The St. Mary’s County Board of Education unanimously approved a $470,000 budget amendment Aug. 5 to redirect unused federal grant funding toward school security equipment and upgrades.

Rising utility and snow removal costs prompted the St. Mary’s County Board of Education to unanimously approve a $931,859 budget amendment Aug. 5, including $689,144 in additional utility expenses as electricity and fuel costs have increased.

St. Mary’s County is moving toward installing its first fixed automated license plate reader.

The St. Mary’s 2050 Comprehensive Plan is headed to the County Commissioners after the Planning Commission voted Aug. 3 to recommend approval, marking a major step in a revision process that has been underway for about two years.

St. Mary's County commissioners are expected to make a final decision July 21 on an ordinance that would establish how more than $1.5 million in state cannabis reinvestment funding can be distributed — including allowing some of the money to be spent outside Lexington Park, the county's only state-designated disproportionately impacted area.

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing July 7 to receive public feedback on requests to change the land use designation of seven properties across St. Mary's County. If approved, the changes could expand development districts and increase allowable development density.

St. Mary's County is preparing for significant change over the next two decades.

As communities across the nation prepare to celebrate Juneteenth, St. Mary’s County offers several opportunities to learn about and reflect on the contributions, struggles, and achievements of local African Americans whose impact continues to shape the community today.

A proposed zoning change that would require new gas stations, small-box discount stores and vape shops to undergo additional public review is advancing to a public hearing after receiving preliminary approval from the St. Mary's County Commissioners.

Royal Farms is proposing a fourth location in St. Mary's County, with plans for a convenience store and gas station at the intersection of Route 5 and Route 249 in Callaway.

Plans to expand Cedar Lane Senior Living Community with a new 70-unit apartment building moved forward May 18 after the Leonardtown Planning and Zoning Board unanimously approved the project.

A proposed ordinance that would restore school impact fees on new residential development in Leonardtown remains pending after the Town Council postponed discussion of the measure during its May 11 meeting.

The Leonardtown Town Council voted 3-2 on May 11 to deny a proposal for a four-unit residential building in the Singletree neighborhood, following a public hearing dominated by resident opposition over neighborhood compatibility and character.

In January 2026, I wrote about a cannabis growhouse proposed in Hollywood based on an application filed on December 1 with Land Use & Growth Management. The project, located on about 89 acres owned by Hollywood Industrial Partners, LLC, is surrounded by residential properties to the north, and the Center for Life Enrichment to the south. 

The St. Mary's County Commissioners approved a priority enrollment list on April 14 for the new St. Mary’s Early Learning Academy, a county-backed childcare center scheduled to open in August 2026 in Leonardtown.

If you’re registered as an Independent or Unaffiliated voter in Maryland, you won’t be able to vote in this June’s primary election. Here’s why—and what options you still have.

After two lengthy meetings, the Board of Appeals unanimously denied the proposed Bradley Brooke subdivision on April 23. The plan called for a 223-unit residential development off Willows Road. The Planning Commission previously denied the project in February.

Leonardtown’s municipal government is composed of a mayor and five Town Council members. Three council seats are up for election this year, with voting scheduled for May 5.

After multiple work sessions earlier this year, the St. Mary’s County Commissioners have approved a $682.7 million recommended budget for fiscal year 2027, advancing the proposal to a public hearing scheduled for April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Chopticon High School.

An application was filed in August 2025 with the county’s Department of Land Use and Growth Management for a residential development of more than 400 homes off Buck Hewitt Road in Great Mills.

Kingston Crossing, a thirty-six unit townhome development, was approved by the Planning Commission on March 23.

Thirty candidates are running to replace Congressman Steny Hoyer, who has represented Maryland 5th Congressional District for over 45 years, after he announced he would not seek reelection earlier this year.

A proposed mixed-use development known as Tudor Hall Farms could bring significant new traffic to the Leonardtown area, according to a traffic impact study dated May 27, 2025.

Presidential elections generate the biggest headlines, but non-presidential election years often hold more significance for Maryland voters.

The St. Mary’s County Board of Education is weighing potential cuts to student support staff as federal grant funding expires and budget pressures mount ahead of the fiscal year 2027 budget.