But the American Lung Association鈥檚 also identified positive trends.

鈥淲ith regards to the District and lung cancer, we actually are doing pretty well now,鈥� said Dr. Bobby Mahajan, volunteer representative for the American Lung Association. “We’re really number four in the country in terms of identifying lung cancer screening areas and scanning people early.”

The 鈥淪tate of Lung Cancer鈥� report also showed a 26% improvement in survival rates over the past five years . However, the current survival rate stands at 28.4%.

The District also ranked 9th in the country for new lung cancer cases.

鈥淲e’re identifying them early, and we’re getting to a point where we’re actually doing well with reducing the number of new lung cancer cases occurring,鈥� said Mahajan.

Mahajan said that shows the impact of laws and interventions to reduce smoking in public areas and the number of places that can screen for lung cancer.

The report also examined health insurance coverage requirements and pointed out a gap in access to advanced diagnostic tools such as biomarker testing; the testing that analyzes tumor DNA to guide treatment decisions isn鈥檛 consistent covered by insurance.

The association urged D.C. to implement policies to increase this testing by putting in place requirements for comprehensive coverage.

鈥淚f we capture lung cancers in their very earliest stages, the five-year survival is close to 92%, meaning that you’re able to cure those lung cancers. So in D.C., by continuing to find these lung cancers, early survival rates will improve, and honestly, death related to lung cancer will continue to plummet,鈥� said Mahajan.

The report also looked at disparities in health care. It found Black people in D.C. are more likely than their white counterparts to be diagnosed. But it also showed only 17% of Black people opt for surgery, as compared to 21% of white people.

鈥淲e need to be able to provide better basic health care to individuals with issues related to menthol cigarettes, which typically, in the past, have targeted African American individuals,鈥� said Mahajan. 鈥淎nd also these need to be diagnosed at an earlier stage, meaning, because Black individuals tend to have, unfortunately, lower incidence of preventive care.鈥�

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On Saturday, Martha鈥檚 Table is giving away 3,000 winter coats to families in Southeast D.C.

The annual winter coat giveaway will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 2375 Elvans Road SE. On site, there will be new and gently-used coats for men, women and children, along with winter accessories, free of cost.

鈥淲e really want to support people who are hardworking families, and they deserve something new and feeling good this winter and nice and warm,鈥� said Mei Powers, chief development and communications officer at Martha鈥檚 Table.

Each family can select up to four coats. To make the event happen, Martha鈥檚 Table took donations from people in the community who either dropped items off or purchased something on their Amazon wish list.

鈥淐oats are just the beginning,鈥� Powers said. “We want people to know there鈥檚 a whole lot more at Martha鈥檚 Table. If they want to access food, if they want to access physical fitness classes, or emotional wellness classes, or parenting support classes, or career training, all of those things are at Martha鈥檚 Table.”

Martha鈥檚 Table has served the community for 45 years with the mission to support strong children, families and communities by providing a range of programs focused on areas such as education and health and wellness.

Martha鈥檚 Table also invites the community to visit its no-cost boutique in Anacostia to shop for baby clothing, school uniforms, work clothes and more. For more information, to volunteer or donate, .

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On Tuesday, in D.C. to combat dangerous drivers who don鈥檛 live in the District.

Under the new law, Attorney General for the District of Columbia Brian Schwalb will be able to sue drivers who haven鈥檛 paid tens of thousands of dollars in traffic fines 鈥� even if they don鈥檛 live in the District. Prior to this, Maryland and Virginia drivers could rack up tickets in D.C. and not be held accountable.

鈥淭he Attorney General is hiring two attorneys who are going to work full time on this, and they’re going to be taking people who have these huge sums, and they’re going to take them to court,鈥� said D.C. Council member Charles Allen.

The bill was unanimously passed in February earlier this year, after the District saw 52 traffic deaths in 2023, an increase from 35 in 2022.

Under the STEER Act of 2024, the D.C. area can also now install an intelligent speed assistance system in the vehicles of drivers convicted of reckless driving. This is part of a new pilot program will limit the car鈥檚 speed automatically.

