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AAA says the busiest travel time is expected to be the weekend of December 20th and 21st.

Baltimore, Md. (KM) The highways, skyways and railways are expected to be a little crowded this holiday weekend. “Here in our region, AAA is projecting that nearly 2.4 million Marylanders will be traveling 50 miles or more from home over this busy, end of the year, holiday period,” says Ragina Ali, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA.

Ali  says that’s just over a one percent increase compared to last year, and it’s the highest  travel volume since 2019 . “The vast majority, or a little over 2.1 million, will be driving to their holiday destination,’ she says. “That was certainly typical of what we see as it relates to holiday travel.”

If you’re planning to drive, AAA says the best times to leave are after 9:00 PM. and before 11:00 AM.

The auto club projects more than eight million Americans will be traveling by airplane. Out of that, 134,000 Marylanders will be flying this holiday weekend. Ali  says “pack your patience” and make sure you conform to all TSA regulations. “You don’t want to be the one holding up the TSA line as other people are traveling for the holidays. Make sure you check with the TSA website to see what restrictions it has , what you can or cannot take on the plane as far as you items go,” says Ali.

She says that includes some gifts you may be taking for your family members and friends. “And many people do travel with gifts obviously at this time of year. But you just want to make sure you’re in tune with restrictions so that you’re not taking things that you’re not suppose to and basically holding up that line,”: she says.

Ali says it’s best to send you gifts ahead of time through the US Postal Service, Fed Ex or UPS prior to your trip.

By Kevin McManus

It involves a periodic injection as opposed to a daily pill.

Frederick, Md (KM) At one time, being diagnosed with HIV/AIDS was often a death sentence. But there have been a number of treatments developed over the years that control the virus and its impact on the body.

Kenneth Melnick, the Disease Prevention Specialist for the Frederick County Health Department, says in the past, patients took one pill each day to the control  the virus. Now they can get an injection every other month. He says it helps reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS in  patients and other individuals. “It also reduces the viral load to an undetectable level, and that makes it so they can’t  spread the disease to others, ” he says,.

Melnick says this medication is covered by insurance. “There are case management teams out there throughout the country who help people with insurance issues. Medicaid does cover it. It may be difficult to get it in some rural areas where it might not be as accessible as in big cities,” he says

In Frederick County, Melnick says there are only two infectious disease specialists in the area. . He says the Health Department doesn’t offer this vaccination against HIV/AIDS, and many patients must travel to Baltimore or Hagerstown to receive it.

Despite the injections, Melnick says you still need to be cautious when it comes to HIV/AIDS. “It’s still mainly a sexually transmitted disease. But some people might get it by sharing needles. It can be particularly spread quickly in an intravenous drug community,”  he says.

It’s still important for individuals who are sexually active or use drugs intravenously to be tested for HIV/AIDS. “A lot of STD’s {sexually transmitted diseases} may not have Symptoms. So the only way to know if you have had an exposure is to get a test,”  he says “A lot of times STD’s travel in packs and when we look at the data, we see someone might BE getting chlamydia or gonorrhea, we try to get them on PERP before they might contract HIV.”

PERP stands for Post-Exposure Prophylactic which is a one-a-day pill that those at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS can take  to protect themselves. Melnick says it’s 99.7 percent effective.

The Frederick County Health Department offers free walk-in testing at its facilities at 350 Montevue Lane Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM. Residents can also make an appointment to be tested by calling  301-600-3117.

By Kevin McManus

It’s an opportunity for high school age students to explore apprenticeships.

Frederick, Md (KM( Frederick County Public School students are invited to the Annual  Youth Apprenticeship Summit. It will take place on Thursday, December 18th at Frederick Community College from 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM.

The Youth Apprenticeship Program allows sophomores and juniors to meet with employers, workforce development professionals and the FCPS Work-Based Learning Staff. The students can learn how to apply and qualify for apprenticeships; attend career development workshops; network with employers and local businesses that offer apprenticeship opportunities; and explore such professions such as manufacturing, information technology, construction, health care and other careers.

The students can also discover how apprenticeships can lead to meaningful careers. according to FCPS.

The Youth Apprenticeship Program is authorized by the Maryland Department of Labor, and allows 11th and 12th graders the opportunity to engage in structured work-place learning which is mentored by industry professionals. All of this while still enrolled in high school, according to FCPS.

By Kevin McManus

A passenger in his vehicle was not hurt.

