A Baltimore favorite has earned national attention as the New York Times named the shrimp and corn patties at The Duchess one of the “23 Best Dishes Across the U.S.” for 2025. The recognition highlights not only the standout dish but also the unique spirit of the Hampden neighborhood pub that created it. It’s the only Maryland dish to make the list.
Montgomery Parks has announced that its three dedicated bike parks will close for the winter season starting Friday, December 12.
Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced new information for consumers eligible to receive payments from a proposed $700 million settlement with Google related to anticompetitive practices on the Google Play Store, with most affected users set to receive automatic payments if the court approves the agreement at an April 30, 2026 hearing.
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…)
Montgomery County police have charged a 27-year-old California man, Mauricio Martinez Garcia, with multiple counts of rape, kidnapping, and assault following an investigation into sexual assaults that occurred in Gaithersburg and Prince George’s County.
Connect with neighbors, learn about Lafayette Federal, and grab fun giveaways! All while enjoying food from local Tacos el Pariente.
First 75 registrants can receive free food.*
Montgomery County Police Officer Noah A. Leotta passed away on this day in 2015, one week after being struck by a drunk driver while conducting a traffic stop on Rockville Pike as part of the department’s Holiday Alcohol Task Force.
Maryland’s sports wagering market generated $19 million in state contributions in November, its highest single-month return since the program launched, after bettors wagered more than $720 million and operators posted a 13.5 percent hold.
Update: The store has shared that a buyer has been found.
Dor-Ne Corset Shoppe, a cherished specialty retailer known for its expert fittings and high-quality undergarments located at 8126 Georgia Ave., has announced it will be closing after 93 years in business. The longtime owners, who are retiring, shared the news of a “going out of business, everything must go”sale earlier this month along with word that the business is now available to purchase.
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich announced the launch of the County’s new Flood Risk Explorer, an online mapping tool that identifies current and future flood-prone areas in the Sligo Creek watershed, with additional watersheds to be added in the coming years.
Four suspects were arrested in Downtown Silver Spring on Monday night after Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) plainclothes surveillance officers spotted a stolen vehicle driving along Fenton Street near Wayne Avenue.
Montgomery Parks has begun a major renovation of the South Germantown Adventure Playground, which officially began construction on December 1, 2025, according to the Montgomery Parks website. The extensive project will modernize and reimagine one of Montgomery County’s most popular family destinations, with a scheduled reopening in summer 2026.
Maryland could see multiple chances for wintry weather over the coming days, with several light systems on track to move through the region. While no major storm is guaranteed at this point, the probability of seeing at least an inch of snow is climbing for much of the state.