Release – Jennifer M. Dooren, NASA; Now on a three-month, million-mile journey to its final orbit, NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will soon reveal the universe’s darkest secrets. The mission launched at 7:26 a.m. EDT Sunday aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at the agency’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida....
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Governor Moore and the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention and Policy (GOCPP) today announced $10 million in State Fiscal Year 2027 Protection Against Hate Crimes (PAHC) grant awards to more than 100 nonprofit organizations, houses of worship, and community centers across 16 Maryland counties and Baltimore City. The awards will fund security guards, access...
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A Maryland man pleaded guilty today to two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. According to court documents, Brandon Sartor, 33, of Prince George’s County, Maryland, between December 2024 and April 2025, used physical violence, threats, sexual assault, and the withholding of drugs to compel two women to engage in repeated...
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On Friday, August 28, 2026, at approximately 4:10 a.m., firefighters from Charles and St. Mary’s County were dispatched to the Green Acres Nursing and Rehab located at 10200 LaPlata Road, for the reported structure fire. Crews arrived on the scene to find fire showing from the attic space. Due to the nature of the...
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The suspect wanted for a fatal shooting in February is in custody in Colorado. He’s identified as 30-year-old Jabari McCoy of Capitol Heights. He’s charged with the murder of 45-year-old David Downs of Capitol Heights. On February 23, 2026, at approximately 11:20 am, officers responded to a shooting in the 5200 block of Marlboro...
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UPDATE 8/29/2026: The Prince George’s County Police Department is investigating a fatal collision that occurred Wednesday afternoon in Bowie. The victim is 69-year-old Deborah Saffran of Bowie. The adult male driver who struck the victim after fleeing a traffic stop remains hospitalized. On August 26, 2026, at approximately 2:45 pm, officers attempted to conduct...
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A Maryland man received a federal-prison term, for the armed robbery of a Prince George’s County convenience store. U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang sentenced Zebedee Alexander Johnson, 36, to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release, in connection with the crime. Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of...
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Qualifying agricultural operations are now eligible to extend their nutrient management plans from three to five years following a regulatory update outlined in the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 15.20.07. The update applies to no-land, pasture-only and organic poultry operations that are considered low-risk because they do not spread manure or other sources of nutrients...
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Brandon Tyriq White, 31, of Maryland, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court to 198-months in federal prison in connection with the violent kidnapping, choking, and sexual assault of his former girlfriend, announced U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. “Brandon White’s victim fought to escape her attacker twice, and twice White caught her, bound her,...
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UPDATE 8/27/2027: The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General is investigating a police-involved collision that occurred on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in Brandywine, near the county line between Prince George’s County and Charles County, Maryland. The preliminary investigation revealed that on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at approximately 10:20 a.m.,...
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to eliminate a federal requirement that currently guarantees the public notice and an opportunity to comment on certain air pollution permits — a change that could affect data centers and the diesel generators and other equipment used to support them. The proposal comes as communities across the...
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The Independent Investigations Division (IID) of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General has identified the decedent and the Prince George’s County Police Department (PGPD) officer involved in the fatal police-involved shooting that occurred on Friday, August 21, 2026, in Suitland, Prince George’s County, Maryland. The decedent is identified as 33-year-old Tawfiq Abdul Haqq,...
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The Maryland Department of Health is declaring an outbreak of measles in St. Mary’s, Carroll and Cecil counties and the identification and investigation of 14 new confirmed cases in unvaccinated Maryland residents. No public exposures have been identified in these cases. There is currently no evidence of widespread community transmission, as most cases occurred...
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When Southern Maryland News Net publishes an article about someone facing criminal charges, readers frequently ask the same question: “Why isn’t there a booking photo?” The answer is usually that the defendant was charged without being taken to jail and photographed. In other cases, a photograph may exist but has not been released, cannot...
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Pumpkin lovers, this one’s for you. The flavors everyone waits all year for have officially arrived, and Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, the largest Italian Ice concept in the world, is putting a refreshingly cool twist on the season. Pumpkin and Apple Butter are back at Rita’s for a limited time, bringing all the cozy, spiced...
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CCSO Warrant Unit and U.S. Marshals Task Force Seek Fugitive Wanted in Armed Carjacking and Robbery: The Charles County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force, is actively seeking the whereabouts of David Thomas Alston, age 21, of Indian Head, MD. Alston is wanted in connection...
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Anthony Kenneth Dotson Jr., 37, of Temple Hills, has been charged with misdemeanor trespassing on private property after Maryland State Police alleged he attended an August 2026 event at Maryland International Raceway despite having been barred from the property since 2018. The charge stems from an August 1, 2026 event at Maryland International Raceway...
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The College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Foundation raised a record-breaking $94,000 at its 35th Annual Golf Classic, creating significant support for scholarships and programs that help students reach their academic goals. Held on August 6, the sold-out event welcomed 144 community partners, supporters, and alumni to tee off at Swan Point Yacht and Country Club and enjoy a round of golf in support...
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Attorney General Anthony G. Brown issued the following statement after the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland ruled in favor of Maryland and Prince George’s County, blocking the Trump administration’s unlawful attempt to move the FBI headquarters from the carefully selected Greenbelt site to the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C.: “Maryland and...
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The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is investigating a fatal collision early Sunday morning involving a motorcycle and a sedan. The deceased rider is 36-year-old Alonzo Bibines 3rd of Glenn Dale. On August 16, 2026, at approximately 3:45 am, officers responded to the area of Greenbelt Road and Aerospace...
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As students across Maryland head back to school in the coming weeks, the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) is reminding motorists to slow down, stay alert and know when to stop for school buses. Each school day, more than 600,000 students rely on school buses to travel safely to and from...
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UPDATE 8/20/2026: A former Prince George’s County police officer received a federal-prison sentence for his role in an auto-insurance fraud scheme. Judge Lydia Griggsby sentenced Michael Anthony Owen, Jr., 37, of Accokeek, Maryland, to six months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release, with the first six months served on home...
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The Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Administration reminds Maryland residents 45 days remain to register vehicles in the state before new penalties and enforcement actions take effect October 1st, 2026. Properly registering vehicles helps keep Maryland’s transportation system running safely and smoothly. Earlier this summer, the MVA launched its Plate Where You Live campaign, which educates Maryland drivers with out-of-state license plates about...
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Xscape Theatres Brandywine 14 has permanently closed its doors after more than 13 years in business, bringing an abrupt end to one of the largest movie theaters serving the Brandywine and Waldorf area. The theater, located at 7710 Matapeake Business Drive in Brandywine, announced the closure on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, with little explanation...
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The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration is continuing to advance the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (PSAP) with plans to begin accepting construction bids for several PSAP projects. The PSAP program, a priority of the Moore-Miller Administration, is designed to provide greater access and protection for all roadway users, including those who walk, bike and...
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