The governor previously visited Westernport on May 15, two days after rising water levels damaged over 200 homes and buildings in the area.

“Today, I once again saw the strength of Western Maryland — a community that mobilized in the wake of disaster. Our resolve hasn’t wavered and there is no question that our recovery requires more time and resources,” Moore said.

Despite a joint preliminary damage assessment estimating over $15.8 million in emergency response costs and infrastructure damage, the federal government denied Maryland’s request for federal disaster assistance. While Moore’s administration is appealing that decision, the governor pointed his ire towards the White House for the initial response.

“The Trump Administration denied our request for federal disaster assistance, even though Maryland met long-standing criteria for FEMA support,” Moore said. “This cruel choice by the federal government won’t stop us from moving forward. We will appeal their decision and continue fighting for the people of Allegany and Garrett counties.”

During the governor’s visit, he attended a morning church service alongside Westernport’s mayor and sat for lunch at a restaurant directly impacted by flood damage alongside roughly a dozen state and local officials, including Democratic Congresswoman April McClain Delaney.

“I’m grateful to Governor Moore and our local and state delegation for their leadership and partnership. Today showed what recovery should look like: an all-hands effort to support our communities after tragedy,” McClain Delaney said. “The resilience of our neighbors has been nothing short of inspiring. While I remain disappointed by the Administration’s denial of our FEMA request, we will continue to fight for the resources Mountain Maryland needs to recover and rebuild even stronger.”

The state has allocated nearly $1.5 million towards recovery efforts so far, though some officials said they will continue to work to secure further funding.

“The community of Westernport has shown immense resilience in the face of devastating May floods,” Maryland Department of Emergency Management Secretary Russell Strickland said. “We are committed to seeking every available recovery resource to support the residents and businesses that were impacted, and are working closely with communities across Allegany and Garrett to gather the necessary information to appeal the decision to deny Maryland federal disaster assistance.”

No timeline was given on when a decision can be expected on the state’s appeal for disaster relief funding.

Have a news tip? Contact Danny Tow at datow@sbgtv.com. 

The second set of shootings took place in the 2500 block of Edmondson Avenue.

According to Police Commissioner Richard Worley, a ShotSpotter alert was received around 9:40 p.m.

When officers arrived at the scene, they found four gunshot victims: a 19-year-old man, a 43-year-old man, a 52-year-old man, and a 66-year-old man.

The 19-year-old is listed in critical condition. As a result, BPD’s homicide unit has joined the investigation.

The other three victims are listed in stable condition, though Worley noted one of those three is more serious than the others.

Worley said police have not identified any suspects yet, though they do know that the shooters came from up the street and shot down Edmondson Avenue towards the victims.

On this being the second quadruple shooting of the day, Worley called it “challenging” to deal with multiple investigations at once, but said the department has stepped up before and would do so again.

Mayor Brandon Scott, speaking alongside Worley, called the shooting “the second of two cowardly incidents.” He later referred to the shooters as “cowards doing cowardly things.”

Asked about both quadruple shootings taking place on Baltimore’s west side, Scott replied that “we’re going to continue to be in West Baltimore to work and push. This is why we started [anti-violence initiatives] in West Baltimore first.”

Worley added that, in response to Monday’s shootings, BPD will increase resources in that part of the city to get ahead of any future violence taking place there.

Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at 410-396-2100.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may use the Metro Crime Stoppers tip line, at 1-866-7LOCKUP. They may also anonymously text a tip by visiting the Metro Crime Stoppers of Maryland website.

Officers responded about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday to the 500 block of Gender Road in Newark, Delaware, following a reported kidnapping.

The 31-year-old mother, Darrian Randle, of Newark, told officers she had pulled over to calm her daughter after the girl became upset. While comforting Nola, Randle told police that a white male armed with a handgun approached the vehicle and took the child.

Randle claimed the man then fled in a dark-colored SUV driven by a white woman.

