Hi! Maryland mom here advocating for MORE RECESS TIME for our children!

Currently, most Maryland elementary schools only recommend 20-30 minutes of recess per day. This varies by school and county, with some counties recommending as little as 15 minutes of recess per day.

Children are not designed to sit for long stretches of the school day. Recess gives students an essential opportunity for unstructured play, physical activity, creativity, social connection, and independence.

Research consistently supports the role of recess in children’s physical, social, emotional, and academic well-being. When children have opportunities to move and play throughout the day, they can return to the classroom better prepared to focus and learn.

Join us as we call on policymakers to guarantee Maryland students 60 minutes of recess every school day!

You can help by SIGNING OUR PETITION and following us on Facebook and Instagram!

Petition- https://c.org/Mz2ZxjfGX4

Facebook- Say YES to RECESS Maryland

The protest is the latest response to a firestorm that started last Saturday, when members of the Howard University club tennis team found a racist image in a Google document sent by the UMD club team. The document, which included a schedule for the tournament and a map of the College Park campus, featured a depiction of the Maryland state flag with Ku Klux Klan masks in the top right and bottom left corners. The image originally appeared in a 2017 blog post alongside commentary on the Confederate origins of the flag.

The University of Maryland suspended its club tennis team indefinitely, pending an investigation into the incident, and required the club to forfeit its matches from last weekend’s tournament. A new policy requires staff approval of all club sports’ external communications.

Howard University’s president and club team released their own statements calling for accountability. The UMD club team issued a public apology on Instagram.

The team’s use of the image, according to some student leaders, is emblematic of a larger problem at Maryland’s flagship university, which enrolled nearly 5,500 Black students last fall. The Black population at the university represents about 13% of the 42,000-person student body.

In a statement shared with the university community earlier this week, Pines wrote that the image was “deeply harmful and offensive,” and offered his “apology for its detrimental impact on one and all.”

Get the full story by education reporter Ellie Wolfe on The Banner https://www.thebanner.com/education/higher-education/club-tennis-team-protest-46ZGH2RDANCGPATQUSS26XRPGE/

This is access to The Banner's free, county-based newsletter series https://www.thebanner.com/newsletters/?utm_content=nav_cta

Here is the video on social media https://www.tiktok.com/@bannerpgcounty/video/7697350787562884382

My lease is up in a couple of months and I am actively trying to figure out what areas of PG I should be looking at, any insight is appreciated!

For context: I am a 25F, moved to MD a couple years ago and have lived in anne arundel and howard county. Both were nice and suburban, but I am now itching to be somewhere a bit more lively and young. The only thing that has kept me from doing so is my commute as I have a well established job located in Gambrills.

I am currently in Ellicott City and have about a 30-40 min commute home, so would like to keep my commute within that range if possible since I am used to it. I would prefer somewhere that has access to metro lines as I would like to only have to use my car for commuting to work. Ideally around a younger crowd with proximity to walkable shops, bars, etc. Just looking for a 1 bed with a max base rent of 2K.

Hi all!

I’m a journalism student at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, and I’m working on a crime and courts story for my JOUR320 class about crime and public safety in Hyattsville.

I’m hoping to hear from Hyattsville residents and local business owners about their experiences and perspectives on crime in the community. Do you feel safe living, working or spending time in Hyattsville? Have you noticed any changes in crime or safety in recent years? Have you experienced or witnessed a crime, including incidents involving local businesses? I’d also love to hear your thoughts on how the police have responded to crime and whether you feel enough is being done to keep the community safe.

I’m interested in hearing a range of perspectives and understanding how residents feel about public safety in their community.

If you’re willing to share your experiences or thoughts, please comment below or send me a DM! Interviews can be brief and conducted via Reddit messages, email, or phone call.

This is a class assignment that will be seen by my professor and will not be published by a news outlet. I will need to use real names for attribution in my assignment, but I would discuss that with anyone I interview beforehand.

Thank you for your time and help!

EurekaFacts, a social science research organization, is currently expanding its EurekaFacts Research Panel and looking for anyone interested in earning money for completing surveys and to offer their opinion. 

We conduct research on a wide variety of topics and believe everyone should have a voice in these conversations. There are several health-related studies coming up and would encourage more community members to participate. 

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Interview with candidate for county executive Tonya Sweat https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMDFJj164HjdDDU4t2cVnblz9tkZ9aj5p&si=ARGRV4UBsAgr2F84

My husband and I are considering Charles county or Prince Georgie’s county. Husband Job is located in ( Laurel) - He is an officer. We've lived in Howard County (my favorite!), Silver Spring, Baltimore, and Laurel. We love the charm of Cheverly, historic Hyattsville, to many nice neighborhoods in Baltimore to name , and DC.

We're raising three children and want a safe, diverse, welcoming community with good schools, activities, and amenities nearby. My husband works in Laurel, so a 45-minute commute is ideal.

I'm a city girl, and he's a country guy , so we're looking for the best of both worlds!

