The Laurel Independent

06/13/2025

PGCPS has a new interim superintendent.

By LILLIAN GLAROS Shawn Joseph, a former Prince George County Schools administrator, will serve as interim superintendent, incoming county executive Aisha Braveboy announced at a press conference on June 13. “I firmly believe that Dr. Joseph is the right person at the right time to lead Prince Geo...

06/09/2025

Check out these great photos of the bike parade by Laurel Independent summer intern Andrew Mollenauer!

  By ANDREW MOLLENAU About 30 children and their parents gathered June 4 at the Laurel Armory for the city’s annual bike decorating event and parade. Organized by Laurel Police and Parks and Recreation, activities kicked off at 6 p.m. Angela Payne brought her 8-year-old daughter, Skylar. Payne sa...

06/04/2025

It's (almost) official! Aisha Braveboy will be the next Prince George's County executive!

By Lily Glaros Dozens of supporters and politicians gathered at SoBe Restaurant and Lounge in Lanham Tuesday evening, June 3, to celebrate the apparent victory of Aisha Braveboy in the Prince George’s County Executive race. Aisha Braveboy is currently the State’s Attorney for Prince George’s C...

05/12/2025

Mark your calendars!

05/02/2025

"The city of Laurel and allied nonprofits are hoping to use a state grant to seed an effort aimed at reducing local child poverty."
Learn more about this local initiative: https://streetcarsuburbs.news/city-launches-anti-poverty-effort/

04/30/2025

"In the last five years, the pandemic disrupted social interactions for virtually all Americans. Now several years out from the height of broad isolation, one in three senior citizens is still experiencing loneliness and isolation, according to a study from the National Poll on Healthy Aging (tinyurl.com/bdcdw2ky). As individuals and communities across the country are finding new ways to reconnect, in Laurel, there is a growing group of seniors who are reaching out in a fun way." https://streetcarsuburbs.news/the-readers-theater/

04/28/2025

"Qi Yu grew up in Inner Mongolia in China, but her music is a mixture of her homeland and the beats and rhythms of her American home."
Learn more about this local artist: https://streetcarsuburbs.news/local-musician-wins-spot-at-strathmore/

04/26/2025

"In 1891, Edward Phelps established the first department store in Laurel when he opened his dry goods store in a two-story building on Montgomery Street. The store, which he ran with his business partner Charles Schaffer, was prospering, and Pehlps and his wife, Savilla, had a house built a quarter-mile down the road."
Learn more about this local historic home up for sale: https://streetcarsuburbs.news/historic-laurel-manor-house-is-on-the-market/

04/25/2025

"Mitchell, a politics and public affairs consultant, is one of three Democrats who have announced their candidacy. The other two are current Laurel City Councilmember Jeffrey Mills (Ward 2) and Michelle Garcia, chief of staff for the current District 1 County Councilmember Tom Dernoga. The primary for the race will be in June 2026, more than a year away, with the general election the following November."
https://streetcarsuburbs.news/mitchell-kicks-off-prince-georges-county-council-bid/

04/24/2025

"It’s spring, and tigers are on the hunt in Maryland. Very tiny tigers.

Tiger beetles.

What they lack in size, these pint-sized predators more than make up for in sheer killing power. Even as larvae, these beetles have oversized jaws and lightning-fast reflexes that make them unmatched hunters for their size, in the insect world. They come by their moniker “tiger” beetle honestly."
Interested in learning more about these small creatures? Click here: https://streetcarsuburbs.news/rewilding-route-1-tiny-tigers/

04/15/2025

"The city of Laurel held its annual Patuxent River Cleanup April 5, bringing together volunteers of all ages who came out to help remove trash and other debris from the river’s shoreline and surrounding areas."
Learn more about this local environmental cleanup right here: https://streetcarsuburbs.news/many-faces-at-this-years-patuxent-river-cleanup-day/

04/01/2025

This Saturday (April 5), all Beagles and Beagle-wannabes (all dogs welcome) are invited to join BREW at the New Carrollton Dog Park (6318 Westbrook Dr., New Carrollton, MD 20784) from noon to 3pm. Fees are $10 per dog ($30 max), which will go to help BREW find homes for rescued beagles. For more information, call 301-699-0440. (Photo courtesy of BREW, inc).