The report led authorities to issue an Amber Alert and launch a large-scale investigation involving the New Castle County Division of Police Criminal Investigations Unit and the FBI.

However, in a dramatic development on Wednesday, police announced that detectives had determined the mother’s story was made-up. Investigators also found human remains consistent with a child in a vacant lot in North East, Maryland, state police said in a news release Wednesday.

The Amber Alert was canceled, and New Castle police contacted Maryland State Police, requesting officers respond to Randle’s last known address in North East, Maryland. Randle and 44-year-old Cedrick Antoine Britten have been arrested in connection with the missing child, the Maryland State Police announced.

Law enforcement officials confirmed that the case is being treated as a homicide. Autopsy results are still pending to confirm an identification, authorities reported.

Randle is charged with first- and second-degree murder, and first-degree child abuse resulting in death of a minor under 13, as well as additional charges. She was taken into custody at the New Castle County Division of Police, waiting for extradition, authorities said.

Britten is charged with accessory to first- and second-degree murder after the fact, the failure to report child death, and other additional charges. Britten was taken into custody in Maryland and will be transported to the Cecil County District Court for an initial appearance, officials said.

Authorities continue to work in coordination with the FBI and Maryland State Police to investigate the case.

William John Sternhagen, 63, plead guilty to negligent manslaughter and reckless driving in the incident that left Joseph Richard Muniz, 38, of York, Pennsylvania, dead on last February.

Sternhagen was sentenced to 10 years, all but 18 months suspended, of incarceration in the Anne Arundel County Detention Center. He will also serve five years of supervised probation upon release.

Around 7:41 a.m. on Feb. 7, 2024, Anne Arundel County Police officers responded to a reported multi-vehicle crash on Annapolis Road at Piedmont Lane in Hanover. An investigation revealed that a 2015 Dodge Dart driven by Muniz was making a left turn onto Piedmont Lane from the eastbound side of Annapolis Road when it was struck by a 2020 Tesla Model X driven by Sternhagen that was traveling westbound. The Dodge overturned as both vehicles came to a rest in a grassy section next to the road.

Investigators said Sternhagen was driving 90 mph in a posted 40 mph zone. Witnesses added that Sternhagen had been driving aggressively, weaving in and out of traffic before the accident.

Muniz was pronounced dead on the scene. Sternhagen was not injured.

“The excessive speed and aggressive driving demonstrates the defendant’s complete disregard for the safety of other drivers on the road, many who were on their way to work that morning,” Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess said.

“When he chose to drive 50 miles over the speed limit, his actions were as dangerous as an impaired driver. This sentence is a reminder that aggressive driving and speeding can result in tragedies that devastate families. Mr. Muniz was a military veteran, husband, father of three, and a beloved youth football coach in York Township, PA. I hope that this sentence provides some solace to his family and friends in this difficult time,” Leitess said.

Have a news tip? Contact Danny Tow at datow@sbgtv.com and follow him on X at @TheDannyTow.

Officers responded to the 1500 block of North Patterson Park Avenue around 7:52 p.m. for a reported vehicle accident.

There, they saw a truck had driven into a building, causing a partial collapse of the structure.

The truck’s driver, a 64-year-old male, was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Baltimore City firefighters remain on the scene. A building inspector has also been notified.

Jerome Allan Young, 26, turned himself in to a Baltimore County Police precinct days after the incident, which took place around 9:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the intersection of East Pratt and South Chester streets.

“I sincerely hope that Mr. Young’s 45 days of incarceration, coupled with home detention, supervised probation, and mandatory driver’s education courses, will serve as a pivotal turning point, ensuring he takes greater care when driving on our streets to avoid something like this from ever happening again,” Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates said.

“Our office views Mr. Young as a young person who made a grave mistake, but one without malicious intent. Under the law, these were the only charges my office could ethically pursue. My deepest sympathies go out to the victim, who bravely continues her painful journey of healing and confronts each day with the reminders of this traumatic experience,” Bates said.

Young faced charges of negligent and reckless driving, assault, failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving bodily injuries, and other related allegations.

