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From a Mountaintop, UMD Alum Encounters Toxin-Emitting Olive Bushes,…

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From a Mountaintop, UMD Alum Encounters Toxin-Emitting Olive Bushes,…


Whyman had long harbored a love of the outdoors. As a child in
Maryland, her parents grew exotic plants like Chinese silvergrass and a
mimosa tree in their yard. (Now, Whyman knows those plants were
invasive.) “I spent a lot of time letting insects crawl on me, digging
for bugs, watching bees and ants under a magnifying glass,” she said.
She became a junior farmer at Wheaton Regional Park’s Old MacDonald
Farm, where she took care of chickens, sheep and goats.

After graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in
English, Whyman worked for years as an editor and freelance writer
before going back to school at American University, where she earned an
MFA in literature. While there, she created an independent study to work
one-on-one with a biology professor and gain foundational knowledge in
conservation biology.

Whyman was inspired in her quest by the 2019 book “Wilding,” in which
British author Isabella Tree tells the story of returning her farmland
to an untamed state. Now, on her Virginia mountaintop, Whyman is working
to tip the balance to native plants, especially in the 75 acres of open
meadow atop the mountain. There, invasives like Japanese stiltgrass and
spotted knapweed competed for space and resources with native species
like little bluestem, milkweed, and prairie rose.

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“What if I could return this mountaintop to its natural glory?”
Whyman writes. “It would serve as a living example of how to restore
native meadows! Pollinators would come from all around! I pictured sheep
grazing on one of the hillsides.”

Working with experts from the Smithsonian Conservation Biology
Institute and the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Whyman
encountered a bushel of challenges. The prolific autumn olive bush,
which emits nitrogen into the soil that can create toxic algal blooms in
streams and rivers, kept popping up in new places. Thorny bramble
quickly took over acres of fields. And the suffocating vine known as
mile-a-minute for its ability to invade new territory sunk its leafy
teeth throughout the property.

She also learned the nitty-gritty of land restoration: the critical
role played by prescribed burns, the near impossibility of eradicating
invasive plants, the inherent imprecision of conservation efforts.

“I thought there would be one right answer: Here’s what you should
do,” she said. “And people did give me guidance and say, ‘We think the
best approach is X.’ And then someone else might say, ‘Well, I think the
best approach is Y.’ And someone else would say, ‘It could be Z.’ That
was really eye-opening—the idea that it’s a science and it’s also kind
of an art.”

In “Bad Naturalist,” Whyman “complicates traditional conceptions of
nature and belonging,” wrote Publishers Weekly. “The result is an
enchanting complement to Isabella Tree’s ‘Wilding.’”

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Today, Whyman and her husband spend about 85% of their time at their
mountaintop home. Now she is turning her attention to this year’s burns
and deer management. She still hopes to raise a small flock of sheep.

“I hope readers will come away with a feeling of hopefulness, that
they’ll be inspired to look more closely at the natural world where they
live,” she said. “If you’re in the city, maybe you’ll see birds on a
ledge, or plants growing along a sidewalk. Just ask questions, because
attention breeds action.”



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Maryland

Deadly motorcycle crash closes busy stretch of Connecticut Avenue in Montgomery Co. – WTOP News

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Deadly motorcycle crash closes busy stretch of Connecticut Avenue in Montgomery Co. – WTOP News


A deadly crash involving a motorcycle shut down a stretch of Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland, early Tuesday.

A deadly crash involving a motorcycle shut down a stretch of Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase, Maryland, early Tuesday.

Montgomery County police said officers responded around 6:15 a.m. to a report of a crash involving a car and a motorcycle at Manor Road and Connecticut Avenue.

A motorcyclist was found in serious condition. Police said the man died at the scene.

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A woman driving the car was hospitalized with minor injuries.

Connecticut Avenue is closed in both directions between Jones Bridge Road and Manor Road as police investigate the collision.

