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Community Corner

MD Opportunity Zones Businesses To Receive $500,000 + Fatal Crash

Stay in the loop about everything new near you with the Laurel Daily.

Alexis Goring, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Happy Saturday, Laurel! Here's everything you need to know going on locally today.

First, today's weather: Humid and mostly cloudy throughout the day. High: 86 Low: 71.

Here are the top four stories today in Laurel:

  1. The Maryland Lottery and Gaming Commission has still not announced the opening date for sportsbook application submission. Regulators announced last Friday they were opening a 30-day public comment period for the final sports betting rules. The licensing opening will begin sometime after that window closes Sept. 27. This means Maryland sports betting won't begin until the 2021 NFL season is already underway. (The Action Network)
  2. A crash closed part of the Capital Beltway's outer loop in Maryland on Thursday afternoon. Maryland State Police said one person died and another person suffered minor injuries in a three-car accident. The inner loop of I-495 was closed from Wisconsin Ave. to Connecticut Ave. then as of 8:10 p.m., all lanes reopened. (WJLA)
  3. Maryland is experimenting with new ways to increase access to telehealth services in the hopes of removing barriers based on income, race, ethnicity and geographic location. The Department of Health is using $1.5 million in federal funding to pay for smartphones, tablets and high-speed internet access for people seeking help for mental health and substance abuse problems. Devices will be loaned out to 375 patients over a one-year period across 10 state jurisdictions, including Prince George's County. (WTOP)
  4. Governor Larry Hogan announced on August 27 that seven manufacturing and retail businesses will receive $500,000 to expand and grow in Maryland Opportunity Zones, which are designated communities that are eligible for federal capital gains tax incentives. This announcement is the second round of awards made through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development's Neighborhood BusinessWorks Program. (Maryland.gov)

Today in Laurel

  • Laurel Celebrates Women's Equality Day — Join the Laurel Historical Society and the GFWC Woman's Club of Laurel today to celebrate Women's Equality Day (WED) which celebrates the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. The free event includes museum displays on women's suffrage, information on the suffrage history in Laurel, a chance to register to vote, and sign a petition to make WED a national holiday. (12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.)
  • Laurel Dutch Country Farmers Market — 9701 Fort Meade Road (8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
  • Shabbat Playdate — Celebrate Shabbat and enjoy time on the playground! Enjoy summer fun with other families with young children. Bring a blanket so your family will have its own space to relax during our song/story break. (10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.)
  • Food Distribution at Oaklands Elementary — (10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.)

Laurel Patch Notebook

  • City of Laurel - Government: Mark your calendars for a Back-to-School Giveaway starting at 10:00 a.m. on August 29 at the Laurel Municipal Center, located on 8103 Sandy Spring Road! 200 FREE BACKPACKS with SCHOOL SUPPLIES will be handed out to kids. (Facebook)
  • Prince George's County is reminding residents that County Government buildings will reopen to the general public on August 30, after closing in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Prince George's County Government has been planning for the safe reopening of County Government buildings to the public for the past three months. (City of Laurel)

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That's it for today. I'll see you around! If you're liking these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Alexis Goring

About me: My name is Alexis A. Goring. I'm a Bowie area resident with a pulse for people, news and feature stories! I've worked as a freelance writer/editor/proofreader in the media industry for 15 years. I'm also a published author, experienced blogger, and founder of Writer at Heart Editorial Services. Visit my website for more details about me and my work. Here's the link: https://alexisagoring.jimdofree.com.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Laurel Daily? You can contact me at Laurel@Patch.com.

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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