The STEER Act would also establish a new points system for vehicles repeatedly caught speeding. If a vehicle accumulates it immediately becomes eligible for booting and towing. Under the bill, points are accumulated as follows:

• Speeding 11-15 mph over the limit 鈥� 2 points
• Speeding 16-19 mph over the limit 鈥� 3 points
• Speeding 20+ mph over the limit 鈥� 5 points
• Reckless driving 鈥� 5 points
• Aggravated reckless driving 鈥� 10 points

鈥淚t鈥檚 dangerous,鈥� Allen said. 鈥淲e have lost lives over this, and in the District, we’re not just going to sit back anymore.鈥�

In a , Schwalb added that “Allen is 100% right 鈥� too many people, especially from outside the District, feel like they can drive recklessly on our streets without consequences.”

Victims of auto theft will not be responsible for tickets accumulated while stolen.

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This Saturday is the closing a mile of 7th Street NW to cars and opening up the roadway for people to safely walk, run, bike and play.

The shutdown spans from Rhode Island Avenue to E Street, cutting through Shaw, Mount Vernon Triangle and Chinatown.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., but the downtown section of 7th Street, from Mount Vernon Triangle to E Street, will shut down early at 2 p.m. The street itself will be closed from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for set up and clean up.

There are fitness zones throughout the walk that offer free classes for passersby, including yoga, dance workouts and wrestling lessons. Local performers 鈥� from rock bands to gospel groups 鈥� will be supplying entertainment with some breaks for cultural dance performances, like a Chinese Dragon Dance and Flamenco. Small businesses will also have stands along the street, selling food and other wares.

Like past years, there is also a focus on bicycle safety, with bike repair workshops, free cycle maintenance, and a giveaway of 22 adult bikes and 29 children’s bikes.

鈥淥pen Streets is about coming together as a community, staying active, supporting our local businesses, and reimagining how we use public space,鈥� said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser in a release. 鈥淲e鈥檙e a walkable city, we鈥檙e a city that is focused on expanding biking and public transportation options, and Open Streets shows us what鈥檚 possible.鈥�

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) says Open Streets helps to get people excited and thinking about pedestrian plazas, which are part of a new downtown plan.

鈥淥ne of the things that the mayor is doing in terms of downtown revitalization is looking at adding more pedestrian plazas,鈥� said DDOT鈥檚 director, Shannon Kershbaum. 鈥淭his is going to be one of our inaugural ways to do that right downtown, on 7th Street.鈥�

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Shannon Cockett, a three-time victim of crime, who found herself drawn to the job of a police officer that led to a 26-year career with D.C. police. Her painting “Crossing to School” is one of the pieces that will be displayed at the museum’s exhibit “Officers as Artists: The Creative Expression of Those Who Serve.”

The painting shows a female crossing guard in Takoma Park helping kids cross the street. Cockett said her goal is to highlight the work of everyday people who make the lives of others better.

“I always wanted to be an artist, but my dad, who was a physician, said I’d be a starving artist,” said Cockett. “I didn’t pick up my art until after I retired, because, frankly, my job was just too demanding.”

Cockett聽served as a lieutenant in the department’s Homicide Branch, as a commander of a patrol district and as an assistant chief for former Chief Charles Ramsey. While reflecting on the day a gunman opened fire inside D.C. police headquarters and killed three officers in 1994, Cockett said art has helped her process her time on the job.

“The museum itself is dedicated to educating the public about law enforcement,” said Cockett. “That’s one of their missions, another is to honor law enforcement professionals by explaining to the public about what it is they do, because I think people largely take for granted what police officers do.”

Lazaro Gonzalez, who retired in 2014 from D.C. police, was also selected to have a painting displayed in the exhibit. Gonzalez came to the United States as a refugee from Cuba when he was 7 years old.

Gonzalez said he loved being artistic his entire life and even used his skills on the job.

“I did my sketching in my notebook, I always drew my crime scene,” said Gonzalez. “I would always draw the scene and where bullets were recovered and where the body was, where blood spattered. I always did that on my cases. I think I still have some notebooks.”

Gonzalez said his triptych painting is a scene from a Havana club with musicians and people dancing.

“We have a human side,” said Gonzalez. “We have talents besides just being law enforcement. We have talents such as the art that we do. I thank this country for giving me the opportunity to further my artistic talent.”

The opening of the exhibit coincides with and will be featured to the general public in their DuPont Galley, running for 11 months through Aug. 30, 2025.

