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Maryland Department of Natural Resources

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First Case Of Bird Flu At Commercial Broiler Farm In Maryland Confirmed First Case Of Bird Flu At Commercial Broiler Farm In Maryland Confirmed
First Case Of Bird Flu At Commercial Broiler Farm In Maryland Confirmed A highly contagious strain of avian influenza has reached a commercial broiler farm in Worcester County, making it the first confirmed case in the area and the ninth on the Delmarva Peninsula, agricultural officials announced. The Maryland Department of Agriculture reported the presumptive positive case of H5 avian influenza this week, marking the fifth infected commercial poultry farm on the Eastern Shore and the sixth in the state following a backyard flock case in Montgomery County. In total, nine commercial poultry farms in the Delmarva region—including two in Kent County, Delaware, and…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Alligators In Maryland? Prank Causes Stir Along Montgomery County Trail Alligators In Maryland? Prank Causes Stir Along Montgomery County Trail
Alligators In Maryland? Prank Causes Stir Along Montgomery County Trail Some prankster tried to stir up a situation in Montgomery County this week, but Maryland Park Police officials were quick to squash the tall tale. A sign warning: "DANGER DO NOT DISTURB THE ALLIGATORS" was found along the Sligo Creek Trail in Takoma Park, but it was quickly debunked by officials, who swiftly removed it. "Our alligators are not dead or sleeping," the sign states. "This time of year, alligators enter 'brumation,' the reptile version of hibernation. They may remain immobile for days, their metabolism slowed to the bare minimum. "But don't be fooled! They are easily startled, …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Dry Conditions Lead To Statewide Open-Air Burn Ban In Maryland Due To Wildfire Threats Dry Conditions Lead To Statewide Open-Air Burn Ban In Maryland Due To Wildfire Threats
Dry Conditions Lead To Statewide Open-Air Burn Ban In Maryland Due To Wildfire Threats The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has implemented a statewide ban on open-air burning amid the "extremely dry conditions" that have plagued the region recently. According to officials, "extremely dry conditions persist across the state and have led to an above average number of wildfires statewide, and conditions are not expected to change in the near future." It was enacted on Friday, Nov. 1.  The ban will remain in effect until the Maryland Forest Service determines the state has received enough precipitation to reduce the threat of wildfires statewide, they added. …

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Pet Owners Warned To Keep Animals Away From Potomac River Due To Algae Mats Pet Owners Warned To Keep Animals Away From Potomac River Due To Algae Mats
Pet Owners Warned To Keep Animals Away From Potomac River Due To Algae Mats Pet owners are being advised to keep their animals away from parts of the Potomac River after potentially deadly algae mats were detected.  A new alert was issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources cautioning that the algae - which was collected from Williamsport to Riley Lock - could be harmful to animals if ingested. This week, a second advisory was issued for the Cumberland area. According to officials, "the algae has the appearance of mats of fine, green cotton and can be found along the shoreline, attached to rocks or plants, on the bottom or floating downstream…

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by Zak Failla
News
Shark Sighting Reported Off Popular Maryland Beach (VIDEO) Shark Sighting Reported Off Popular Maryland Beach (VIDEO)
Shark Sighting Reported Off Popular Maryland Beach (Video) A shark sighting was reported at Beverly Beach in Anne Arundel County, though the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is still working to develop details about the creature a week later. According to the Maryland DNR, shark sightings around this time of year are not uncommon in Chesapeake Bay, and there have been 41 species confirmed and document in the waters by the organization. The sharks typically travel off the Atlantic Coast, but sometimes take a trip to the Bay and its tributaries.  Look out for fins in the water🦈 There was a shark sighting in Beverly Beach in Anne Aru…

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by Zak Failla
News
Annapolis Pilot Killed In Small Plane Crash In Easton Identified By Maryland State Police Annapolis Pilot Killed In Small Plane Crash In Easton Identified By Maryland State Police
Annapolis Pilot Killed In Small Plane Crash In Easton Identified By Maryland State Police New details have been released by Maryland State Police investigators as they probe a small plane crash on the Eastern Shore of Maryland that left an Annapolis man dead. Multiple agencies were called at around 9:30 a..m. in Talbot County to the 6800 block of Travelers West Circle in Easton, where there was a reported crash into the Tred Avon River on July 16. Police say that Robert Eugene Merlinii, 56, was the pilot and sole occupant of the twin engine Cessna who was pulled out of the water. State police, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, US Coast Guard, and Talbot County Sheri…

