Mystery Illness, More Police, Winter Forecast: Maryland News

MARYLAND — We know you're busy. In case you missed anything, here were some of the week's top stories on Patch sites around Maryland.

Sears Closing 5 Stores In Maryland As Company Declares Bankruptcy

Five stores in Maryland are among nearly 150 locations Sears Holdings, the parent company of Sears and Kmart, plans to close around the country... Read more

PG County Cop Charged With Rape, More Victims Possible: Chief

LANGLEY PARK, MD — A Prince George's County police officer pulled a woman over during a late-night traffic stop and raped her, the police chief says... Read more

Columbia Woman Who Won Marathon Is Also An Astrophysicist, Mom

BALTIMORE, MD — A Columbia astrophysicist was the women's winner of the marathon at the Baltimore Running Festival. Thousands participated in the festival's five races Saturday... Read more

Multiple Cases Of 'Polio-Like' Illness Suspected In Maryland: Report

MARYLAND — A "polio-like" illness that has appeared in multiple states around the country is suspected in Maryland. Acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM, is a rare neurological condition that causes the... Read more

230 More Police Officers Added To Baltimore Streets

The drug turf war was to blame for the recent spike in violence, Baltimore's mayor said... Read more

Woman Attacked By Group Of Dogs In Aspen Hill

ASPEN HILL, MD — A woman walking a dog was attacked by a group of dogs Thursday in Aspen Hill, according to the Montgomery County Police Department... Read more

National Weather Service Winter 2019 MD Forecast: Mild, Snowy

BALTIMORE, MD — There's been a flurry of early winter weather forecasts, and those homespun predictions have disagreed on just what kind of winter 2018-19 season is in store for Maryland.... Read more

First Flu Cases In Maryland Of Season Confirmed: Health Officials

Two cases of the flu have been confirmed in Maryland, state health officials reported Tuesday. One case was in central Maryland while another was on the Eastern Shore... Read more

Teen Dies After Charter Bus Crash: Baltimore County Police

BALTIMORE COUNTY, MD — Officials said the driver of an Infiniti that collided with a charter bus Wednesday morning in northern Baltimore County has died. Eight people, including seven students, were... Read more

'Buckethead' The Bear Rescued From Plastic Jar After 3 Days

MCHENRY, MD — Spectators attending the annual Autumn Glory Festival in Garrett County last weekend saw more than fall foliage and art shows. Onlookers saw the end of a three-day pursuit by the ... Read more

7-Year-Old Died In Crash After School: Police

ESSEX, MD — Police said a 7-year-old girl died after she was hit by a vehicle Thursday afternoon near Sandalwood Elementary School. The vehicle remained at the scene, authorities reported... Read more

Sen. John McCain's Headstone In Place At US Naval Academy

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The final step in a national funeral and burial service that the late Sen. John McCain himself mapped out before his death in August has been completed: The headstone is now in place... Read more

Baltimore On Most Rat-Infested Cities List Again: Orkin

BALTIMORE, MD – Charm City is once again among America's "Rattiest Cities," according to a new report from pest control company Orkin, although it has shown progress in each of the past two years.... Read more

More top headlines:

• New Chesapeake Bay License Plate Available To MD Drivers
• Heroin Dealer Linked To 9 Fatal Overdoses Sentenced
• DC School Teacher Accused Of Rape In Silver Spring
• 20th Gun Of Year Seized AT BWI Airport: TSA
• Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Raw Chicken Sickens 2 In MD
• Lawmakers Want White Marsh Mall To Do Two Things For Safety
• Fatal SWAT Shooting In Silver Spring Justified: Howard SA
• Mural In Harford County Dedicated To First Responders
• 10 Injured In Baltimore Apartment Fire: Report
• Costco Opens In Owings Mills
• MDOT Releases Statement On Pedestrian Safety After 4 Kids Hit

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• Plastic In Hummus Prompts Wegmans Recall
• Shady Side Double Murders Tied To Drug Market: Prosecutor
• Baltimore Humane Society Takes In Animals From Hurricane Michael
• Harford Bank Robbed Twice In Two Months
• City Of Bowie To Honor Capital Gazette Reporter: Report
• Will Fort Worth Police Chief Be Baltimore's Police Commissioner?
• Nottingham Man Rammed Airport Shuttle Bus: Police
• The Wild Tomato Restaurant Opening Near Bel Air
• $20M Ponzi Scheme Conviction For Chevy Chase Woman
• Purrfect Rescue Of Kitten Trapped In Car Engine By Police

Photo from the Oct. 20 Baltimore Running Festival courtesy of the Baltimore Police Department. See results from the festival.