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You will not only find a 20-foot pupusa at Fiesta DC this weekend but also Philadelphia鈥檚 Little Free(dom) Library, full of banned books by Hispanic and Latino authors.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Visit Philadelphia tourism agency will bring its acclaimed banned books activation to D.C. on Sept. 28-29. The Little Free(dom) Library will have 2,000 free books that will be distributed at a walk-in version of the activation.

Neil Frauenglass, Visit Philadelphia鈥檚 chief marketing officer, said this year marks the project鈥檚 first trip outside Philadelphia.

鈥淯nderstanding how important literacy needs are is certainly something that helped us come to this idea of ensuring that people have access to books at all ages and have access to stories for people at all ages that reflect who they are within a community,鈥� said Frauenglass.

Since the Little Free(dom) Library initiative began in February 2024, more than 7,000 books have been distributed in mini libraries throughout Philadelphia. This project is part of Visit Philadelphia鈥檚 ongoing 鈥淚n Pursuit of A More Perfect Union鈥� series, which aims to showcase the city as a welcoming and inclusive place to travel to.

鈥淧art of that pursuit is to ensure that everyone has a voice, and this is an opportunity to extend the reach and the voice of these authors that otherwise have been shut out,鈥� said Frauenglass. 鈥淪o it’s important, not only for them as the creators, but also important for those potential readers who have the opportunity to read their stories.鈥�

Featured titles by Hispanic authors include:

• “Tito Puente, Mambo King” by Monica Brown
• “How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents” by Julia Alvarez
• “An African American and Latinx History of the United States” by Paul Ortiz
• “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros

Additionally, attendees at the Fiesta DC can enter to win a Philadelphia Experience Prize Pack featuring:

• A two-night stay at a Philadelphia hotel (valued at $600, stay must be redeemed by Dec. 31, 2024)
• A $150 gift card to Bolo Restaurant
• A $100 gift card to the Julia de Burgos Bookstore at Taller Puertorrique帽o
• A $200 Amtrak gift card

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“We don’t care if you go to church, don’t go to church, if you have a need for winter clothing 鈥� we want to help you,” said Patty Tang, director of parish operations for Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Annandale, Virginia.

Organizers are also hoping to collect new hats, gloves and scarves. For those who can’t physically drop off items, there’s also they can purchase items off of.

“Nobody should ever feel too embarrassed to get a little assistance,” Tang said. “Rent has gone up in so many areas 鈥� gas, food 鈥� and people want to help other people, and we know that you may take assistance from us and from Catholic Charities now, but you will gladly give back when it’s your time.”

Between now and Oct. 1, items can be dropped off at Holy Spirit Catholic Church parish office at 5121 Woodland Way in Annandale daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Items can also be dropped off during weekend masses at these four churches:

• , 7401 St. Michael’s Lane, Annandale, Virginia
• , 6400 Nativity Lane, Burke, Virginia
• , 10500 Zion Drive, Fairfax, Virginia
• , 8800 Braddock Road, Annandale, Virginia

The items will be distributed from Holy Spirit Catholic School during the fourth week of October.

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The Ivy City Hotel on New York Avenue in Northeast D.C. has agreed to boost security after several violent incidents.

The D.C. attorney general’s office says from February 2023 to February 2024, two women were killed at the hotel. In addition, there were three drug-related deaths, multiple gun incidents and multiple drug recoveries.

鈥淭his was an enforcement action under our nuisance act,鈥� Assistant Deputy Attorney General Beth Mellen said. 鈥淭hat’s an act we use where we have properties that are being used to facilitate drug and firearm crimes or prostitution.鈥�

Under the act, the attorney general’s office has authority to take legal action against property owners and managers if they find there is a pattern of illegal drug-, firearm-, or prostitution-related activities on their properties and if the owner then fails to implement appropriate security measures to prevent further criminal activity.

Under the terms of the settlement, the owners of the Ivy City Hotel will be required to:

• Increase security staffing during overnight hours.
• Link security cameras to the D.C. police department’s Real Time Crime Center. The hotel must register its cameras with the District鈥檚 Camera Connect Program, which shares the security footage with the crime center.
• Maintain existing lighting, cameras and security staffing levels and allow the attorney general’s office to inspect the property through August 2025.

“We are always hopeful that when we get things like the cameras and lighting and we see that maintained and necessary private security coverage, that will result in fewer incidents,鈥� said Mellen. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really trying to take use all the tools we have as the District of Columbia and with our office to address the public safety concerns that we know are on so many residents’ minds.鈥�

The attorney general’s office will also inspect the hotel through August 2025.

