Alsobrooks, Hogan tied in Maryland U.S. Senate race poll

Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (D) and former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (R) are in a dead heat in the contest for the U.S. Senate seat of Ben Cardin (D), a new poll showed Tuesday. Hogan remains a popular governor across party lines in the state, and Alsobrooks received praise and national exposure with a speaking slot at last week's Democratic National Convention. While the race is considered by many to be the most important in deciding which party will next control the Senate, there haven't been enough polls to provide a consistent measure of the state of the race. The AARP poll showed Alsobrooks and Hogan tied at 46% each. 8% of the voters polled remain undecided, a statistically-significant number in light of the poll result.

Alsobrooks (above) and Hogan (top) celebrated
International Dog Day Monday by tweeting
photos of their pets

"We have always known that this race was going to be decided on the margins, and this new poll today confirms that," Alsobrooks tweeted in an appeal for fundraising support. "I've been clear from the start that we are the underdogs in this race," Hogan said in a statement reacting to the poll. The former governor said the close race shows that he has a chance to potentially defy the odds once again in a state that is considered blue, but has elected a GOP executive three times in the last 22 years.

One of the most notable statistics from the poll is that more than a quarter of voters who support Kamala Harris for President told AARP's pollsters that they are voting for Hogan. Former President Donald Trump has clashed with Hogan for many years, as the former governor has been among the most vocal "Never Trumpers" in the GOP. 

Despite the intraparty disagreements over Trump, the Maryland Republican Party was thrilled by yesterday's poll results. "Larry Hogan's independent Republican message is resonating against Angela Alsobrooks' extreme far-left agenda," Maryland GOP Executive Director Adam J. Wood said in a statement. "We have a real opportunity to elect Maryland's first Republican U.S. Senator in nearly 40 years, and these polls show that every single vote is going to matter."

Both candidates had campaign stops in Montgomery County this week. Alsobrooks was at Riderwood on Monday, and in Kensington for an event on antisemitism that night, while Hogan toured an AstraZeneca biotech facility in Gaithersburg earlier the same day.

Photos courtesy Alsobrooks for Senate, Hogan for Maryland, Inc.

Liquor store employee blasted with pepper spray in Rockville

Rockville City police are looking for a suspect who allegedly used pepper spray on an employee at the Montgomery County Liquor & Wine store at 300 N. Washington Street in Rockville Town Center. The assault occurred at the store at 11:25 AM on August 14, 2024. Police describe the suspect as a Black female,18-20 years of age, with a thin build, 5'6" in height, and short blonde hair. She was wearing all-black clothing, with a black bonnet and red slippers, and carrying a black purse. If you can identify this suspect, call police at 240-314-8900.

Auto parts stolen at several Rockville apartment complexes

One or more auto parts thieves hit several parking lots outside Rockville apartment complexes over the night between August 20 and 21, 2024. The properties impacted were all in the vicinity of Randolph Road. Parts were stolen from vehicles parked at the Village Square West and Lerner Oxford Square apartments, and at the Bethesda Park condominiums. Thieves are typically looking for airbags and catalytic converters. Police recommend installing a steering wheel device like The Club to discourage the former, and having your catalytic converter etched to ward off the latter.

Signage installed at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar in Rockville

The sign is up at Kura Revolving Sushi Bar, which is expected to open by the end of summer 2024 at Federal Plaza in Rockville. Kura is splitting the former Chuy's space with Torchy's Tacos. Asked for an update, a Torchy's spokesperson says only that they are still scheduled for a fall 2024 opening; there is still not an official opening date on the calendar. The windows at Kura remain covered, so we can't yet get a sneak peek at the progress inside, which is to include sushi conveyor belts and KuraBot robots. 

HEYTEA, Sassy Arch Brows opening in Rockville

HEYTEA and Sassy Arch Brows are coming to Rockville. Both will be opening at Wintergreen Plaza on Rockville Pike. HEYTEA will move into the storefront at 981-F Rockville Pike, and Sassy Arch Brows already has signage installed at 815-B Rockville Pike. There's still a lot of work to do inside Sassy Arch Brows, and construction hasn't even begun on HEYTEA, which is still occupied by Sweet Frog.

HEYTEA is a Chinese beverage chain founded in 2012 in Jiangmen in southern China. Its name means "Happy Tea," and is sometimes written as "Hey Tea." The company claims to be the first to sell a cheese tea, which has a real cheese foam topping. 

HEYTEA will be between Paisano's and Wingstop

In recent years, HEYTEA has expanded to the United States, primarily in the New York City area. Rockville is one of several new American locations the chain hopes to open before the end of 2024.

Sassy Arch Brows construction underway

Sassy Arch Brows already has an existing Rockville location at 1170 2B Rockville Pike. The beauty salon offers brow threading and tinting, lash lifts, cosmetics, full face threading, and facial and body waxing services.

Montgomery County police officer found guilty in January 6 case

A Montgomery County police officer was found guilty today by a U.S. Circuit Court judge in Washington, D.C. of charges stemming from the violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Officer Justin Lee, 25, of Rockville, was found guilty of two felony offenses: assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers and civil disorder. Judge Trevor N. McFadden also found Lee guilty of the misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building. Lee will be sentenced by Judge McFadden on November 22, 2024.

The Montgomery County Police Department issued a statement today in which it said that Lee was not yet employed by the County police force on January 6, 2021. It stated Lee's actions at the Capitol did not come to light through its standard background investigation when Lee was hired. Lee was relieved of his police powers while the case went to trial. The MCPD stated that Lee's employment by the department will now be terminated following today's guilty verdict. 

Lee was identified in 2023 by law enforcement officials who were reviewing video footage from the Capitol on January 6, 2021 after they first noticed his Maryland flag gaiter. The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia specifically accused Lee of throwing two objects at officers who were trying to prevent people from entering the Capitol. One incendiary device produced a smoke cloud. Lee was also accused of pointing a flashlight beam at officers. 

Maryland AG won't charge Montgomery County Sheriff's deputies in fatal Rockville crash

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown has decided not to press charges against two Montgomery County Sheriff's deputies in the fatal April 27, 2024 collision in Rockville, which occurred as they pursued a speeding vehicle on Rockville Pike (MD 355). The driver of the speeding Dodge sedan, whom Brown identified as Timothy Pack, collided with a Honda sedan at the intersection of MD 355 with Twinbrook Parkway. Jasmin Gimon, the driver of the Honda, was tragically pronounced dead at the scene. Pack escaped the deputies on foot, but was later located and arrested.

Brown said the Independent Investigations Division of his office reviewed all the evidence, and determined that neither deputy had broken any Maryland laws. As a result, Brown will not file charges against the deputies.