LARGO, MD — As required by Maryland Election Law, Moisette “Tonya” Sweat, Esquire has collected the requisite number of signatures from registered voters in Prince Georges County on her petition to run as an Independent/Unaffiliated Candidate for the Office of County Executive in the November General Election. Mrs. Sweat will file the signed petitions at the Prince Georges County Board of Elections, 1100 Mercantile Lane, Suite 115A in Largo, MD 20774, on Monday, August 3, 202

New online portal for Maryland taxes Beginning September 1, individual Maryland taxpayers may use the online Maryland Tax Connection for filing income tax returns, making estimated payments, setting up payment plans, and more. Tax Connect is already in use by Maryland businesses to file returns and communicate directly with the Comptroller’s office. Now, it will be free to use to all Maryland individual taxpayers. If you are experiencing technical difficulties, please don’t h

(From left to right) Retiring Sergeant Kenneth Hibbert, Council Member Tom Dernoga, Retiring Corporal Alan Jones, and Chief of Staff Michelle García at the District VI PGPD 2026 National Night Out. Data Center Update I want to update you with the latest information regarding data centers. I reviewed the 2025 Data Center Task Force report and believe that the County has not yet completed the necessary work outlined in the report to move forward this Legislative year. It is cru

FBI Headquarters in Washington DC. Photo Courtesy of Travel Aficionado (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/) Greenbelt, MD – The City of Greenbelt acknowledges the U.S. District Court ruling blocking the relocation of the planned FBI headquarters to the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. The ruling restores the path forward for the FBI headquarters project in Greenbelt. After years of federal review and a competitive selection process, Greenbelt was chos

6505 Belcrest Road in Hyattsville. Photo courtesy of https://www.cityfeet.com/cont/listing/6505-belcrest-rd-hyattsville-md-20782/cs7981951 Community members are organizing in opposition to the proposed expansion of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations at 6505 Belcrest Road in Hyattsville. The Metro 1 building has long housed Prince George’s County services, including programs related to food assistance, healthcare and education. An ICE law office already operat

(From left to right) Chief of Staff Michelle García presenting a proclamation to Acting Principal Michelle Campbell for James E. Duckworth Elementary School, celebrating their groundbreaking as part of Phase 2 of the Blueprint Project through Prince George’s County Public Schools. Transitions Now that the Primary Election has passed and Michelle García has been certified as the winner of the District 1 County Council seat, with no opposition in the General Election, expect h

Help with insurance for storm-related damage This summer has already seen several destructive storms come through our area. If you have suffered any damages from these storms or other natural disasters, the Maryland Insurance Administration can assist you. They are on standby to provide contact information for your insurer or by helping you with questions about how to file a claim. Please visit https://insurance.maryland.gov/Consumer/Pages/postDisaster.aspx to learn more. Mon

(From left to right) District 1 School Board Member Dr. Tiffini Andorful, Ms. Yvette Korvin, Liya Shewakena, and Council Member Dernoga celebrating Ms. Korvin’s 37 years of service as a High Point High School teacher. Concrete Spilled on Rhode Island Avenue Since January 2026, my team and I have been in touch with the Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPW&T) to advocate for a remedy for the concrete tailings that spilled along Rhode Island Avenue between Powder Mil

Election Year in Maryland 2026. As former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill famously said, “All politics is local.” With that in mind, I am focusing on our local elections. I sent two questions to the candidates running for the Prince George’s County Council District 1 seat and the two At-Large County Council seats. District 1 includes Beltsville, Calverton, and Vansville Heights. There are three candidates running for District 1 and eight candidates seeking the two At-Large s

(From left to right) Michelle García, Chief of Staff, Caleb Gould, and Council Member Dernoga at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Konterra Town Center. Subregion 1 Minor Plan Amendment: Upcoming Hearing On Monday, June 8, at 6 PM, the County Council is holding a Joint Public Hearing regarding the Minor Amendment to the 2010 Approved Master Plan and Sectional Map Amendment for Konterra and the surrounding area. This will be held at the Wayne K. Curry Building, 1301 McCor