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by Zak Failla
News
Small Plane Crashes Into Maryland River; One Pronounced Dead: State Police (UPDATED) Small Plane Crashes Into Maryland River; One Pronounced Dead: State Police (UPDATED)
Small Plane Crashes Into Maryland River; One Pronounced Dead: State Police (Updated) A small plane crashed on the Eastern Shore of Maryland on Tuesday morning and one person has been pronounced dead after being pulled from the water, state police confirmed. Multiple agencies were called at around 9:30 a..m. in Talbot County to the 6800 block of Travelers West Circle in Easton, where there was a reported crash into the Tred Avon River on July 16. State police, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, US Coast Guard, and Talbot County Sheriff were among the departments to respond to search for any occupants of the Cessna 402 plane. The victim was recovered from the wate…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Pet Owners Warned To Keep Animals Away From Potomac River Due To Algae Mats Pet Owners Warned To Keep Animals Away From Potomac River Due To Algae Mats
Pet Owners Warned To Keep Animals Away From Potomac River Due To Algae Mats Pet owners are being advised to keep their animals away from parts of the Potomac River after potentially deadly algae mats were detected.  An alert was issued by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources cautioning that the algae - which was collected from Williamsport to Riley Lock - could be harmful to animals if ingested. According to officials, "the algae has the appearance of mats of fine, green cotton and can be found along the shoreline, attached to rocks or plants, on the bottom or floating downstream."  PET HEALTH ALERT: Algae mats detected in the Potomac Riv…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Grin, Bear It: Sightings On The Rise In Northern Maryland, Officials Warn Grin, Bear It: Sightings On The Rise In Northern Maryland, Officials Warn
Grin, Bear It: Sightings On The Rise In Northern Maryland, Officials Warn With the weather warming up, there has been an uptick in bear sightings in Northern Maryland, officials are cautioning. An alert was issued in Boonsboro following reports of bears roaming local neighborhoods in Keedysville, often targeting bird feeders for a quick meal. "Over the past few years, we've had black bears pass through Town and the most famous being the one that walked through Shafer Park, crossed Main Street, headed up Ford Avenue and walked back into the woods near Mountain Laurel Road," town officials said.  "Many people posted pictures of this beautiful creature and kep…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Dozens Of 'Zombie Deer' Test Positive For Disease In Maryland: Department Of Natural Resources Dozens Of 'Zombie Deer' Test Positive For Disease In Maryland: Department Of Natural Resources
Dozens Of 'Zombie Deer' Test Positive For Disease In Maryland: Department Of Natural Resources Dozens of white-tailed deer tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease, a neurological disorder found in several species that results in death. According to a recent report from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, 52 animals tested positive for the disease in 2023, including two in new parts of the state.  The deer were sampled in Allegany, Baltimore, Frederick, Montgomery and Washington counties. Of the positive samples, 49 came from within the existing Chronic Wasting Disease Management Area (Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, and Washington counties), while one positive …

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by Zak Failla
News
Second Sick Raccoon In Prince George's County Tests Positive For Rabies: Health Department Second Sick Raccoon In Prince George's County Tests Positive For Rabies: Health Department
Second Sick Raccoon In Prince George's County Tests Positive For Rabies: Health Department The Prince George's County Department of Health is cautioning that another sick raccoon found in College Park late last month has tested positive for rabies. An alert was issued on Thursday advising that the animal was found in the 9500 block of 50th Place in College Park on Tuesday, April 23, "appearing very ill and weak" before it was captured alive by members of the College Park Animal Services Division. The Maryland Department of Health confirmed this week that the raccoon tested positive for rabies. Officials said that anyone or any animals that may have had contact with a raccoo…

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by Zak Failla
News
Body Of Missing PA Woman Pulled From Susquehanna River 60+ Miles Away In Maryland: Officials Body Of Missing PA Woman Pulled From Susquehanna River 60+ Miles Away In Maryland: Officials
Body Of Missing PA Woman Pulled From Susquehanna River 60+ Miles Away In Maryland: Officials The case of a Pennsylvania woman missing for more than five weeks came to a tragic end in Maryland, Daily Voice has learned. The body of Rebecca "Becky" Shanice Beamer-Hicks, 35, of Harrisburg, was recovered from the Susquehanna River Tuesday morning, April 9 in Harford County, a spokesman for the Maryland Natural Resources Police said. Beamer-Hicks' body was recovered near Glen Cove, more than 66 miles up the river from where he sent missing, the MNRP said. The extensive search was launched on March 1, when Beamer-Hicks was first reported missing. The search was later called off by offici…