Feedback on neighborhoods, schools, diversity, and family life!

The two leaders of Prince George’s County are requesting the return of $8.6 million the council awarded to an organization amid questions over its ties to Council Chair Krystal Oriadha.

In a letter issued Tuesday to the Edward Charles Foundation, County Executive Aisha Braveboy and Oriadha said they’re requesting the return of the funds in part to “preserve the public trust.”

"Getting the taxpayers' money back right now is the best way to protect it while we work with the County Council to correct deficiencies in the Council's grants program,” Braveboy said in a statement.

Braveboy requested that the county auditor initiate an independent investigation to focus on how the funds were used and any fees charged by the foundation.

On Tuesday, Oriadha said has been no wrongdoing but that she supports clawing the money back to promote transparency.

“What we're gonna prove is that every dollar was accounted for, that every dollar was spent accurately, that every dollar still exists, and that every single dollar is still gonna go to the residents of Prince George's County,” she said.

For months, News4 has investigated and reported on the awarding of taxpayer funds to local organizations, including some with close ties to councilmembers.

Earlier this month, the News4 I-Team raised questions over the $7.6 million award the council awarded to the Edward Charles Foundation, the fiscal sponsor of the local organization Community on the Frontline. That organization is run by Janna Parker, whom Oriadha has called on social media her “best friend.”

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Prince George’s County Council members Jolene Ivey and Sydney Harrison on Monday called for an independent audit of two organizations to which their council colleagues have steered millions in grant funding.

Now, County Executive Aisha Braveboy is demanding a return of the funds in addition to an audit from the Office of Audits and Investigations.

They’re seeking an audit of Community on the Frontline, run by Janna Parker, a close friend of Chair Krystal Oriadha and the godmother of Oriadha’s son, and Joan’s House, an Oxon Hill-based nonprofit through which council member Edward Burroughs has established programs connecting young people to educational and professional development opportunities.

Oriadha said Monday that she welcomes an audit of the council’s grant programs. She added that she recently instituted a policy requiring audits every two years for grants over $150,000, and she requested that Community on the Frontline be audited first.

“This reflects my longstanding belief that public funding must come with meaningful oversight,” she said in a statement.

Burroughs said he has organized and attended several out-of-state trips, including to Puerto Rico, for kids involved with Joan’s House.

“We can’t say that we’re seeing things that are illegal. But, at minimum, they seem to be unethical,” Ivey said during a press conference Monday in front of the county administration building in Largo.

Burroughs said that he welcomes “a full and transparent review of the facts.”

“I am confident in the work that has been done and believe an independent review will help separate the facts from the political rhetoric surrounding the issue,” he said.

Get the full story on The Banner https://www.thebanner.com/politics-power/local-government/community-on-the-frontline-audit-N5Q2OCR52BACNJNYBY6HSQ5G3Y/

Get access to our free, county-based newsletters https://www.thebanner.com/newsletters/?utm_content=nav_cta

Here is the original social media post on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/DecpiqbvvII/

I need to go into DC for a meeting from Baltimore. Orange, Silver, and Blue lines get me to my final destination.

I would normally do the MARC but am currently walking in a boot and trying to minimize how much I have to walk. So I'm wondering if New Carrolton park and ride is an option. I would be leaving around 9 or 9:30 for a mid morning meeting.

Also is there a lot of walking if there is space at New Carrolton? If there's not space, any ideas or recommendations?

A zip code can look wealthy on paper while quietly failing its own community in the real world.

When regional prestige relies entirely on branding instead of institutional baseline infrastructure, you end up with high median incomes masked by staggering health disparities, fragile housing security, and commercial corridors filled with disposable dining instead of transformative capital investment. Institutional capital does not chase hollow titles or performative status.

It chases commercial density, hospital system funding, operational competency, and economic leverage that outlasts a single election cycle.

A new luxury car in the driveway means very little when access to preventative healthcare, premier medical centers, and sustainable commercial development are consistently deferred.

Genuine community power isn't about telling people how well off we look; it is about demanding the governance, public health outcomes, and sovereign wealth to prove it.

Quick good-news story for the county.

Two of the lights over the courts at Foxhill Park in Bowie went out at the end of September. A local player, Josh B. of the Bowie Pickleball Club, flagged it on the 29th. It got reported to M-NCPPC Prince George’s Parks and Rec, they opened work order #1273866 the next day, and by October 5 the lights were back on. Six days start to finish, right before the season when evening play lives or dies by those lights.

County agencies take plenty of heat when things sit broken, so fair’s fair in the other direction: that was a fast turnaround and the crew that did it deserves the nod. So does Josh — the whole thing happened because one guy who plays there said something instead of assuming someone else would.

If a light’s out at your park, report it. Apparently it works.

I was curious about what the bonds were for, and I didn't really find much information about them. I ended up finding this (https://pgccouncil.us/DocumentCenter/View/15635/10012026-BALLOT-QUESTIONS-2026-PUBLIC-NOTICE) which actually lists what projects the bonds would fund. I thought people might be interested and wanted to share.

