MIDDLE RIVER, MD—A Middle River barber is celebrating a life-changing windfall after winning a $50,000 top prize in a recent Maryland Lottery drawing.

The lucky winner, who claimed his prize Monday at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore, struck it rich in the April 9 Pick 5 evening drawing. The man, a veteran player of more than 20 years, said the discovery left him stunned and shocked.

The winner’s strategy involved a set of numbers he has relied on for years. He explained that Pick 5 became his preferred game after a family friend suggested he add two digits to his usual three-number combination of 101.

For the April 9 drawing, he placed a bet on the numbers 10110. Although he played the combination as a “boxed” bet, which allows the numbers to be drawn in any order, they were drawn in the exact sequence he played.

“I was so happy I couldn’t believe I won it straight,” he told lottery officials.

The barber said he views the lottery as a fun hobby to share with friends and family, though he admits he enjoys the thrill of chasing a significant jackpot. Despite the big win, he said he has no plans to stop playing and remains confident in his approach to the games.

Plans for the $50,000 prize include a mix of responsibility and relaxation. The winner said he intends to pay off outstanding bills and fund several home renovation projects. He also plans to treat himself to a vacation.

The winning ticket was purchased at the Royal Farms located at 1302 Windlass Drive in Baltimore.

UPDATE 2: All lanes have been reopened.

UPDATE: Authorities say this will be an extended closure. Use MD 43 (White Marsh Boulevard) or MD 147 (Harford Road) as alternate routes.

Original story below…

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NOTTINGHAM, MD—Crews are on the scene of a crash on Belair Road in the Perry Hall area.

At just before 11 a.m., units responded after a vehicle struck a utility pole in the area of Belair Road and Ridgelys Choice Drive. One person was trapped in their vehicle but has been freed.

Wires are down in the roadway. Belair Road has been shut down in both directions south of Silver Spring Road.

Motorists should use an alternate route.

UPDATE: Police say the male victim shot himself during the commission of a robbery. He was transported to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Charges are pending.

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TOWSON, MD—One person was arrested and another was hospitalized with a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a shooting in a Towson University residence hall stairwell Thursday night, university officials said Friday.

The incident occurred around 9:15 p.m. in Tower C, according to a campus-wide message from President Mark Ginsberg. University police responding to reports of gunfire discovered an individual suffering from a non-life-threatening wound to their lower body. The person was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

A joint investigation by the Towson University Police Department and the Baltimore County Police Department determined that the individual who discharged the weapon was not affiliated with the university. While one arrest was made, officials did not immediately identify the person in custody or the charges filed. No other injuries were reported.

Ginsberg noted that firearms are strictly prohibited on the university campus and confirmed that an immediate after-action review of the incident is underway. Baltimore County Police have taken the lead in the ongoing investigation.

The shooting occurred on the eve of TigerFest, the university’s annual spring festival. In his message to students and faculty, Ginsberg reaffirmed the school’s commitment to campus security and highlighted existing safety protocols, including the recent implementation of magnetometers and clear bag procedures for large-scale events.

University officials also reminded the community of available resources, such as the SaferMobility app, SafeRide, the SafeWalk escort program, and emergency counseling services through the university’s Counseling Center.

Ginsberg credited the swift response of campus public safety officers and local first responders for containing the situation. The university maintains a partnership with Baltimore County, including a grant that funds additional overnight police patrols in the downtown Towson area.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact investigators at 410-887-INFO.

OWINGS MILLS, MD—Maryland Public Television has opened registration for its Chesapeake Collectibles season 14 taping event, inviting collectors from across the Mid-Atlantic region to showcase their antiques and memorabilia this fall.

The two-day event is scheduled for Oct. 3 and 4 at the network’s studios in Owings Mills. During the taping, participants will meet with expert appraisers to discuss the history and value of family heirlooms, flea market discoveries, and other prized possessions. Producers will select the most compelling items and stories to be featured in 13 new episodes slated to premiere in 2027.

Executive producer Patrick Keegan noted that the diversity of the region often brings unexpected items to the set, ranging from Civil War diaries to NASA artifacts. He said the production team looks forward to seeing what treasures area residents have stored in their attics and cabinets.

Attendance requires a paid registration fee of $135. This cost covers verbal evaluations for up to three items by experienced appraisers, a one-year membership to MPT, and a potential opportunity to appear on the broadcast. Due to occupancy limits, the network cannot accommodate walk-in guests, and officials expect available time slots to fill quickly.

The upcoming taping follows a successful season 13 event held in October 2025, which drew nearly 1,000 attendees. Those recordings are scheduled to debut on MPT, the MPT livestream, and the PBS app starting Monday, June 1, at 7:30 p.m.

