Franciscan friars selling campus in Silver Spring

Franciscan friars are selling their campus in the Four Corners area of Silver Spring. The site comprises two lots, currently improved with a 3-story retreat center, and a single family home. Located at 10400-10410 Lorain Avenue, the property also has western frontage on the major Maryland commuter route of Colesville Road. Current zoning allows a variety of institutional and residential uses, as well as major redevelopment potential. The latter is a significant driver behind the listing's asking price of $2,150,000.

Alleged armed shoplifter arrested in Wheaton

Montgomery County police arrested a man after he allegedly stole merchandise from the 7-Eleven store at 11445 Amherst Avenue in Wheaton on June 21, 2026. Police were called regarding the shoplifting incident at 9:00 PM that evening. Officers located and arrested Miguel Rodriguez-Salmeron, 54, of Silver Spring. They allegedly found Rodriguez-Salmeron was also in possession of an unspecified weapon. 

However, according to court records, Rodriguez-Salmeron was not charged with any weapons violations. He has been charged with felony 1st-degree assault, theft of under $100, and misdemeanor 2nd-degree assault. Police did not release details related to these assault charges, instead accusing Rodriguez-Salmeron of aggravated assault for having the unspecified weapon in their crime summary, which is substantially different from the charges actually filed in court. 

Rodriguez-Salmeron was initially held without bond, but was released on a $7500 unsecured personal bond by Judge Patricia L. Mitchell on June 23. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled in the case for July 17.

Bullet shot into bedroom in Aspen Hill

Montgomery County police are investigating the discovery of a bullet in the bedroom of a home in Aspen Hill on Saturday, July 4, 2026. The bullet was discovered in the unit block of London Bridge Court at 10:41 PM. Police say their preliminary conclusion is that the bullet was "a stray round from holiday celebrations."

Strong-arm robbery in Wheaton

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in Wheaton Thursday night, July 2, 2026. The assault and robbery were reported in the 11300 block of Fern Street. They took place at 9:40 PM Thursday.

Montgomery County cooling centers open 11 AM to 7 PM on July 4

Montgomery County will be operating cooling centers open to the public who lack air conditioning on Independence Day, Saturday, July 4, 2026. There are six cooling centers, and they will be open from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Though, frankly, they should be open longer hours than that, given the lack of relief after dark or in the morning. Note that services and amenities typically available at these facilities may not be available while they are in use as cooling centers. I wish all my readers a great July 4th! Stay hydrated and stay safe!

Purple Line train at Lyttonsville station (Photos)

Here's a look at the construction progress at the future Purple Line station at Lyttonsville, the light rail line's stop between Chevy Chase Lake and downtown Silver Spring. It's a community with a tremendous history, with residents who demonstrated resiliency over decades of neglect and isolation by Montgomery County government. Construction on the station has advanced so far that we are already able to see the displays of historic Lyttonsville photographs. And we have a bonus here, folks: an actual Purple Line trainset at the station!

Robbery at knifepoint in Lyttonsville

Knives are becoming the new guns in Montgomery County in recent weeks, with a spate of knife robberies, slashings and stabbings. One of the latest took place at an apartment complex in Lyttonsville yesterday afternoon, June 30, 2026. A robbery at knifepoint was reported in the 8800 block of Lanier Drive at 5:00 PM. The Paddington Square apartments are located on that block. This was another example of another recent crime trend in Montgomery County: violent crimes increasingly being perpetrated during daylight hours. Two 2026 trends in one!