Curbing Carjackings Campaign + Miami Condo Collapse Theories

Welcome to the Laurel Daily! Here you will find newsworthy events going on this week, including what officials are doing to stop carjackings, a county lawmaker’s decision to not run for office again, and a state professor’s theories about the condo collapse in Florida.

Weather Report:

Today, the weather will be hot and humid. There will be sunshine and clouds. Temperatures will reach a high of 92 degrees.

Here are the top three stories in Laurel today:

1. Carjackings have surged in Prince George’s County, just as they have across parts of the country over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials are now trying to address the spike by bringing more awareness to it. At Cypress Athletic Field in Laurel, the county held another in its series of anti-carjacking educational and community events. That included a preview of a video ad campaign that’s part of an effort to target young adults and teenagers. In 2018, there were 108 carjackings in this county. In 2019, that number shrank to 93. However, in 2020 it ballooned to 263. These numbers fell in line with the sharp rise in the crime nationwide. (WTOP)

2. State Sen. Douglas J.J. Peters (D), a veteran Prince George’s County lawmaker who finished just out of the running in the intense, behind-the-scenes battle to become Senate president two years ago, does not plan to seek reelection in 2022. Peters said that he made the decision a while ago and informed some close colleagues recently that he’s not going to run again. The 57-year-old senator, who previously served on the Prince George’s County Council and the Bowie City Council, said he expects to be able to say more about his future plans soon — but they will not involve running for office again. (WTOP)

3. A professor from the University of Maryland who specializes in structural engineering, has some theories about why a condominium building near Miami collapsed last week. Professor Chung Fu with the A. James Clark School of Engineering said sea level rise could have led the 13-story building, which was built on reclaimed wetlands, to shift. Another possibility is salt damage to the building’s structure. A study published just last year found the condominium had been sinking for decades. Fu said the tragedy could lead to new building codes and requirements, especially in the area of Florida where it happened. (WTOP)

Today in Laurel:

• Kidz Pick – Experience a perfect mixture of excitement, creativity and fun-filled activities. Each day the schedule will include Krafty Kids, Amazing Artists, Spectacular Sports, Great Games, Science Superstarz, and Nifty Naturalist. Lunch will be provided to all campers. Camp will follow HCRP Summer Camp COVID safety policies. Contact Ovan Shortt for more info by calling 410-313-1693 or via email, oshortt@howardcountymd.gov. (7:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.)
• Free Acupuncture – Master’s level acupuncture students, under supervision by licensed and experienced faculty, will provide safe and effective auricular treatments. There is a limit of six participants per seating in order to ensure a safe, physically distanced, and peaceful experience. (1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.)
• Renewal 2121 – Inspired by the annual cherry blossom season and utilizing the power of creative technology, Renewal 2121 seeks to inspire hope amid a global pandemic and concerns of climate change. Transporting attendees 100 years into the future, it immerses you in an industrial city where nature fights to survive amid an overdeveloped metropolis. ARTECHOUSE presents this original production from their Creative Team with visual design by Yuya Takeda. (10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.)
• Virtual 34th Mayor and City Council Meeting – Join this virtual meeting with the Laurel Mayor and City Council members (6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.)

Laurel Patch Notebook:

• Laurel TV is looking for a part-time reporter (Details here)
• Jobs in Laurel (Details here)

Now you’re all caught up with the local news and events for today!

If you want to reach me with news about the City of Laurel, send an email to me at this address (laurel@patch.com) and include “Laurel News” in the subject line of your message.

Before you go, let me tell you a bit about me since my newsletter will arrive to your inbox on a daily basis. My name is Alexis A. Goring. I’m a Bowie area resident with a pulse for people, news and feature stories! I’ve worked as a freelance reporter for years in the media industry.

I’m also a published author, experienced blogger, and founder of Writer at Heart Editorial Services. Visit my website for more details about me and my work.

Here’s the link: https://alexisagoring.jimdofree.com.

I’m looking forward to bringing you all the latest news on a daily basis.

Stay safe and enjoy the day!