Maryland minimum wage increases to $15 on January 1, 2024

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (L) and
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich

The minimum wage in Maryland will increase to $15 on Monday, January 1, 2024. This statewide increase was signed into law by Gov. Wes Moore (D) earlier this year. Here in Montgomery County, the minimum wage is already $15 or higher for most employers. As a result, only employees of business with 10 or less workers will see their salaries increase on New Year's Day, from $14.50 to $15.00. 

“We applaud Governor Wes Moore’s efforts to help all Marylanders,” Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich (D) said in a statement. “The minimum wage is ultimately about working people being able to earn enough to put a roof over their heads, feed their families and not have to choose between food on the table and medical visits. I want to thank Governor Moore for making this one of his earliest priorities. I was glad to testify on behalf of the legislation, and I support this important State-wide legislation.”

Police called after assault at Rockville restaurant

Rockville City police were called to a restaurant just north of the Town Center area on the afternoon of December 21, 2023, after someone reported being the victim of a 2nd-degree assault there. The assault was reported at a restaurant in the 700 block of Hungerford Drive (MD 355) at 5:00 PM Thursday.

Rockville police seek baby formula thief

A thief who fled a Rockville Safeway store clutching bags loaded down with baby formula is now being sought by Rockville City police. The suspect entered the supermarket at 403 Redland Boulevard in the King Farm Village Center around 8:23 AM on Sunday, December 17, 2023. Environmentally conscious, he allegedly filled several reusable shopping bags with baby formula, and exited the store with his haul.

Police are seeking the public's help in identifying and locating the suspect. He is described by police as a Black male, 28 to 30 years old and 6' in height, with a medium build, black hair, full beard, and a medium complexion. The suspect was wearing black New Balance pants, a blue-and-black quarter-zip Under Armour "sweater" with the hood up, and blue athletic shoes. Anyone who has information about the suspect or this incident is asked to call police at 240-314-8900.

Assault at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Montgomery County police were called to Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda Wednesday night, December 20, 2023, after a 2nd-degree assault was reported there. The assault was reported at the mall at 9:40 PM Wednesday. This is the fifth assault reported at the mall this year, and the first since October 20. The mall is now virtually assured of ending the year with a major reduction in violent crime in 2023, as 12 assaults were reported there in 2022. This improvement may be attributed to Montgomery County police having opened a "resource room" at the popular retail center during last year's upward trend of assaults.

Assault at government building in Rockville

Rockville City police responded to a report of a 2nd-degree assault at a government building in the Town Center area early yesterday afternoon, December 21, 2023. The assault was reported at 1:59 PM Thursday at a building in the unit block of W. Montgomery Avenue. Property was reported stolen from a vehicle in the same incident.

Police called after aggravated assault with firearm in Rockville office park

Rockville City police responded to a report of an aggravated assault with a firearm in an office park early Monday afternoon, December 18, 2023. The assault was reported in the parking lot outside a building in the unit block of Research Place at 1:00 PM Monday. There are several office buildings and a self-storage business on that cul-de-sac adjacent to I-270.

Rockville office building broken into

Rockville City police were called to an office building Tuesday morning to investigate a break-in there. The burglary was reported at a building in the unit block of Taft Court, off Gude Drive. Officers responding to the scene found evidence of forced entry at the building. It is believed the property was broken into sometime between 4:00 PM on December 18, and 6:09 AM on December 19, 2023.