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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

Howard County seeks to jump-start plans for Columbia lakefront library, affordable housing
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball on Thursday announced steps to jump-start plans for a lakefront library and new affordable housing units in Columbia — top priorities on which there had seemingly been little progress.
Oct 23, 2025
The Columbia Lakefront near the Mall in Columbia, Md. on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Former Howard County hearing examiner questions decision to remove her
A former Howard County hearing examiner is calling out the County Council for voting in closed session not to renew her contract, a decision that she says should have been made in an open meeting.
Oct 16, 2025
The Howard County Council, shown here in open session, voted during a May closed session to remove one of its appointed hearing examiners.
7 things to do in Howard County, from spooky fun to an owlish affair
Seven things to do in Howard County, including Halloween-themed events and Fall Pop Concert.
Oct 16, 2025
Monty the Eastern Screech Owl perches on the Howard County Conservancy land manager Tabby Fique's hand, Aug. 29, 2024. Monty is the newest addition to the resident animals on the conservancy's 232 acres.
Howard schools say some union bus drivers used students to spread pay message
The school system says unionized Zūm bus drivers passed out flyers to students, encouraging families to join their pay fight.
Oct 14, 2025
yellow school buses
Revitalizing the old Ellicott City Jail means reckoning with its racist past
Preservation Maryland plans to restore the old Ellicott City jail while also not shying away from the jail’s racist past.
Oct 13, 2025
Laura Houston, Preservation Maryland’s director of revitalization initiatives, holds a flashlight during a tour of the old Ellicott City Jail.
Redistricting Centennial Lane Elementary is back on the table in Howard County
Two brand-new redistricting options could quell concerns at one school and reopen the floodgates at another.
Oct 10, 2025
Thursday's public hearing at the Howard County Board of Education was well-attended as officials discussed redistricting.
Tersiguel’s restaurant in Ellicott City to bid adieu after 50 years
Tersiguel’s French Country Restaurant is closing its doors after five decades on Ellicott City’s Main Street this December.
Oct 9, 2025
Tersiguel's on August 6, 2025, around their 50th Anniversary.
One Howard County school may escape redistricting. Another is bracing for impact.
If approved, a redistricting plan would increase the portion of students living in poverty at a Columbia elementary school.
Oct 9, 2025
Bryant Woods Elementary at 5450 Blue Heron Lane in Columbia on July 2, 2025.
Howard County school bus drivers could strike
Zūm School Bus Services drivers, who handle roughly a third of the Howard County Public School System’s routes, authorized a strike Thursday.
Oct 2, 2025
Zum, a California based tech company, will handle 230 of Howard County Public School's roughly 500 school bus routes for the next three years.
Howard County schools cancel vaccine clinics, leaving students to seek shots elsewhere
The Howard County Public School System canceled its free flu and COVID vaccine clinics due to a lack of grant funding.
Oct 2, 2025
A student receives an injection during a Vaccine Clinic offered at BCPS Fest held at New Town High School on August 16th, 2025 in Owings Mills, MD.
7 things to do in Howard County, from a Serendipity Wild Walk to festivals galore
Seven things to do in Howard County from Thursday, Oct. 2, to Wednesday, Oct. 8.
Oct 2, 2025
Celebrate the rich culture and traditions of the county’s Hispanic community at Color Burst Park.
Howard County schools superintendent scales back redistricting plan
Howard County Schools Superintendent Bill Barnes released a widely anticipated redistricting plan that tackles overcrowding at one elementary school but stops short of addressing swelling enrollment at another.
Sep 26, 2025
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.
Some Howard County students are getting moved again. Here are 5 things to know.
Before Bill Barnes, Howard County’s schools superintendent, presents his redistricting proposal to the county Board of Education on Sept. 25, here’s a refresher on the redistricting process.
Sep 25, 2025
Community parents, Cindy LaFollette, left center, and Bena Zeng, right center, protest ahead of the school board meeting against the redistricting proposals outside of the Howard County school board offices on July 17, 2025. The group says that the district’s “short-sighted” decision to place pre-K programs at over-capacity schools is causing the problem.
CVS closing another pharmacy in Baltimore
This marks at least the third CVS to close in Baltimore this year.
Sep 23, 2025
FILE - The CVS Pharmacy logo is displayed on a store on Aug. 3, 2021, in Woburn, Mass. Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford announced on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, his office secured $152 million over the next decade in a settlement against CVS in opioid claims, the largest sum that the state has brought in by itself in opioid-related litigation.
7 Things to do in Howard County, from the Festival of India to celebrating grandparents
Seven things to do in Howard County from Thursday Sept. 18 through Wednesday Sept. 24.
Sep 18, 2025
Youth performers pose for pictures on stage before performing during the Festival of India at the Howard County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 in West Friendship, MD.
Peach and eggplant sculptures stir unexpected drama in Ellicott City
In Ellicott City, the placement of a peach sculpture has sparked controversy, while a nearby eggplant sculpture was accepted by the Howard County Historic Preservation Commission.
Sep 18, 2025
The peach sculpture by Jan Kirsh, currently on display outside of Georgia Grace Cafe on Main Street in Ellicott City.
A backpack of teenage angst: Some Howard County middle schoolers don’t like new rules
Select Howard County middle schools aren’t allowing students to carry backpacks from class to class. The teenagers have thoughts.
Sep 11, 2025
The backpacks of middle school students in class at Nottingham Middle School hang on their chairs on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 in Rosedale, MD.
Can’t afford to buy a home in Howard County? New census data offers some clues why
New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau suggests a harsh reality: it’s never been harder for young families to move to Howard County.
Sep 11, 2025
Julius Warren Jr., Black-owned barbershop owner, was an institution in Howard County
Julius Warren Jr., who owned what is believed to be the first Black-owned barbershop in Howard County, dies at 87
Sep 9, 2025
Julius Warren, Sr. poses for a portrait in Elkridge, October 2, 2024. Warren opened Howard County’s first Black-owned barbershop.
After 54 years, Howard County Police identify woman in county’s oldest cold case
Howard County Police have identified their Jane Doe in a 1971 cold case as Sarah Sharkey.
Sep 4, 2025
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball speaks Thursday at a news conference outside the county police station about the department's identification of a woman in a 1971 cold case.
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