The crash is the latest in a series of deadly motorcycle incidents across Maryland, including a deadly hit-and-run in Charles County that left one man dead Saturday.

A map of the area is below.

CLICK MAP FOR THE LATEST ROAD CONDITIONS FROM THE WTOP TRAFFIC CENTER: Map shows closure of Connecticut Avenue in both directions, south of Interstate 495 in Chevy Chase, Md.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

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© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.



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Maryland House passes bill to end automatic charging of some juveniles as adults

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Maryland House passes bill to end automatic charging of some juveniles as adults


Maryland lawmakers have approved a bill that would end the automatic charging of certain juveniles as adults and is now on its way to the governor’s office for review.

The Youth Charging Reform Act passed the House of Delegates on Monday after clearing the Senate last week. The bill aims to end the automatic charging of 16- and 17-year-olds as adults for certain drug, assault, and gun offenses.

ALSO READ | Bill to end automatic charging of some juveniles as adults inches closer to passage

The bill drew significant opposition from several top prosecutors in Maryland, including Baltimore City State’s Attorney Ivan Bates, Prince George’s County State’s Attorney Tara Jackson, Montgomery County State’s Attorney John McCarthy, and Anne Arundel County State’s Attorney Anne Colt Leitess.

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For months, they’ve warned that the change could weaken accountability and pose public safety risks.

“DJS is not equipped to deal with these increased violent offenders, and the legislature should defer the implementation of this bill until the programs are in place,” McCarthy said.

Maryland sheriffs also joined the pushback, including Carroll County Sheriff Jim Dewees, who previously said, “This is not a smart move, by any means, I don’t like it because, and I think by and large, law enforcement doesn’t like it, because we don’t have a whole lot of trust in the juvenile court system and the DJS system.”

ALSO READ | FOX45 sends video of prosecutors’ concerns to lawmakers backing juvenile justice bill

Supporters of the bill argued that most cases end up in the juvenile system regardless, and therefore, it makes sense to start them in the Department of Juvenile Services.

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“They’re already ingesting that work anyway; they’re already doing that workload anyway,” Sen. Will Smith, lead sponsor of the legislation, previously told FOX45 News. “We’re just wasting time and money by sending them to the adult system first.”

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The bill now awaits at Gov. Wes Moore’s desk for a final decision.



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B-W Parkway to close for bridge replacement

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B-W Parkway to close for bridge replacement


WBAL

Maryland Route 295

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SOURCE: WBAL

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Baltimore-Washington Parkway, exit ramps to close in Jessup for bridge replacement

WBAL logo

Updated: 10:31 AM EDT Apr 6, 2026

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A portion of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway will close for two weekends in Jessup, where a bridge will be demolished.Check our LIVE traffic map and cameras in the WBAL-TV 11 News appThe Maryland State Highway Administration said Maryland Route 295 ramps will close, weather permitting, at Maryland Route 175 for an interchange reconstruction project.Southbound MD 295 will close between Maryland Routes 100 and 32 starting at 10 p.m. on April 10 until 5 a.m. on April 13 with the following lane and ramp closures.Both ramps from MD 100 onto southbound MD 295.Both ramps from Arundel Mills Boulevard onto southbound MD 295.Southbound MD 295 ramp to eastbound and westbound MD 175.Westbound MD 175 ramp to southbound MD 295.Northbound MD 295 will close between Maryland Routes 32 and 100 starting at 10 p.m. on April 17 until 5 a.m. on April 20 with the following ramp closures.Both ramps from MD 32 onto northbound MD 295.Eastbound MD 175 ramp to northbound MD 295.Northbound MD 295 ramp to eastbound and westbound MD 175.The mainline MD 175 lanes on the new bridge will remain open to traffic. The SHA said signs will be posted for detours to include MD 100, Interstate 95 and MD 32. Those going to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport are advised to use alternate north-south routes such as I-95, U.S. Route 1 or I-97 to reach I-195.The overall interchange reconstruction project completion is scheduled for Fall 2027, schedule and weather permitting.

