Calvert County
Rare Miocene Fossils Join CMM Holdings: Longtime fossil collector Barry Norbeck donated thousands of shells and other invertebrate fossils to the Calvert Marine Museum in Solomons, Md., on Jan. 9, 2026. Museum officials described the donation as the largest and most scientifically significant local fossil shell collection the institution has ever received.
Malena Brookshire Takes Calvert CFO Role: The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners appointed Malena Brookshire as chief financial officer for Calvert County Government, effective Jan. 6, 2026.
Calvert Cliffs Honored for 50 Years of Service: Constellation, operator of the Calvert Cliffs Clean Energy Center, received the Beacon of Light Recognition from the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce on December 5, 2025, for the facility’s employees’ extensive philanthropy and community involvement over five decades.
Charles County
Charles County Chamber Names 2026 Board Leaders: The Charles County Chamber of Commerce announced its 2026 Board of Directors on or around January 8, 2026, marking the start of service for new and returning members during the organization’s 70th anniversary year. The board will guide the chamber’s efforts to advocate for local businesses, promote collaboration, and support community growth in Charles County, Maryland.
Dog Alerts Family to La Plata Fire: A single-story single-family home in La Plata sustained fire damage January 6, 2026, after an accidental electrical malfunction in the garage, according to the Charles County fire investigation.
Waldorf man, two other killed in P.G. County Banquet Hall Shooting: A 39-year-old man from the Landover area is in custody in Virginia facing murder charges in connection with a triple fatal shooting early Saturday morning outside a banquet hall in Temple Hills.
St. Mary’s County
Southern Maryland Property Values Up in 2026 Reassessments: Property assessments in Southern Maryland’s Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties increased between 9.0 percent and 12.5 percent for the 2026 tax year, according to data released by the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation on December 30, 2025.
St. Mary’s County Public Schools Explores Virtual Program for Home-Instructed Secondary Students: St. Mary’s County Public Schools is considering a new Virtual Learning Experience program for home-instructed students in secondary grades, with a potential launch targeted for the 2026–2027 school year.
Ariella, Lincoln Ring in 2026 as First Babies in SoMD Hospitals: Two hospitals in Southern Maryland marked the arrival of the new year with the births of their first babies on January 1, 2026, bringing joy to families and communities in St. Mary’s and Calvert counties.
State of Maryland
Flu Hospitalizations Climb in Maryland, Vaccines Recommended: The Maryland Department of Health is issuing a statewide alert as influenza cases and hospitalizations climb rapidly across the state and nation. Health officials are strongly recommending that all Maryland residents age 6 months and older receive a flu shot and adopt preventive measures against respiratory viruses.
Maryland Unemployment Rate Rises: Maryland’s federal employment declined by an estimated 10,300 positions in October and November 2025 combined, according to new data released January 8, 2026, by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In 2026, more data center regulations could be coming in Maryland: A vacant Social Security building in Baltimore County. A former power plant in Montgomery. An old mall site in Prince George’s. And that’s on top of a data center campus that has long been under development on a former industrial site in Frederick County.
