Jess Nocera

Baltimore

Howard County Reporter at The Baltimore Banner

Howard County reporter @BaltimoreBanner // Always Metro4ever // [email protected]

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Articles

Howard County to put permanent police unit in downtown Columbia

1 week ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Jess Nocera

Howard County officials on Monday announced they were basing a permanent police unit in downtown Columbia, part of a continued response to fatal shootings near the mall there that have alarmed residents. The county said in a news release that members of a new, full-time unit will patrol the Columbia Lakefront, the Merriweather District and The Mall in Columbia. The officers will be drawn from the department’s Community Outreach & Pathways Section.
Some Howard County schools will be redistricted. Will yours?

2 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Jess Nocera

Come August 2026, some Howard County Public Schools students will call a new school home. The school system is about to embark on a boundary review process, also known as redistricting, for 11 schools in Columbia and Ellicott City. The goal is to relieve overcrowded schools, reshuffling students into underpopulated buildings. All changes in school attendance areas will take effect for the 2026-2027 school year.
Howard County bus aide hit two nonverbal students, police say

2 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Jess Nocera

An 80-year-old bus aide who allegedly hit two nonverbal Howard County students was ordered held without bond on Monday, according to online court records. Albert William Rice Jr., a Laurel resident, was arrested and charged last week with two counts of second-degree assault and one count of fourth-degree sex offense. While investigating an alleged incident from February, police discovered Rice had also hit and “inappropriately touched” a second female victim, a spokesperson said in an email.
Howard County bus aide charged with assaulting two Linwood Center students

2 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Jess Nocera

A Howard County bus attendant, contracted to assist students who attend the Linwood Center, was arrested and charged with two counts of assault and one count of fourth-degree sex offense this week.
7 Things to do in Howard County: Daffodil Day, Columbia Orchestra performance

3 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Jess Nocera

Get your steps in this week at either the Light the Night 5K or the inaugural Oakland Mills Middle School Fun Run. Looking for arts and culture events this week? Stroll through “The Pacific Northwest” photography show or listen to the Columbia Orchestra perform “Peter and the Wolf.” Check out these events and more for the week ending Wednesday, April 9. Light the Night 5k 6:30-8:30 p.m. FridayThe Baltimore Banner thanks its sponsors. Become one.
Howard County Executive proposes $367 million budget ‘despite uncertainty’

3 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Jess Nocera

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is looking to spend $367 million in the next fiscal year on construction and maintenance projects across education, community facilities, transportation, flood mitigation, public safety and more. Ball, on Tuesday, sent his proposed capital improvement program, also known as the capital budget, to the County Council for consideration.
Columbia man killed in fatal crash on I-70 in Howard County

3 weeks ago | ourcommunitynow.com | Jess Nocera

Share Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal crash early Monday morning in Howard County that involved a stolen sport utility vehicle. State troopers responded to reports of a crash around 12:30 a.m. Monday at the southbound U.S. Route 29 exit off westbound Interstate 70 ramp in Ellicott City. According to the preliminary investigation, a 2013 Ford Explorer traveling in the wrong direction on the exit struck a Toyota Camry head-on, according to state police.
Columbia man killed in fatal crash on I-70 in Howard County

3 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Jess Nocera

Maryland State Police are investigating a fatal crash early Monday morning in Howard County, involving a stolen sport utility vehicle. State troopers responded to reports of a crash around 12:30 a.m. Monday at the southbound U.S. Route 29 exit off westbound Interstate 70 ramp in Ellicott City. According to the preliminary investigation, a 2013 Ford Explorer traveling in the wrong direction on the exit struck a Toyota Camry head on, according to state police.
Residents to Columbia Association: Leave our facilities alone

3 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Jess Nocera

Many Columbia residents and leaders are pushing back against proposals to turn over management of the village community association buildings and neighborhood centers to the Columbia Association. Carrying signs with messages that included “Don’t DOGE the villages” and “Hands off our halls,” about two dozen residents packed a meeting of the Columbia Association board on Thursday night to voice opposition to any takeover of village facilities.
Columbia Association eyes takeover of its village centers. But at what cost?

4 weeks ago | thebaltimorebanner.com | Jess Nocera

In the upstairs of an old, rustic dairy barn decorated with string lights, sunlight shines through big windows. To get there, guests walk up a winding staircase carved out of the barn’s original silo. The staircase is a popular background for wedding photos. Known as The Other Barn, this renovated barn in Columbia is now a community building managed by the Oakland Mills Community Association.