Beyond MoCo

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge James K. Bredar sentenced Daniel Valentin-Morales, 35, of Frederick, Maryland, to 13 years in prison and a lifetime of supervised release for one count of coercion and enticement. Judge Bredar also ordered that Valentin-Morales, who was a substitute teacher in Frederick County, must register as a sex offender in places where he resides and is employed, upon his release from prison, pursuant to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act.

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Restaurants

On January 2, 2025, Celtic Cup opened its first brick-and-mortar location, a “Coffee Roastery and Tasting Room” at the Argent Spring Building in downtown Silver Spring. The new address is 8455 Colesville Road, Suite 101B, located next to the building lobby entrance. After recently receiving recognition in the trade publication Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine, Source of the Spring reports that Celtic Cup is planning a Grand Opening celebration soon.

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MCPD

The Montgomery County Police Department’s Drone as First Responder program assisted in locating a missing 5-year-old and helped apprehend six suspects during three separate incidents on March 13, 2025. The drone, known as RAVEN, provided officers with real-time aerial support, leading to quick arrests in two theft cases and the safe recovery of the missing child.

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MCDOT

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation and the Montgomery County Department of Police are reminding residents to plan ahead and avoid drinking and driving on St. Patrick’s Day, as nearly half of all traffic deaths on the holiday involve impaired drivers. Safe ride options include the free SoberRide program through Lyft, Ride On buses for $1, and other transportation services available through the County’s Vision Zero Safe Ride home webpage.

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Health

The Maryland Office of the Comptroller reported that the state collected nearly $73 million in tax revenue from adult-use cannabis sales in 2024, with $17.6 million generated in the final quarter. A portion of the revenue was allocated to community reinvestment, county governments, public health initiatives, business assistance, and the state’s General Fund, as outlined in the Cannabis Reform Act of 2023. (more…)


Maryland

Governor Wes Moore signed three memoranda of understanding with labor unions representing Maryland first responders, including firefighters and law enforcement officers. The agreements outline benefits and commitments to workers, with union leaders expressing appreciation for the administration’s support during challenging financial times.

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