A portion of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway will close for two weekends in Jessup, where a bridge will be demolished.

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The Maryland State Highway Administration said Maryland Route 295 ramps will close, weather permitting, at Maryland Route 175 for an interchange reconstruction project.

Southbound MD 295 will close between Maryland Routes 100 and 32 starting at 10 p.m. on April 10 until 5 a.m. on April 13 with the following lane and ramp closures.

  • Both ramps from MD 100 onto southbound MD 295.
  • Both ramps from Arundel Mills Boulevard onto southbound MD 295.
  • Southbound MD 295 ramp to eastbound and westbound MD 175.
  • Westbound MD 175 ramp to southbound MD 295.

Northbound MD 295 will close between Maryland Routes 32 and 100 starting at 10 p.m. on April 17 until 5 a.m. on April 20 with the following ramp closures.

  • Both ramps from MD 32 onto northbound MD 295.
  • Eastbound MD 175 ramp to northbound MD 295.
  • Northbound MD 295 ramp to eastbound and westbound MD 175.

The mainline MD 175 lanes on the new bridge will remain open to traffic.

The SHA said signs will be posted for detours to include MD 100, Interstate 95 and MD 32.

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Those going to Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport are advised to use alternate north-south routes such as I-95, U.S. Route 1 or I-97 to reach I-195.

The overall interchange reconstruction project completion is scheduled for Fall 2027, schedule and weather permitting.

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return;
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var location = { zip: window.DEFAULT_ZIPCODE };

try {
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var weatherWatchText = weatherWatchHeader.querySelector(‘.weather-watch-text’);
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if (weatherData.alerts_count > 0) {
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weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘href’, “https://www.wbaltv.com/alerts”);
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var tempEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–current-temp-value’);
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var iconEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–current-icon’);
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iconEl.className=”weather-grid–current-icon weather-current-icon icon icon-weather-” + weatherData.current.icon_name;
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var skyEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–sky’);
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skyEl.textContent = skyValue;
skyEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, ‘Current condition: ‘ + skyValue);
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var feelsEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–feels’);
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feelsEl.textContent = feelsLikeValue + ‘°F’;
feelsEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, feelsLikeValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit’);
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var weatherContainer = container.querySelector(‘.weather-temp-container’);
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var summary = ‘Current temperature ‘ + tempValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit, ‘ +
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weatherContainer.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, summary);
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updateWeatherBackground(weatherData.current.icon_name);
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function updateWeatherBackground(iconName) {
try {
var bgPath = weatherImages.backgrounds[iconName] || weatherImages.backgrounds.unknown;
container.style.backgroundImage=”url(” + bgPath + ‘)’;
} catch (e) {
console.log(‘Error updating weather background:’, e);
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function updateForecastTabs(weatherData) {
var visibleItems = isWeatherBoxV2 ? 6 : 5;

if (weatherData.hourly) {
var hourlyContainer = container.querySelector(‘.weather-hourly-forecast’);
if (hourlyContainer) {
var html=””;
var maxHours = Math.min(visibleItems, weatherData.hourly.length);

for (var i = 0; i 0 ? currentIndex – 1 : tabs.length – 1;
tabs[prevIndex].focus();
break;
case ‘ArrowRight’:
e.preventDefault();
var nextIndex = currentIndex

`;
}

function refreshWeatherIframe(containerId) {
var iframeId = ‘weather-iframe-‘ + containerId;
var iframe = document.getElementById(iframeId);
if (iframe && iframe.src) {
var originalSrc = iframe.src;
iframe.src = originalSrc + (originalSrc.indexOf(‘?’) > -1 ? ‘&’ : ‘?’) + ‘t=” + Date.now();
}
}

