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VA's Best Elementary, Middle Schools Revealed In New National Rankings VA's Best Elementary, Middle Schools Revealed In New National Rankings VA's Best Elementary, Middle Schools Revealed In New National Rankings
VA's Best Elementary, Middle Schools Revealed In New National Rankings Thousands of elementary and middle schools across the Northeast have been evaluated in new rankings that highlight the top-performing public schools in each state. U.S. News & World Report released its annual Best Elementary and Middle Schools Rankings on Tuesday, Oct. 20. The 2027 list evaluated about 46,000 public elementary schools and more than 24,000 middle schools nationwide based on reading and math achievement. The report highlights schools where students performed well on state assessments while accounting for student backgrounds.  U.S. News said its updated methodol…

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by Chris Spiker
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Surprising Changes In 2026's Most Popular Baby Names List: See Full Rankings Surprising Changes In 2026's Most Popular Baby Names List: See Full Rankings Surprising Changes In 2026's Most Popular Baby Names List: See Full Rankings
Surprising Changes In 2026's Most Popular Baby Names List: See Full Rankings Several names are climbing the rankings of the nation's most popular for babies, according to a new study. BabyCenter released its annual list of the most popular baby names on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Olivia and Noah remained the most popular names for girls and boys, although several other names made major jumps in popularity. Eliana climbed five spots to become the second most popular girls' name, while Evelyn returned to the top 10 for the first time since 2023. Ellie dropped out of the top 10, falling to No. 11. Among boys, the five most popular names remained unchanged for the third straigh…

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by Chris Spiker
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Virginia Beach Among America's 10 Safest Cities, But Neighbor Norfolk Tells Different Story Virginia Beach Among America's 10 Safest Cities, But Neighbor Norfolk Tells Different Story Virginia Beach Among America's 10 Safest Cities, But Neighbor Norfolk Tells Different Story
Virginia Beach Among America's 10 Safest Cities, But Neighbor Norfolk Tells Different Story Two neighboring Virginia cities landed on opposite ends of a new national safety ranking, with one cracking the top 10 safest in America while the other failed to make the top 100. Virginia Beach ranked sixth safest in the country in WalletHub's 2026 Safest Cities in America study, released on Monday, Oct. 19, while neighboring Norfolk finished a distant 145th out of the 182 cities examined. That put 139 spots between the two Hampton Roads neighbors, despite their close proximity. Virginia Beach earned an overall safety score of 69.39 out of 100, placing it behind only Juneau, Alaska; Warw…

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by Zak Failla
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Baltimore Named Third Least Safe City In America As Maryland Neighbor Ranks Among Safest Baltimore Named Third Least Safe City In America As Maryland Neighbor Ranks Among Safest Baltimore Named Third Least Safe City In America As Maryland Neighbor Ranks Among Safest
Baltimore Named Third Least Safe City In America As Maryland Neighbor Ranks Among Safest Only two cities in America are considered less safe than Baltimore, according to a new nationwide ranking. Charm City finished 180th out of 182 cities in WalletHub's 2026 ranking of the safest cities in America, placing the Maryland city third from the bottom in a study that examined everything from crime and traffic deaths to financial security and natural disasters. The city earned an overall safety score of just 36.70 out of 100, finishing ahead of only Baton Rouge, which ranked 181st, and New Orleans, which came in dead last. Baltimore's struggles extended beyond its overall ranking. …

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by Zak Failla
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Maryland Vintage Shop Owner Working 100-Hour Weeks Fights To Reopen After $15K Burglary Maryland Vintage Shop Owner Working 100-Hour Weeks Fights To Reopen After $15K Burglary Maryland Vintage Shop Owner Working 100-Hour Weeks Fights To Reopen After $15K Burglary
Maryland Vintage Shop Owner Working 100-Hour Weeks Fights To Reopen After $15K Burglary A Maryland shop owner who pours up to 100 hours a week into his vintage clothing store is fighting to reopen after burglars smashed their way in and stole thousands of dollars in merchandise. MJ Broderick, the owner of Retrospect Vintage in Baltimore's Federal Hill neighborhood, estimates that thieves stole as much as $15,000 in merchandise from his small shop on South Charles Street, leaving him scrambling to reopen. Sweatshorts? Gone. Most of his jackets? Gone. Ravens gear? Gone just as football season is heating up.  Broderick said the burglars also stole most of his hats, but were…

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by Zak Failla
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Maryland Man Racing Toward $1M NASCAR Payday With Next Stop At Virginia's Martinsville Speedway Maryland Man Racing Toward $1M NASCAR Payday With Next Stop At Virginia's Martinsville Speedway Maryland Man Racing Toward $1M NASCAR Payday With Next Stop At Virginia's Martinsville Speedway
Maryland Man Racing Toward $1M NASCAR Payday With Next Stop At Virginia's Martinsville Speedway A Maryland man is racing toward a potential million-dollar payday as NASCAR's championship weekend approaches, and he's already collected $12,500 without ever getting behind the wheel. Frederick resident Jeffely Pargo is among just 10 people nationwide still in contention for the $1 million grand prize in NASCAR Powerball's "The Chase," a lottery promotion that could put him in Victory Lane during the sport's championship weekend in November. Pargo survived another round of eliminations on Sunday, Oct. 18, when his name was announced during the Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway, earn…

