The Morning News Express

🏆 ICYMI: DoGood-er Awards Founder Caressa Peterson Joins the Morning News Express

Bob Miller welcomed Caressa Peterson, founder and coordinator of the DoGood-er Awards, to the Morning News Express to preview this year's celebration of the people making a difference throughout Frederick County.

Founded in 2014, the DoGood-er Awards recognize the everyday heroes who give their time, energy and talents to help others. Honorees come from across the community, with categories recognizing volunteers, young people, businesses, educators, public servants, military members, nonprofits and unsung heroes.

Caressa talks with Bob about how the awards got started, what goes into selecting the honorees and why recognizing people who quietly give back can have such a positive impact on the entire community.

And Bob knows the DoGood-er Awards pretty well! After being honored with an award himself last year, Bob returns this year as the keynote speaker for the annual ceremony, taking place Thursday, Oct. 8.

The event also gives back, with proceeds helping support local nonprofits and community organizations throughout Frederick County.

🎧 Missed the conversation? Listen to Bob Miller's full interview with Caressa Peterson and hear more about this year's DoGood-er Awards anytime on the Morning News Express podcast feed.

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🏛️ ICYMI: Maryland House of Delegates District 4 Candidate Jason Keckler Joins the Morning News Express

Bob Miller welcomed Jason Keckler, Republican candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 4, to the Morning News Express to discuss his campaign and the priorities he would bring to Annapolis. Keckler advanced from the Republican primary and is on the general-election ballot for one of District 4's three delegate seats.

Keckler talks with Bob about his focus on public safety and law enforcement, including juvenile and repeat offenders, violent crime, drug enforcement and school safety. He also discusses his support for victims' rights and Second Amendment rights.

The conversation also turns to mental health and substance use, issues Keckler has advocated on personally and professionally. His platform calls for expanded behavioral health treatment and support, along with addressing substance use across Maryland.

Keckler also discusses education and fiscal responsibility, including vocational and trade opportunities, school choice, parental access to curriculum information, government spending and his approach to taxes, regulations and fees affecting Maryland residents and businesses.

🎧 Missed the conversation? Listen to Bob Miller's full interview with Jason Keckler anytime on the Morning News Express podcast feed.

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🏢 ICYMI: Frederick County Executive Candidate Jeff Holtzinger Calls Into the Morning News Express

Republican candidate for Frederick County Executive Jeff Holtzinger called into Bob Miller on the Morning News Express with more to say about Frederick County's handling of data center development.

This time, Holtzinger focused his criticism on County Executive Jessica Fitzwater and her administration's handling of the Critical Digital Infrastructure Overlay Zone.

Holtzinger argued that the administration hired a public relations firm to help promote the overlay proposal to Frederick County residents, and contended that county leaders changed course after the proposal failed to receive the public response they expected.

His message to the current administration was straightforward: he believes county leaders need to acknowledge where they got it wrong and take responsibility for how the process was handled.

The county has described its approach differently, saying its data center policies have evolved in response to public input, changing industry conditions and concerns about the impact of development. The county subsequently paused new data center applications, and on Sept. 14, Fitzwater rejected the proposed DRRA for the Frederick Digital Campus and extended that pause until July 1, 2027.

🎙️ Hear Holtzinger explain why he believes the county's approach to the data center overlay went wrong, why he's critical of the administration's public messaging, and what he believes county leaders should do now.

🎧 Missed it? Listen to Bob Miller's full conversation with Jeff Holtzinger anytime on the Morning News Express podcast feed.

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🌎 ICYMI: Centro Hispano de Frederick Executive Director Dr. Suzanne Salichs Joins the Morning News Express

Bob Miller welcomed Dr. Suzanne M. Salichs, Executive Director of Centro Hispano de Frederick, to the Morning News Express to talk about the organization and the work it does throughout the Frederick County community.

Dr. Salichs joined Centro Hispano in June 2024, bringing years of experience in nonprofit administration, public service, grant management and organizational development. She also holds a Ph.D. in leadership and higher education and a master's degree in public administration.

Founded in 2006, Centro Hispano de Frederick works to bridge cultural and language barriers while helping Hispanic, immigrant and limited-English-proficiency residents become connected and contributing members of the Frederick County community.

Dr. Salichs talks with Bob about the people they serve and the wide range of resources Centro Hispano provides, including educational programs, legal assistance and senior enrichment, along with the organization's continued growth after nearly two decades in Frederick.