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On Wednesday, the Montgomery County Police and the Department of Transportation filled three dump trucks with a variety of objects and cones people used to save their parking spots.

This comes after they received complaints from neighbors such as 64-year-old Joan, a resident who lives in that area, but didn’t want their full name used.

鈥淲hen you come home late you struggle to find parking,鈥� said Joan. 鈥淲hen you move the cone, they block you in.”

Blocking spots on the public street to save parking is not allowed

Earlier today your 3rd District Traffic Complaint Officers teamed up with to respond to community complaints about objects placed on the public right of way to “save” parking spots. This鈥�

鈥� MCPD 3D Commander (@MCPD3DCommander)

But Joan says while people saving parking spots is frustrating, she understands because there鈥檚 not enough spots available. She says some people illegally park in handicap spaces that she said she needs.

鈥淲e asked our landlord if they can get us stickers because one apartment has 10 cars and some apartments have one car,鈥� she said.

Montgomery County鈥檚 Department of Transportation says they have been working with the neighborhood for some time to try to help relieve their parking issues.

For a permit parking restriction to be installed on a block, at least two-thirds of the households on that block must sign 鈥渋n favor鈥� of the restriction.

Following a community meeting, MCDOT said they received sufficient votes in support of implementing a Residential Permit Program in the Quebec Terrace neighborhood.

According to MCDOT, permits were made available for purchase in July, and they began installing signage in August.

MCDOT says in early October, a final letter in English and Spanish will be sent to residents notifying them that parking permits are needed. Warnings will be given throughout most of October, and on Nov. 1, enforcement of the permitting parking will begin.

To make parking fairer, each household will be eligible for a permit. The permit fees are $20 annually.

The department reminds people though, even with the issued parking permits, reserving parking spaces in the right-of-way is illegal.

MCDOT says they also are still looking for additional alternatives to help the neighborhood, as the residential permit parking program is a first step.

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Although it鈥檚 been 10 years since Troy Turner鈥檚 children 鈥� 3-year-old Sarah and 2-year-old Jacob Hoggle 鈥� went missing, he said it feels like no time has passed. He still has as few answers as he had in 2014.

鈥淚 say this, not negating the support that we’ve had or the work that people have put into it,鈥� Turner said. 鈥淲e realize that, we appreciate that, but it just feels like no one is helping us. It feels like no one who is in a position to help is willing to help, and it’s just frustrating.鈥�

Sarah and Jacob were last seen with their mother, Catherine Hoggle, on Labor Day in 2014. Since their disappearance, Turner has been on the front lines searching for them, hosting annual vigils, testifying in court and speaking with the media. Despite his efforts, the community鈥檚 help and the work of Montgomery County detectives, Sarah and Jacob are nowhere to be found.

鈥淚f I find my children in the woods somewhere buried, that’s not closure,鈥� Turner said. 鈥淢y kids aren’t here. That hole just gets bigger. There’s no happy ending here, no matter what happened, no matter what you want to believe.鈥�

Turner said his mind knows they are no longer alive, but in his heart, as a father, he believes they鈥檙e still out there. He even still contemplates several theories, such as the children living happily somewhere with a new family. Other, more gruesome theories of what happened also cross his mind. But regardless of if he finds them alive or dead, he wants them home.

鈥淚n the end, reality is, what I’ll probably find is what’s unfortunately left of them, their bodies,鈥� Turner said. 鈥淚t’s a terrible thing to know. But there’s people who even ask, ‘Wouldn’t it be better if you never found them? At least you can kind of hang on to hope.’ No, because it’s not about me. It’s about them and they deserve better than this.鈥�

During an interview with 草莓传媒, Turner said his only focus is finding his children and that he’s frustrated that so much attention from them has been taken away by their mother鈥檚 court proceedings.

Hoggle was indicted on two counts of murder in 2017, but after she was continuously found incompetent to stand trial, the charges were dropped in 2022. Under Maryland law, authorities have five years to restore a defendant to competency, before felony charges must be dropped.

鈥淔or Catherine, if I had anything to say to her, it would just be: ‘Just tell the truth,’ because that’s the whole thing 鈥� you have someone who has the key to all this, who knows the answers, and she just won’t say it,鈥� Turner said.

