Deb Belt

West Des Moines

Southeast Team Digital Editor at Patch

Former print journo turned digital editor and manager of Southeast team for https://t.co/nwqgyvSyBD. Dog lover, shoe collector.

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Articles

Iconic Convenience Store To Open First VA Site In About A Month

1 week ago | patch.com | Deb Belt

ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VA — The iconic convenience store chain Buc-ee’s is on track to open its first Virginia travel center in Rockingham County on June 30, reports said. The beloved Texas-based chain — known for its exceptionally clean restrooms, house-made food and beaver-branded merchandise — broke ground on the Virginia site in 2024. The Virginia center will be Buc-ee’s most northeast location in the country, opening the brand to a new customer base, FOX Business News reported.
Fatal MoCo Officer-Involved Shooting Investigation Concluded By Attorney General

1 week ago | patch.com | Deb Belt

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — No charges will be filed in the case of a Montgomery County police officer who fatally shot a man armed with a grill fork in September 2024, state investigators said Tuesday. Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced his decision not to seek charges in the Wheaton shooting. The Office of the Attorney General Independent Investigations Division reviewed the shooting. The fatal shooting happened Sept.
7 Killed In Crashes Over Memorial Day Weekend In VA

1 week ago | patch.com | Deb Belt

RICHMOND, VA — Seven people died in seven different crashes over the Memorial Day 2025 weekend statewide, while more than 400 citations were issued for hands-free violations by drivers, Virginia State Police said Tuesday. The holiday weekend ran from Friday through Monday. The number is a significant drop from 2024, state police said, when 13 people died in crashes over the holiday. But drivers should be careful.
Arrest Made In Shootings Between 2 Groups Outside Bethesda Business

1 week ago | patch.com | Deb Belt

BETHESDA, MD — A man faces a gun charge and other criminal counts after two groups fired shots at each other outside Bowlero Bethesda in late March, Montgomery County Police said Tuesday. No injuries were reported from the standoff. Devon Edwards, 22, of an unknown address, was arrested for his role in a shooting that occurred shortly after midnight on March 29, 2025, outside Bowlero Bethesda in the 5300 block of Westbard Avenue, a police news release said.
CDC Changes COVID Vaccine Recommendations For These Virginians

1 week ago | patch.com | Deb Belt

VIRGINIA — The CDC has removed the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy children and healthy pregnant women from its recommended immunization schedule, Trump Administration officials announced Tuesday in a video on X. The announcement was made by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya and FDA Administrator Martin Makary.
Fairfax Co. Man Sentenced For Using Homemade Napalm To Set Fire To Car Near U.S. Capital

1 week ago | patch.com | Deb Belt

WASHINGTON, DC — A Fairfax County man arrested by U.S. Capitol Police on Jan. 8 after he tried to set his car on fire with what authorities described as homemade napalm along First Street NW, near the Grant Memorial, has been sentenced. Adrian J. Hinton, 36, of Lorton, was sentenced Friday to one year of supervised release, plus 125 hours of community service, for setting his car ablaze with “napalm,” according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Columbia.
Health Officials Confirm Second Measles Case Of 2025 In VA

1 week ago | patch.com | Deb Belt

RICHMOND, VA — The state’s second measles case of the year has been confirmed by Virginia officials. On Friday, the Virginia Department of Health said it is working to identify anyone who might have been exposed. The measles patient is between ages 13 and 17, lives in the Northwest Region and had recently traveled internationally.
Higher Prices Loom At One Of GA's Largest Retailers: Here's Why

1 week ago | patch.com | Deb Belt

GEORGIA — In a sign that President Donald Trump's tariffs are soon to hit Georgia shoppers in the wallet, the world's largest retailer on Thursday announced plans to increase prices within weeks. Walmart executives warned the $750 billion company will start raising prices in response to tariffs. That provoked the president to take to social media to denounce the company over the weekend.
Living Near Golf Course Doubles Risk Of This Disease: What To Know In FL

2 weeks ago | patch.com | Deb Belt

FLORIDA — Residents of Florida who live near a golf course are at heightened risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, a new study suggests. Published Thursday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study found pesticides used to improve the aesthetic appeal of greens and fairways could increase the risk of getting the progressive neurological disorder because the toxins can leach into water supplies or become airborne.
These Were MD's Most Popular Baby Names In 2024

2 weeks ago | patch.com | Deb Belt

MARYLAND — The Social Security Administration has released the most popular baby names in Maryland in 2024, and Liam and Olivia top the list for boy and girl names. When a child is born, parents supply the name to the agency when applying for a child's Social Security card. The agency tracks the thousands of names given to babies, and last week it revealed the most popular ones nationally and for each state last year.