Major funding for the series is provided by Alex Cooper Auctioneers, Second Story Books, and Maryland Public Television members. Interested collectors can find registration and attendance details on the Chesapeake Collectibles website.

BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced a settlement Thursday with Xponential Fitness, Inc. following allegations that the company violated state franchise laws by providing misleading information to prospective business owners.

The Maryland Securities Division alleged that Xponential, the parent company of brands including Club Pilates, Yoga Six, and Stretch Lab, misrepresented key details in its Franchise Disclosure Documents. According to the attorney general’s office, the company falsely claimed that franchisees typically opened their fitness studios within six months. State investigators found the actual time frame was often a year or longer, leading to significant unexpected costs for Maryland residents.

The state also alleged that Xponential failed to provide legally mandated contact information for former franchisees. This omission prevented prospective investors from speaking with experienced operators who could have warned them about the true timeline and potential for delays.

Attorney General Brown emphasized that residents deserve accurate and complete information when investing their savings into a franchise. He noted that his office remains committed to holding companies accountable for deceptive or misleading claims.

Under the terms of a consent order, Xponential affiliates have agreed to offer franchise terminations and fee refunds to certain Maryland franchisees who have not yet opened their studios. The company also reached a settlement with one Maryland franchisee whose agreement had previously been terminated by Xponential.

In addition to these remedies, Xponential paid a $75,000 civil monetary penalty to the state. The company has agreed to permanently cease and desist from any future violations of the Maryland Franchise Law.

TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier unveiled a $5 billion budget proposal for fiscal year 2027 on Thursday, pitching a spending plan that increases funding for public safety and education without raising taxes.

The proposal, which Klausmeier submitted to the County Council, marks a significant investment in infrastructure and community services while maintaining the county’s triple-A bond rating. Klausmeier said the budget is designed to provide relief to families facing rising costs while honoring promises to grow the local economy and protect the county’s fiscal reputation.

Public safety serves as a cornerstone of the proposal, which includes $9 million for a new Police Support Operations Division facility and funding for a new police precinct on Wilkens Avenue. The budget also seeks to strengthen emergency medical services by providing $800,000 to volunteer fire companies to expand medic hours and $3.4 million to add 12 new battalion chiefs to the fire department. An additional $10 million is earmarked for road repairs and pedestrian safety improvements.

In education, the budget allocates $34.7 million beyond what is required by state mandates for Baltimore County Public Schools. The plan includes $9.3 million to restore teaching positions at all elementary schools and $2.6 million for special education, which would fund 20 new positions. The proposal also provides $2.9 million to the Community College of Baltimore County to prevent tuition and fee increases.

Economic development initiatives in the plan include $450,000 for a welding program facility at the CCBC Dundalk campus and continued support for the Sparrows Point Container Terminal project. Administrative Officer D’Andrea L. Walker characterized the budget as a reflection of disciplined leadership and accountability intended to prepare the county for future challenges.

Community health and quality-of-life projects also received attention in the proposal. Klausmeier included more than $58 million in proposed bond funding for a new library in Essex, with design work expected to start in 2027. Other highlights include $1.5 million for electric vehicle charging stations, a school-based vision program for students, and a new reduced-cost recreational membership for residents age 62 and older.

The Baltimore County Council is expected to review the proposal over the coming weeks, with a final vote on the budget scheduled for May 21.

County Executive Klausmeier’s full budget presentation can be viewed below.

NOTTINGHAM, MD—Baltimore County Councilman David Marks secured funding for key park and infrastructure projects across the Eastside in the new Fiscal Year 2027 budget announced by Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier on Thursday.

Angel Park Improvements and Chapel Road Open Space

The new budget includes $500,000 to replace the surface of Angel Park, which has become worn after ten years of use, and another $500,000 to purchase additional open space in the Chapel Road area of Perry Hall.  The budget also includes funding for a feasibility study to examine a pedestrian bridge at Honeygo Boulevard near the Perry Hall library, Angel Park, and Perry Hall Park, an area used by many children and their parents.

“The Perry Hall Recreation Council thanks Councilman Marks for his work to create more parks and preserve open space in our community,” said Tim Bonner, president of the recreation council.

Joppa View Elementary Parking Redesign

Councilman Marks and School Board member Julie Henn secured $3 million to redesign and build parking lot improvements at Joppa View Elementary School.  “Traffic has always been an issue at Joppa View Elementary School, and we expect that this project will be done in the summer of 2023,” said Henn.

Seven Oaks Fields and Perry Hall Middle Chiller

The budget includes $450,000 to improve the courts at Seven Oaks Elementary School and $1 million to replace the chiller at Perry Hall Middle School.   

