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Maryland
Marylanders report 'drones' flying overhead at night
Reports of drones or other aircraft flying around at night have spread from New Jersey to Maryland.
And though federal officials have said the sightings don’t pose a threat — and that they have not even been corroborated — that’s not stopped people from speculating about what’s happening.
Former Gov. Larry Hogan said he saw some flying in the area over his house in Davidsonville around 9:45 p.m. Thursday in a social media post.
“Like many who have observed these drones, I do not know if this increasing activity over our skies is a threat to public safety or national security,” Hogan wrote.
Residents in Bowie said they saw drones as big as “cars,” Fox 5 DC reported Thursday.
A spokesperson for Gov. Wes Moore said in an email on Friday the state is “aware of the reports of potential unmanned aerial system sightings and are working closely with federal authorities.”
Maryland State Police are also on alert.
“Public safety is our top priority,” MSP spokesperson Elena Russo said in an email on Friday. “We are aware of the recent reports of drone activity and are working in consultation with our federal partners.”
White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said in a White House press briefing that the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with state and local law enforcement agencies are investigating the reports.
But, he said, none of the reported visual sightings have been corroborated — and that many of the reported sightings of drones have turned out to be legally operated, manned aircraft. There have been no reports of drone activity in restricted airspace and the sightings are not related to a “foreign nexus” Kirby said.
Even though there is no known malicious activity, Kirby said, the reports “highlight a gap” in federal authority to respond to drone or other unmanned aircraft activity.
That’s why, Kirby said, the White House is urging Congress to pass legislation that would expand counter-drone authorities so that officials could better identify and mitigate potential threats.
While the Pentagon has shot down some of the conspiracy theories around the sightings — like claims of an “Iranian mothership” for drones, the Coast Guard did confirm one of its ships was followed by unidentified aircraft off the coast of New Jersey.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, in a letter to President Joe Biden, said reports of drone activity have been incoming since Nov. 18.
Murphy said he was grateful for the Biden administration’s response so far, but that “more resources are needed to fully understand what is behind this activity.”
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Maryland
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.
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.
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Maryland
Maryland House passes bill to end automatic charging of some juveniles as adults
MARYLAND (WBFF) — 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.
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.
“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.
Maryland
B-W Parkway to close for bridge replacement
Baltimore-Washington Parkway, exit ramps to close in Jessup for bridge replacement
Updated: 10:31 AM EDT Apr 6, 2026
Editorial Standards
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.
JESSUP, Md. —
A portion of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway will close for two weekends in Jessup, where a bridge will be demolished.
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.
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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