Hagerstown, Md (KM) Hagerstown Police are investigating a one-vehicle crash Tuesday afternoon which took the life of a Pennsylvania man.

At around 2:00 PM, officers were dispatched to the 1100 block of Maryland Avenue for a vehicle crash. They found a truck with a person inside who was trapped and unresponsive. Barton Neil Risser, 46, of Waynesboro was pronouned dead at the scene. An 18-year-old passenger in the vehicle was not hurt.

Police say Risser’s next of kin has been notified of his death.

By Kevin McManus

Carroll County deputies recover stolen merchandise, pipe with suspected drug residue from vehicle

Sykesville, MD (JK) – On Sunday, December 14, 2025, at approximately 11:07 a.m., Carroll County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the Walmart Supercenter at 6400 Ridge Road in Sykesville for a report of a shoplifting in progress. Authorities say the suspects had pushed carts with merchandise out of the store without paying and left in a white Chevrolet Impala traveling eastbound on Route 26.

Deputies, with assistance from Maryland State Police troopers, located the vehicle in the 6100 block of Monroe Avenue and arrested all four occupants. Stolen merchandise was recovered, and multiple glass smoking devices and containers with suspected residue from controlled dangerous substances were found inside the car.

The suspects were identified as Milo Darren Bary-Parhjam, 35, of Baltimore; Regina Elizabeth Musa, 50, of Baltimore; Kenneth James Parham, 36, of Halethorpe; and Lauren Kimberly Thomas, 43, of Friendship. All four were charged with theft, possession of controlled dangerous substances (not cannabis), and possession of related paraphernalia.

Kenneth Parham, the driver, was also charged with obstruction and traffic violations, including driving on a suspended license and operating a vehicle without a required ignition interlock device. Parham and Thomas were released on recognizance, Musa was released on unsecured personal bond, and Barry-Parhjam remains in the custody of the Carroll County Detention Center.

All individuals are presumed innocent of the pending charges until proven guilty in a court of law.

By Jimmy Key

Three others injured, including 8-year-old girl airlifted to hospital after Union Township rollover.

Union Township, PA (JK) – A late-night all-terrain vehicle crash in Fulton County, Pennsylvania, has claimed the life of a Hancock, Maryland, woman and left three others injured, including a child.

Pennsylvania State Police say the crash happened at 11:38 p.m. Friday, December 12, in Union Township. Four people were riding on a 2023 Polaris ATV traveling southbound on Negro Mountain Road as it approached a Y-shaped intersection with Buck Valley Road.

Investigators say the driver, 36-year-old Holley E. Appel of Hancock, attempted to negotiate a left-hand curve when the ATV went off the right shoulder of the road and rolled down an embankment, coming to rest on its hood. Appel died from injuries sustained in the crash.

Police say the wrecked ATV was discovered by a family member who was not riding on the vehicle.

An 8-year-old girl, who was seated in the right rear position, suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to Conemaugh Memorial Hospital in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Investigators say it is not known whether the child was restrained at the time of the crash.

Two other passengers, 29-year-old Leah Brook Yonker and 35-year-old Kaitlyn N. Martin, both of Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania, were taken to UPMC Western Maryland in Cumberland with non-life-threatening injuries. Police say both reported wearing seat belts but could not recall details of the crash due to head injuries.

The crash remains under investigation by Pennsylvania State Police.

By Jimmy Key

Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, Martinsburg Police, and ATF collaborate to target narcotics-related activity.

Martinsburg, WV (JK) – A joint law enforcement operation in Martinsburg on Thursday, December 11, 2025, led to the arrests of two individuals and the seizure of drugs, firearms, and cash. The operation involved the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division, Martinsburg Police Department, ATF special agents and task force officers, the BCSO SWAT team, and West Virginia State Police K-9 units.

The search of a residence at 35 Gall Drive was conducted under a state-issued warrant, obtained following a collaborative investigation by BCSO, ATF, and MPD. During the operation, 47-year-old Samantha R. Gilroy was arrested at a separate location on outstanding narcotics-related warrants. Forty-two-year-old Thomas Clay Rutherford was taken into custody at the residence on a probation violation stemming from previous felony narcotics charges.

Authorities seized approximately 86 grams of suspected methamphetamine, five grams of suspected fentanyl, two handguns, one extended magazine, ammunition, and U.S. currency. Additional narcotics and firearm-related charges against Rutherford are pending, based on evidence collected during the investigation and search.