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by Zak Failla
News
Rabies Alert Issued In Anne Arundel County After Raccoon Tests Positive Rabies Alert Issued In Anne Arundel County After Raccoon Tests Positive
Rabies Alert Issued In Anne Arundel County After Raccoon Tests Positive Health officials in Anne Arundel County have issued an alert after a raccoon tested positive for rabies. The raccoon was found on Lee Boulevard, near John Marshall Park in Shady Side, on Friday, April 5, the Anne Arundel County Department of Health said. Anyone who may have had contact with the infected animal, or whose pets have unexplained wounds, is being instructed to contact the Department of Health. Rabies is a viral disease that mainly infects mammals (warm-blooded animals who nurse their young) and is spread through the saliva of the infected animal, usually by a bite or scratch, o…

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by Valerie Musson
News
Montgomery County Angler ‘Shatters’ Long-Standing State Record For Rainbow Trout Catch Montgomery County Angler ‘Shatters’ Long-Standing State Record For Rainbow Trout Catch
Montgomery County Angler ‘Shatters’ Long-Standing State Record For Rainbow Trout Catch A Maryland angler has “shattered” the record for the largest rainbow trout ever caught in the state, officials have confirmed. Jean-Philippe Lartigue of Bethesda, a retired fisheries biologist originally from Morocco, caught the trout in the section of Antietam Creek running through Devil’s Backbone County Park in Washington County on Saturday, Feb. 10. “I knew the fish was a very large trout, but I did not see how big it was at the beginning of the fight,” Lartigue told the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. “I finally saw the fish, and it made two very long runs to the o…

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by Valerie Musson
Lifestyle
Record-Setting Rock Bass Caught By Maryland Angler Record-Setting Rock Bass Caught By Maryland Angler
Record-Setting Rock Bass Caught By Maryland Angler A Maryland angler has tied the record for the largest rock bass ever caught in the state. Thomas Over Jr. of Darlington caught the 1.0-pound rock bass in the lower Susquehanna River on Saturday, Jan. 6. “I was throwing a tandem perch rig with BPS jig heads and Southern Pro lil Hustler 1.5-inch white/red tube in deep water,” Over told the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. “When I felt the ‘thump’ and started cranking, I thought I had a doubleheader of jumbo yellow perch, but to my surprise, it was a new species of fish that I did not recognize.  "I sent a picture to a few…

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by Valerie Musson
Police & Fire
1 Dead In Chesapeake Bay Boat Crash 1 Dead In Chesapeake Bay Boat Crash
1 Dead In Chesapeake Bay Boat Crash One person died and another was injured when two boats collided on the Chesapeake Bay Saturday night, Aug. 19, fire officials said. Multiple agencies including the Calvert County Sheriff responded to the scene after the 9:40 p.m. crash 2.25 miles off Breezy Point, the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department said. A rescue boat brought the victims to land. CPR was performed on one of the victims, who was in cardiac arrest. That victim died after being taken to Capitol Regional Hospital. The condition of the other victim was not immediately available. The St. Leonard V…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Bodies Of Two Men Pulled From Maryland River, Officials Say Bodies Of Two Men Pulled From Maryland River, Officials Say
Bodies Of Two Men Pulled From Maryland River, Officials Say The search for multiple swimmers reported missing in the Gunpowder River in Maryland has reached a grisly conclusion. The Baltimore County Fire Department confirmed that the bodies of two men have been recovered from the Gunpowder River following a search and rescue operation that began on Monday afternoon. #update OPEN WATER RESCUE Gunpowder Park Beach #MiddleRiver | Crews continue to search for 1 additional victim after 2 have been removed from water | @BaltCoPolice & @mdsp aviation assisting in search. DT1829 TF pic.twitter.com/dV3iX52sKs — Baltimore County Fire Department (@Balt…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Dangerous Algae Mats Spotted In Maryland Waters, Department Of Natural Resources Warns Dangerous Algae Mats Spotted In Maryland Waters, Department Of Natural Resources Warns
Dangerous Algae Mats Spotted In Maryland Waters, Department Of Natural Resources Warns Pet owners in Maryland are being advised to keep an eye out after potentially dangerous algae was found in parts of the Potomac River. The Maryland Departments of Agriculture, Environment, Health, and Natural Resources issued an alert to the public after algae mats were detected in Montgomery County in the areas from Edwards Ferry to Great Falls. PET HEALTH ALERT: Algae mats have been detected in the Potomac River from Edwards Ferry to Great Falls, Montgomery County. This could be harmful to animals. Pet owners are advised to keep their animals out of the water in this area until furth…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Tree-Climbing Bear Captured After Putting On Show In Northeast DC Tree-Climbing Bear Captured After Putting On Show In Northeast DC
Tree-Climbing Bear Captured After Putting On Show In Northeast DC Some residents in Northeast DC had a surprise visitor on Friday morning when a playful bear took in the sights before ultimately being tranquilized by first responders. On Friday, June 9, the DC Police Department issued an alert regarding a large black bear that was hanging out in a tree in the 1300 block of Franklin Street NE, leading to road closures in the area as Animal Care and Control personnel responded. The bear made the rounds in Northeast DC before being tranquilized.DC Police A crowd of dozens of people wound up watching the bear until it attempted to make its great escape.  …

