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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
Wintry chill this weekend in Maryland
BALTIMORE (WBFF)– Updated 7 a.m. December 13 — A wintry chill continues this weekend in Maryland.
Friday and Saturday will be chilly with temperatures only rising to the upper 30s to low 40s.
It is looking like most of Sunday will be dry, but rain chances will return Sunday evening and overnight. Highs will reach the upper 40s and low 50s.
Expect an unsettled pattern to set back up and multiple chances of rain next week.
Temperatures will be in the mid 50s on Monday, upper 50s on Tuesday and upper 40s next Wednesday.
Maryland
Chilly temperatures stick around in Maryland
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Maryland
Pentagon officials sentenced for Maryland dogfighting ring
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