86° Mostly Cloudy
Your Community
MD Ranked Among Most Fun States, New Study Finds: Here's Why MD Ranked Among Most Fun States, New Study Finds: Here's Why
MD Ranked Among Most Fun States, New Study Finds: Here's Why The Northeast has some of the most fun states in the country, but several others landed near the bottom of a new ranking. WalletHub released its 2026 list of the Most Fun States in America on Tuesday, Aug. 18. The study compared all 50 states across 26 metrics of entertainment, recreation, and nightlife, including restaurants, amusement parks, movie theaters, national park access, music festivals, bars, casinos, and recreation spending. The personal finance website split the study into two main categories: entertainment and recreation, which made up 80% of the score, and nightlife, which ac…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Your Community
Maryland Man Gets Last Ticket From Jammed Lottery Machine, Walks Away With $1M Maryland Man Gets Last Ticket From Jammed Lottery Machine, Walks Away With $1M
Maryland Man Gets Last Ticket From Jammed Lottery Machine, Walks Away With $1M A jammed machine turned out to be one very lucky break for a Maryland man who wound up pulling $1 million out of it. The Carroll County ironworker was making a familiar stop at the Sheetz in the 3200 block of Main Street in Manchester when he bought a $20 100X the Cash scratch-off from a Lottery vending machine.  That's when things briefly went sideways: The machine jammed, forcing him to get some help retrieving his ticket. Once it was freed, he learned there was something else unusual about his purchase.  He had snagged the very last ticket in the machine, setting up a sequenc…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
New Website Reveals Millions Of Flock Searches: How To Check Your License Plate New Website Reveals Millions Of Flock Searches: How To Check Your License Plate
New Website Reveals Millions Of Flock Searches: How To Check Your License Plate A new website is helping drivers see whether their license plate has been searched in Flock Safety's controversial surveillance system. HaveIBeenFlocked.com says it has compiled data on nearly 242 million unique searches involving more than 4.6 million plates. The records range between December 2021 and July 2026. According to the website, the data comes from audit logs released through Freedom of Information Act requests and Flock-provided transparency portals. "The dataset is incomplete," the website says on its FAQ page. "Few governments provide easy access to these …

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Your Community
Nobody Was Home When This Germantown Townhouse Caught Fire But It Wasn't Empty Nobody Was Home When This Germantown Townhouse Caught Fire But It Wasn't Empty
Nobody Was Home When This Germantown Townhouse Caught Fire But It Wasn't Empty Two dogs were saved from a Maryland townhouse fire on Sunday, Aug. 16. Crews were dispatched to the 20100 block of Club Hill Drive in Germantown at approximately 5:17 p.m. after a neighbor spotted smoke coming from the middle-of-the-row townhouse, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service officials. Firefighters arrived to find a kitchen fire burning on the first floor with flames extending upstairs, prompting a response that ultimately brought approximately 50 firefighters to the scene. As crews worked through the home, they found both dogs inside and carried them to saf…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
'Now It's Our Turn': Virginia Sheriff's Sergeant Seriously Injured In Motorcycle Crash 'Now It's Our Turn': Virginia Sheriff's Sergeant Seriously Injured In Motorcycle Crash
'Now It's Our Turn': Virginia Sheriff's Sergeant Seriously Injured In Motorcycle Crash A Virginia lawman who has spent years answering calls for help suddenly needs some of his own. Chesapeake Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Matthew Liebler was hospitalized with major injuries after being hit by another vehicle while riding his motorcycle, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched by a coworker. Now his wife, two boys, friends, and fellow law enforcement officers are bracing for what could be a long road back. Liebler remains hospitalized receiving treatment for his injuries and is expected to be out of work for an undetermined amount of time, fundraiser organizer Orie Morgan said. H…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
