Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why Loudoun investigators tracked a $3M theft ring to College Park

Make time for New Year's Eve Party on the College Park Patch calendar

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Tuesday December 30th Patch AM
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Greetings College Park! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why Loudoun investigators tracked a $3M theft ring to College Park
  • How a new state law could change College Park salon visits
  • How Maryland’s women dominated Wisconsin in College Park

Also on today's calendar: Folded Paper Star workshop and 8 more events.

Find out what's happening in College Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: The world champion tongue twister just got arrested! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in College Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Tuesday: Partly sunny; breezy, colder, with a high of 36 and low of 27 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Some sun, temps: high: 41, low: 29.
  • Thursday: Cloudy with a flurry; colder, with a high of 31 and low of 21 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Trio arrested for copper wire theft ring costing $3M in losses: Loudoun County deputies (dcnewsnow.com) — Three people tied to a major copper wire theft investigation were arrested in College Park after Loudoun County deputies and other agencies tracked a regional ring blamed for about $3 million in losses. The suspects are charged with grand larceny and conspiracy, and investigators say more charges could follow as they continue probing thefts from utility facilities across the area.
   

2. New Maryland law mandating domestic violence training for cosmetologists (dcnewsnow.com) — A new Maryland law taking effect Jan. 1, 2026 will require barbers and cosmetologists, including those in College Park, to complete a one-hour domestic violence awareness course when getting or renewing licenses. College Park stylist Fatmata Sall of Salon Culture says the training can help newer professionals handle sensitive conversations while keeping clients feeling safe and supported.
   

3. Women's Top 25 roundup: No. 7 Maryland, No. 17 USC earn Big Ten wins (statenews.net) — Maryland’s women’s basketball team stayed unbeaten with a dominant 97-59 win over Wisconsin in College Park, where Oluchi Okananwa poured in a season-high 28 points. The Terrapins used suffocating defense and big rebounding and fastbreak advantages to thrill the home crowd as Big Ten play resumed.
   

4. Maryland Public Universities see drop in international student enrollment (americanbazaaronline.com) — International enrollment at the University of Maryland in College Park has dropped by nearly 300 students in a year, the steepest decline among Maryland’s public universities. Officials and experts blame shifting U.S. immigration policies and visa uncertainty, which are pushing more students to consider countries like Canada and the UK instead. The trend could affect campus diversity, research programs, and the local economy around UMD.
   

📸 Around College Park

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🗓 Upcoming Events in College Park

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★ Featured events ★

    Wednesday December 31
  • New Year's Eve Party
    The Board and Brew, 8150 Baltimore Ave, College Park
    7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 College Park Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

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Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making College Park PatchAM possible:

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Macy's, Inc. posted a job opening for Retail Sales Associate, Mall At Prince Georges - Full Time in Hyattsville. Apply here.
  • Baldor Specialty Foods, Inc. posted a job opening for Warehouse Helper II - Runner in Lanham. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near College Park here.

Ok College Park! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I hear they’re giving him a really tough sentence.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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