Catherine is civilly committed at the Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center in Jessup, Maryland, deemed as a danger to herself or others. She has a history of schizophrenia and was treated with antipsychotic medications after her arrest.

鈥淚’ve never, ever denied that Catherine is mentally ill,鈥� Turner said. 鈥淚n fact, I’ve said the opposite. I tried to get her help. But when you look at the system, it’s not doing anyone justice, including Catherine Hoggle at this point.鈥�

While continuing to look for answers, Turner has turned his attention to advocating for changes in legislation. But while he has lost faith in the system, he said he believes in those who have stuck by his side from the beginning, such as Montgomery County State鈥檚 Attorney John McCarthy.

When the charges against Catherine were dropped, McCarthy said if her condition improves and she is released, he intends to recharge her. In a recent interview with 草莓传媒鈥檚 Neal Augenstein, McCarthy doubled down on that commitment.

鈥淚 believe that he does care about my kids,鈥� Turner said. 鈥淚 believe that he does care what happens in the county. I think he’s a good man overall, and I think he’s going to do the right thing.鈥�

In honor of Sarah and Jacob, Turner said the family will have a private prayer at church. They also worked with in hope that it brings renewed attention. Sarah would have been 13 years old and Jacob 12 years old this year.

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鈥淭hey shouldn’t be living in the woods it鈥檚 creating a lot of trash and a lot of residents are feeling a little unsafe,鈥� said neighbor John Carter.

In an email, a Fairfax County spokesman said county workers began in May meeting with people who lived in the woods in Towers, Thaiss and Mantua parks in the Fairfax Circle area of the county to assess their needs and connect them with services.

“No trespassing” signs were posted on Aug. 28 at Towers Park, the spokesman said, with a “designated cleanup day” of Wednesday.

Below is a map showing the general location of the parks:

At the park on Wednesday, crews fork lifted trash, clothes, blankets, tents and other items into large dump trucks. Many of the people who were living there were seen walking the streets with the few belongings they had afterward.

鈥淚 really hope they get what they need. I hate to see anyone put out that way,鈥� Carter said. 鈥淭hey need access to public housing and they need access to health services.鈥�

The Fairfax County spokesman said the cleanup was conducted by the Park Authority.

“During the past several months, community outreach workers have met with each person experiencing homelessness to connect them with services,” the spokesman said in the email. “They have been encouraged to utilize shelter and to work with local service providers to find and secure longer-term housing options.”

The county鈥檚 Office to Prevent and End Homelessness offers several services, such as street outreach and emergency shelters.

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Israeli forces said the six Israeli hostages were killed in Gaza by Hamas. The victims were identified as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23; Ori Danino, 25; Eden Yerushalmi, 24; Almog Sarusi, 27; Alexander Lobanov, 33; and Carmel Gat, 40.

The military said the six were killed shortly before Israeli forces were to rescue them and that the bodies were found in a tunnel beneath the southern Gaza city of Rafah. The news sparked calls for mass protests by families of the hostages who said they could have been returned alive in a cease-fire deal.

鈥淐armel should have come home,鈥� Carmel Gat鈥檚 cousin, LeElle Slifer, said. 鈥淗amas was supposed to release her in November.鈥�

Slifer was among many who spoke at the vigil, demanding a cease-fire and the release of remaining hostages.

鈥淪hout their stories to the world and demand Hamas release them,鈥� Slifer said. 鈥淲e all failed Carmel, but like the guardian angel she always was, she wouldn’t want us to fail the others. Keep watching over us Carmely.”

Watch the full vigil below, streamed 草莓传媒’s partners at 7草莓传媒:

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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His older sister is still searching to find his killer(s).

鈥淚’ve done a lot of social media posting about what transpired that night, what happened and how here we are, a year later, and there’s no information,鈥� said his older sister, Michaele Angulo. 鈥淚t was all over my Facebook. I asked everyone I knew to share it. I made it a public post. I put it all over nextdoor.com.鈥�

On Aug. 29, 2023, Noack was walking home from an urgent care clinic for shoulder pain when someone struck him in the head, which caused critical injuries, and then ran from the scene. Bowie police officers found Tony on the street on the 7000 block of Race Track Road.

Two months later, Tony died at the hospital from his injuries. An autopsy ruled his death a homicide and said that he died from blunt force trauma.