Cancer Fight Takes Cruel Turn After Tree Crashes Through Virginia Woman's Home Cancer Fight Takes Cruel Turn After Tree Crashes Through Virginia Woman's Home
Cancer Fight Takes Cruel Turn After Tree Crashes Through Virginia Woman's Home Vikki Plumb was already in the fight of her life when Mother Nature dealt another brutal blow. After battling cancer for years, which reached Stage 4, the Virginia woman is now picking up the pieces after a tree came crashing through her home and totaled both her vehicles during the recent round of thunderstorms that rocked the region. The incident happened on Monday, Aug. 10, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched by her family. The photos tell part of the story. A massive tree can be seen sprawled across the property, its heavy limbs crushing vehicles parked outside the home. For Pl…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
Fisherman Was Heading Out To Catch Cobia, Then One Rogue Wave Changed Everything Fisherman Was Heading Out To Catch Cobia, Then One Rogue Wave Changed Everything
Fisherman Was Heading Out To Catch Cobia, Then One Rogue Wave Changed Everything One rogue wave changed everything. TJ Hartney was heading out to fish for cobia with friends in Virginia on Saturday, Aug. 8, when their boat hit the wave, throwing him off balance and sending him sliding down the gunwale, according to his family. Then came the impact. Hartney was impaled by a cleat on the boat, causing a severe injury to his right arm, his family said. The fishing trip was over. A much longer journey was just beginning. Because of the severity of his injuries, Hartney was rushed to the emergency room at Virginia Beach General, where he has already undergone one surgery,…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
One Of Five Known Surviving 1931 Bentleys Is Rolling Into Maryland To Headline Car Show One Of Five Known Surviving 1931 Bentleys Is Rolling Into Maryland To Headline Car Show
One Of Five Known Surviving 1931 Bentleys Is Rolling Into Maryland To Headline Car Show Some serious automotive royalty is preparing to roll into Maryland. A rare 1931 W.O. Bentley, a fleet of Rolls-Royce Phantoms and a collection of old-school American pickups will take over the waterfront at the Kent Island Yacht Club when the 19th annual St. Michaels Concours d'Elegance on Chesapeake Bay returns in September. And the Bentley leading the charge is no ordinary Sunday driver. The 1931 W.O. Bentley Saloon by Vanden Plas is one of just five known survivors from a run of only 25 built, according to Concours organizers. Contributed via Tracey Johns/St. Michaels Concours d’Eleg…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
Flock Unveils Major Changes Amid Growing Surveillance Camera Backlash Flock Unveils Major Changes Amid Growing Surveillance Camera Backlash
Flock Unveils Major Changes Amid Growing Surveillance Camera Backlash Flock Safety is making major changes to how it stores data as nationwide privacy concerns rise over the controversial surveillance cameras. The company announced the updates in a blog post on Thursday, Aug. 13. Flock says it will cut its recommended default retention period for automatic license plate reader (ALPR) data from 30 to seven days. The changes also include new safeguards that Flock says will prevent law enforcement from misusing data. Flock will require agencies to use a system that flags unusual searches, automatically locks some users out pending review…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Your Community
Maryland Man Travels Hundreds Of Miles To See Family, Comes Home $1 Million Richer Maryland Man Travels Hundreds Of Miles To See Family, Comes Home $1 Million Richer
Maryland Man Travels Hundreds Of Miles To See Family, Comes Home $1 Million Richer Cory Choquette had one hell of a family trip. The Maryland man was hundreds of miles from home when he cashed in big on a Massachusetts Lottery scratcher. Choquette came home a newly-minted millionaire. The Mechanicsville man was visiting family up north when he picked up a 100X scratcher from Valero on North Main Street in Palmer. Good call. The ticket was worth a seven-figure jackpot. Choquette claimed the million-dollar prize at Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters in Dorchester, authorities announced this week. He opted against taking the full prize through an annuity and i…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
After Years Of Deliveries, Silver Spring Mailman 'Mr. Fields' Is Getting One Of His Own After Years Of Deliveries, Silver Spring Mailman 'Mr. Fields' Is Getting One Of His Own