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by Zak Failla
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Northeast's Most Expensive ZIP Codes Revealed In New National Study Northeast's Most Expensive ZIP Codes Revealed In New National Study Northeast's Most Expensive ZIP Codes Revealed In New National Study
Northeast's Most Expensive ZIP Codes Revealed In New National Study One of the Northeast's wealthiest regions is climbing the ranks of the nation's most expensive places to buy a home, according to a new study. PropertyShark released its 2026 list of the nation's 100 most expensive ZIP codes by median home sale prices. The real estate data website's report showed the New York City metropolitan area claiming a record 25% of the rankings. The NYC region had 31 ZIP codes on the list, tying California's Bay Area for the most ZIP codes in the rankings. New York state had 20 ZIP codes in the rankings, up from 15 in 2025. The Hamptons dominated New York…

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by Chris Spiker
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Friendly Neighborhood Cat Tests Positive For Rabies In Virginia, Four Others Monitored Friendly Neighborhood Cat Tests Positive For Rabies In Virginia, Four Others Monitored Friendly Neighborhood Cat Tests Positive For Rabies In Virginia, Four Others Monitored
Friendly Neighborhood Cat Tests Positive For Rabies In Virginia, Four Others Monitored A familiar feline face in a Virginia neighborhood has tested positive for rabies, raising concerns about possible exposure among residents and their pets who may have crossed paths with the infected cat. The warning comes from the Prince William County Police Department after a calico cat found in the 15500 block of Thoroughfare Road in Gainesville was confirmed to have rabies. Unlike many rabies cases involving wild animals, this cat was known to socialize with people and other pets in the area, making it possible that residents unknowingly came into contact with the infected animal. Now,…

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by Zak Failla
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He's Fought For His Country, Now This 'Ultimate Girl Dad' Faces A Different Battle In DC He's Fought For His Country, Now This 'Ultimate Girl Dad' Faces A Different Battle In DC He's Fought For His Country, Now This 'Ultimate Girl Dad' Faces A Different Battle In DC
He's Fought For His Country, Now This 'Ultimate Girl Dad' Faces A Different Battle In DC Apolinar "Nuney" Nunez has worn three uniforms in his life: first in service of his country, then for his community. The third doesn't come with a badge, but it's the one he may cherish most: Dad. Now, he's facing a different kind of battle after being diagnosed with cancer. For his wife and five young daughters, the diagnosis has brought uncertainty, with his fellow officers hoping to ease the family's financial burden so Nunez can focus on treatment. "Those who know 'Nuney' know the kind of man he is: a devoted husband, the ultimate girl dad, a loyal friend, and a brother in blue," the …

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by Zak Failla
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Marine, Cop, Congressional Hopeful: Maryland Veteran Now Fighting For His Life In Florida Marine, Cop, Congressional Hopeful: Maryland Veteran Now Fighting For His Life In Florida Marine, Cop, Congressional Hopeful: Maryland Veteran Now Fighting For His Life In Florida
Marine, Cop, Congressional Hopeful: Maryland Veteran Now Fighting For His Life In Florida Tony "Rome" Emanuel has spent much of his life on the front lines, and not always in uniform. From serving in the Marines to decades protecting Maryland communities, Emanuel's career eventually took him to the US Virgin Islands, where he traded police work for gun violence prevention and even set his sights on Congress. A proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Emanuel's commitment to brotherhood and service has followed him throughout his life, including a distinguished career in the military and more than 30 years policing in his community. That included time with the Montgomery Coun…

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by Zak Failla
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BWI's Longest Runway Reopens After $83.8M Overhaul Ahead Of Holiday Travel Rush BWI's Longest Runway Reopens After $83.8M Overhaul Ahead Of Holiday Travel Rush BWI's Longest Runway Reopens After $83.8M Overhaul Ahead Of Holiday Travel Rush
BWI's Longest Runway Reopens After $83.8M Overhaul Ahead Of Holiday Travel Rush It took nearly three months and more than $83 million, but Maryland's busiest airport finally has its longest runway back. The massive makeover at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport came to an end on Thursday, Oct. 15, when Runway 10-28 reopened to air traffic after undergoing a complete rehabilitation that began in the heart of summer. And it didn't take long for the freshly paved runway to get its first visitor. At 2:24 p.m., Southwest Airlines Flight 716 touched down from West Palm Beach, Florida, becoming the first aircraft to use the runway since construction…

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by Zak Failla
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Maryland Sports Legend Who Gave Kids A Place To Play Now Needs A Team Of His Own Maryland Sports Legend Who Gave Kids A Place To Play Now Needs A Team Of His Own Maryland Sports Legend Who Gave Kids A Place To Play Now Needs A Team Of His Own
Maryland Sports Legend Who Gave Kids A Place To Play Now Needs A Team Of His Own For generations of young athletes in Maryland, Coach Kenny Kulesz was the man who made sure the fields were ready, the teams were organized, and there was always a game to play. Now, the South Baltimore sports legend is the one who needs a team in his corner after suffering a stroke. Kulesz suffered a stroke that significantly affected his speech and balance, leaving the longtime coach facing an uncertain road to recovery that could stretch months or even years. According to his family, he will need at least several weeks of inpatient rehabilitation, followed by extensive therapy and care …

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by Zak Failla