Check out The Banner's ongoing coverage of the locally owned bookstore franchise based in Prince George's County: MahoganyBooks.

We caught up with Derrick Young when the Black Books Master festival took place at the National Harbour location and again at the new Woodmore Towne Centre location.

MahoganyBooks cofounder and owner Derrick Young is most excited about hosting a conversation with Cosby, whose novel “King of Ashes” was featured on Barack Obama’s 2025 favorite books list.

“The brother is bad. Just plain and simple,” Young said. “His books, in addition to being great works of mystery thriller — books that live in the tradition of Walter Mosley — the other thing that he does is center Black folk in small-town America.”

Here is the original Instagram post:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DcwJmhLxAi6/

Here is the original article by Ashley Clarke:

https://www.thebanner.com/culture/books/black-books-matter-fest-mahoganybooks-FVTKAPEJERHMBA2TNO2JRFS4OM/

Hi,

This is an odd request. But I need a medical transportation ride to and from my medical procedure tomorrow at 7:15AM from Calitol Heights to Columbia, MD. Unfortunately, I won't be able to pay for it until after 6PM tomorrow. I am on a really tight budget and don't qualify for services. I am employed but only work 10/12 months a year. My first paycheck back will be tomorrow. Do you or someone you know have the capacity to work with me?

Hey everyone!
I am looking for an 1 bed, 1 bath apartment around 1.8k with washer/dryer in unit, patio and safe parking. I WFH (but I am unfortunately tied to MD) so location is not an issue.

I was wondering for any recommendations and need to move in the next month

Hi - My friend lives in the area and I would like to surprise her with a postpartum gift of laundry service. Any recommendations?

I am hoping they would pick up and drop off.

Besides at umd, does anyone know where I can find open lacrosse nets? Turf or grass I don’t mind but I’m new to the area so I’m not sure where to look. Thanks!

Hello all. I plan on officially moving out around December, more than likely by myself. I wanted to know if you all knew of cheaper apartments without infestations. I’m not expecting perfection but just don’t want to deal with bugs/ rodent infestations.

Looking to fill a room(s) in a 5 bed shared townhome with a very spacious layout

About the Room:

• Private Suite Bedroom + Bathroom – $1,050/month + utilities the room can also be furnished

• Private Master Bedroom + Bathroom – $1,150/month + utilities the room can also be furnished

• Bedroom + Shared Bathroom – $900/month + utilities the room can also be furnished

• Bedroom + Shared Bathroom – $800/month + utilities the room can also be furnished

Location Perks:

• Close to UMD campus

• Shuttle stop nearby

• Parking available

The House:

• Spacious common areas

• In-unit laundry

• Great for students or young professionals

Availability:

• Immediately

If you’re interested or want more details/pictures, message me. Rooms are available for immediate walk through over weekend.

I remember they touted this years ago as being the next thing. They built houses but left out any of the commercial stuff. What happened??? Is it ever gonna be built

Can someone post when Costco gas station re opens....thx

Bus tracking app failures left 10,000 Prince George’s students without a ride to school.

Prince George’s County School District leaders acknowledged that they fell short on the first day of school after a new bus tracking app crashed and routing failures left roughly 10,000 students without an assigned bus route.

Gathered at the Bladensburg school bus lot Monday afternoon, alongside a handful of frustrated parents, district officials asked for patience as they navigate the transition to the Chipmunk tracking and routing system.

But for many families, the chaos felt like a repeat of systemic transportation issues, which also plagued the district’s summer school program in July.

“Just to be frank, we didn’t meet our expectations today,” Chief Operating Officer Dr. Charoscar Coleman said. “Our goal was to have every student arrive on time and safely. We didn’t meet that mark.”

Coleman attributed the problem to the shift to the new bus routing platform and an influx of late and new enrollees to the district’s almost 80,000 bus riders. He added that the district has “augmented staff” to ensure faster and accurate routes.

Despite the rough start, transportation leaders and representatives from BusPlanner, which created the Chimpunk tracking app, insisted the software will stabilize.

“With new technology nuances appear, learning curves appear, and that’s where we are,” Transportation Director Keba Baldwin said. “Outside of today, I feel good about the direction we are going.”

