How to contact me: deb.belt@patch.com.
Deb Belt has been an editor and team leader with Patch.com since August 2011, and regional manager of the Southeast team since 2017. After launching Patches in Iowa -- where staffers covered the 2012 Iowa Caucuses and the presidential campaign -- Deb joined the Southeast team of editors. Since March 2017 she has led Patch sites ranging from the Baltimore/DC area to Atlanta and Tampa/St. Pete.
She previously worked as an editor for 13 years at the Des Moines Register, focused on suburban coverage that ranged from local election coverage to city and county government reporting and crime/safety issues. During this period she led a team of 27 reporters, photographers and editors who produced 27 print sections a week, and transitioned into digital news.
As a weekly newspaper editor, Deb led the staff of the Indianola Record-Herald to win the prestigious Newspaper of the Year award from the Iowa Newspaper Association in 1997, competing against newspapers from major metros. She also won multiple INA and National Newspaper Association awards for covering city government and editorials examining open meetings issues, the need for bond issue approvals, and other good government practices.
In the digital space, Deb has earned an award for Patch's 2024 coverage of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore harbor, along with local editor Jacob Baumgart.
Deb grew up in Missouri, Iowa and Illinois, and majored in journalism at Northwest Missouri State University. She has spent her entire career in community journalism.
The Powerball jackpot for Monday's drawing is $800 million, while the Tuesday Mega Millions prize is $1.1 billion. What winners should know.
The Powerball jackpot for Monday's drawing is $800 million, while the Tuesday Mega Millions prize is $1.1 billion. What winners should know.
A Potomac 17-year-old is charged with armed robbery in a theft at the Tobacco King, 7022 Wisconsin Ave. in Bethesda.
Nobody won Friday's $977 million Mega Millions jackpot, but a ticket worth $3M was sold in Virginia. Plus a $10K winner in Fredericksburg.
A Severn resident who was a passenger in a minivan died Saturday when it struck a tow truck at a crash site on the outer loop of I-695.
With spring's arrival, several varieties of insects have begun to stir. Florida is awaiting the arrival of the massive Joro spider.
With spring's arrival, several varieties of insects have begun to stir. Virginia has maintained a spotted lanternfly quarantine.
With spring's arrival, several varieties of insects have begun to stir. Maryland has added 2 counties to a spotted lanternfly quarantine.
Karen Huger, a cast member of Bravo's "Real Housewives of Potomac," has been charged with DUI in Montgomery County, reports said.
A woman on foot died Friday morning when she was struck by a vehicle in the 3600 block of Powder Mill Road in Beltsville, officials said
A flood watch in the Baltimore-DC area will kick in with heavy rainfall expected over a six-hour window, the National Weather Service said.
The Rappahannock Area Health District recorded violations at several facilities around Fredericksburg during recent restaurant inspections.
Three Gaithersburg residents have been charged with murder in the death of a Gaithersburg man found dead on Game Preserve Road, police said.
Howard County Fire officials have identified a teen who died in a townhouse fire Wednesday evening in Columbia. Two other people were hurt.
$568K has been allocated so Rockville can build a Twinbrook Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge to link the Twinbrook Community to Rockville Pike.
The 2024 Barbie Truck Dreamhouse Living Tour will be bringing exclusive collectibles to Bethesda Row on March 30.
A couple inches of rain are expected to soak NoVA this weekend, ending a high fire risk, but a flood watch goes into effect early Saturday.
A couple inches of rain are expected to soak MD this weekend, ending the high fire risk, but a flood watch goes into effect early Saturday.
A 16-year-old girl was killed after a homecoming bonfire in 1970. Police just identified a Montgomery County man as the second suspect.
Virginians may see Rocket Lab's 59-foot-tall Electron launch in the sky early Thursday, depending on cloud cover.