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function initializeWeatherBox(container) {
var containerId = container.getAttribute(“data-container-id’);
var isWeatherBoxV2 = containerId === ‘home-weather-v2’;

function switchWeatherTab(tabName, clickedElement) {
container.querySelectorAll(‘[data-tab-id]’).forEach(function(tab) {
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tab.setAttribute(‘aria-selected’, ‘false’);
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clickedElement.classList.add(‘open’);
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container.querySelectorAll(‘[data-content-id]’).forEach(function(content) {
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var targetContent = container.querySelector(‘[data-content-id=”‘ + tabName + ‘”]’);
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targetContent.style.display = ‘block’;
targetContent.removeAttribute(‘hidden’);
}
}

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function loadWeatherData() {
// If weather data is already being loaded, wait for it
if (window.weatherDataPromise) {
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if (data && data.data) {
var weatherContainer = container.closest(‘.weather-box-container’);
if (weatherContainer) {
weatherContainer.style.display = ‘flex’;
updateCurrentWeather(data.data);
updateForecastTabs(data.data);
updateWeatherAlertsBar(data.data);
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return;
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var location = { zip: window.DEFAULT_ZIPCODE };

try {
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if (storedLocations) {
var locations = JSON.parse(storedLocations);
if (locations && locations.length > 0) {
location = locations[0];
}
}
} catch (e) {}

var apiUrl = (window.DEWY_HOSTNAME || ”) + ‘/api/v1/weather/full/’ + location.zip;

if (window.fetch) {
window.weatherDataPromise = fetch(apiUrl)
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if (data && data.data) {
var article = container.closest(‘.article–wrapper’);
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updateForecastTabs(data.data);
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function updateWeatherAlertsBar(weatherData) {
var weatherWatchHeader = container.querySelector(‘.weather-watch-header’);
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var weatherWatchText = weatherWatchHeader.querySelector(‘.weather-watch-text’);
var weatherWatchLink = weatherWatchHeader.querySelector(‘.weather-watch-link’);

if (weatherData.alerts_count > 0) {
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weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘data-initial-href’, weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘href’));
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weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘href’, “https://www.wbaltv.com/alerts”);
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var initialOnclick = weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘data-initial-onclick’);
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weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘href’, initialHref);
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if (initialOnclick) {
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘onclick’, initialOnclick);
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function updateCurrentWeather(weatherData) {
if (weatherData.current) {
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var skyValue = weatherData.current.sky || ”;
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}

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var iconEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–current-icon’);
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}

var skyEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–sky’);
if (skyEl) {
skyEl.textContent = skyValue;
skyEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, ‘Current condition: ‘ + skyValue);
}

var feelsEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–feels’);
if (feelsEl) {
feelsEl.textContent = feelsLikeValue + ‘°F’;
feelsEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, feelsLikeValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit’);
}

var weatherContainer = container.querySelector(‘.weather-temp-container’);
if (weatherContainer) {
var summary = ‘Current temperature ‘ + tempValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit, ‘ +
skyValue + ‘, feels like ‘ + feelsLikeValue + ‘ degrees’;
weatherContainer.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, summary);
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updateWeatherBackground(weatherData.current.icon_name);
}
}

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function updateWeatherBackground(iconName) {
try {
var bgPath = weatherImages.backgrounds[iconName] || weatherImages.backgrounds.unknown;
container.style.backgroundImage=”url(” + bgPath + ‘)’;
} catch (e) {
console.log(‘Error updating weather background:’, e);
}
}

function updateForecastTabs(weatherData) {
var visibleItems = isWeatherBoxV2 ? 6 : 5;

if (weatherData.hourly) {
var hourlyContainer = container.querySelector(‘.weather-hourly-forecast’);
if (hourlyContainer) {
var html=””;
var maxHours = Math.min(visibleItems, weatherData.hourly.length);

for (var i = 0; i 0 ? currentIndex – 1 : tabs.length – 1;
tabs[prevIndex].focus();
break;
case ‘ArrowRight’:
e.preventDefault();
var nextIndex = currentIndex

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