Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) attended her first Democratic National Convention in 1992, in New York City. She was an intern with the Congressional Black Caucus at the time, responsible for checking in delegates every evening. But what Alsobrooks remembers most about that experience was hanging out in the almost-empty Madison Square Garden hours before the daily convention sessions began, watching the evening’s speakers practicing their speeches.

I am writing in response to the Aug. 12 story titled “Local Power Grid Operator’s Failure To Plan Is Costing Marylanders Millions.” PJM Interconnection, operator of the nation’s largest electricity grid, has seen interest in our interconnection process recently, which we welcome. Unfortunately, we don’t agree with The Banner’s headline and don’t think the article addresses all the facts.

An amendment is being made to the Giant Food bag policy issued three months ago in D.C. In May, Giant Food passed a bag policy to help reduce the amount of thefts they were experiencing. The policy states that customers cannot bring suitcases, duffel bags, or bags larger than 14” x 14” x 6” while shopping in these stores, which are all locations in D.C. and some additional ones throughout the region.

President Joe Biden, for several moments, couldn’t speak. At first, it was because he was dabbing his eyes. Then, it was because the cheers were so sustained. “Thank you,” he said nearly two dozen times, unsuccessfully trying to begin his speech amid a sea of “We love Joe” signs. His wife, first lady Jill Biden, kept crying. His daughter, Ashley, dabbed her eyes. His son, Hunter, looked on from backstage.

In this episode, Patrick and Clay give their initial thoughts and impressions on the first day (so far) of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Buying or selling real estate is perhaps the most complex transaction you’ll ever make. That’s the cautionary adage some Maryland realtors tell prospective buyers and sellers. Hire us, they say, and we’ll advocate for you until the keys change hands. How agents are compensated for that time and effort is the central focus of several changes coming Saturday to the National Association of Realtors.

The Giant Eagle grocery store chain, with two locations in Frederick, is selling its GetGo line of gas stations and convenience stores to a Canadian company. GetGo also has two locations in Frederick — one at 1000 W. Patrick St., and the other at 1391 W. 7th St. The chain will be sold to Alimentation Couche-Tard, company that includes the Circle K brand of stores and gas stations in the Midwest and elsewhere.

 

With a new chief of security for schools and the beginning of classes a week away, Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Taylor is slated to introduce several new safety and security changes for the district at Tuesday’s county school board meeting, according to board documents. The scheduled update included in Tuesday’s meeting agenda follows Taylor’s comments at an Aug. 7 press briefing where he said the district had work to do when addressing safety.

Howard County’s only emergency room is expanding its behavior health unit to accommodate the massive increase in demand for mental health care since the pandemic. The Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center’s emergency department is more than tripling the size of its behavioral health unit from 1,500 square feet to 7,000 square feet.

Earlier this year, the Hagerstown City Council voted to annex two properties near the Interstate 70 interchange on the Sharpsburg Pike south of town. Now there’s a dispute in the Washington County Circuit Court between the city government and the county government over whether one of those annexations was conducted legally.