Wes Moore the next Governor of Maryland. Moore defeated Republican Dan Cox and will be the first Black Governor in Maryland history. Hogan added “Our team is committed to ensuring a smooth and orderly transition to the next administration, and I look forward to meeting with the governor-elect in the coming days.”

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Maryland

Wes Moore Wins Maryland’s Election For Governor; Will Be The State’s First Black Governor

By MCS Staff

Wes Moore has won Maryland’s election for governor, according to The Associated Press. He defeated Republican Dan Cox and will become the first Black governor of the state of Maryland.

Moore is a native of Takoma Park, who grew up in the area until he was 6 years old, moving to New York after his father passed away. He returned to Maryland for college and attended Johns Hopkins University where he studied international relations and economics and graduated Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Kappa in 2001. From 2017 to 2021 Moore served as the CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation– a charitable organization which attempts to alleviate problems caused by poverty in New York City.

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Business

Monday Properties Purchases Park Plaza I & II in Rockville For $42 Million

By MCS Staff

Monday Properties, a real estate investment firm, acquired Park Plaza I & II, a 266,077 square foot, Class A office complex in Rockville for $42 million earlier this fall. The two-building asset, located T 2101 & 2099 Gaither Road in Rockville, is Monday Properties’ first commercial acquisition in Maryland. Located in the I-270 Life Sciences Corridor, Park Plaza I & II are proximate to King Farm, Rio Lakefront and Downtown Crown. The property is located less than a mile from the Shady Grove Metro Station and is accessible via I-270, I-370, and Route 355. Amenities include a conference center, 24/7 fitness center, yoga studio, cafe, a three-level parking garage, and outdoor features including private terraces and a plaza.

Per the press release: “Park Plaza I & II will continue to benefit from the booming life sciences industry in the region through its offering of well-located and highly-amenitized office space at a relative discount to its competitive set, “said Cummings. “This strategic acquisition of an institutional-quality office property within this highly dynamic corridor positions us for success, and we look forward to enhancing the property further to better serve our tenants.” In addition to the $3.3 million in recent capital improvements, Monday Properties plans to perform additional upgrades, starting with repositioning the lobby and conference center. These renovations will align with Monday Properties’ vision and experience delivering exceptional amenity packages that resonate with today’s tenants by providing technology-driven and innovative solutions. The firm will continue implementing key sustainability initiatives, such as providing electric car charging stations to promote energy efficiency and will focus on ESG performance with the expansion of its partnership with Alvéole to maintain urban beehives on site.

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Education

MCPS/MCEA Return to Negotiations After Agreement on Ground Rules / First Bargaining Session will be Thursday, November 10

By MCS Staff

As of 9:30am on Monday, November 7th, Aboth parties have agreed to withdraw their unfair labor practice filings due to this agreement.

Per MCPS: On Friday evening, MCPS reached an agreement with the Montgomery County Education Association (MCEA) on ground rules for their upcoming contract negotiations. Importantly, both parties have determined there will be 12 initial bargaining sessions that are open for unit members to attend either in-person or via Zoom. The first session will be held in the evening on November 10, 2022.

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MCFRS

Rockville Police Provides Update on Dead Body Found in Pond at RedGate Park

By MCS Staff

Per Rockville Police (4:09pm): At 9:45 a.m. on 11/8/22 RCPD responded to Redgate Park at 14500 Avery Rd for the report of person in a pond. An adult was was discovered deceased & has been transported to the Medical Examiners Office. Montgomery County Police Major Crimes will assume the investigation.

Original Report: Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) responded to a call of a person/body found in a pond near Southlawn Lane/Red Gate Park in Rockville at approximately 10am, according to MCFRS Public Information Officer Pete Piringer. The police department assisted with the recovery of the body, as it was not a rescue.