Here's the full story on The Banner

https://www.thebanner.com/education/k-12-schools/school-bus-tracking-app-prince-georges-LH6FSUN52FHCNPCDM6ZKBICTLU/

Here is the post on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Dcg-1RWPeKo/

Has anyone had any experiences with Bowie Transmission & Auto? I know they’ve been part of the community for a long time but had new ownership take over several years ago. Are they honest and reliable? I need to get a transmission service done but I also want to find a good source for other general auto care.

Thanks for any help.

I and a roommate are looking to rent a 4 bedroom home in Temple Hills, Clinton, Camp Springs area. Looking for 3-5yr lease and/or option to buy. Have 2 dogs(crate trained) and 2 cats. Work full time job for last 35yrs and own a small entertainment business. Would love to have place with fenced yard. Any suggestions let me know . Realtors, home owners etc

Where do you all wash your cars since the automatic washer is so bad for the cars?

Trump orders the closure of the USDA’s Beltsville Agricultural Research Center—threatening some of the nation’s most important bumblebee and pollinator research.

This is exactly why bee research matters.
Scientists at the center study bee health, diseases, parasites, pesticides and the environmental pressures contributing to devastating colony losses. Beekeepers also rely on the center for disease testing and expert support.

Bees are essential agricultural infrastructure. They pollinate many of the fruits, vegetables and nuts we eat, supporting billions of dollars in crop production. When pollinators decline, farmers face lower yields and higher costs—and families eventually feel the consequences at the grocery store.

We are already confronting climate change, habitat loss, pesticide exposure and increasingly resistant pests. This is the worst possible moment to dismantle the scientific capacity needed to understand and respond to those threats.

Bumblebee research is not niche. It is food-security research, climate-resilience research and economic research. Once we lose experienced scientists, long-running studies and specialized facilities, they cannot simply be recreated elsewhere. Maryland—and the country—should be investing in this work, not walking away from it.
https://marylandmatters.org/2026/06/03/upcoming-closure-of-agricultural-research-center-troubles-maryland-officials/

My son will be 5 on 10/22 but cut off for early kindergarten is 10/15 which is ridiculous

I’m not saying he’s Einstein but he’s pretty good with his stuff picked up a lot being the sibling and me at home giving him lessons.

Any one have any luck with registration a late birthday to start on time? Tips? Tricks?

I have even considered private kindergarten and then transferring to public for first just so he won’t miss a year.

Hello, I am about to purchase a home and seriously considering South Lake in Bowie! Can anyone please share their experience? It has been very hard for to find any reviews online that mention experiences after moving in. Thank you 🙏🏾

Just the person, not the food. Someone had to drop, wondering how to find a paid helper 3 to 7p, harbor bay professional event.

What are the temp services etc?

Please don’t read further if you have a weak stomach, get upset by descriptions of violence, or love animals.

Around 11:30 this morning I was on 495 westbound passing around the Laurel/College Park exits and I saw someone throwing a live kitten out their window onto the highway from the 2nd to left lane. I tried to pull over but I was so far up that I couldn’t run back to try and save it. That poor thing could barely even walk and had to be maybe 3-4 weeks old. By the time I got turned around enough to look for it- I couldn’t find it.

During that time I made a call to police. I didn’t get a description of the car because I was so focused on the kitten. They said they would send troopers out to check the scene. After hanging up I found…additional evidence of more kittens that had been tossed and had not made it to safety. I called back to inform state police of this as well.

I cannot tell you how much this upset me as both a cat owner and animal lover. I haven’t cried that hard in a long time. I’m stuck with the mental memory of the scenes I witnessed against my will. I’m so sickened someone would commit such an unspeakable act of cruelty.

If you were traveling in the Laurel/College Park or exit 24/25/26 area around 11:20-11:45 this morning and saw the car that did this- please please inform state patrol so they can apprehend the sick and violent person who did this. This person needs to be removed from the public immediately.

Curious: 5000 Ellin Rd, Lanham, MD 20706

I looked online and multiple unverified sources say IRS, New Carrollton Federal Building, GSA. The building itself does not seem to state a specific purpose other than that it is a federal building. Anyone know what actually goes on here?