After Years Of Deliveries, Silver Spring Mailman 'Mr. Fields' Is Getting One Of His Own Some people deliver the mail.  A man affectionately known only as "Mr. Fields" delivered a whole lot more to one Maryland neighborhood. The longtime US Postal Service letter carrier and Navy vet is heading into retirement after becoming a fixture in the Sligo Park Hills community in Silver Spring, where neighbors are now stepping up to give him a sendoff worthy of his years of service. A GoFundMe campaign launched by Silver Spring resident Adam Landsman is raising money as a retirement gift for Fields, whom he described as far more than the person who brought letters and packages to t…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
Cold-Blooded Crew Stole 60+ Reptiles From Maryland, Virginia Pet Stores: Police Cold-Blooded Crew Stole 60+ Reptiles From Maryland, Virginia Pet Stores: Police
Cold-Blooded Crew Stole 60+ Reptiles From Maryland, Virginia Pet Stores: Police Talk about a slippery operation. More than 60 reptiles were stolen from pet stores across Maryland and Virginia before being sold on social media, according to police, who say a months-long investigation finally led them to a Capitol Heights apartment packed with snakes, lizards and guns. The alleged reptile crime spree ran from March through May, targeting stores on both sides of the Potomac, according to the Prince George’s County and Fairfax County police departments on Wednesday, Aug. 12. Investigators say 31-year-old Capitol Heights resident DeSean Bagley was part of the crew behind t…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
Kenny G Hits The Right Notes Twice For $100K Maryland Lottery Win Kenny G Hits The Right Notes Twice For $100K Maryland Lottery Win
Kenny G Hits The Right Notes Twice For $100K Maryland Lottery Win Kenny G's latest Maryland encore came with a six-figure payday. The Salisbury man doubled down on the same five numbers last month, buying two separate Pick 5 tickets with the identical combination before watching both bets hit straight for a $100,000 payday, according to the Maryland Lottery. On July 24, Kenny G stopped at Salisbury Quick Stop in the 2500 block of North Salisbury Boulevard, one of his usual Lottery spots, and played 32821 on two separate straight Pick 5 bets. Later that night, he was home checking the Maryland Lottery app when those five numbers popped up in exactly the r…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
Chris Hansen Came Back To Maryland, Now The Sheriff Has Another Warning Chris Hansen Came Back To Maryland, Now The Sheriff Has Another Warning
Chris Hansen Came Back To Maryland, Now The Sheriff Has Another Warning The suspects are facing the allegations. Their families aren't. One day after details emerged from a third Chris Hansen “Takedown” operation in Maryland, Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler issued a pointed message on Tuesday, Aug. 11, urging an angry public not to turn its attention toward the innocent relatives and friends of those accused. The warning comes as the sheriff's office wraps up its latest covert operation with Hansen targeting adults allegedly attempting to exploit children online. The arrests understandably sparked outrage. But Gahler said that anger needs to stop with t…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
Lightning Strike Caused $300K In Damage At Maryland Home Lightning Strike Caused $300K In Damage At Maryland Home
Lightning Strike Caused $300K In Damage At Maryland Home One lightning strike was apparently all it took to send flames ripping through the roof of a Maryland home. The fire broke out around 4:15 p.m. during the thunderstorms that rocked the region on Monday, Aug. 10.  The blaze was reported inside a home in the 800 block of Countf Falme Court in Westminster, where crews arrived to find flames tearing through the upper portion of the house. It quickly became an all-hands effort. Approximately 60 firefighters converged on the Carroll County home as crews attacked the fire, which investigators say had taken hold in the roof and attic. They …

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
MD Slips In New Ranking Of Best States To Live In US MD Slips In New Ranking Of Best States To Live In US