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MoCoSnow

Hypothermia Alert Issued for Wednesday (11/9) From 3am Until 8am

By Patrick Herron

Montgomery County has activated a Hypothermia Alert for extreme cold for Wednesday 11/9 from 3AM until 8AM. Expect the wind chill to be below 32 degrees. Wear layers if you go outside. Per Montgomery County:

A Hypothermia Alert is issued for the County when forecasted temperatures, and/or wind chill, in at least part of the County fall below 32 degrees creating a hazardous situation in which hypothermia and frostbite are likely.

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I-495

Fuel Spill Blocks Multiple Lanes of I-495 on Tuesday Afternoon

By MCS Staff

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services (MCFRS) were called to the scene of a fuel spill on the outer loop of I-495 between New Hampshire Avenue and University Boulevard at approximately 1:38pm on Tuesday afternoon, according to MCFRS Public Information Officer Pete Piringer. 

The driver of a truck with an 80 gallon fuel tank struck an object on the road, causing damage that led to the fuel tank leaking on the highway. The three right lanes of the outer loop in the area of spill remain blocked as of 3:30pm. Ramps onto the outer loop of I-495 from New Hampshire Avenue are currently closed as hazmat crews continue to work.

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Bethesda

Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Ask for Public’s Assistance Locating Missing 13-Year-Old

By Patrick Herron

Per MCPD: Detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police – Special Victims Investigations Division (SVID) are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Jayleen Chavez, a missing 13-year-old from Bethesda.  Chavez was last seen on Monday, November 7, 2022, at approximately 1:19 p.m., in the 10300 block of Strathmore Hall Street in Bethesda.

Chavez is approximately 5-feet tall and weighs 110 pounds. She has brown eyes, brown hair and a piercing in her nose. She was last seen wearing a gray sweater and blue, black and gray cargo pants. She was last seen carrying a blue backpack.  Police and family are concerned for her welfare.

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Crime

Man Pleads Guilty to Participating in an $800,000 Elder Fraud Scam; Included Victims in Maryland

By MCS Staff

Michael Odell Anderson, age 64, of Crystal Beach, Florida and Dun Lorring, Virginia, pleaded guilty on Monday to a federal charge of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, in relation to his participation in an elder fraud scam that totaled over $800,000 and included victims in the state of Maryland.

Per the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maryland: According to his plea agreement, from April 2020 to December 2020, Anderson conspired with others to persuade elderly victims to give them thousands of dollars under false pretenses.  Specifically, members of the conspiracy called elderly victims posing as a police officer, lawyer, or relative and convinced victims to send money for the purported legal expenses of a loved one, generally a grandchild, who had been incarcerated in connection with a car accident or traffic stop involving a crime.

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MDLottery

$50,000 Winning Powerball Ticket Sold in MoCo, $2.04 Billion Winning Ticket Sold in California

By Patrick Herron

Powerball has announced that a winning ticket for yesterday’s record $2.04 billion jackpot was sold in the state of California. Originally announced to be $1.9 billion, by the time all sales were counted the final total came in over $2 billion, with a cash value of $997.6 million. The winning numbers were 10 33 41 47 56 and Powerball 10.  Locally, a $50,000 ticket was sold at the Check Cash Depot at 8476 Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring.  Additional details courtesy of the Maryland Lottery:  “Although Monday night’s Powerball drawing was delayed until Tuesday morning, it delivered a record-shattering jackpot on a winning ticket sold in California, along with nine prizes of at least $50,000 on tickets sold in Maryland, including a $1 million second-tier win in Catonsville.

The estimated annuity value of the jackpot stood at $1.9 billion on Monday, but when all sales were finalized, the total had grown to $2.04 billion with a cash value of $997.6 million. It was the largest single jackpot prize in lottery history, surpassing a $1.586 billion Powerball jackpot in 2016 that was shared by winners in California, Florida and Tennessee. The drawing was delayed while one of the jurisdictions that participates in Powerball worked to finalize its sales results. Powerball tickets are sold in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game is operated under strict protocols that require all 48 of those lotteries to finish processing their sales results and report their data before the drawings can take place. The Maryland Lottery was not the source of the delay. Videos of the Powerball and Double Play drawings are available at powerball.com and Powerball’s YouTube channel.

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