Author Archives: George Barnette

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley signed a bill into law last week creating a program to monitor prescription drug use in the state of Maryland. “Public safety is among our most solemn obligations as public servants, and preventing the abuse of prescription drugs – the fastest growing drug problem in Maryland – is a big part […]

Former Prince George’s County Executive Jack B. Johnson pled guilty on May 17 to extortion and witness and evidence tampering charges at U.S. District Court in Greenbelt. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Jack Johnson admitted to several things reported in the original affidavit including taking the $100,000 check from Baig and telling his […]

Maryland Sen. Ulysses Currie, D-Dist. 25, had eight of the 18 charges levied against by the federal government dropped as he continues to fight corruption charges. In the motion to dismiss, U.S. attorney Rod Rosenstein wrote he is dismissing the charges in order to “streamline the case” as trial approaches, claiming these charges would be […]

Bowie-based Pursuing a Dream Corp. joins the increasing number of organizations and community groups pushing kids towards careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) as it begins to hold forums to get its message to the public. Harry Washington, president and founder of the organization, says growing up he didn’t have anyone he could […]

The Prince George’s County Economic Development Corp. (PGCEDC) has created a mentor-protégé program to provide local businesses with technical assistance. The program, two years in the making, was created in conjunction with Capital One Bank as part of the PGCEDC’s Small Business Initiative (SBI) and will provide grant funding and consultation to the county’s technology-based […]

A Fox 5 News report on the expenses of state legislators has triggered a strong reaction from many major players in Prince George’s County. According to the report, many legislators cost the state thousands of taxpayer dollars in work-related travel expenses, though many of them live less than 50 miles away from Annapolis. Over the […]

Prince George’s Police Department (PGPD) has had a very inauspicious beginning to 2011. Despite that, confidence remains high in Interim Police Chief Mark Magaw’s ability to effectively run his department. The department had a public relations nightmare in the first two months of the year as homicides spiked. So far in 2011, there have been […]

Villages of Marlborough (VOM) residents were informed that Marlborough Country Club was foreclosed on last week in a continuing and frustrating saga. At a February meeting with community residents, Hercules Pitts, the owner of Marlborough and Lake Arbor Gold Course, said a group of investors would help keep the golf courses in his possession.That evening […]

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker remains upbeat about the county’s health care woes, although budget constraints strangle nearly every facet of the county’s finances. “We want to make sure that everybody who needs health care in this county will have access,” Baker said earlier this month. A 2010 study conducted by Rand, a nonprofit […]

The state of Maryland, Prince George’s County and developers at Konterra Town Center have entered into an agreement to finish the last section of the Intercounty Connector (ICC). The agreement was four years in the making as the state and county avoided imminent domain proceedings with Konterra. “This innovative agreement benefits the public sector, the […]