Finish Line closes, JD Sports sets opening date at Montgomery Mall in Bethesda

Finish Line has closed at Westfield Montgomery Mall in Bethesda. But its parent company, JD Sports, is quickly moving to fill the vacuum with a JD Sports store. JD Sports acquired the Finish Line chain in 2018. Last fall, JD Sports announced its intention to close up to 400 underperforming Finish Line stores by 2026. However, at least some of those are now being converted to JD Sports stores.

In the case of Montgomery Mall, JD Sports will not only replace Finish Line, but will relocate to a different spot in the mall. JD Sports currently expects to open the Montgomery Mall store this Saturday, August 10, 2024. When it opens, look for JD Sports on Level 1 of the mall, near The Cheesecake Factory.

Sweathouz opening in Rockville

Sweathouz is coming soon to Rockville. The contrast therapy spa will be located at 11564 Old Georgetown Road at Pike & Rose. During an appointment, Sweathouz - a.k.a. SWTHZ - moves clients from its infrared sauna into a cold plunge. A private contrast therapy suite also offers an en-suite Vitamin C shower. Sweathouz says its treatments help clients manage pain and inflammation, boost immunity, and burn calories.

Rockville police arrest 8 suspects in strong-arm robbery

Rockville City police have arrested eight suspects in the July 25, 2024 strong-arm robbery at the David Scull Courts housing complex. Officers took into custody an 18-year-old man, a 20-year-old woman, and six juvenile females who range in age from 14 to 16. Police say the eight ganged up on a lone victim, whom they assaulted and took unspecified personal property from.

The two adult suspects, of Upper Marlboro, have both been charged with felony robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and 2nd-degree assault. According to court records, they are being held without bond. A hearing in the case has been scheduled for August 23. 

When will Tropical Storm Debby impact the Washington, D.C. Metro area?

Tropical Storm Debby is currently 471 miles from Montgomery County, Maryland, which will feel the former hurricane's impacts over the next three days. The storm will affect the entire Washington, D.C. metro area from around 8:00 PM Thursday night to 1:00 AM on Saturday morning. Accuweather is currently forecasting a total rainfall of 4 to 8 inches, with peak wind gusts of 40 MPH. The peak of the storm is expected to be from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Friday, when the most rain will fall on the area.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has declared a State of Preparedness ahead of the storm. "The safety of Marylanders is our top priority," Moore said in a statement. "By declaring a State of Preparedness, I am directing the Department of Emergency Management to coordinate the comprehensive preparation of State government ahead of potential impacts from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby. Residents and visitors should monitor local weather forecasts, remain vigilant, and be prepared to follow safety instructions from local emergency officials."

Remember to keep phones and devices charged ahead of the storm. Now is the time to check batteries in your flashlights, and purchase additional batteries. Have a small transistor radio to monitor emergency bulletins and weather conditions if you lose power. And make sure your gas tank is at least half-full.

Tropical Storm Debby is currently approaching the coast of South Carolina. Its maximum sustained wind speed is 60 MPH, according to the National Weather Service, and it is moving northeast at 5 MPH. The storm is blamed for the deaths of six people in the southern United States so far.

Images courtesy NOAA, Office of Gov. Wes Moore

Raskin: Congress would overturn a 2024 Trump victory even if it provokes "civil war"

Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin (D - 8th District) has vowed the U.S. Congress would overturn a potential victory by Donald Trump in the November presidential election, even if the move would provoke "civil war conditions" in the country. Raskin made the declaration in a February video that was tweeted by his former Republican colleague from New York, Lee Zeldin, on August 5. "It's going to be up to us on January 6, 2025 to tell the rampaging Trump mobs that he's disqualified," Raskin states in the video. "And then we need bodyguards for everybody, and civil war conditions."

Raskin, who represents a large part of Montgomery County and a small part of Prince George's County, cited Section III of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as the tool to disqualify Trump, should he win a second term. That provision disqualifies elected officials who have taken an oath to defend the Constitution, but then engage in insurrection against the U.S. government, from holding federal elected office. It was added after the U.S. Civil War as a mechanism to prevent politicians on the Confederate side from holding federal office again. 

"It could not be clearer what [Section III is] stating," Raskin said in his remarks, which were excerpted from a larger discussion about the right to vote at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C.. The month after Raskin made these comments, a majority of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Congress was the only body that could disqualify a candidate under Section V of the 14th Amendment. Raskin challenged the validity of some electoral votes in Trump's 2016 victory, but was gaveled out of order by Vice-President Joe Biden, who was presiding over the election certification proceedings.

Rockville shooting suspect identified by police

Rockville City police have identified the suspect in the August 2, 2024 shooting in the College Gardens neighborhood. Isaiah Warren Simpson, 33, of Washington D.C. is facing charges of attempted 2nd-degree murder, 1st-degree assault, 2nd-degree assault, reckless endangerment, use of a firearm in a crime of violence, illegal possession of a regulated firearm, and loaded handgun on person. Detectives determined that Simpson is prohibited from possessing firearms.

The adult male victim, who was founded suffering from a gunshot wound to his abdomen in the 400 block of College Parkway just before 4:30 PM that afternoon, is now in stable condition at a local hospital. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Simpson is asked to contact the Rockville City Police Department at 240-314-8900 or your local law enforcement agency.  

Rockville Bed Bath & Beyond store could be replaced with apartment building

A developer has proposed constructing an apartment building on the site of the vacant Bed Bath & Beyond store at 1519 Rockville Pike, at the Congressional North shopping center in Rockville. The apartment development would be seven stories in height, with ground floor retail space, and structured parking. These plans have not yet been formally filed with the City of Rockville, and public meetings will be held regarding the proposal.

Bed Bath & Beyond closed a year ago. The chain went bankrupt and all of its stores were shuttered. Overstock acquired the brand, and it continues as an online business. Spirit Halloween plans to use the empty Rockville Bed Bath & Beyond building for its Halloween pop-up store this fall.