MD Slips In New Ranking Of Best States To Live In US From strong schools and health care to high incomes and low crime, several Northeast states are among the best places to live, according to a new study. WalletHub released its 2026 Best States to Live In list on Monday, Aug. 10. The study ranked all 50 states using 51 measures of livability, from housing affordability and income growth to education, health, quality of life, and safety. Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, said it's important to look beyond just economic reasons. "When deciding on a place to move, you should first consider financial factors like the cost of living, housing price…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Your Community
No Hydrants, Massive Flames: $600K Maryland House Fire Draws 80 Firefighters (PHOTOS) No Hydrants, Massive Flames: $600K Maryland House Fire Draws 80 Firefighters (PHOTOS)
No Hydrants, Massive Flames: $600K Maryland House Fire Draws 80 Firefighters (Photos) There wasn't much left to save by the time firefighters reached this Maryland home. Flames were already tearing through the first and second floors of a house in the 2500 block of Vance Drive in Mount Airy when crews arrived shortly after 4:40 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9, according to the Winfield Community Volunteer Fire Department and Maryland State Fire Marshal. The fire was so advanced that crews couldn't safely take the fight inside. The fire in Carroll County. Winfield Community Volunteer Fire Department Instead, firefighters took a defensive approach as flames engulfed the sprawlin…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
George Washington Parkway Drivers Face Weeks Of Midday Shutdowns As Tree Work Begins George Washington Parkway Drivers Face Weeks Of Midday Shutdowns As Tree Work Begins
George Washington Parkway Drivers Face Weeks Of Midday Shutdowns As Tree Work Begins The morning commute gets a pass. Drivers hitting the road later won't be so lucky. A heavily traveled stretch of the George Washington Memorial Parkway will completely shut down to northbound traffic for five hours at a time beginning Monday, Aug. 10, kicking off weeks of weekday closures that could snarl midday travel through Northern Virginia. The National Park Service is closing all northbound lanes between Spout Run Parkway and Route 123 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays through Tuesday, Sept. 1. No squeezing through on one lane. Every northbound driver will be for…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
4 Cats Rescued As Maryland Rowhome Fire Sends 4 People To Hospitals (DEVELOPING) 4 Cats Rescued As Maryland Rowhome Fire Sends 4 People To Hospitals (DEVELOPING)
4 Cats Rescued As Maryland Rowhome Fire Sends 4 People To Hospitals (Developing) Firefighters weren't the only ones scrambling to get everyone out safely from a burning Maryland home. Four cats were rescued after flames broke out at a two-story dwelling in the 2800 block of West North Avenue in Baltimore on Monday, Aug. 10, according to the Baltimore City Fire Department. Crews arrived to find smoke showing from the home before firefighters moved in and extinguished the blaze. Five people were treated following the fire. Four were taken to local hospitals, while a fifth person refused transport, fire officials said. The extent of their injuries was not immediately rel…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
These Northeast ZIP Codes Rank Among Nation's Most In-Demand These Northeast ZIP Codes Rank Among Nation's Most In-Demand
These Northeast ZIP Codes Rank Among Nation's Most In-Demand Communities across the Northeast dominated a new ranking of the nation's hottest housing markets. Realtor.com released its 2026 list of the hottest ZIP codes in the US on Monday, Aug. 10. The report ranked markets based on buyer demand and how quickly homes sold. The rankings were based on Realtor.com listing data from January through June 2026, using unique views per property to measure demand and days on market to measure how quickly homes sold. "This year's hottest ZIP codes tell us that buyers aren't simply chasing the lowest price tag anymore — they're chasing space, character an…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Your Community
Storm Leaves A Mess Behind In Virginia As Power Poles Snap, Lights Go Dark Storm Leaves A Mess Behind In Virginia As Power Poles Snap, Lights Go Dark
Storm Leaves A Mess Behind In Virginia As Power Poles Snap, Lights Go Dark Mother Nature left behind a mess in Virginia, and the cleanup was still snarling traffic Sunday morning Snapped power poles and downed wires left parts of Brandy Station without electricity after Saturday’s severe weather, while deputies and Virginia State Police troopers were forced to direct traffic at a busy Culpeper County intersection, according to the sheriff’s office The trouble remained Sunday, Aug. 9, at the intersection of Atlanthus Road and Route 29, where traffic lights were without power The Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office said the signals were operating on a battery expected…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
