Good morning, Rockville.

NASA astronaut Chris Williams, a Montgomery Blair High alum from Potomac, will land on the Kazakh steppe Sunday at 6:25 a.m. Eastern Time after eight months aboard the ISS, with NASA streaming the event and planned post-flight medical evaluations at Johnson Space Center.

Students at Montgomery Knolls Elementary join a summer reading challenge where masked staff read books while dropping clues about their identity.

The event inspires detective work and guesses all season, leading to a festive Reveal Assembly.

At Seneca Valley High School, Montgomery County Public Schools celebrated over 1,000 students and 240 partner organizations on Thursday, July 23 — an event where rising juniors and seniors earned a $500 stipend and networked with local leaders as part of the Summer RISE program.

MCPS announced Friday it will cover all Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exam fees for the 2026-2027 school year after reversing earlier internal talks.

The decision applies to students meeting state criteria (including those on Free And Reduced Meals) and ensures no fees will be charged.

Community leaders urge Montgomery County Public Schools to focus on student outcomes after a report found that current budgeting practices harm Black and Latino students.

Councilmember Will Jawando said the Education and Culture Committee will address the report in the fall while MCPS defended its policies (citing Title VI obligations).

Environmental advocates urged the county to approve an 18-month moratorium on data center development and zoning changes that block projects over 25 MW to help meet climate goals and protect water resources.

Montgomery County Council will vote on the proposals Tuesday.

Montgomery County is set to purchase the White’s Ferry property for $1.5 million as officials work to reopen the historic ferry that closed in December 2020.

They hope the move will cut travel times for local residents & solve legal issues on the Virginia side.

Learn to Code in Python & AI Adventures

9 a.m. - 4 p.m. — Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville — Cost info not specified — Explore Python and AI through creative comic quests and videos in a fun learning environment.

An Evening of Chicago Blues with Wayne Baker Brooks

8-10:30 p.m. — Hank Dietle's Tavern — $30 — Experience high-energy Chicago blues with guitar powerhouse Wayne Baker Brooks.