Anne Arundel County Offices Closed In Response. Impact on Residents In Russett, Watershed, Fieldstone, and Maryland City Is Unclear The Pittman administration closed county offices on Monday, citing an "ongoing cyber incident." However, officials have yet to provide any details about the nature or extent of the incident, leaving both the public and members of the Anne Arundel County Council and Maryland General Assembly in the dark. As the disruption entered its fourth day, some employees affected by Monday’s closures were instructed to "work remotely using Google or internet-based systems"—a directive that left cybersecurity experts baffled. One expert called the guidance "wild" and stressed that the administration must offer more clarity on the situation. (L-R: County Executive Steuart Pittman and County Councilman Pete Smith Anne Arundel County Council member Pete Smith confirmed that he and his colleagues have not been briefed on the incident. "I cannot answer any specific questions because the administration has not disclosed—even to council members—which systems are impacted," Smith said. He noted that he has received several inquiries from constituents and hopes that the county executive's team will provide more transparency in the coming days. Meanwhile, the FBI recently issued an advisory about a potential ransomware threat known as "Ghost." According to the warning, "Ghost" attackers exploit unpatched vulnerabilities in software and firmware to infiltrate internet-facing servers before deploying ransomware. While it's unclear if this attack is related to the county's ongoing cyber issues, the lack of information from officials has fueled speculation. As residents and local leaders push for answers, questions remain about the severity of the incident and the administration's ability to safeguard taxpayer data its digital infrastructure. Press Release: Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman

Endorsed by Democrats Serve and the Bipartisan "With Honor" Political Action Committee Retired Army Colonel Mike Rogers , a two term Delegate in the General Assembly, has announced his run for US Congress to represent the Third District. The seat is currently occupied by Jon Sarbanes who announced in the Fall that he will not seek re-election. Rogers, who lives in Laurel, is perhaps the best known candidate in a growing field. Rogers spent several years as a board member for his HOA, served as PTSA President for Fort Meade High School, served as a football coach for the Severn Seminoles, and is an active member of Phi Beta Sigma. Rogers' candidacy for office got a major endorsement today from Democrats Serve , a national organization which supports former veterans for office. The organization cited Rogers' deep and broad community service, in addition to his 29 years of service in the military, as the reason for its endorsement. "Public service isn't just a job for Mike; it's his way of life," said Brett Broesder, Executive Director, Democrats Serve . Rogers is hosting his "Big Canvass" kickoff tomorrow, January 6, 2024, to mark the third anniversary of the deadly Capitol Insurrection. Rogers said that tomorrow is a solemn occasion but that it's also an important day to go door-to-door to remind our neighbors about what's at stake during this year's election. "I've invested so much time volunteering in our communities because it is a very important function in a healthy Democracy. Civic involvement as a PTSA President help make our school betters. Coaching kids in football helps build important skills that lead to success in school and the workplace. Everything I do in this election is about protecting our right to vote. Too many people have made great sacrifices for the right to vote which is under attack. Protecting our vote helps us fight for women's rights, civil rights, for better services for our veterans, and better schools for our children. To quote our ancestors, 'we ain't gone let nobody turn us around" said Rogers. Rogers added that he took a solemn oath to defend this country and that he will continue to do so as a United States Congressman. Rogers has touted the endorsement of several major leaders including County Council Chair Pete Smith , former County Council Chair Sarah Lacey , Delegate Shaneka Henson , and Anne Arundel County Sheriff Everett Sesker as evidence of broad support for his Congressional bid. Pete Smith, a fellow veteran, says that Rogers is by far the better candidate in the race. "I've seen Mike raise funds for neighbors going through a medical crisis. I've seen Mike fly across the country to congratulate and thank a fellow veteran for their service. I've seen Mike mentor youth through hard times. As a retired Army colonel, Mike has consistently shown his dedication to our country and to Maryland, " said Smith. Rogers added that he feels very good about where this campaign is headed. "Veterans across the district are participating in the campaign, our sororities, our fraternities, people I've coached with, my former PTSA colleagues are supportive and it's just a great start for us," said Rogers. The "Big Canvass" for Mike Rogers for Congress will take place tomorrow, January 6, 2024 at 7256 Connelley Drive, Hanover, MD 21076 from 10AM to 2PM. Rogers said that light refreshments will be provided for the canvass.

Sarah McDermott, a local advocate and community volunteer, announced her run for the District 4 School Board Seat. McDermott said that she is excited for the opportunity. "As a mother to two Arundel Middle School students and a product of public school myself, it is deeply important to me that we continue to make great strides toward increased opportunities for all students across Anne Arundel County. Whether it be a pathway to the mechanical trades, serving in the military, or heading to one of Maryland's unbeatable two or four-year academic institutions (go, Terps!), students in District 4 deserve to have options when they graduate," said McDermott. McDermott was accompanied by her husband, a Marine veteran, to the board of elections to file her candidacy. The General Election for the seat will take place in the Fall.

