🌱 Pharmacies Limits At Home Tests + Schools Back To Virtual

Rise and shine, Laurel! Let's get you all caught up to start this Tuesday, December 28 off on an informed note. These are the most important things going on in town today.

First, today's weather:

Cloudy and not as cool. High: 52 Low: 45.

Here are the top 4 stories in Laurel today:

1. Walgreens has imposed a four-item purchase limit on at-home COVID-19 testing products as demand soars. During the pandemic, Maryland has had a total of 663,414 confirmed COVID cases. As of Sunday, the state had a positivity rate of 15.85 percent. (Patch)
2. A house blazed overnight in Laurel. Flames broke out just before 12 a.m., at Prince George’s County. It happened on Golden Oak Drive. No one was hurt but an investigation is underway. (CBSBaltimore)
3. Man facing charges after shooting his girlfriend on Christmas day. A man was taken into custody in West Virginia early Sunday morning after he shot and killed his girlfriend, whom he has a child with, on Christmas Day in Maryland. Police were called to 320 South Burhans Boulevard at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 25 for a report of a person who had been shot. A woman identified as 37-year-old Tristan Shifflet of Hagerstown — was taken to Meritus Medical Center, where she later died from her injuries. (wfxrtv)
4. Due to a spike in COVID-19 cases, all Prince George's County Schools will transitioned to virtual learning. Virtual learning will continue after the break until Jan. 14. For more information, click on the link. (City of Laurel)

Today's Laurel Daily is brought to you in part by our friends at Ring, the home security company. Ring does a lot more than doorbells: check out their full suite of smart home products at Ring.com. And thank you Ring for helping to make local news happen in Laurel!

Today in Laurel:

• NA Meetings at Laurel Main ST. (8 p.m.)
• Kwanzaa Celebration at Owen Brown Center. (6 p.m.)
• White Christmas at Toby's Dinner Theatre. (6 p.m.)

From my notebook:

• Laurel Volunteer Rescue Squad Company 49: "Please join Company 49 in congratulating our newest turned over Emergency Medical Technician, Riley Law. Riley has completed the EMT turnover process." (Facebook)
• City of Laurel - Government: "Kwanzaa begins today. The first day is all about unity. So important." (Facebook)
• Anne Arundel County Police: "The gifts have been opened, and now you have to make room in your house for ALL of this stuff! If you are going to buy/sell online consider meeting your buyer/seller at one of our four district stations!" (Instagram)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Settlers Landing: "Looking for someone to come look and fix my refrigerator. - Stopped working yesterday- only 4 years old. Freezer still working. Need help asap please." (Nextdoor)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Montpelier: "Have a panel of drywall left by a contractor in my house. - Anyone interested can have for free." (Nextdoor)
• Nextdoor Neighbor, Leishear Village: "Hello neighbours! - Does anyone know reliable and reasonable appliance technician who can fix a leaking washing machine ( whirlpool cabrio) Thank you." (Nextdoor)

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• NOON Year’s Eve at The Thrift Teacher. (Dec. 31)
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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll see you around!

— Debora Whitehead

About me: Debora Whitehead is a dedicated wife and homeschooling mom from Coram, NY. She has a bachelor's degree in Education and loves to teach and write. Her passion for the community reflects on her volunteering work at the "Mariposa Ministry, " a nonprofit family assistance program. One of her strongest believes is Jesus Christ and when she is not parenting, teaching or reading, she is writing. One of her favorites quotes is: " The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."- Eleanor Roosevelt.