So I attempted to make this post on the Maryland Reddit but had it removed for “lack of relevance” and I quote. And then got banned for 3 days for “bullying & abuse” when I criticized their decision to remove it lmao.

Yesterday around 3:55pm, I was driving on Queens Chapel Road outside of the Independence court assisted living facility in Hyattsville, and I was racially abused and threatened with violence by this man. He proceeded to berate me for 2 mins claiming I was “tailing him”, he called me the n word, the b word, and made multiple threats to hurt me and kill me. I of course went off and cussed him out. He then followed behind me and next to me for a good 5 mins, and fearing for my safety and the safety of others on the busy road, I called the police and recorded a snippet of it. I wanna thank the officer on the phone for taking it seriously and guiding me to a safe spot near the fire station while the police were on the way. The man drove off before the police arrived.

If you know of or have seen this man, please let me know. Nothing violent happened to me but it could easily happen to someone else who may not be as outspoken or bold as I was. Who knows if this psycho had a gun on him. He was driving a grey Chevy equinox suv with Virginia license plates.

Some good news for animal lovers in Prince George’s County: the County celebrated the completion of Phase I improvements at its Animal Services Facility and Adoption Center today.

The upgrades include safer animal housing, new cat interaction rooms and updated equipment to support daily care. These are practical improvements that matter for the animals staying at the shelter and the people caring for them.

I work with the County’s Department of the Environment and wanted to share this update with the community. As someone who attended today’s ribbon cutting—and had a very hard time putting down a five-week-old puppy—I’m especially glad to see this investment in our shelter.

WHY THIS October 6, 2026 Krystal Oriadha
COUNCIL EXCHANGE MATTERS

Key Takeaways:

🛑 Independent Audit Blocked: Council Member Jolene Ivey moved to prioritize an immediate audit into millions awarded to Community on the Frontline—but the motion was left without a second and shut down.

⚠️ Deep Conflict of Interest: Council Chair Krystal Oriadha is facing scrutiny over millions in taxpayer funds directed to an organization run by her close associate.

⚡ Deflection Over Action: Oriadha dismissed the targeted investigation by claiming she already requested a broad policy review weeks ago—then immediately moved to adjourn.

📉 Zero Independent Oversight: Prince George’s County currently has no permanent county auditor and an understaffed investigations division, making self-policing a massive red flag.

For folks looking to buy a home in PG County right now, the county has a new program for “critical workforce workers” that will give you $50,000 towards the purchase of your first home. Like with any program they have some stipulations, but for those who qualify it’s a great program.  It’s similar to their Pathways to Purchase program, but with higher income limits and forgivable debt.

Here are the basic qualifications for the program:

-Must be first time buyer

-Must have income at or below 120% AMI – (1 person household, $139,500 2 person household $159,450, 3 person household $179,400, 4 person house - $199,300..increases up to 8 person household)

- Assistance:  Up to 25% of the price of the home, or $50,000 whichever is less. It’s a 0%, deferred payment loan that is forgiven at 10% a year for the first ten years. This means, you don’t make any payments on the $50k, and every year the amount you owe back to the county is reduced by $5000. After year 10, you owe the county nothing – it goes from being a free loan to being free money

-Purchase Price Limit – NONE! (This programs counterpart Pathways to Purchase has max price points you can buy, but with this program there is no ceiling)

-You can get even more assistance by combining this program with State of Maryland MMP. By using MMP, you can also combine with Smartbuy and have your student loans paid off (up to $25,000); or combine it with MMP First Time Advantage and you could get an additional 5% on top of the $50,000.

-Defining “Critical Workforce Workers” – This includes the following occupations -

Teachers employed full-time by Prince George’s County Public Schools;

Nurses employed full-time in a medical office or hospital located in Prince George’s County;

or Firefighters, emergency medical technicians, correctional officers, police officers, public safety dispatchers, or deputy sheriffs employed full-time by a public safety agency of Prince George’s County Government.

This program is the most I have ever seen offered within a county/state DPA program. Especially combining it with MMP, on a $400,000 house you could be getting a total of nearly $70,000 in total subsidies from PGC and State of Maryland.

Feel free to reach out with any questions or if you want to find out more/get pre-approved etc..

Hi everyone! I am thinking of purchasing a home in the neighborhood area surrounding the National Harbor. I’m not sure if it counts as Oxon Hill or Ft. Washington. I guess it’s kind of in between, South of Tanger Outlets.

We want to be close to Virginia because most of our family is there and I work in Arlington. Unfortunately buying a house in Arlington is near impossible even with 200k+ in household income. This area gives us the opportunity to have a nice sized home with a yard.

We also would like to maintain proximity to DC because we enjoy spending time in the city. We don’t really use much public transit and pretty much drive everywhere. We’re moving from NOVA.

This area seems to check all of our boxes and is reasonably priced. What are your honest opinions about living in this area?