鈥淢aybe he accidentally bumped into someone and didn’t mean to and, people these days, there’s just so much rage and so much hatred and the way that people react to things is so spontaneously unnecessary,鈥� Angulo said.

His sister said he walked to the Metrobus stop on Stonybrook Drive and Sussex Lane, but missed the last bus so decided to walk home. He was only half a mile from home when he was attacked. Because of this, his sister thinks the attacker lived close by in their neighborhood.

鈥淭ony walked everywhere, and when he would walk, he would wear one of those bright yellow neon vests for visibility, because there’s nowhere to walk on Racetrack Road,鈥� Angulo said.

鈥淭here’s no safe sidewalk. Our whole community is meant to be walkable, but it really isn’t. You’re not safe. So for visibility purposes, he would walk down to the Metrobus stop every day to go to work.鈥�

Tony was a federal employee in a mailroom in D.C. In his free time, he loved going to different restaurants and churches. His sister worries someone may have seen Tony as an easy mark because, due to cancer treatment as a child, he suffered from brain injury.

鈥淗e’s very, very smart, but the every day, common sense chatting with people, he did it on a level of someone who might be younger. So that’s how that manifests. I don’t know if somebody thought they could take advantage of him. I don’t know if they saw him as somebody they could easily prey upon,” she said.

A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered for any information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case. Anyone with information can contact Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or online at

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A 15-year-old Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School student was charged in connection to bomb threats made against the school on May 16 that led to a lockdown, the deployment of a SWAT team and K-9 units.

Montgomery County police worked with the FBI to discover the teenager used social media to solicit help from a 12-year-old boy from Pennsylvania who acted as the caller.

Police said the boys are also responsible for bomb threats made against Walt Whitman High School and Bethesda Elementary School on May 17.

The B-CC high school student is accused of providing information and instructions to the 12-year-old in real time while the threats were being made.

The 12-year-old also demanded money from the schools to “prevent the bombs from going off” but Maryland state law prohibits charges to be filed against him.

The 15-year-old is being charged with threats of mass violence, making a false statement and other related felony charges.

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Prosecutors said that from 2020 through at least October 2023, Franklin embezzled more than $124,000 from his campaign committee, 鈥淔riends of Mel Franklin,鈥� by transferring funds to his personal bank account. He admitted to then using the money to pay off debt and loans and to pay for rent, online subscriptions and cosmetic procedures for himself and a close friend.

The plea agreement with the Maryland Office of the State Prosecutor also calls for Franklin to pay restitution of $133,168.67 to his campaign committee. The money will then be donated to charity.

“Elected officials should be held accountable if they violate the public trust and exploit the Maryland electoral process for personal financial gain,鈥� said Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard, III. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud of our office鈥檚 hard work in uncovering this extensive fraud.鈥�

Franklin engaged in a similar scheme from 2021 through December 2023, prosecutors said, embezzling another $8,718 from his campaign account to third parties to pay for his personal expenses.

In that scheme, prosecutors said Franklin transferred money to a close friend and used the debit card associated with his campaign to pay for personal expenses, including hotel stays and cosmetic procedures.

Among the specific purchases were two personal stays at swanky National Harbor hotels, according to charging documents.

On July 10, 2022, Franklin used $305 from his campaign committee account to stay at the Harbor鈥檚 Westin Hotel. Franklin checked in at 2:01 a.m. and checked out at 6:21 a.m., according to the charging documents.

On March 26, 2023, the documents say Franklin used campaign account funds to purchase a one-night stay in an executive suite at the Gaylord National Hotel at a cost of more than $800.

The documents say Franklin also used campaign funds at a liquor store and to purchase an online subscription service, oil change and a deposit for an international trip. He鈥檚 accused of using thousands of dollars to pay off his personal credit card as well.

Instead of reporting these expenses, court filings say Franklin falsified information on reports filed with the Maryland State Board of Elections.

Franklin abruptly stepped down from his at-large seat in June after 14 years on the county council.

This is not Franklin鈥檚 first time facing criminal charges. In 2016, the then-council member was charged with driving under the influence after crashing his county vehicle into another car and briefly leaving the scene on foot.

Following Monday’s hearing, Franklin and his lawyer declined to comment. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13.

草莓传媒’s Thomas Robertson contributed to this report.聽

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