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by Zak Failla
News
Massive Black Bear Spotted Wandering Near MD School Massive Black Bear Spotted Wandering Near MD School
Massive Black Bear Spotted Wandering Near MD School Some residents in Prince George's County had to grin and bear it this morning when an unexpected visitor came to town. A massive black bear took in the sights in Hyattsville on Thursday morning, causing both fascination and fear for some homeowners who spotted it making the rounds. Officials say that the bear was spotted early on Thursday, June 8 in the 4300 block of Oglethorpe Street, not far from DeMatha Catholic High School. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anacostia Watershed Society (@anacostiaws) "Smokey the Bear in Univer…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Black Bear In Frederick County Tracked Down In Tree Amid Ongoing Construction In The Area Black Bear In Frederick County Tracked Down In Tree Amid Ongoing Construction In The Area
Black Bear In Frederick County Tracked Down In Tree Amid Ongoing Construction In The Area Some Frederick County residents had to grin and bear it on Tuesday morning until officials could help locate a cub who was making the rounds and taking in the sights about town. On Tuesday, May 16, an alert was issued by the Frederick Police Department following multiple reports from area homeowners of bear sightings involving a cub hanging out in different parts of the county. It didn't take long for officials to monitor and track the cub to a nearby tree, where personnel from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources were called to take the bear away from the concrete jungle and back…

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by Zak Failla
News
Earthquake Strikes Central Maryland Overnight Earthquake Strikes Central Maryland Overnight
Earthquake Strikes Central Maryland Overnight Maryland experienced a magnitude 2.0 earthquake in the area of Sykesville and Randallstown overnight, officials say. The earthquake hit at 11:49 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 11, with the epicenter calculated at 2.9 miles East-Southeast of Sykesville and 6.3 miles west of Randallstown, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. The depth of the earthquake was calculated to 4 kilometers. The 2.0 magnitude is an earthquake that residents can feel, but little to no damage is expected from it. The earthquake was likely most noticeable to people who were in higher floors of buildings or p…

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by Annie DeVoe
News
Maryland Middle Schoolers Welcomed Back To Class With 'Very Rare' Freshwater Pearl Find Maryland Middle Schoolers Welcomed Back To Class With 'Very Rare' Freshwater Pearl Find
Maryland Middle Schoolers Welcomed Back To Class With 'Very Rare' Freshwater Pearl Find Some lucky middle school students in Maryland middle school made a miraculous find when they unearthed a rare pearl during an outage in Harford County. Sixth and seventh-grade students were enjoying the great outdoors at Winters Run when they found a pearl in a freshwater clam unfamiliar to the area, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The agency said that “Corbicula is a non-native clam, but it has the capacity to produce pearls. This is very rare, so these kids got lucky!” Corbicula fluminea, also known as "Asian Clams" is an invasive species that is uncomm…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Two Baby Ospreys Rescued After Home Destroyed When Tree Falls During Storm In Maryland Two Baby Ospreys Rescued After Home Destroyed When Tree Falls During Storm In Maryland
Two Baby Ospreys Rescued After Home Destroyed When Tree Falls During Storm In Maryland A pair of osprey lost their home and got trapped near a fallen tree in one fell swoop as recent storms rolled through Maryland and left behind wreckage in some parts of the region. An officer first class from the Maryland Department of Natural Resource Police Department was on patrol in Calvert County when she received a call about a report of birds in distress in Lusby amid the storms. Upon arrival, a spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources said that a tree containing two baby osprey fell due to a storm, destroying their nest, and leaving them trapped in a perilous p…

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by Zak Failla
News
New Program To Control 'Frankenfish' Offers Maryland Fishermen Big Payout New Program To Control 'Frankenfish' Offers Maryland Fishermen Big Payout
New Program To Control 'Frankenfish' Offers Maryland Fishermen Big Payout The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is now offering a reward for tagged Snakehead fish in an effort to stop the spread of the invasive and harmful species, reports ABC News 7. The fish could be worth up to $200, depending on the tag. A yellow tagged fish is worth $10, while blue tags are worth $200. Authorities are hoping that species could be contained by offering an incentive program to the public, the outlet continues. The population of the species has been increasing rapidly, and harming the native species that reside in and around the waterways. To read the full report by News…

