Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Why won’t College Park’s president release the $600,000 plagiarism report?

Coming up: First Time Homebuyer Seminar (FREE!) on the College Park Patch calendar

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Hello College Park! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Why won’t College Park’s president release the $600,000 plagiarism report?
  • How College Park’s research boom just climbed into the national top 10
  • How Moore’s record safety and school spending plan affects College Park

Also on today's calendar: First Time Homebuyer Seminar (FREE!) and 9 more events.

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

Today's riddle: What did the shovel say to the dirt? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

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

  • Friday: A little afternoon rain, with a high of 58 and low of 47 degrees.
  • Saturday: Rain, temps: high: 50, low: 45.
  • Sunday: Intervals of clouds and sun, with a high of 50 and low of 29 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. The $600,000 plagiarism report the University of Maryland won't release (thebanner.com) — Residents connected to the University of Maryland’s College Park campus may want to know that a costly outside investigation cleared President Darryll Pines of plagiarism allegations, but the full report remains secret as a claimed personnel record. Transparency advocates argue students, parents, staff, and Maryland taxpayers deserve to see more details about how the decision was reached.
   

2. Maryland's research is rising, improving across America (blackengineer.com) — College Park’s flagship University of Maryland campus has helped push the state’s public research enterprise to a top-10 national ranking, with combined expenditures topping $1.5 billion. Leaders highlight how collaboration between College Park and Baltimore is speeding medical and engineering breakthroughs, while President Darryll Pines’ long College Park tenure and new honors underscore the campus’s growing national profile.
   

3. Gov. Moore touts crime drop; unveils record public safety, education spending for 2026 (wjla.com) — State residents heard Gov. Wes Moore highlight sharp crime reductions while speaking at the Maryland State Police College Park Barracks, underscoring the city’s role in his budget rollout. He’s proposing record spending on public safety and education despite a $1.4 billion shortfall, pledging a balanced budget without new taxes as Republican leaders question the sustainability of higher education costs.
   

4. 2026 Maryland state legislature preview (streetcarsuburbs.news) — State lawmakers representing College Park residents are outlining their priorities ahead of the Maryland General Assembly session starting Jan. 14, including flood-risk disclosure, climate and utility-cost measures, and school funding. Additional legislators who serve College Park, Hyattsville, and Laurel can still submit their district-specific priorities through Jan. 14.
   

5. The Destination Proposal of a Philly Sous Chef and Wine Pro (phillymag.com) — A Philly couple’s engagement story has a College Park connection: they first met years ago as students at the University of Maryland’s College Park campus before reconnecting and eventually getting engaged on a sunset cruise in the Philippines. Their proposal included sentimental family rings, nods to Philly, and plans for two weddings, including a traditional Khmer ceremony in Maryland. Local readers may enjoy the Terp-to-Philly love story.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Ross Stores posted a job opening for Retail Associate in College Park. Apply here.
  • Acosta posted a job opening for Merchandiser Specialist in Greenbelt. 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 really dig you!
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