Maryland
Maryland prepares to kick off holiday shopping season on Black Friday
BALTIMORE — As Thanksgiving comes to a close, the holiday shopping season officially begins.
The National Retail Federation (NRF) reported the period from Black Friday and Cyber Monday could break records, as they predict more than 183 million people will be shopping.
Even with the dominance of online shopping, in-person shopping remains a big preference for some shoppers.
WJZ talked to several Baltimoreans about whether or not they’ll be shopping on Black Friday and for every person who said they wouldn’t, someone said they would.
“It’s a little hectic,” said Regina Webb. “[Also] my kids don’t really like shopping.”
Jamall Watts said he couldn’t wait, and he is planning to get his son an iPhone and buy some furniture for his house.
In its annual survey, the NRF predicts nearly 132 million people are going to shop on Black Friday. Two-thirds of those shoppers are expected to head to the store.
For anyone heading out, AAA reminds shoppers to put whatever they buy in the trunk and out of sight.
“You don’t want to leave them visible,” said Ragina Ali with AAA Mid-Atlantic. “This is true, not just for Black Friday and holiday shopping, but all of the time. Make sure your packages are securely in the trunk of your vehicle, so as not to entice potential thieves.”
More than 72 million people are expected to shop on Cyber Monday, according to NRF estimates.
AAA warns scammers will be working around the clock this holiday season. To lessen the chance of becoming a victim, AAA recommends buying from major retailers or verified vendors.
Also, use a credit card if you have one. Ali said credit cards often have more protections against fraudulent charges and identity theft than debit cards.
The following area malls will be open on Black Friday. It should be noted that some stores in these malls could be open earlier than the mall itself.
- Towson Town Center will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- White March Mall will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Eastpoint Mall will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- The Mall in Columbia will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Arundel Mills will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Annapolis Mall will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Marley Station Mall will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The following retailers will be open on Black Friday:
- Target will open at 6 a.m.
- Walmart will open at 6 a.m.
- Kohl’s will open at 5 a.m.
- Macy’s will open at 6 a.m.
- JCPenney will open at 5 a.m.
- Best Buy will open at 6 a.m.
Maryland
Inseparable Maryland couple of 70 years died holding hands after tragic car crash: ‘They were simply quite the pair’
A beloved Maryland couple who were married for 70 years died holding hands in their hospital beds after being taken off life support following a horrifying car crash last week.
Kenneth and Marilyn Oland, high school sweethearts who wed in July 1955, died side-by-side Monday in a Baltimore hospital, six days after a car slammed into the side of their vehicle on Route 15 near their Thurmont home, according to their obituary and multiple reports.
Kenneth, 90, who was driving, and his 88-year-old wife were rushed to the hospital and placed on life support after suffering complications from the collision.
“I don’t think one could’ve lasted without the other,” their heartbroken friend, Nancy Echard, told Fox 5.
“That’s how tight they were. You always saw them together, no matter where you were.”
An employee at Thurmont Senior Center, where the couple were regulars who played bingo there twice a month, said they had just finished lunch and left about 15 minutes before the fatal crash.
The senior center posted a touching tribute to the late couple – parents of three, grandparents of five, and great-grandparents of six – hailing them as pillars of the community who were never seen without each other.
“To those of us here at the Senior Center, they were simply quite the pair,” Tuesday’s Facebook post said.
“You rarely saw one without the other, and that was no accident, they were two people who genuinely chose each other, every single day. In the end, even in their passing, they were not apart for long. They were a living reminder of what lasting love looks like, and we were blessed to witness it.”
The loving pair, devout churchgoers, regularly brought flowers to friends in nursing homes and were known for deeply cherishing their friends and large family, always uniting everyone for holidays, birthdays, and celebrations, their obituary said.
Marilyn devoted 25 years to chiropractic care before retiring in 2023, and Kenneth spent his life working in marketing.
Grief-stricken family members were comforted that the elderly couple died together and hope their love and legacy will live on.
“If there’s one thing we could share about my grandparents, it’s not only the 70 years they’ve had together and that they chose to be together every day and chose to go away together and leave this earth together,” their granddaughter Kristie Hopkins told the outlet.
“Their legacy is just how to be humans – be humble and kind and graceful to others and help strangers in need.”
Maryland
Power restored to University of Maryland after campuswide outage
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (7News) — A campuswide power outage at the University of Maryland prompted crews to respond overnight, including dispatching staff to assist people stuck in elevators.
In an advisory, the university said Facilities Management staff were on site assessing the situation and that crews were being dispatched to individuals in elevators.
Just after 1:30 a.m, the university said power was in the process of being restored across campus and that most residence halls had power. The university said steam and hot water would continue to improve as full campus power restoration continued.
SEE ALSO | Iranians rally in DC for democracy and Iranian leadership back home
Pepco said that around midnight, it began receiving calls about an outage impacting the university. Pepco crews responded and determined Pepco equipment was not the source of the outage.
As of publication, university officials have not responded to 7News’ request for a comment.
Maryland
Body pulled from river near Bladensburg Waterfront
PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. (7News) — An investigation is underway after a body was spotted in the Anacostia River near the Bladensburg Waterfront in Maryland on Saturday.
The Prince George’s County Park Police confirmed on social media around 4:50 p.m. that officers responded to the area after reports of a dead person in the water.
Authorities said the investigation is in its early stages.
Officials have not released the identity of the person, and the cause of death has not yet been determined.
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This is a developing story that will be updated as more information becomes available.
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