Co-Responder Program Needed Immediately
Two officers use tasers; one officer fires four shots, killing 26-year-old man during a mental health crisis inside his family’s McLean home.
Jasper Aaron Lynch’s twin sister wanted to help her brother who was having a mental health crisis. Three Fairfax County Police officers hoped to help, too.
Disturbing Video of Police Shooting
Police release video of police shooting death of Reston man at Springfield Town Center; chief defends officers’ actions.
Police release video of police shooting death of Reston man at Springfield Town Center; chief defends officers’ actions.
Big Train, Big Expectations
We knew them when …
Before Hunter Renfroe became an outfielder for the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox and now the Milwaukee Brewers, his...
Is Your Car Worth More Than Last Year?
Probably, and the car tax owed is probably also going up.
Car value
Patricia O’Neill, 71
Schoolboard member served Potomac and Bethesda for more than 23 years and was the longest serving Board member in MCPS history.
Schoolboard
White’s Ferry Running for 2022?
Eminent domain, condemnation, or more negotiation?
When Chuck and Stacy Kuhn purchased White’s Ferry in February, they eagerly told their nine children the plan.
Fault! in Montgomery County
Wind gusts toppled two white pines on top of two cars at River Falls tennis courts last Friday, April 30, a sight common around Potomac and the county on Friday after winds reached 60 miles per hour.
Week in Numbers in Montgomery County
881 miles of connected multi-use trails are planned for the DMV region as part of the Capitol Trails Network.
All Hands on Deck
Montgomery and Loudoun counties work together to reopen White’s Ferry
Chuck Kuhn now has multiple deckhands eager to help White’s Ferry get back to business.
Pressure Mounts, Opposition Remains
Virginia predicts Maryland will have additional toll lanes running across the American Legion Bridge by 2027
Fairfax County continues to pressure Maryland to widen or replace the American Legion Bridge, two miles at a time.
Week in Numbers in Montgomery County
14 “50 percent of all lifetime mental illness begins at age 14,” said Councilmember Will Jawando on Tuesday, April 12, 2021.
Lightning Strikes Twice, Literally, in Potomac
Two Avenel homes damaged by thunderstorm last Friday, causing more than $800,000 in damages
Firefighters were on the scene of a house fire on Rapley Preserve Circle in Potomac when next door neighbors alerted the rescue squad that their home had been hit by lightning, too.
Honoring Stephen Miller, 66, Potomac
Community celebrates life of Stephen Miller, who served more than 50 years as firefighter, leader of Swift Water Rescue, and deputy chief
Stephen Francis Miller, 66, retired Deputy Chief of the Cabin John Park Volunteer Fire Department, died March 26, 2021.
Five-Year-Old Handcuffed for Hating School in Montgomery County
The five-year-old left his school building during the school day and was walking down the street when confronted by police officers who yelled at him that he wasn’t allowed to make his own decisions.
Getting the Numbers Right in Montgomery County
Potomac’s councilmember Andrew Friedson wanted to take politics out of estimating costs.
Snow Falls Without Equity in Montgomery County
As cherry blossoms bloom, memories of winter linger for some, because snow storms, although occurring only a few times a year, cause frustrations, hardships, danger as plows push snow on top of sidewalks.
Spring Break? Please Take a Break in Montgomery County
Back to school just in time — for Spring Break?
The school system opened just in time – for students to take Spring Break.
Who Is Getting Vaccinated in Montgomery County?
Communities hardest hit by the pandemic have been last to get the vaccine
Black people make up 19 percent of the County’s population, but account for only eight percent of people pre-registering for vaccinations to combat COVID; Latino people also make up one-fifth of the county’s population, but make up just nine percent of people pre-registering.
State of Montgomery County Under Covid
County Executive Marc Elrich chose to give his annual state of the county address last Friday, March 5, exactly one year since the first cases of Covid were reported in Montgomery County.