Sponsorship of House Bill #982 I'm honored to share that I've sponsored and presented the first reading of House Bill #982. This bill aims to eliminate the state tax on military retirement pay over three years. During my testimony, I had the opportunity to share the deeply personal reasons behind my commitment to this cause. I want to extend my gratitude to David Dragics from MD Mil Coalition for his invaluable testimony in support of this bill.   I was also honored to have served as the guest speaker for the Bowie State Bulldog Battalion ROTC Ball. I had the opportunity to discuss “military customs, courtesies, and traditions and why it's important to serve! It was great to have been joined by Mr. and Mrs. Collins, the parents of slain 1LT Richard Collins, who graduated from the Bulldog Battalion ROTC program. Their continued advocacy and service were inspiring, and the scholarship that carries their son’s name has produced more than 260 military officers. Keeping costs down for insulin and other vital medications is a priority for me. I had a wonderful time speaking with the Maryland Pharmacy Coalition on how we can maintain access and affordability for those who need assistance. As someone who has collaborated with experts in the pharmacy industry, it's always enriching to hear from such dedicated advocates.   As a small business owner, it's important for me to understand how we can best support new businesses. It's always a pleasure when the Chamber of Commerce visits to discuss their legislative priorities. And it's even more rewarding when Kristi Simon is among the team members. Finally, it's always great to meet with young people in our district. I had a fantastic visit from students and parents of Chesapeake Science Point (CSP). CSP is one of the top performing schools in our district and I am happy to support this excellent charter school in Hanover.     Resource Spotlight:

iCommunity Connection Services' (iCCS) annual Back to School Festival donated nearly 700 backpacks to local families this past Saturday. The annual event was sponsored by the Offices of School Board Member Gloria Dent , Delegate Mike Rogers , and Councilman Pete Smith . This is the fourth year for the event which also counted Coca-Cola Consolidated, Maryland Live, and the Anne Arundel County School District as its sponsors. Community leaders said it was important to sponsor the event to ensure that kids are ready for a healthy start to the new school year. Sarah McDermott with Sheriff Everett Sesker and Maryland Labor Deputy Commissioner John Dove "This is just a wonderful event that brings the communities of Odenton and Laurel together. Delegate Mike Rogers, Gloria, and Pete did such a great job including partners that could provide needed services like the health department and the county library. It really does make a difference for parents. I'm so happy to volunteer and participate, " said school board nominee and Air Force veteran Sarah McDermott . Judge Ginina Jackson-Stevenson also lauded the participation of the county's first responders and said that such participation is crucial to building trust in the community. "It really is great to see our families interacting with the police department and the sheriff's office. These are important ties that helps ensure that everyone gets off to a great start for the school year," said Jackson-Stevenson. (L to R) School Board Member Dana Schallheim, Schools Superintendent Mark Bedell, School Board Member Gloria Dent, Delegate Mike Rogers, Sheriff Everett Sesker Gloria Dent said that she worried about the weather for the event, but that she is happy that the event continues to be play such a vital role for local families. "It grows every year with great volunteers, the fraternities, sororities, and our partners like Coca-Cola. We continue to see more families every year which means that the word is getting out and that we're having an impact. I'm tired but very happy that this was so successful."

Appointed personally by Governor Wes Moore , Ginina Jackson-Stevenson is the only judge with over 20 years of experience to be endorsed by the Russett Reader . Jackson is also the only candidate to be endorsed by the Maryland State Bar Association. Select one only.

Former Maryland Gatorade Track Athlete of the Year Looks to Build on Seventh Place Finish in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Whittaker offered the following statement on her experience. "What a privilege it is to be dissatisfied with a 7th place Olympic finish...an outcome I didn't think was a mere possibility even a week ago. Forever grateful for such a magical first Olympic experience, one I will never forget. Gave it my all and at the end of the day that's all I can ask for. Hungry for much more but also celebrating all of the growth and wins of the past year, big and small." Whittaker added that she looks forward to get some rest after the whirlwind experience of the past few weeks.

Air Force Veteran and Central Committee Member Sarah McDermott convincingly won the District 4 School Board Primary over her rivals by over 30 points. McDermott faced two rivals for the District 4 seat to represent Russett, Fieldstone, Maryland City, Seven Oaks, Piney Orchard, Two rivers, Laurel Highlands, Odenton, Bacontown, and Watershed. McDermott dominated the Primary with 58% of the vote while rivals Stephanie Mutchler and Juan Carlos Villao took 25% and 17% of the vote respectively. McDermott won in every precinct in District 4 and hopes to complete the feat this November as the newly elected school board representative for District 4.

Congratulations to Meade's cheer squad on their first place finish in the Anne Arundel County Cheer Championship. Meade will compete in the State Regional Finals next week at Harford Community College.

"Because bringing a guy like Donald Trump home on a date is not an option! Sign up for Tuesday's national rally call at www.girldadsforkamalaharris.us

Hey Fieldstone, Maryland City, Watershed, Russett, Bacontown, and Laurel Highlands, the Maryland City @ Russett Libray offers the following resources for budget conscious consumers. Russett Reader - Save Dollars at Your Local Libary Learn a new language or review the latest safety concerns with the power of your library card. A partial list of free resources is listed below. The library is open to all Anne Arundel County residents. The address is 3501 Russett Common, Laurel, MD 20724