Maryland
First-of-its-kind research leads to new discoveries about Maryland’s first permanent colony – WTOP News
Using a groundbreaking method, researchers have likely identified the lost remains of the second governor of the colony of Maryland.
Using a groundbreaking method, researchers have likely identified the lost remains of the second governor of the colony of Maryland.
They’ve also found 1.3 million genetic relatives of Maryland’s first colonists who are alive today.
“Then we have 9,000 people who are close enough that they’re very likely direct descendants or very close relatives,” Éadaoin Harney, a senior scientist at 23andMe Research Institute, told WTOP.
She is the lead author of a study published last week in the journal Current Biology.
In addition to the genetic testing company 23andMe, the study involved scientists from the Smithsonian, Harvard University and St. Mary’s City, Maryland.
Their work was built on previous studies and the discovery over decades of dozens of bodies in a graveyard in St. Mary’s City. Established in 1634 in what is today St. Mary’s County, it’s recognized as the first permanent English settlement in Maryland.
In 2016, through genetic testing, it was revealed that remains found in three lead coffins in the city’s Chapel Field cemetery belonged to the colony’s fifth governor Philip Calvert, his first wife and a son he had with his second wife.
The latest study was aimed at identifying the remains of 49 other people buried in the graveyard.
“Our goal was really to learn about the ancestry of these individuals, to learn about their genetic legacy. So, who in the United States are they related to today? And our big goal was really to see if we could use DNA to help re-identify these historical individuals,” said Harney.
Researchers compared DNA from those bodies with those of more than 11.5 million people in 23andMe’s genetic database.
When they found two living people with strong DNA connections to one grave, they asked for and received permission to study their family trees.
They discovered their family trees overlapped in three places, and after an incredible amount of additional digging made a blockbuster discovery.
They determined the likely identities of three previously unknown people laid to rest in the cemetery, including Maryland’s second governor, Thomas Greene, who lived from 1609 to 1651.
It’s the first time ancient DNA has been used in this way to identify people in a situation where researchers had no idea who they might be.
“There have been ancient DNA studies where they will say ancient DNA has helped to identify some historical figure or some historical person, but those have always been based on the archeology, based on the history, researchers have had a very strong prior hypothesis about the identity of that person. In this case, we had no idea who these individuals might have been. We had no hypothesis. We just let the DNA guide us,” Harney said.
The colonists who arrived in St. Mary’s City sailed there from England aboard the Ark and the Dove, but another thing this study determined was that most of them likely originally lived in western England, Wales and Ireland.
The study also found genetic evidence backing up historical accounts that many Maryland Catholics moved to Kentucky between the late 1700s and early 1800s for reasons which included escaping religious bias.
Harney is excited about what this new method could lead to in the future.
“Potentially we can apply this to lots of other sites, to lots of other historical people to try to figure out and re-identify people from the past,” she said.
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Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Maryland Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 6, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 6 drawing
16-32-55-59-64, Powerball: 03, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 6 drawing
Midday: 4-2-4
Evening: 2-9-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 6 drawing
Midday: 6-4-2-2
Evening: 9-4-6-1
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from June 6 drawing
Midday: 7-4-9-2-4
Evening: 0-8-5-3-6
Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 6 drawing
9 a.m.: 08
1 p.m.: 08
6 p.m.: 06
11 p.m.: 08
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Bonus Match 5 numbers from June 6 drawing
03-08-12-18-33, Bonus: 34
Check Bonus Match 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from June 6 drawing
03-18-26-52-54, Powerball: 08
Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.
Keno
Drawings are held every four minutes. Check winning numbers here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
Maryland Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes above $600, winners can claim by mail or in person from the Maryland Lottery office, an Expanded Cashing Authority Program location or cashiers’ windows at Maryland casinos. Prizes over $5,000 must be claimed in person.
Claiming by Mail
Sign your winning ticket and complete a claim form. Include a photocopy of a valid government-issued ID and a copy of a document that shows proof of your Social Security number or Federal Tax ID number. Mail these to:
Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center
1800 Washington Boulevard
Suite 330
Baltimore, MD 21230
For prizes over $600, bring your signed ticket, a government-issued photo ID, and proof of your Social Security or Federal Tax ID number to Maryland Lottery headquarters, 1800 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore, MD. Claims are by appointment only, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This location handles all prize amounts, including prizes over $5,000.
Winning Tickets Worth $25,000 or Less
Maryland Lottery headquarters and select Maryland casinos can redeem winning tickets valued up to $25,000. Note that casinos cannot cash prizes over $600 for non-resident and resident aliens (tax ID beginning with “9”). You must be at least 21 years of age to enter a Maryland casino. Locations include:
- Horseshoe Casino: 1525 Russell Street, Baltimore, MD
- MGM National Harbor: 101 MGM National Avenue, Oxon Hill, MD
- Live! Casino: 7002 Arundel Mills Circle, Hanover, MD
- Ocean Downs Casino: 10218 Racetrack Road, Berlin, MD
- Hollywood Casino: 1201 Chesapeake Overlook Parkway, Perryville, MD
- Rocky Gap Casino: 16701 Lakeview Road NE, Flintstone, MD
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Maryland Lottery.
When are the Maryland Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 11 p.m. ET Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET Tuesday and Friday.
- Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5 Midday: 12:27 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 12:28 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday.
- Pick 3, 4 and 5 Evening: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
- Cash4Life: 9 p.m. ET daily.
- Cash Pop: 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. daily.
- Bonus Match 5: 7:56 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, 8:10 p.m. ET on Sunday.
- MultiMatch: 7:56 p.m. Monday and Thursday.
- Powerball Double Play: 11 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Maryland editor. You can send feedback using this form.
BALTIMORE, Md. (WBFF) — Maryland Sen. Dalya Attar, a Baltimore Democrat facing federal conspiracy and extortion charges, sought permission to use confidential evidence from her case as part of her reelection campaign, according to a court order filed this week.
A federal judge rejected the request.
In an order filed Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher ruled that Attar could not publicly reference evidence the government had designated as confidential and provided to her defense team under a protective order.
Gallegher wrote that publicly acknowledging the government’s evidence, even if not providing the actual evidence, goes against a court directive that evidence provided by the government may only be used to defend the case.
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Read the full story on the Baltimore Sun.
BEL AIR, MD — Road closures will be in place Sunday for the Bel Air Town Run starting at 8 a.m.
Drivers should expect temporary road closures and traffic delays along the race route, which includes:
- Main Street
- Broadway
- Hickory Avenue
- North Shamrock Road
- Troutdale Terrace
- Majors Choice Drive
- Benjamin Road
- Lee Way
- Connecting roadways in and around the course
The race will finish near the Shamrock Park Complex. The event is expected to last approximately 1.5 hours, and roads will reopen as soon as it is safe to do so, officials noted.
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