Potomac, Travilah, and Darnestown in one daily read.
Potomac, Travilah, and Darnestown in one daily read.
Community
Friendship Heights walking tour gives Potomac residents a preview before September hearings
The Montgomery County Planning Board will host a free public walking tour of the Friendship Heights Sector Plan area on Tuesday, August 18, followed by a Historic Preservation Commission meeting on Wednesday, August 19, giving River Road corridor residents two new ways to engage before September public hearings on the plan.
Community
Friendship Heights walking tour gives Potomac residents a preview before September hearings
The Montgomery County Planning Board will host a free public walking tour of the Friendship Heights Sector Plan area on Tuesday, August 18, followed by a Historic Preservation Commission meeting on Wednesday, August 19, giving River Road corridor residents two new ways to engage before September public hearings on the plan.
Community
Friendship Heights walking tour gives Potomac residents a preview before September hearings
The Montgomery County Planning Board will host a free public walking tour of the Friendship Heights Sector Plan area on Tuesday, August 18, followed by a Historic Preservation Commission meeting on Wednesday, August 19, giving River Road corridor residents two new ways to engage before September public hearings on the plan.
Local Government
Local Government
Local Government
Local Government
Geothermal pilot championed by Potomac delegate stalls after regulators reject cost proposals
Maryland regulators rejected geothermal pilot proposals from BGE and Washington Gas as too costly in December 2025, stalling a program championed by Potomac-area Del. Lorig Charkoudian; the PSC is now finalizing a consultant contract to help utilities lower costs, but no revised plans or timeline have been set.
Local Government
Council member alleges Potomac River rescue violated county's Trust Act
Montgomery County Council member Kristin Mink alleged Saturday, July 25, that MCFRS firefighters violated the county's Trust Act by preparing to launch a rescue boat with ICE agents present during a July 22 operation near Cabin John, and called on the Council to clarify protocols for emergency responders.
Local Government
Montgomery County Council passes ghost gun, firearm carry restrictions in 10-1 vote
The Montgomery County Council voted 10-1 on Tuesday, July 21, to pass Expedited Bill 23-26, updating ghost gun and firearm carry laws to comply with a Maryland Supreme Court ruling that struck down parts of two earlier county ordinances.
Local Government
Montgomery County bill would bar convicted traffickers from reopening spas
Bill 34-26, introduced Tuesday, July 21, would require bodywork establishments countywide to disclose all owners and managers, and would deny licenses to anyone convicted of human trafficking or prostitution offenses — closing a loophole that allowed repeat offenders to reopen under new names in communities including Potomac.
Education
Education
Education
Education
MCPS to pay new teachers $64,591, highest starting salary in Maryland
Montgomery County Public Schools will pay new teachers $64,591 in 2026-27, topping all 24 Maryland districts under the state's new $60,000 minimum salary mandate, while smaller systems cut staff and raised class sizes to comply.
Education
120 MCPS middle schoolers build iPhone apps at free coding camp
About 120 MCPS middle schoolers presented original iPhone app prototypes at Montgomery College's Rockville campus on Friday, July 24, after completing the free, week-long Montgomery Can Code summer camp, which is open countywide to rising sixth- through eighth-graders.
Education
MCPS launches boundary study that could close or consolidate Potomac-area schools
MCPS approved a $1.9 million consultant contract to evaluate every elementary and middle school in the county for potential closure or consolidation, with seven Potomac-area elementary schools and Cabin John Middle School among those affected by a board decision expected in May 2027.
Education
County report says MCPS budgeting harms Black and Latino students; district fires back
A County Council-commissioned report found MCPS budgeting practices privilege white students and harm Black and Latino students; MCPS rejected the findings as "unacceptable and irresponsible" in a July 17 letter, setting up a fight over school funding that could affect Potomac-area schools.
Education
Potomac students without required vaccines could be barred from school on Aug. 25
MCPS reminded families on July 15 that students without required vaccinations could be excluded from school when classes begin Aug. 25; free county clinics are accepting appointments for Potomac-area families.
Public Safety
Public Safety
Public Safety
Public Safety
Man shot in North Bethesda; no suspect detained
A man was shot on the 12200 block of Wilkins Avenue in North Bethesda on Sunday, July 26, and is expected to recover; Montgomery County Police have not detained a suspect.
Public Safety
Elrich signs revised ghost gun law ahead of August court date
County Executive Marc Elrich signed the amended ghost gun and firearms-in-public-places law on Monday, July 27, narrowing definitions to comply with a Maryland Supreme Court ruling ahead of an Aug. 12 court date in Rockville.
Public Safety
Police seek public's help finding driver who killed Silver Spring pedestrian
Montgomery County Police held a news conference Tuesday, July 21, asking the public to help identify the driver of a dark-colored 2009-2014 Lexus RX SUV that fatally struck pedestrian Hanna Wegayehou, 61, on Colesville Road in Silver Spring on June 19 and fled the scene.
Public Safety
Speed limits dropping on Darnestown Road, Montrose Road by end of August
Montgomery County will post lower speed limits on Darnestown Road and Montrose Road by the end of August 2026 as part of a broader effort that has already reduced speeds on 33 residential streets since July 2025.
Public Safety
Clara Barton Parkway faces overnight lane closures through mid-August for sewer repairs
DC Water crews are restricting Clara Barton Parkway to one lane in each direction overnight at the Maryland-D.C. border through mid-August while making emergency repairs to the Potomac Interceptor sewer line, the same aging pipeline that ruptured in January.