The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office expressed appreciation to all participating law enforcement partners for their coordination and commitment to reducing violent crime and drug activity in the community.

Residents with information on narcotics violations, wanted individuals, or other criminal activity are encouraged to submit anonymous tips by calling 304-267-7000 or using the online submission form at Berkeley County Drug Tips Submission.

84-Year-Old Homeowner and Several Pets Found Dead.

Taneytown, MD (JK) – Authorities are investigating a deadly house fire in Taneytown that claimed the life of an 84-year-old homeowner and several pets. The incident occurred Friday, December 12, 2025, at a residence on 3404 Francis Scott Key Highway.

Taneytown Volunteer Fire Company responded around 4:15 p.m. for a reported carbon monoxide incident, but upon arrival, firefighters discovered that a fire inside the home had already self-extinguished. The homeowner was found deceased in a first-floor bedroom, along with a dog, while a cat was discovered in the dining room and multiple pet birds were located in the basement.

Investigators from the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office are conducting a joint investigation, which is standard procedure in fatal fire cases. Preliminary findings indicate smoke inhalation may have contributed to the homeowner’s death, with the fire believed to have started in the unfinished basement. Officials are focusing on accidental causes, and the residence was equipped with smoke alarms, though it remains unclear if they were activated.

Damages to the home and its contents are estimated at $150,000. The investigation is ongoing, and the official cause of death and identification will be released by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

By Jimmy Key

36-year-old Mark Brigham was charged by a federal grand jury with seven counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material

Frederick, Md. (DG) – A Maryland man is facing serious federal charges in a child sexual exploitation case.

Mark Travis Brigham, 36, of Mount Airy, was indicted today by a federal grand jury on seven counts of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possessing child sexual abuse material, officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland said.

According to the indictment, between September 2023 and December 2024, Brigham allegedly persuaded and coerced two minor girls to engage in sexually explicit conduct, which he then used to create visual depictions. Investigators also say he stored child sexual abuse material across four digital devices.

If convicted, Brigham faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in federal prison for each exploitation count, with maximum sentences reaching 30 years. He could also face up to 10 years for the possession charge.

Authorities say the case remains under investigation as they continue to review evidence related to the indictment.

Frederick, Md. (DG) – A wanted man is behind bars after a multi-county pursuit that began just after midnight Thursday in Frederick County. Deputies say the chase started around 12:15 a.m., when they attempted to pull over a Hyundai on Crestwood Boulevard, but the driver sped off, heading north on Route 85.

Officials later confirmed the vehicle belonged to 27-year-old Suba Washington Jr. of Williamsport, who was wanted in Washington County on charges including kidnapping, first- and second-degree assault, and reckless endangerment.

During the pursuit, Washington’s vehicle hit another car near Buckeystown Pike, though no one was hurt. The chase continued onto I-270 and then west on I-70, where deputies deployed stop sticks near the Middletown exit, flattening the car’s tires.

The pursuit finally came to an end near the Route 40 exit, with support from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police. Washington Jr. was taken into custody, and a 17-year-old passenger was safely turned over to police. He now faces a long list of traffic charges, including reckless and negligent driving and attempting to elude law enforcement.

Suspect also linked to assaults in California; extradition pending.

Gaithersburg, MD (JK) – Montgomery County Police have charged a California man in a violent sexual assault that began at a Gaithersburg restaurant last December and continued after the victim crashed her car while trying to get home.

Detectives say 27-year-old Mauricio Martinez-Garcia of Madera, California, took the woman from the crash scene against her will, assaulted her at his apartment, and later assaulted her again at her home. A forensic exam and evidence collected from her apartment helped identify him as the suspect.

A DNA match confirmed through a federal database led to Martinez-Garcia’s arrest on December 9 in California. He is charged with rape, kidnapping, and multiple assault counts and is awaiting extradition to Maryland.

Investigators say Martinez-Garcia is also connected to a separate sexual assault in Los Banos, California. Police believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to contact the Montgomery County Special Victims Investigations Division at (240) 773-5400.

By Jimmy Key

A man is facing multiple charges in Carroll County bafter a high-speed chase following a shoplifting incident at a local Walmart.