Shaq Attack: Big Chicken Goes Standalone In Maryland With First Restaurant Shaq Attack: Big Chicken Goes Standalone In Maryland With First Restaurant
Shaq Attack: Big Chicken Goes Standalone In Maryland With First Restaurant Maryland's chicken game just got a whole lot bigger. Shaquille O'Neal's Big Chicken is celebrating the grand opening of its first standalone Maryland restaurant on Saturday, Aug. 8, at Waugh Chapel Towne Centre in Gambrills, bringing the NBA Hall of Famer's larger-than-life menu to Anne Arundel County after first testing local appetites inside Baltimore's CFG Bank Arena. And they're marking the occasion with some free food. The first 100 customers in line at 1407 South Main Chapel Way will get three chicken tenders and four signature dipping sauces for free, a nod to O'Neal's iconic No. 34…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
$420M Approved To Help Launch Massive $2.8B Viva White Oak Development $420M Approved To Help Launch Massive $2.8B Viva White Oak Development
$420M Approved To Help Launch Massive $2.8B Viva White Oak Development Maryland is thinking very, very big. Montgomery County lawmakers approved up to $420 million in tax increment financing bonds on Tuesday, July 28, to help pave the way for Viva White Oak, a massive $2.8 billion development expected to begin construction this fall. And Costco is just the beginning. The 280-acre project calls for up to 5,000 residences and more than 3 million square feet of lab, office, medical office, and retail space near the US Food and Drug Administration headquarters and Adventist HealthCare White Oak Medical Center. The $420 million authorization marks Montgomery Coun…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
George Washington Is About To Stand Taller Than Ever In This Maryland County George Washington Is About To Stand Taller Than Ever In This Maryland County
George Washington Is About To Stand Taller Than Ever In This Maryland County George Washington is returning to his namesake Maryland county. In bronze. And seven feet tall. The larger-than-life statue will be formally dedicated at noon on Sunday, Sept. 6, outside the Washington County Courthouse at 95 W. Washington St. in Hagerstown as part of the county's ongoing 250th anniversary celebration. The timing is no coincidence. Washington County was founded on Sept. 6, 1776, and became the first county in the nation to be named for George Washington, according to county officials. Now, exactly 250 years later, officials are marking the milestone with a permanent tribu…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
Maryland Cousin's Plea Puts Marvel Artist Andy Fish's Cancer Fight In Spotlight Maryland Cousin's Plea Puts Marvel Artist Andy Fish's Cancer Fight In Spotlight
Maryland Cousin's Plea Puts Marvel Artist Andy Fish's Cancer Fight In Spotlight Some people spend a lifetime lifting others up. Now, a Maryland family is hoping the favor comes back around. The call for help starts in Hagerstown, where Gina Gabianelli has launched a GoFundMe campaign for her cousin, nationally recognized comic book artist Andy Fish, who was diagnosed with two rare blood cancers and is preparing for a life-saving stem-cell transplant. Fish, a father of three and longtime Massachusetts resident, has spent nearly three decades building a career as a professional artist, writer and educator.  His work has appeared in Marvel Comics, Archie Comics, War…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
2 Years Later, FBI Renews Hunt For Killer Of 10-Year-Old Maryland Boy Shot Inside Home 2 Years Later, FBI Renews Hunt For Killer Of 10-Year-Old Maryland Boy Shot Inside Home
2 Years Later, FBI Renews Hunt For Killer Of 10-Year-Old Maryland Boy Shot Inside Home Two years have passed. Tyron Colbert Jr.'s killer is still at large. The renewed push comes as the FBI, Maryland State Police, and Crime Solvers of the Eastern Shore mark the second anniversary of the 10-year-old's killing and again ask the public to help solve one of Maryland's most heartbreaking unsolved murders. Colbert was inside a home in the 200 block of Clay Street in Salisbury at about 10:30 p.m. on Aug. 5, 2024, when gunfire erupted outside, and bullets tore into the residence, investigators said.  The 10-year-old was struck and killed. Police have long said they do not beli…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