Midge Treatment

For the waterfront, the budget includes $1.1 million to combat midges on the Eastside. Councilman Marks has worked with Josh Sines, president of the Essex-Middle River Civic Council, and area business owners and environmentalists to support measures to eradicate midges. 

“I thank Senators Jennings and Salling, as well as Delegates Long, Metzger, Nawrocki, and Szeliga for always working productively with me and my office,” added Councilman Marks.

Mount Vista Park Improvements

In Kingsville, the budget includes $2.75 million to improve Mount Vista Park, which grew in size due to a land swap supported by Councilman Marks and Delegates.  The long-term future of that park will be the focus of upcoming discussions with the community.

Councilman Marks will announce more specific funding over the coming two weeks.

“Our goal has always been to secure funding for priorities such as public safety, schools, and land preservation,” Marks concluded.  “I thank the County Executive for her support as we work in a bipartisan way to move Baltimore County forward.  Over the past three years, we’ve secured funding to complete the renovation of Pine Grove Middle School, open Nottingham Middle School, renovate playgrounds in Carney and Kingsville, and preserve more than 80 acres of sensitive land at Carroll Island.”

BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown and a coalition of 33 other attorneys general have secured a legal victory against Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster after a jury found the entertainment giant violated antitrust laws.

The verdict, reached after a five-week trial, concluded that the companies unlawfully eliminated competition and maintained a monopoly that harmed fans, artists, and independent venues. The jury determined that Ticketmaster holds an unlawful monopoly over ticketing services at major concert venues and that Live Nation maintains a monopoly over large amphitheaters.

Furthermore, the jury found that Live Nation illegally forced artists who use its amphitheaters to also utilize its event promotion services. This anticompetitive behavior, the jury ruled, resulted in fans across the country being overcharged for concert tickets.

Attorney General Brown stated that the company had exploited its market power for years at the expense of the public. He said the verdict holds the company accountable and vowed to continue seeking relief for Maryland music fans and industry stakeholders.

The legal battle began in May 2024 when Maryland joined a coalition of 40 states and the U.S. Department of Justice to sue the company. While the Department of Justice reached a settlement with Live Nation during the trial that began in early March 2026, Brown and 33 other state attorneys general rejected the deal and chose to proceed with litigation.

The coalition successfully argued that Live Nation’s control over multiple sectors of the live music industry—including venue ownership, promotion, and ticketing—allowed it to suppress rivals and inflate costs.

With the liability phase of the trial complete, the case will now move to a separate bench trial. During that phase, the court will determine specific remedies and financial penalties. A date for that proceeding has not yet been scheduled.

PARKTON, MD—Authorities are investigating a fatal two-vehicle collision that occurred Wednesday afternoon in northern Baltimore County.

Officers from the Baltimore County Police Department responded to the 1100 block of Mt. Carmel Road in Parkton at approximately 12:05 p.m. following reports of a crash. According to investigators, a 2011 Honda CR-V was traveling eastbound on Mt. Carmel Road when it crossed the center line for unknown reasons.

The Honda then collided with a 2004 Dodge Dakota that was traveling in the opposite direction.

The driver of the Honda, identified by police as 64-year-old Lawrence Martin Jr., was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Dodge Dakota was transported to a local hospital with injuries that officials described as non-life-threatening.

Members of the Baltimore County Police Department’s Crash Team are currently investigating the circumstances that led to the vehicle crossing the center line. No further details regarding the cause of the accident have been released at this time.

BOWLEYS QUARTERS, MD—A retired nursing assistant from Baltimore turned a casual trip to Walmart into a $100,000 windfall after purchasing a winning Maryland Lottery scratch-off ticket.

The winner, who claimed her prize Friday at Lottery headquarters in Baltimore, told officials she decided to try her luck while exiting the Walmart located at 112 Carroll Island Road in Middle River. With $20 in her pocket, she initially purchased two $5 tickets for the newly released second edition of the Big Spin game.

When those tickets failed to produce a win, the retiree found herself choosing between a crossword-style game and the $10 Scratch & Match ticket. Despite the crossword being a familiar option, she opted for Scratch & Match, a decision that resulted in one of the game’s top prizes.

After scanning the ticket at a store kiosk, she received a message instructing her to “see the lottery.” Unsure of the exact amount she had won, she used the Maryland Lottery mobile app to verify the prize. The app confirmed a $100,000 win, a total her husband also double-checked as the couple celebrated in the store.

The winner is a frequent player who has found success with the lottery in the past, having previously won prizes of $5,000 and $3,000 on other scratch-off tickets. She told lottery officials she plans to place her latest winnings into a savings account and use the funds to support her family.