Young’s sentence stemmed in part from the wishes of the victim, according to Bates’ statement.

“My dedicated prosecutors collaborated closely with the victim in this case and tailored our offer to align with her specific wishes, as she testified,” Bates said.

Footage from a motion sensor doorbell camera shows the hit-and-run. The footage picks up as the stoplight along Pratt Street turns green and the Amazon truck begins slowly plowing over a pedestrian in the crosswalk.

The driver, later identified as Young, can be seen briefly hesitating before running over the 29-year-old female victim with his back wheels as well.

While the woman cries out in agony, Young is seen on video getting out of the vehicle to assess the situation. Then, he is seen getting back into his van and driving away.

Court documents state that when Young approached the victim, he asked her, “How did you manage to get hit?”

Officials said that the victim suffered nine broken ribs, five fractured vertebrae, and had to receive five stitches in her left thigh. Additionally, she suffered abrasions over much of her body.

Have a news tip? Contact Danny Tow at datow@sbgtv.com.

Owen Jarboe, 19, faces up to five years in federal prison for each count of conspiracy, cyberstalking, and interstate threat, and up to 10 years for each charge of damaging or destroying by means of fire and explosives. However, the statement noted that actual sentences are typically less than the maximum.

Sentencing for Jarboe is set for July 23.

According to the guilty plea, Jarboe helped create an online group known as “Purgatory” that coordinated, planned, carried out and announced swatting activities on various social media platforms between December 2023 and January 2024.

“Swatting is a very serious offense — one that can easily become dangerous for law enforcement and the victims involved,” U.S. Attorney Kelly O. Hayes said. “Emergency personnel work hard every day to ensure that first responders are dispatched to render aid to those who truly need it. Mr. Jarboe and his co-conspirators’ actions showed a complete disregard for law enforcement, the victims, and those who actually needed emergency assistance during these incidents.”

The statement defines swatting as “a form of criminal harassment that involves deceiving an emergency service into sending a police or emergency service response team to another person’s location.”

Swatting incidents by Jarboe and his co-conspirators include:

• Threatening to burn down a residential trailer park in Alabama.
• Shooting threats towards individuals at a residence in Georgia.
• Threatening to shoot a teacher and unnamed students at a Delaware high school.
• Bombing and shooting threats were made towards Albany International Airport in New York and an Ohio casino.
• Various false allegations about multiple homicide events.

“Jarboe’s crimes are despicable and dangerous. He put our brave first responders and countless innocent lives at risk while creating unnecessary fear in many different communities,” FBI Special Agent in Charge William J. DelBagno said. “Jarboe’s guilty plea shows that the FBI will not tolerate swatting or hoax threats and will make sure anyone committing these crimes is found and charged to the full extent of the law.”

Have a news tip? Contact Danny Tow at datow@sbgtv.com and follow him on X at @TheDannyTow.

The MPRP is a proposed 70-mile transmission line that would cut through parts of Baltimore, Frederick, and Carroll counties, and has faced fierce blowback from residents and lawmakers alike.

As for where the application process currently stands, PSC Chair Frederick Hoover outlined many steps still to come before the transmission line could be approved.

“So the process started, triggered by the application of PSEG made in late December. The second part of the process is determining the participation level. We sent out a notice that this application had been filed, and we requested that anyone who thinks they have an interest in this to file a petition to intervene,” Hoover said.

“We actually had over 70 entities file petitions to intervene. We are reviewing those petitions to intervene. We’ve asked for comments on their suggested process, and then we will have what’s known as a pre-hearing conference where we will make a determination as to who is granted intervention status and then set a schedule for hearings on this application,” he added.

“And there will be two types of hearings. There’ll be evidentiary hearings before the Public Service Commission’s office here in Baltimore, and there will be public hearings in the affected areas. So the three counties that the line has proposed to go through, those hearings will include comments from from the public on that and also experts from, not only the applicant, but also the seven state agencies that are reviewing the project along with our technical staff and the Office of People’s Council, who is the advocate for ratepayers in this. The two questions that we have to decide one, whether or not this project should be built,” Hoover said.

