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Jess Nocera

Jess

Jess Nocera is a regional reporter covering Howard County. She previously worked for The Richmond-Times Dispatch, The Baltimore Sun and The Bristol Herald Courier. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a double major in multi-platform journalism and government & politics in May 2017. When not reporting, Jess enjoys practicing yoga, running and antique shopping. Jess lives with her boyfriend and their two adorable kitties.

The latest from Jess Nocera

13 people sent to hospital after fire at Towson apartment building
Baltimore County firefighters responded to a three-alarm apartment fire in Towson Monday night.
The Baltimore County Fire Department responds to a 3-alarm fire at 204 E. Joppa Road in Towson.
Embattled Baltimore County councilman won’t seek a 4th term
Embattled Republican Baltimore County Councilman Todd Crandell is not seeking a fourth term.
Baltimore County Seventh District Councilman Todd Crandell after a Baltimore County Council work session at the Old Baltimore County Courthouse in Towson on July 29, 2025.
Police shoot knife-wielding person during Bolton Hill mental health crisis
Baltimore Police shot a suspect who refused to drop a large knife. The suspect was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police stand on the balcony of a ninth floor apartment while investigating after an officer shot a knife-wielding person at 1111 Park Ave. in Baltimore on Monday.
National Harbor to get its own Las Vegas-style Sphere
Sphere Entertainments wants to build a 6,000 seat capacity venue at the National Harbor.
A rendering showing a Sphere at the National Harbor.
Icy fire truck crash leaves Baltimore firefighters with minor injuries
Responding to call late Sunday night, a Baltimore City fire truck slid into a parked box truck.
Truck 55 sits in the Baltimore City Fire Department station in Pigtown on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
Howard County superintendent’s budget targets struggling students
Howard County Public Schools Superintendent Bill Barnes is proposing a nearly $1.3 billion spending plan.
School system superintendent Bill Barnes attends a Howard County Board of Education Meeting at their headquarters in Ellicott City, Md. on Friday, May 9, 2025.
Howard County immigration attorney tapped for open House seat
Gabriel Moreno is an immigration attorney and CEO of Luminus, a Columbia-based nonprofit that supports immigrants.
The Howard County Democratic Central Committee voted in Gabriel Moreno, an immigration attorney and CEO of Luminus, to fill Del. Vanessa Atterbeary's vacant seat in the Maryland House of Delegates.
7 things to do in Howard County, from making your own terrarium to reading at UnBook Club
Seven things to do in Howard County from Thursday, Jan. 8 to Wednesday, Jan. 14.
Front desk of the Cultivate Garden & Goods in Catonsville, Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
Former Howard County churches and one nearby find new life as antique stores, plant shops
Former churches in Howard County have a new lease on life as antique stores, plant good shops and other small businesses.
Former churches in Howard County, including Hallowed Ground in Oella, have a new lease on life as antique stores, plant goods shops and other small businesses.
3 charged after nearly 50 car break-ins on Christmas Eve in Howard County
Howard County police officers, with the assistance of a drone thermal camera, apprehended three suspects who allegedly broke into roughly 50 cars in the early hours of Christmas Eve.
Howard County police arrested three people after a string of car break-ins on Christmas Eve.
6, not 7, things to do in Howard County, from SplashDown Day to Kwanzaa celebration
Here are seven things to do in Howard County from Thursday Dec. 25 through Wednesday Dec. 31.
Howard County's annual Kwanzaa Celebration is at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center on Saturday, Dec. 27.
From zoning battles to school redistricting, here are Howard County’s top headlines of 2025
Some of the biggest stories in Howard County: From zoning battles, the approval of the new lakefront library, school redistricting and a new inspector general.
Howard County firefighters can use medical cannabis when off duty starting in January
Howard County firefighters can use medical cannabis when they are off duty starting in January.
Howard County firefighters can use medical cannabis off duty starting on January 31, 2026.
Will Howard County give an extra $38 million to fix aging schools?
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball signed off on legislation months ago to allow for county surplus funding to go to the school system. Now he's calling that into question.
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, left, wrote the County Council on Dec. 10 to confirm nearly $38 million in surplus funds, but stopped short of committing to provide it to the schools, as a recently adopted county bill had stipulated.
Man charged with stealing designer shoes off women’s feet outside The Mall in Columbia
A Columbia man is charged with stealing two pairs of designer shoes off women’s feet outside The Mall in Columbia, according to Howard County Police.
The Mall in Columbia shopping mall on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
7 things to do in Howard County, from Frozen Fest to menorah lightings
Seven things to do in Howard County from Thursday, Dec. 11 through Wednesday, Dec. 17.
To celebrate Hanukkah this year, you can attend several menorah lightings throughout Howard County.
Library employees remain anxious as Howard County prepares to reopen Savage Branch
Howard County officials plan to reopen the Savage library branch, saying tests and inspections found no confirmed sources of carbon monoxide in the building after several employees reported exposure to the gas last month.
The Savage Branch Library in Howard County.
An aging Columbia village center moves one step closer to a makeover
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball on Monday announced plans to revitalize the dilapidated Long Reach Village Center.
Howard County officials unveiled renderings of what the renovated Long Reach Village Center could look like during a Monday Dec. 8 news conference.
Howard County school board approves moving 146 Columbia students
The Howard County school board has voted to move 146 students to new elementary and middle schools for the 2026-27 academic year to relieve crowding at Bryant Woods Elementary.
School board member Jacky McCoy voted against two of the approved redistricting changes.
A farm that grows tea is tucked away in western Howard County
Heron’s Meadow Farm in western Howard County grows tea. The farm’s owners, husband and wife duo Lori and Bob Baker, say it’s the state’s only tea farm.
Lori Baker and her husband, Bob, co-own Heron’s Meadow Farm and a boutique called BLTeas in Woodbine.
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