We explored Howard County to find some lesser-known but delightful restaurants, shops and places to gather. Here are a few hidden gems we found.

After two weeks of a no-contact order and a social moratorium issued by the University of Maryland, school officials have lifted the blanket ban on Greek Life for all but five chapters.

Howard County residents can vote on a name for a tunnel boring machine that will dig out a tunnel to reduce flooding in Ellicott City.

As four fraternities from University of Maryland College Park asked a federal court to end the university’s blanket ban on social activities by fraternities and sororities, campus leaders were preparing to update the community Friday on the status of their investigation.

The University of Maryland at College Park has suspended Greek life social activities involving alcohol amid allegations of hazing. Some national fraternity and sorority organizations think the college went too far.

A Howard County man and Crips gang member has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for his role in a murder-for-hire conspiracy that led to the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Juan Ross in 2020.

A 150-year-old church in Columbia founded by formerly enslaved people was awarded a state grant worth almost a quarter-million dollars to preserve African American history.

At the start of the year, the Howard County Council failed to pass a rent stabilization bill, leaving tenants feeling the burden of rent increases.

Howard County public library employees voted this week to unionize and join a local branch of AFSCME. The union will represent around 200 workers.

Almost two years after being indicted, eight members of the gang 59 Hoover have been convicted on multiple offenses including gang involvement and murder.

Council Chair Deb Jung said prior to the vote that the issue of a cease-fire was not one that should taken up by local government. Just before the vote, Calvin Ball send a letter to President Biden calling for a bilateral cease-fire and the release of all hostages.

A proposed resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza — and a decision not to allow public testimony on it when the Howard County Council meets on Monday — has stirred up strong feelings in the suburban county.

Some residents said they fear a new flag design could erase the agricultural history of the county.

Members of the Glenelg High School community in Western Howard County are remembering the warmth and kindness of Braiden and Hailey Zanski, who police say were fatally shot on Jan. 14 by their father, who killed himself.

Tuesday’s storm a water treatment plant in Savage, Maryland, overflowed into the Little Patuxent River leaving Howard County under a precautionary health alert.

Savage, Maryland, could have had a different history of becoming a permanent Christmas village, and 75 years ago this was reality. The new Savage Mill owner, who also bought hundreds of homes in the town, hosted a one-ring circus, reindeer and Santas as far as the eye could see for yearly celebrations and put a small town on the map.

Robyn Dixon of Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Potomac” will open a monthly subscription-based skin care studio in Columbia.

In West Friendship Park where the Howard County Living Farm Heritage Museum recently closed, the more than 340 acres of land will now be home to the county’s new Office of Agriculture to support county farmers.

The Howard County Living Farm Heritage Museum closed last week because the Recreation & Parks Department terminated the lease seven years early due to buildings that were not up to code and a lack of event permits. The county plans to bring the property buildings up to code and eventually add archery, campsites and an agriculture center. The farm museum has until the end of May 2024 to move the museum items off the property.

Where to buy gifts — items and experiences — in Howard County.