Westminster, Md. (DG) – A Randallstown man is in custody after a dramatic late-night chase in Carroll County Monday. Deputies responded to a Walmart in Eldersburg around 10:43 p.m. for a shoplifting call and learned the suspect had fled in a blue minivan. The vehicle was later spotted traveling east on Liberty Road, prompting deputies to attempt a traffic stop. The suspect sped away, but a deputy successfully deployed a tire deflation device near Fallon Road, slowing the van enough to stop it near the Baltimore County line.

The driver, 54-year-old Antowan Theron Evans, was arrested at the scene. Deputies discovered a basket containing over $400 in stolen Walmart merchandise, along with two containers suspected of containing cocaine. Additional suspected drugs were found during intake at the Carroll County Detention Center.

Evans faces multiple charges, including theft, possession of controlled substances, and contraband violations, as well as several traffic citations related to the pursuit. He remains in custody pending a bail review.

Darius Bond will spend 15 years behind bars for the fatal crash

Westminster, Md. (DG) – Carroll County authorities say a Baltimore man will spend 15 years in prison for a fatal hit-and-run involving a stolen vehicle.

Nineteen-year-old Darius Bond was driving a car stolen from Baltimore City as part of a theft ring when he crashed into a motorcycle on August 20, 2024, killing motorist Terry Crowl. Officials say Bond had been returning from Pennsylvania when he lost control of the vehicle, crossed into oncoming traffic, and struck the motorcycle.

Witnesses reported seeing Bond and another passenger briefly approach Crowl’s body before fleeing the scene. Not long after, a nearby resident’s van was stolen, and authorities later recovered it in Baltimore City using a license plate reader.

On Tuesday Bond was found guilty of hit and run causing death.

Sheriff’s Deputies arrest suspect after disturbance disrupts store.

Frederick, MD (JK) – A routine shopping trip turned chaotic at the Aldi Grocery Store in the 5600 block of Urbana Pike when deputies answered multiple 911 calls on December 8th reporting that a man was destroying property, blocking exits and causing alarm among customers. They located the suspect, 36‑year‑old Frederick resident Travis Bowie, and arrested him after he resisted and continued to act disorderly.

Bowie was transported to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center and is now facing several charges including disorderly conduct, obstructing and hindering, disturbing the peace, and malicious destruction of property.

By Jimmy Key

Frederick County Sheriff’s Deputies recover the loaded weapon during routine stop on Mt. Zion Road.

Frederick, MD (JK) – Deputies from the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office pulled over a vehicle on Mt. Zion Road last weekend near Route 180 for a broken taillight and a non‑functioning passenger brake light. During the stop, the driver – an 18‑year-old identified as Christian Foster – exited the car, and deputies observed an extended ammunition magazine hanging from his waistband.

A subsequent search revealed a loaded handgun, later identified as a stolen Sig Sauer P365 semi-automatic pistol originally reported missing from Pennsylvania. Foster was arrested on the scene and transported to the Frederick County Adult Detention Center Central Booking.

Authorities confirmed the weapon contained multiple rounds and said their investigation into the firearm’s origin and how it came into Foster’s possession remains ongoing.

By Jimmy Key

Lawmakers to gather in Annapolis on December 16 following Speaker Adrienne Jones’s resignation.

Annapolis, MD (JK) – Governor Wes Moore has issued an executive order calling for a special session of the Maryland General Assembly to begin Tuesday, December 16, in Annapolis. The session is prompted by the recent resignation of House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, who announced last week that she would step down after six historic years in the role.

Speaker Jones made history as the first African American and first woman to serve as Maryland’s House Speaker. She has represented Baltimore County’s District 10 for nearly three decades and served as Speaker since 2019, leaving a legacy of accomplishments that touched many aspects of state government.

During the special session, the House of Delegates will elect a new Speaker to succeed Jones. Lawmakers may also address other legislative business that needs resolution before the start of the 2026 regular session, which begins Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

The special session highlights a key leadership transition in the Maryland General Assembly as the state prepares for the upcoming legislative year.

By Jimmy Key

Montgomery County Police report arrests, gun seizures, and multiple enforcement actions in first week.

Silver Spring, MD (JK) – The Montgomery County Department of Police has launched its Third District Holiday Crime Suppression Task Force, beginning its seasonal enforcement push on December 1. The initiative is designed to reduce theft, improve safety in retail areas, and increase proactive enforcement throughout the Silver Spring district during the busy shopping season.

In its first week, officers made two handgun-related arrests. On the second day of operations, a suspect stopped for fare evasion at the Silver Spring Metro attempted to flee but was quickly taken into custody. Officers found a loaded handgun and determined the suspect was prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior conviction. In a separate incident, a traffic stop for speeding led to the discovery of another loaded handgun inside a driver’s handbag, resulting in an additional arrest.