Students Request Mental Health, Not Police in Montgomery County
Multiple concurrent, conflicting and overlapping proposals concerning police in schools
With a new initiative introduced by Councilmember Nancy Navarro last week, four different proposals on the School Resource Officer program are being considered concurrently.
Solar Permitted in Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve, Carefully
Areas with the soils needed for growing food are protected.
Hans Riemer voted against his own bill to permit industrial solar in the Agricultural Reserve.
Evictions Imperil Thousands of Families in Montgomery County
Economic devastation of the pandemic has 14,000 eviction cases waiting to be heard for failure to pay rent, mostly held in check by a moratorium
A “tsunami of evictions is on the horizon,” said Gabe Albornoz, at-large councilmember, at a session on Covid Rental Relief and Eviction Prevention on Feb. 11, 2021.
Once and Future White’s Ferry?
Operating since 1786, the ferry could begin running again soon.
White’s Ferry has operated since 1786, recently as an $8 cable ferry service that carried vehicles across the Potomac River from Poolesville to Loudoun County.
New Visions for Public Schools in Montgomery County
Restorative justice practices offer hope to reduce racial disparities in school discipline.
“It’s not easy to do what my colleagues did today,” said Craig Rice, chair of the Montgomery County Council’s education committee, “which is to open themselves up.”
Simultaneously: Different Directions in Montgomery County
Council introduces another bill to keep and reimagine SROs before the public responds to bills that prohibit SROs
Two days before the public hearing on council member Will Jawando’s bill to remove School Resource Officers in public high schools because of the disproportionate impact it has on Black and brown students, councilmember Craig Rice introduced a bill to build positive law enforcement relationships within schools.
SRO Program: ‘Fundamentally Mismatched for Schools’ in Montgomery County
Kyson Taylor told Montgomery County Council that every school day before the pandemic he would dread the walk to portable classrooms at Richard Montgomery High School.
MDOT Prefers 4 Toll Lane Option
‘Surprise announcement’ raises concerns of rushing forward with a PPP.
Hundreds of people testified against Gov. Larry Hogan’s proposed public-private partnership to build toll lanes – nearly 83 percent of responders voiced disapproval – but the Maryland Department of Transportation chose the option to add four toll lanes to the American Legion Bridge and up I-270 as the best choice to mitigate traffic congestion.
Final Tweaks Protect the Reserve in Montgomery County
Solar will be permitted but restricted in the Agricultural Reserve.
Soil is important enough that the Office of Agriculture rates it by levels based on how fruitful it is for farming.
Will Police Remain a Force in Montgomery County Schools?
Registration already full for public hearing on School Resource Officers program Thursday, Feb. 4, at 7:30 p.m.
Let’s repeat the known facts: Black and Hispanic students are suspended twice as often as their white peers in elementary, middle and high schools.
Three Down to Two Stories in Potomac
Consensus reached when Spectrum Retirement Communities revised plans for a 100-unit building at Behnke’s property on River Road
Instead of arguing, debating or even objecting, land use attorney David Brown told hearing examiners with the Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings, “I’ll be sitting back and listening.”
Maryland Moves Forward on Preliminaries for Toll Lanes
$11 billion project still faces many unanswered questions on environment, community impact and need.
Last Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, the State Highway Administration released names of three bidders to do preliminary work necessary before building $11-billion toll lanes.
This Year in Montgomery County, Keep Your Eye On….
Will the Agricultural Reserve be preserved in perpetuity, as intended, or will County Council press forward in 2021 to permit industrial solar power on agricultural land in its effort to combat climate change?
New Spikes, Same Worries in Montgomery County
At least 912 people have died from Covid in County; more than 33,400 cases have been reported.
Covid Cases in Montgomery reached a new high on Nov. 19. 2020.
Stopping the Combine: Farmers Can’t Compete for Land in Montgomery County
Making room for enough solar to make a difference.
