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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
Driver killed in Prince George’s Co. school bus crash identified – WTOP News
Police said Dequan Gravely, 23, of Charles County, was driving northbound on Route 210 near Pine Drive when his Mercedes collided with the school bus turning left from the southbound lanes.
The driver of a car involved in a crash with a Prince George’s County school bus in Accokeek, Maryland, on Friday has been identified.
Prince George’s County police said Dequan Gravely, 23, of Bryans Road in Charles County, was driving northbound on Route 210 near Pine Drive around 7:20 a.m. when his Mercedes collided with the school bus turning left from the southbound lanes.
Investigators said the crash happened in the intersection, causing the school bus to flip onto its side. Gravely died at the scene.
The school bus driver was transported to a hospital and treated for injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Police said no students were on the bus at the time of the crash.
Investigators said they believe debris from the collision damaged a third vehicle. The driver of that vehicle “declined medical attention,” police said.
The Prince George’s County Police Department’s Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Unit is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at 301-731-4422.
WTOP’s Acacia James contributed to this report.
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© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
Maryland
DC man wins $5M in Maryland lottery – WTOP News
A D.C. man won $5 million from a scratch-off lottery ticket in Maryland last week, and the matching number that netted him the prize happened to be his age.
Talk about a birthday surprise! A D.C. man won $5 million from a scratch-off lottery ticket in Maryland last week, and the matching number that netted him the prize happened to be his age.
Maurice Williams, a school bus driver in D.C., claimed the first top prize on a $5,000,000 LUXE scratch-off. He had used his $50 winnings from a previous LUXE scratch-off ticket to buy a new one the next day.
In a release from the Maryland Lottery, Williams said he didn’t know he had won until he scanned the ticket: “It’s crazy because the matching number was 59 and I just turned 59 the other day.”
Williams said he sat in shock for a while before calling his mother.
He said he plans to buy his mother a house with the winnings and then save up.
Two more top prizes from the scratch-off have yet to be claimed, the Maryland Lottery said, as well as nine $200,000 prizes, 10 $50,000 prizes and thousands of prizes ranging from $50 to $10,000.
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© 2026 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
Maryland
Maryland Comptroller’s Office warns of some tax processing delays
Taxpayers are being told to expect delays getting their money back, with the Comptroller of Maryland warning paper returns could take up to 30 days due to budget constraints and staff reductions — a slowdown economists say could strain cash…
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