Community
Community
Community
Community
Friendship Heights walking tour gives Potomac residents a preview before September hearings
The Montgomery County Planning Board will host a free public walking tour of the Friendship Heights Sector Plan area on Tuesday, August 18, followed by a Historic Preservation Commission meeting on Wednesday, August 19, giving River Road corridor residents two new ways to engage before September public hearings on the plan.
Community
Potomac's Chris Williams back on Earth after 241 days in space
NASA astronaut Chris Williams, who grew up in Potomac and attended Herbert Hoover Middle School, returned to Earth on Sunday, July 26, after 241 days aboard the International Space Station, completing two spacewalks and scientific research during his first spaceflight.
Community
Maryland proposal would drop renewable energy mandate for new large buildings including data centers
Maryland's Department of Labor has proposed building energy code changes that environmental groups and Del. Lorig Charkoudian say would weaken national efficiency standards for new large commercial buildings, including data centers. Potomac-area residents can submit public comments until Monday, July 27.
Community
County Council hears public testimony on street racing crackdown bill
The Montgomery County Council holds a public hearing Tuesday, July 14, on Bill 27-26, which would prohibit unlawful street racing and vehicle takeovers, months after a large-scale takeover damaged police cruisers at a county intersection in February.
Community
Supreme Court transgender athlete ruling hits close to home for Maryland soccer family
An 11-year-old transgender girl's family learned she was barred from her local girls' soccer team weeks before the Supreme Court's June 30 ruling allowing states to ban transgender athletes, illustrating how the debate is playing out in Maryland even without a state ban.
Business
Business
Business
Business
Farm Tour, Buy Local Week highlight Agricultural Reserve businesses near Potomac
The Montgomery County Farm Tour opens Saturday, July 25, across the Agricultural Reserve as Maryland Buy Local Week runs through July 27, with local economic development officials urging residents to support small businesses strained by the loss of nearly 25,000 federal jobs statewide.
Business
Barry's fitness studio to open first Maryland location in Bethesda on July 25
Barry's, the boutique fitness brand known for its "Red Room" high-intensity workouts, will open its first Maryland location at 7276 Wisconsin Ave. in Bethesda on Saturday, July 25, giving Potomac-area residents a new option minutes away.
Business
Agritourism boom drives millions in new revenue to farms near Potomac
Agritourism is booming across Montgomery County's 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve, with farms near Potomac and Darnestown drawing growing crowds and the county's farm alcohol sector seeing gross sales jump from $2.9 million to $16.8 million between 2018 and 2024.
Business
Always Ice Cream to open first Montgomery County shop at Pike & Rose this fall
Always Ice Cream, an Annapolis-based chain co-owned by brothers Mark and Adam Cohen who have family in Potomac and Rockville, will open its first Montgomery County location at 11802 Rockville Pike in Pike & Rose this fall.
Sports
Sports
Sports
Sports
Bethesda Olympian Hearn faces September trial in Reflecting Pool vandalism case
A D.C. judge set a September 28 trial date for Bethesda Olympian David Hearn, who faces a felony charge for allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during a June 19 bike ride.
Sports
Former Churchill basketball coach Steve Hobson named to Newberry College's inaugural Hall of Master Coaches
Bethesda native and former Churchill High School basketball coach Steve Hobson was named to Newberry College's inaugural 2026 Hall of Master Coaches after compiling 645 wins in 29 years at Montgomery College.
Sports
Free girls hockey clinic for ages 4-9 coming to Rockville Ice Arena Sept. 13
The Montgomery Ice Devils will host a free hockey session for girls ages 4-9 at Rockville Ice Arena on Sunday, September 13, as part of the Capitals' DMV Girls Hockey Weekend spanning 18 rinks across Maryland and Virginia.
Sports
Potomac's Chris Hacopian drafted 11th overall by Washington Nationals
Potomac native and Winston Churchill High School alum Chris Hacopian was selected 11th overall by the Washington Nationals in the 2026 MLB Draft on Sunday, July 12, continuing a family baseball legacy and giving local fans a homegrown connection to the franchise's rebuild.
Editor's Picks
Editor's Picks
Editor's Picks
Local Government
Montgomery County Council passes ghost gun, firearm carry restrictions in 10-1 vote
The Montgomery County Council voted 10-1 on Tuesday, July 21, to pass Expedited Bill 23-26, updating ghost gun and firearm carry laws to comply with a Maryland Supreme Court ruling that struck down parts of two earlier county ordinances.
Sports
Bethesda Olympian Hearn faces September trial in Reflecting Pool vandalism case
A D.C. judge set a September 28 trial date for Bethesda Olympian David Hearn, who faces a felony charge for allegedly damaging the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool during a June 19 bike ride.
About the Editor
About the Editor
About the Editor
Maryam Khanum
Maryam Khanum is a journalist based in Winston-Salem, NC. She graduated from Wake Forest University in 2024 with majors in Political Science and Communications. Maryam was heavily involved in journalism throughout her college career, serving as Multimedia Managing Editor for the student-run newspaper, the Old Gold & Black. She previously worked for the International Business Times.
Maryam Khanum
Maryam Khanum is a journalist based in Winston-Salem, NC. She graduated from Wake Forest University in 2024 with majors in Political Science and Communications. Maryam was heavily involved in journalism throughout her college career, serving as Multimedia Managing Editor for the student-run newspaper, the Old Gold & Black. She previously worked for the International Business Times.
Maryam Khanum
Maryam Khanum is a journalist based in Winston-Salem, NC. She graduated from Wake Forest University in 2024 with majors in Political Science and Communications. Maryam was heavily involved in journalism throughout her college career, serving as Multimedia Managing Editor for the student-run newspaper, the Old Gold & Black. She previously worked for the International Business Times.