Randy Stabler stopped his combine in the middle of a field in the Agricultural Reserve to join Montgomery County Council’s virtual Town Hall meeting.
Skipping the No-Build Option on Maryland Beltway Toll Lanes?
Montgomery County Council committee seems poised to endorse adding toll lanes to American Legion Bridge and Potomac/Bethesda part of Beltway
County Council appears prepared to go along with adding four toll lanes, plus more, to the American Legion Bridge, and all the way to the I-270 spur and for miles north.
Solar Shines Spotlight on Montgomery County Ag Reserve
Ag Reserve and Solar Update: Town Hall scheduled Nov. 5, 2020; workgroup anticipated; decision expected in January 2021.
On Tuesday, Oct. 20, Council sent a zoning text amendment that would permit industrial solar in the Agricultural Reserve, land the 1980 Council set aside permanently for agricultural use, back to committee worksessions for more discussion.
Pausing for Farmland in Montgomery County?
Council rejects task force, but sends solar proposal back to committee; vote by end of this year could allow solar in the Agricultural Reserve
Advocates on two sides of important long-term environmental goals: solar power for sustainable clean energy, and the preservation of farmland for food, have three council work sessions to get in sync.
The Buck Stops Here? Or Never Got Going in Montgomery County?
Millions in grant and relief funding to help residents and businesses in need have yet to be distributed by the county.
Montgomery County received $183,336,953 under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help county residents and businesses survive the pandemic.
U.S. Park Police Charged in Killing of McLean Resident
Family has waited for justice since November 2017 when Bijan Ghaisar was shot.
Latest: Police Officers Turn Themselves In
Disparities in Arrests Lead to Questions about Police in Montgomery County Public Schools
Black and Hispanic students twice as likely to be disciplined with suspension all the way back to elementary school.
Black and Latino students are disproportionately affected by routine school discipline, suspensions, and by arrests in Montgomery County Public Schools.
Montgomery County News in Numbers
2.5 Miles of suggested pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements along MacArthur Boulevard from Old Angler’s Inn to Eggert Drive were presented to the Montgomery County Planning Board on Thursday, Sept. 17.
Reimagining Public Safety in Montgomery County?
When officers use force, black people are on the receiving end 55 percent of the time despite being 18 percent of the county population.
Professor Rashawn Ray trains police officers on racial equity with a virtual reality program that allows evaluators to examine how bias creeps into traffic stops, mental health crises and suspicious person encounters.
From Nursery to Nursing in Potomac
Planning Board recommends approval of 152,655 square-foot, three story retirement community on River Road.
Up Next: Office of Zoning and Administrative Hearings on Sept. 21.
Be Smart: Press Pause
Informal tally: 54 comments oppose 495/270 expansion and toll lanes; nine support. Final day of public hearings scheduled for Sept. 10.
Seth Glinski works in construction and development. An uncertain future because of the 2020 pandemic, he said, is actually cause for “feeling lucky” when it comes to the possible widening of the Capital Beltway and I-270 and the American Legion Bridge.
Clean Energy or Farmland? Or Both? in Montgomery County: Solar Could Supplant Agricultural Reserve
Council moves forward with zoning amendment to allow solar fields, an industrial use, in the agricultural reserve.
Andrew Friedson was the lone dissenting voice, advocating for the Agricultural Reserve, land preserved 40 years ago by zoning laws to remain farmland forever.
‘We’ve Seen an Awakening’ in Montgomery County
Council passes use of force policy that prohibits a police officer from using deadly force unless as a last resort.
Craig Rice beamed and Will Jawando teared as a unanimous roll call of Montgomery County’s Council effected change and policy hundreds of years in the making.
Look Below the Impervious Surface
The public has 90 days to respond to a proposed $11 billion project that would impact 48 miles of the Beltway, the American Legion Bridge, and land and water below for generations to come.
The risk is $11 billion and contamination of waterways and parkland for generations to come.
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