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by Annie DeVoe
News
Drugged Driver Sentenced For Vehicular Manslaughter In Fatal Harford County Crash Drugged Driver Sentenced For Vehicular Manslaughter In Fatal Harford County Crash
Drugged Driver Sentenced For Vehicular Manslaughter In Fatal Harford County Crash A Maryland man will spend years behind bars after driving with a host of drugs in his system, crashing, and killing his passenger in Harford County, the State’s Attorney’s Office announced. Essex resident Joshua Zimmerman, 32, was sentenced to seven years in prison, followed by five years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to vehicular manslaughter and other charges in June. On Dec. 27, 2020, at approximately 7:40 a.m, a Maryland Department of Natural Resources Officer was heading to work when he observed a Ford pickup truck that was laying on its side near 3440 Conowingo Road in…

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by Zak Failla
Lifestyle
Catch Of The Day: Maryland Angler Breaks 44 Year Common Carp Record Catch Of The Day: Maryland Angler Breaks 44 Year Common Carp Record
Catch Of The Day: Maryland Angler Breaks 44 Year Common Carp Record A Baltimore County angler almost needed a bigger boat after reeling in a record-setting common carp that surpassed a feat that has been held for decades. The Maryland Department of Natural Resources confirmed that Essex resident Logan Kuhrmann is now the new state record holder for common carp catches in the state’s Chesapeake Division. The 24-year-old angler hauled in the 49-pound carp on Saturday, June 4 while fishing in the Susquehanna Flats area of the Chesapeake Bay. The record was confirmed on Tuesday, June 7. Officials said that at the time he caught the carp, Kuhrmann was usi…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Authorities Identify Boater Who Drowned At Sandy Point State Park: Report Authorities Identify Boater Who Drowned At Sandy Point State Park: Report
Authorities Identify Boater Who Drowned At Sandy Point State Park: Report Authorities have identified the 43-year-old boater who drowned at Sandy Point State Park on Memorial Day as William Enrique Villa Toro of Hyattsville, Maryland, WJZ reports.  Toro and his family decided to dock the boat after it started to "experience issues," and they went fishing instead Sunday, May 29, Chesapeake Bay Magazine said citing the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) police. A Good Samaritan saw the Toro's body floating in the water at Sandy Point State Park around 12:30 p.m. and pulled him to the marina, but he was unable to be resuscitated, the …

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Prince George's Boater Drowns At Sandy Point State Park: Report Prince George's Boater Drowns At Sandy Point State Park: Report
Prince George's Boater Drowns At Sandy Point State Park: Report A 43-year-old boater from Prince George's County drowned at Sandy Point State Park Memorial Day Weekend, according to multiple news outlets. The man and his family decided to dock the boat after it started to "experience issues," and they went fishing instead Sunday, May 29, Chesapeake Bay Magazine said citing the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) police. A Good Samaritan saw the man's body floating in the water at Sandy Point State Park around 12:30 p.m. and pulled him to the marina, but he was unable to be resuscitated, the outlet said. The victim had been swept aw…

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by David Cifarelli
Police & Fire
Body Of Jumper Located Off Chesapeake Bay Bridge (UPDATE) Body Of Jumper Located Off Chesapeake Bay Bridge (UPDATE)
Body Of Jumper Located Off Chesapeake Bay Bridge (Update) The body of a person who apparently jumped off the Chesapeake Bay Bridge was recovered by crews on Tuesday, April 5, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) A DNR spokesperson told Daily Voice they assisted the Maryland Department of Transportation Authority (MDTA) with recovering the deceased individual.  A search was underway as of 11 a.m. Tuesday, but it was not clear exactly when the victim had been located. Daily Voice has reached out to MDTA for more information.  This is a developing story. Check back for more.

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by David Cifarelli
News
Maryland Angler Reels In Record-Setting Muskie Maryland Angler Reels In Record-Setting Muskie
Maryland Angler Reels In Record-Setting Muskie Thirty-three pounds. Forty-nine inches. Seven feet of spinning rod. Those are the specs of the record-setting muskie reeled in by 33-year-old Kyle Mullenix of Hagerstown earlier this month along the banks of the upper Potomac River. Regarded as the “fish of ten thousand casts,” muskies are the largest freshwater fish in Maryland and among the most difficult to catch, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The  lifelong angler said he has spent decades trying to catch a muskie. Using a 7-foot spinning rod and live bait, his luck finally changed. “H…

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by Cecilia Levine