BALTIMORE (WJZ) — A man died Wednesday morning after the vehicle he was driving on Route 29 went off the road, hit a pole and caught fire, the Howard County Police Department said. The victim was driving a 2022 Nissan Rouge northbound on Route 29 about 4:42 a.m. when his vehicle went off the road for “an unknown reason” near the ramp for I-70 and hit a a sign support pole, police said. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. There were no other passengers in the vehicle. Police are waiting to identify next of kin before releasing the man’s name. The cause of the crash remains ..read more

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Howard County police on Friday said they’ve located a white Jeep that was sought in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a man in Ellicott City over the weekend. No charges were announced. “There is no additional information at this time, but the investigation is ongoing,” police said. On Thursday, police said they were looking for the Jeep after a driver struck and killed 54-year-old Michael Fitzpatrick at 11 p.m. Sunday on Old Frederick Road near Weatherstone Drive. Investigators believe the victim was walking along the roadway when he was struck. Fitzpatric ..read more

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Howard County Police are seeking public assistance in identifying a vehicle of interest in a hit-and-run crash that killed a man in Ellicott City over the weekend. Investigators believe a white Jeep Wrangler struck and killed 54-year-old Michael Fitzpatrick at 11 p.m. Sunday on Old Frederick Road near Weatherstone Drive. Police believe the victim was walking along the roadway when he was struck. Fitzpatrick’s body was found Monday morning on the side of the road, along with a piece of the Jeep’s white fender nearby. Police said they obtained video from a nearby residence that ..read more

COLUMBIA, Md. (WJZ) — Howard County residents and utility crews were picking up the pieces Thursday, a day after storms swept through, toppling trees, flooding dozens of roads and knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses. Tornado and flash flood warnings were issued Wednesday night for Howard and Baltimore counties as the worst of the storm bore down on the area. It’s estimated that over two inches of rain fell in a two-hour window, raising water levels in flood-prone areas like Ellicott City, and strong winds left behind a trail of damage. Speaking at a Thursday news conference ..read more

COLUMBIA, Md. (AP) — Capri Isidoro broke down in tears sitting on a chair at the office of a lactation consultant. The mother of two had been struggling to breastfeed her 1-month-old daughter ever since she was born, when the hospital gave the baby formula first without consulting her on her desire to breastfeed. Now, with massive safety recall and supply disruptions causing formula shortages across the United States, she also can’t find the specific formula that helps with her baby’s gas pains. “It is so sad. It shouldn’t be like this,” said Isidoro, who lives in the Baltimore suburb of Ellic ..read more

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Howard County has secured funding to building a 5,000-foot tunnel under Ellicott City, a historic town on the banks of the Patapsco River beset by multiple severe floods, county officials said. Ellicott City, founded in the 18th century as a mill town and the site of the first terminus of the B&O Railroad outside the city, suffered two 1,000-year floods in 2016 and 2018, damaging dozens of businesses and killing three people. Once completed, the tunnel, located about 100 feet underground and measuring 18 feet in diameter, will carry 26,000 gallons of stormwater per second ..read more

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Orioles pitcher Bruce Zimmermann has said on multiple occasions that it’s hard to get to the big leagues and even harder to stay there. Zimmerman is trying to earn a spot in the Orioles’ starting rotation in what could be his third year in the majors. He grew up in Ellicott City, played high school baseball at Loyola Blakefield High School, played college baseball at Towson University, and is an Orioles fan. The lefty pitcher started against Tampa Bay in Sarasota, Florida, on Wednesday. He threw three innings with no earned runs allowed. Zimmerman said that this year’s abbre ..read more

ELLICOTT CITY, Md. (WJZ) — Parents in Howard County are rallying against school mask mandates Thursday night outside a Board of Education meeting, where school district officials will be discussing the mandate. The crowd of about 50 people was calling on the county directly to repeal its mandate the same day Governor Larry Hogan called on the Maryland State Board of Education to rescind its mask mandate. Hogan cited the state’s improving health metrics as the Omicron-driven surge in cases and hospitalizations continues to wane. Research-based off-ramps exist allowing Maryland’s local school sy ..read more

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Howard County Executive Calvin Ball filed for re-election on Tuesday. Ball was first elected into office in 2018. The Democratic politician is the first Black man to serve as the County Executive of Howard County. Prior to winning the election, he served as a council member of the 2nd District of Howard County between 2006 and 2018. During his term as county executive, Ball faced various challenges. Under his watch, he directed the mitigation of potential deadly floodwaters in downtown Ellicott City. Ball also oversaw the construction of a new $75 million courthouse. Addition ..read more

BRYN ATHEN, Pa. (WJZ) — Identical twin brothers from Maryland made history over the weekend as the first set of twin coaches to go head to head in college basketball. Sean and Richard Westerlund head NCAA teams in Pennsylvania and Michigan, respectively. The brothers from Ellicott City said Saturday’s game was one for the books. “To be able to do that is really unique and it’s something I will always cherish,” said Sean Westerlund of Bryn Athen College. The brothers used to work side by side coaching Harford Christian School’s basketball team, and say since day one, they’ve always been competi ..read more