The task force also handled five theft-related investigations and five drug-related offenses during the opening week. Officers conducted 16 traffic stops, made three criminal arrests, issued six criminal citations and 11 civil citations, and served two warrants.

One of the week’s notable cases involved identifying and arresting a repeat shoplifter believed to be responsible for stealing approximately $3,700 worth of merchandise.

Police note that these numbers reflect only the work of the specialized task force. Additional arrests and enforcement actions by regular patrol units in the district are not included.

The Holiday Crime Suppression Task Force will continue its efforts throughout the holiday season.

By Jimmy Key

Santos Calderon, wanted for a 1998 Texas child sexual assault case, was arrested in Charles Town by U.S. Marshals, with six others also detained for immigration violations.

Charles Town, WV (DG) – A fugitive wanted in a decades-old child sexual assault case out of Texas has been captured in Jefferson County.

The U.S. Marshals Mountain State Fugitive Task Force arrested Santos Calderon Friday at the Somerset Village Shopping Plaza in Charles Town. Authorities say Calderon, who is originally from El Salvador and in the country illegally, was wanted on an outstanding warrant from Galveston County for aggravated sexual assault of a child stemming from a 1998 investigation.

U.S. Marshals in Texas requested assistance earlier in the week after developing information that Calderon was possibly in the Charles Town area. Investigators learned he frequently visited the shopping plaza, where the arrest was made.

During the operation, six additional illegal aliens were also taken into custody after allegedly attempting to evade law enforcement. They were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Calderon now faces a fugitive from justice charge and is being held at the Eastern Regional Jail. Multiple local, state, and federal agencies assisted in the operation.

He will also be required to register as a sex offender.

Frederick, Md (KM) Sentence was handed down on Monday to a former Frederick physician who was charged with sexual assault. According to the State’s Attorney’s Office, Syed Haque, 64, was given a total of two and a half years incarceration for such charges as 4th degree sex offense and 2nd-degree assault. He entered an alford plea to all of those offenses which means he doesn’t admit guilt, but acknowledges prosecutors have enough evidence for a conviction.

He will also be placed on five-years supervised probation after he’s released from jail, and must register as a sex offender.

Haque was charged after a patient told police the doctor inappropriately touched her in two separate medical visits. She also said Haque assaulted her in the guise of a breast and pelvic exam.

Police say Haque was indicted by the Grand Jury on January 31st, 2025 and arrested on February 4th, 2025 at his home without incident.

By Kevin McManus

He must also register as a sex offender after he’s released from prison.

Ernesto Cesar Torres (Photo from Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office)  

Frederick, Md (KM) A former Frederick pediatrician who abused dozens of his victims over the past 30 years learned his sentence on Monday. .  The State’s Attorney’s Office says Ernesto Cesar Torres, 74, was given 30 years in prison for sexual abuse of a minor and three counts of 3rd -degree sex offense. A Circuit Court Jury on March 20th found Torres guilty of all counts in connection with the victim identified as MH.

He was originally indicted on 97 criminal counts, but that was scaled to four counts.  

In May, 2019, Frederick Police received a complaint from a mother of an 11-year-old girl who said Torres touched her inappropriately during a pediatric exam. The child was sent to Torres for a mild skin condition, but the doctor made her feel uncomfortable by placing his hands down her pants in her “down there.” area. The victim told her parents she felt uncomfortable, and the family chose another physician.

“This is truly a story of perseverance both by the victim and the prosecutors. Neither would be discouraged or dissuaded and now this child predator will spend 25 more years in jail. . What he had had to say about the victims at sentencing was one of the most disgusting things I’ve ever endured in a courtroom. The only thing demonic about this case is the defendant’s action,”  says State’s Attorney Charlie Smith, in a statement.

The victim know as MH told the court. “I now can’t trust male authority. My childhood was taken away from me,” she says.

Her mother also commented in court. “For 15 years, my children saw him regularly. I trusted him. I had no idea what my child was living through. My trust in him was shattered and I will carry this pain for the rest of my life. I still carry the guilt..”

When he’s released from prison, Torres will be placed on five years of supervised probation, and must register as a sex offender. He must also have no contact with the victims or their families, and will be placed on life time sex offender supervision..

By Kevin McManus