Blue Customers Matter: Police Turned Away at Restaurants | Weekend Read

Each weekend, we share stories that are sparking conversations beyond one town:

Blue Customers Matter: Police Turned Away at Restaurants

An officer in Alexandria, Va., was standing in line recently at a Noodles & Co., a growing fast food pasta chain with more than 400 locations. As the officer was waiting to place her order, the cook walked to the cashier and "said something along the lines of 'I'm not serving that one,'" Alexandria Police Department spokeswoman Crystal Nosal told Patch.

National social justice fights are routinely debated at political podiums and national talk shows, but they're fought on the ground — neighbor to neighbor. Decades ago, it was counters and water fountains marked "whites only." In recent years, it has been religious bakers refusing service to gay couples.

This summer, we're seeing shocking videos of police-involved deaths, as well as deadly attacks on law enforcement like we have never seen before. And the latest individuals turned away at local restaurants are those sworn to protect their communities. >>> Read more.

Maryland Goes Easy on Drunk Drivers: Study

A recent review of DUI laws by an online publication ranks Maryland as the seventh-most lenient state in the nation in terms of drunken-driving enforcement and prevention.

The study in question, conducted by WalletHub.com, investigated DUI penalties by state in an effort to determine which states are the strictest — and conversely the most lenient — when it comes to DUI enforcement. >>> Read more.

Maryland Sales Tax-Free Week 2016 Starts Aug. 14: What Qualifies?

Parents can save money on everything from jeans and shorts to shoes and dresses next week during Maryland's sales tax holiday for school supplies and clothing. This year's Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week is Aug. 14-20, says the Maryland comptroller's office.

School uniforms, shirts, shoes, flip-flops and underwear are tax exempt, but you might be surprised that pajamas, cloth diapers and bathrobes are also exempt that week. >>> Read more.

‘Phelps Face’ Trending After Olympic Qualifier Race

Michael Phelps qualified for the 200-meter butterfly Monday at the Olympics, but he had the Internet swimming with headlines mainly because of what preceded the race.

In the minutes leading up to the race, South African swimmer Chad le Clos danced around in front of Phelps. "He does his thing; I do my thing," Phelps told the media after the qualifier. Social media erupted with reactions to the expression Phelps made as le Clos did "his thing," and the hashtag #PhelpsFace took off. >>> Read more.