Top Headlines: Northwood HS Stabbing; Lake Needwood Algae Bloom; Efforts to Start School Later

Getting Serious About Starting School Later in Montgomery County

POTOMAC — Montgomery County residents have started an official chapter of the Start School Later Initiative, petitioning school officials to give students and parents a break from early school start times. Read more on Potomac Patch.

Hate Speech or Free Speech? Metro Ad Sparks Counter-Ad

WHEATON — The "Support Israel. Defeat Jihad." ad, paid for by the American Freedom Defense Initiative and placed last week in the Glenmont Metro station, has provoked a strong response. Read more on Wheaton Patch.

Silver Spring Student Charged in Northwood Stabbing

SILVER SPRING — An 18-year-old Northwood High School student was charged with two assault counts in connection with the stabbing of a 15-year-old fellow student on school property Monday morning. Read more on Silver Spring Patch. 

Outraged Mother Says Toddlers Wandered Off From Daycare

BETHESDA — A parent says she arrived to pick up her 2-year-old son Monday at Bethesda Lynbrook Children’s Center to find that the tot had wandered into the neighborhood with three of his classmates. Read more on Bethesda Patch.

Montgomery Parks: Don't Drink the Water at Rockville's Lake Needwood

ROCKVILLE — Montgomery Parks has a message for visitors to Rockville’s Lake Needwood: Don’t drink the water. (And don’t let your dog drink it either.) The message, posted on the parks department’s website, warns that an algae bloom has produced a toxic substance detected in the lake’s water. Read more on Rockville Patch.

Germantown Middle Schoolers Demo iPhone App in Vegas

GERMANTOWN — A team of middle-school students from Germantown were among six finalists—the only kids on the stage—to show off their mobile app invention during a technology conference in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Their Food Agent app can scan the barcodes on supermarket items, tell you where the food came from and if it could possibility be contaminated. Read more on Germantown Patch.

'Healthy' Vending Machine Unveiled as Part of County Anti-Obesity Stance

ROCKVILLE — County officials announced the first step in a plan to get Montgomery County residents to weigh less—a vending machine with less-caloric snacks. The machine, placed near the cafeteria in the county executive building, features snacks like pop chips and mineral water instead of the usual Doritos and soda. Read more on Silver Spring Patch. 

Former Army Ranger Gets 28 Years in Gaithersburg Shooting

GAITHERSBURG — Gary Smith was convicted last month of involuntary manslaughter in the 2006 shooting death of his Gaithersburg roommate, a fellow Army Ranger. Read the full story on Gaithersburg Patch.

Dick's Sporting Goods Opens in Wheaton

WHEATON — The sports megastore opened at Westfield Wheaton this week, and more information emerged about when Costco will open in Westfield Wheaton after construction issues delayed its scheduled Oct. 18 debut. Read more on Wheaton Patch.

White House Fall Garden Tours Showcase Bountiful Harvest

WASHINGTON, DC — At the White House's Fall Garden Tours, the White House Kitchen Garden, beehive, Rose Garden, Jacqueline Kennedy Garden and the beautiful grounds were open to the public. See photos from the White House gardens and grounds on Chevy Chase Patch.