June 23 is the 2026 primary election — with mail-in and early voting before then. Beltsville has lots of needs, from keeping the Beltsville Volunteer Fire Department open and fixing local streets to improving public safety, services for seniors, and good schools. Your most important opportunity to express your priorities and concerns is in the elections — first in the June 23 primary and then in the November election. Whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, I urge you to vo

Election Year in Maryland 2026. “All Politics is Local,” according to former Speaker of the House, Congressman Tip O’Neill. I am focusing on our local elections. I sent two questions to the candidates running for County Council District 1 and the At-Large Council seats. District 1 includes Beltsville, Calverton, and Vansville Heights. There are three candidates for District 1 and eight candidates for the two At-Large County Council seats. 1) What do you believe is the Top C

Beltsville and Calverton Residents came together for No Kings Demonstration on March 28. On Saturday, March 28, approximately 300 community members gathered at the intersection of Powder Mill Road and Beltsville Drive for the second “No Kings” demonstration, hosted by Beltsville United. The event marked the group’s third community gathering, following an initial demonstration and a recent vigil that brought neighbors together in reflection and solidarity. The turnout reflecte

No, we have not endorsed Martin Mitchell for County Council! But Martin Mitchell wants you to think so. He also wants you to think that he has been endorsed by a host of other officials but he has not been. We did say something positive about him when he ran for Laurel City Council in 2021. However, he lost a lot of support running for Mayor in 2023, when the Laurel Independent (September 2023) reported about his past sexual assault charges (to which he pleaded guilty to a le

Join us once again at the Beltsville Community Festival I hope you will join Delegates Joseline Peña-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, Mary Lehman, and me at the family-friendly Beltsville Day Community Festival on Saturday, May 9, from noon until 4 p.m. at the Beltsville Community Center, 3900 Sellman Road. There will be a variety of free games, numerous food options, activities, and entertainment for children and adults of all ages. And join the Delegates and our staff at our annual post

(From left to right) Chief of Staff Michelle García, Jim Soltesz, Sejal Patel, Council Member Tom Dernoga, County Executive Aisha Braveboy, Kush Patel, and Karan Patel at the April District 1 Budget Town Hall. District 1 Community Conversation with CEX Aisha Braveboy Please join County Executive Aisha Braveboy and me for a Town Hall Meeting focused on the Proposed Budget and other issues. The Town Hall will be held on Thursday, April 9, at 6 PM at the BAPS Mandir, 4320 Ammen

Balancing the State Budget Balancing the state budget in a tough economy remains a significant challenge. The layoffs of federal employees and contractors, along with the closure of federal agencies, continue to impact Maryland’s families, businesses, and the state budget. At the same time, rising utility rates and gas prices are putting additional pressure on the state budget, just as they are on family budgets. As a result, the Governor and the legislature have had to make

Council Member Dernoga and District VI PGPD Major Saul Serpas at the March District 1 Community Conversation. District 1 Community Conversation with CEX Aisha Braveboy Please join County Executive Aisha Braveboy and me for a Town Hall Meeting focused on the Proposed Budget and other issues. The Town Hall will be held on Thursday, April 9, at 6 PM at the BAPS Mandir, 4320 Ammendale Road, Beltsville, MD 20705. This is a great opportunity to learn about the County Executive’s v

The photo is from the January 17 vigil on Route 1, which reflected on local and national incidents, honored those impacted, and stood in solidarity with families and individuals harmed by these actions. (Photo credit: Oscar Gregory) Beltsville residents will once again gather in peaceful solidarity on Saturday, March 28, 2026, from 11AM to 1PM, as part of the nationwide “No Kings” movement. The local demonstration will take place at Beltsville Drive and Powder Mill Road, ne

Major issues on 2026 legislative session Holding down utility rates Electric and gas rates are too high and rising too fast. Last year, the legislature provided rebates on residential bills and directed the state Public Service Commission to crack down on PEPCO and Washington Gas rates and accelerate the expansion of cost-effective clean energy. But it’s not enough. That’s why this year Delegates Joseline Pena-Melnyk, Ben Barnes, Mary Lehman, and I are working to make sure