These Beagles Could Change Dog Ownership For Millions With Allergies These Beagles Could Change Dog Ownership For Millions With Allergies
These Beagles Could Change Dog Ownership For Millions With Allergies Two beagles are making history after scientists said they created the first genetically edited dogs without the major protein responsible for most canine allergies. New York-based Kindred Companion Sciences unveiled the two female dogs named Alfie and Bailey on Wednesday, Aug. 5. The beagles were born in September 2024 after researchers used CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology to eliminate Can f 1, the primary dog allergen.  Kindred's findings were published in a peer-reviewed study in The CRISPR Journal. The company said researchers didn't detect Can f 1 prote…

SHARE

by Chris Spiker
Your Community
Maryland Children Fighting For Their Lives After North Carolina Crash Maryland Children Fighting For Their Lives After North Carolina Crash
Maryland Children Fighting For Their Lives After North Carolina Crash A Maryland family's trip to North Carolina became every parent's nightmare after a crash left two young children fighting for their lives. Ashley Hildebrandt was driving with the couple's three children on Tuesday, Aug. 4, to visit family when their vehicle hydroplaned, left the roadway, and crashed into a tree, according to loved ones raising money to help the family. In a matter of seconds, a summer trip turned into days of surgeries, intensive care, and an agonizing wait inside a hospital hundreds of miles from home. Ashley and the couple's oldest son, Bryson, have since been released a…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
Dog's Discovery Leads To Rabies Alert After Bat Tests Positive In Virginia: VDH Dog's Discovery Leads To Rabies Alert After Bat Tests Positive In Virginia: VDH
Dog's Discovery Leads To Rabies Alert After Bat Tests Positive In Virginia: VDH A dog's discovery has prompted a rabies warning in Virginia after a bat found in Suffolk tested positive for the deadly virus. The bat was found in the 300 block of Turlington Road in Suffolk and collected after a dog located the dead animal, according to the Suffolk Health Department on Tuesday, Aug. 4.  Animal Control responded, recovered the bat, and testing later confirmed it was infected with rabies. While human rabies cases are rare, the virus is almost always fatal once symptoms develop. Health officials say the disease spreads when saliva from an infected animal enters the bod…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
Virginia Confirms First Locally Acquired Dengue Case As Mosquito Spreads Virus Virginia Confirms First Locally Acquired Dengue Case As Mosquito Spreads Virus
Virginia Confirms First Locally Acquired Dengue Case As Mosquito Spreads Virus A mosquito bite in Northern Virginia has health officials watching closely. Virginia has confirmed its first documented case of locally acquired dengue virus, marking a milestone state health officials say is rare but important, even as they stress the overall risk to the public remains low. The Virginia Department of Health announced that a Northern Virginia resident contracted dengue despite having no known travel outside Virginia before becoming sick. The investigation, conducted with the Fairfax County and Loudoun County health departments, found the patient had been in close proximity…

SHARE

by Zak Failla
Your Community
Do You Recognize Him? Police In Virginia Need Help Solving 23-Year Mystery Near Maryland Border Do You Recognize Him? Police In Virginia Need Help Solving 23-Year Mystery Near Maryland Border
Do You Recognize Him? Police In Virginia Need Help Solving 23-Year Mystery Near Maryland Border He walked into the woods carrying little more than the clothes on his back. More than two decades later, no one has figured out who he was. Prince William County detectives are asking the public to take another look at one of the area's oldest unsolved mysteries, hoping someone recognizes the face, the clothing, or even the small everyday items found alongside an unidentified man whose remains were discovered on July 29, 2002, behind a commercial business in the 8100 block of Sudley Road in Manassas. The case has remained frozen in time for 23 years. Investigators said the decomposed rema…

SHARE

by Zak Failla