🎧 Missed the conversation? Listen to Bob Miller's full interview with Dr. Suzanne Salichs anytime on the Morning News Express podcast feed.

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⚾ ICYMI: Frederick American Little League President Rick Wilson Joins the Morning News Express

Bob Miller welcomed Rick Wilson, longtime President of Frederick American Little League (FALL), to the Morning News Express to talk about his decades of involvement with youth baseball and his dedication to generations of young players in the Frederick community.

Wilson has been involved with FALL for more than 25 years, beginning as a coach in 1998 and eventually becoming president — a position he has now held for well over 15 years.

But being president has never meant sitting behind a desk. Wilson has taken a true do-it-all approach, whether it's coaching, umpiring, maintaining the fields, cleaning facilities, stocking concessions or doing whatever else needs to be done to keep the league running.

Wilson also shares his own lifelong connection to baseball, including how his love for the game helped shape his path before he ultimately found his passion in coaching, mentoring young players and giving back to the community through Frederick American Little League.

🎧 Missed the conversation? Listen to Bob Miller's full interview with Rick Wilson anytime on the Morning News Express podcast feed.

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🏛️ ICYMI: Frederick Mayor Michael O'Connor Joined Bob Miller on the Morning News Express

City of Frederick Mayor Michael O'Connor joined Bob Miller on the Morning News Express for a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from one of Frederick's biggest traditions to several major issues facing City Hall.

🎡 O'Connor talked about being a lifetime member of The Great Frederick Fair and what the Fair has meant to him and the Frederick community over the years.

The conversation also turned to the ethics controversy involving City Council Vice President Katie Nash, with O'Connor discussing the allegations and scrutiny surrounding his own actions and offering his perspective on the matter. The City Ethics Commission is responsible for determining complaints alleging violations of Frederick's ethics law.

O'Connor also addressed the recent ICE operation in Frederick, saying he wants an investigation into the actions and tactics used by federal immigration officers during the encounter. Members of Maryland's congressional delegation and other organizations have separately called for an independent investigation into the September 3–4 operation.

🎧 Missed it this morning? Listen to Bob Miller's full conversation with Mayor Michael O'Connor anytime on the Morning News Express podcast feed.

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🏢 ICYMI: Frederick County Executive Candidate Jeff Holtzinger Joined Bob Miller on the Morning News Express

Republican candidate for Frederick County Executive Jeff Holtzinger joined Bob Miller this morning on the Morning News Express to discuss one of the biggest issues facing Frederick County — data center development.

Holtzinger raised questions about the proposed Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreement (DRRA) and questioned why the incumbent county executive’s chief of staff was involved in handling negotiations, asking, “Who is negotiating these things?”

Holtzinger also said he feels the entire data center debate has been “an election ploy from start to finish,” and argued that county leaders need to read the agreements, understand the details and know all the facts before making major decisions.

🎧 Missed it this morning? Listen to Bob Miller’s full conversation with Frederick County Executive candidate Jeff Holtzinger anytime on the Morning News Express podcast feed.

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🏢 ICYMI: Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater Joined Bob Miller on the Morning News Express

Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater joined Bob Miller this morning on the Morning News Express for a conversation about one of the biggest issues facing the county — data center development.

Fitzwater addressed criticism over what some have characterized as an about face when it came to the 110M dollars that the county said was good, then changed their stance.

Also, the County has been accused that they signed a NDA (Non Disclosure Agreement) with Rowan  concerning a project called Bauxite. Executive Fitzwater said no one has signed an agreement. 

🎧 Missed it this morning? Listen to Bob Miller’s full conversation with County Executive Jessica Fitzwater anytime on the Morning News Express podcast feed.

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🏛️ ICYMI: County Council Candidate Chaz Packan Joins the Morning News Express

Bob Miller welcomed Chaz Packan, candidate for Frederick County Council District 4, to the Morning News Express to discuss his campaign and issues facing Frederick County. Packan’s campaign site identifies him as a District 4 candidate.

Packan talked about why he wants to “restore District 4” and what he hopes to do if elected.

The conversation also covered data-center development. Packan explained his position on the issue and discussed his decision to sign a petition related to it.

Packan also shared his thoughts on the recent appearance of federal immigration officers in Frederick City.

🎧 Missed the conversation? Listen to the full interview anytime on the Morning News Express podcast feed.

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David Marcus, columnist for Fox News Digital. Gave WFMD a real big shout out on the Fox News Round up that airs in the 5am hour.

Read the full story in link below:
DAVID MARCUS: Congress set to protect AM radio and American discourse

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