Hoover said he expects the pre-hearing conference to take place sometime in early May. As for the project’s overall timeline — where parent company PJM has said it wants the MPRP up and operational by 2027 — Hoover was less certain.

“We are gonna follow the process that’s established in Maryland state law for examining this proposal,” Hoover said. “We’re gonna play out the process as long as it takes to make the decision on this. This is one of the most consequential decisions when it comes to energy that we make, the building of energy infrastructure, whether it’s a transmission line or a power plant. It’s a fairly detailed process, and we’re going to stick to the process as required by that.”

While PJM has said that the 2027 timeline is due to operational need based on a looming threat of rolling blackouts, Hoover responded that the company should “do what needs to be done in order to make sure the lights stay on whether or not this project is constructed.”

Have a news tip? Contact Mikenzie Frost at mbfrost@sbgtv.com or Danny Tow at datow@sbgtv.com.

City officials became aware of the fraud on March 13 after a second payment approved for a city vendor was diverted to an unassociated bank account. The first payment was allegedly made in February.

The Office of the Inspector General said it is actively investigating the incident. The comptroller’s office said “limited information can be safely provided at this time.”

“The Department of Accounts Payable followed all existing verification protocols and upon learning of this incident took immediate action,” Comptroller Bill Henry said. “We are actively working with colleagues across the City to implement additional security policies.”

All vendors have been asked to review their security protocols in the wake of this incident. Additional guidance on security measures will follow in the weeks ahead, the comptroller’s office said.

Have a news tip? Contact Danny Tow at datow@sbgtv.com and follow him on X at @TheDannyTow.

“The recent violence we have seen in our county affecting young people has highlighted the important need to look deeper into root causes of youth violence. We must continue investing in prevention, intervention, and community-based solutions to ensure that all our young people are safe and have a positive path forward,” Ball said in an announcement. “Our goal with YES! is to increase the diverse network of community providers who bring a well-rounded approach to addressing the prevention of violence by young people. This Council will bring together young people, community-based organizations, public institutions, mental health organizations, and County agencies to ensure that we meet this moment with urgency.”

$100,000 was also allocated towards youth-centered programs in a similar initiative in the same announcement.

YES!’s responsibilities will include:

• Identifying resources across the county that serve youth in the areas of mentorship, mental health, workforce development, restorative justice, and safe spaces and recommend areas where such resources may be inadequate
• Recommending strategies to prevent youth violence and increase positive engagement, particularly among students identified as disengaged or underserved
• Recommending possible collaborations between county government, community organizations, and public institutions such as HCPSS, Howard Community College, and the Columbia Association
• Submitting a comprehensive report to the county executive on the progress of the council summarizing actions taken, key insights, and next steps no later than Dec. 1
• Conducting monthly meetings, which shall be open to the public.

“The YES! Council is not just another initiative,” said Angela L. Williams, co-chair of the YES! Council. “It is a call to action. It is a deliberate, strategic effort to bring together many individuals and organizations in our county already doing incredible work in mentorship, conflict resolution, economic mobility and youth programming. By aligning these efforts, we can create a coordinated, action driven response that ensures every young person has the support, guidance and opportunities they need to thrive.”

According to a statement announcing the initiative, Ball and Howard County have invested over $1.5 million into youth programming since 2023, aiming to curb rising juvenile crime rates across the region.

“As someone who working directly with the youth, it’s a mighty, but simple task,” said Dwayne Williams, principal of Homewood Center. “We have to find a way to reengage the disengaged. It starts with building relationships. When we talk about building relationships, we have to make sure that we have the youth there so that they feel like they’re a part of the process, and not something that is being done to them, but with them.”

The council is set to expire on Dec. 31.

Have a news tip? Contact Danny Tow at datow@sbgtv.com and follow him on X at @TheDannyTow.