Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates Nights out may be taking a backseat as Americans appear to be embracing a new social trend centered around staying in and skipping the pressure of dressing up were also among the most commonly cited benefits According to a new survey conducted by Talker Research on behalf of Air Wick those who prefer hosting friends at home significantly outnumber those who opt for a night on the town the poll of 2,000 Americans found that nearly three-quarters of respondents lean toward gathering with friends in the comfort of their own homes Half said this shift in preference has taken place in just the past few years Respondents cited a range of reasons for this change from saving money to creating a more relaxed environment A majority of participants say a pleasant scent plays a big role in setting the tone for a home gathering with many admitting they actively think about how their home smells before hosting “With more Americans opting for home gatherings meaningful connections and subtle touches like a pleasant home fragrance or ambient lighting are becoming the new priorities for socializing,” said Julia Mellberg the average host spends more than two hours preparing their space before guests arrive and setting a welcoming atmosphere — with scent and lighting topping the ambiance checklist home gatherings also scored high on emotional connection Many respondents said they feel more at ease during a night in and are more likely to have meaningful conversations Some of the biggest stressors reported by home hosts include cleaning or managing social dynamics also made the list As for what makes a night in truly enjoyable Top essentials cited by survey participants included good food and drinks Whether it’s a casual movie night or a more elaborate celebration survey respondents agreed: creating the right vibe makes all the difference ChristianaCare Imaging Services at Perryville is moving ChristianaCare will consolidate its Imaging Services location in Perryville with services at Elkton to offer convenient new “We continually evaluate our services to ensure we’re meeting the needs of the community As we’ve seen demand for imaging services increasing in Elkton and declining in Perryville this change just made sense,” said Joan Pirrung interim president of ChristianaCare Cecil County campus “By consolidating our Imaging Services at our Elkton location we’re able to serve more patients and offer convenient new evening and weekend hours which makes it easier for people to fit their appointments into their busy lives.” The last day patients will be seen at the Perryville location is June 20 the new hours at the Elkton location will be Monday – Saturday ChristianaCare Imaging Services at Elkton offers CT/CTA ELKTON, VA (Rocktown Now) — Elkton Police have arrested a 25-year-old martial arts instructor for an alleged inappropriate relationship with a minor Police stated in a release that it was reported that Jarod Vaughan Driver was in a relationship with an underage female and after an extensive and ongoing investigation he was arrested.adButlerLazyLoad("1249421182956075462",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034"); During the early stages of the investigation multiple search warrants were executed at a business in Elkton and at Driver’s residence and multiple electronic devices were seized Forensic examinations were conducted relating to the devices and numerous obscene images of a juvenile were recovered Driver has been arrested and charged 4 felony counts of taking indecent liberties with child by person in custodial or supervisory relationship and 3 felony counts of possession and facilitation of child pornography.adButlerLazyLoad("1499618480866993044",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034"); Driver is being held without bond at the Rockingham County Regional Jail Jacquelynn first started as a part time news anchor and reporter for WSVA in 2022 Before the launch of Rocktown Now in April of 2024 she was Assistant Editor and then became Editor-in-Chief in November of 2024 VDOT is seeking feedback on a transportation study assessing potential solutions on Route 42 (Virginia Avenue) between Gay Street and the Harrisonburg city limit the RHSPCA Pets of the Week sponsored by Bob Wade Subaru The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office responded to multiple calls Monday morning about a Staunton individual which led to him being unresponsive in-custody Showers and thunderstorm will be possible again today Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again ELKTON, VA (Rocktown Now) – The Elkton Police Department is investigating an attempted break-in at Countryside Sporting Goods the photos were taken from a camera located inside of the business.adButlerLazyLoad("1889683035071924470",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034"); If anyone can recognize this subject or has information regarding the break-in Carolynn graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Media Arts and Design with a concentration in Journalism She is the Assistant Editor of Rocktown Now as of January 2025 — Wendy's restaurants around the country are undergoing new remodeling One of them happens to be nearby in Elkton the first 100 customers in line to buy something will get a VIP voucher for a year's worth of free food There's only a few things you need to know.. Customers have to be at least 16-years-old in order to get a ticket The coupon is valid once a week for an entire year at the E Flynn Restaurant Group recently remodeled another Wendy's in Annapolis, on West Street This latest location is expected to employ 45 people Lawyers dropped a bombshell for Americans at a town hall in Elkton saying every American should get their water tested for PFAS which can cause cancer and other health issues They also gave residents two major updates on a class-action lawsuit that has been going on for two years with the iconic American company Gore-Tex "Is this exposure why we kept losing babies?" Asks Taylor O'Bryan "Have I just sentenced my daughter to a lifetime of health illnesses?" VIDEO: Elkton community speaking out against PFAS linked to cancer in water And they showed up in force to find out if the reason they are sick is because of W.L "We have the right to know what's going on with our body and to be educated about our body," O'Bryan said "To be prepared when we welcome these babies that we have wanted our whole lives and now to look and them and go 'I don't know if you're going to have cancer.'" The first update is the World Health Organization announcing PFAS causes cancer and a host of other health issues in a 700-page study Lawyers at the town hall are saying that the chemicals are highly toxic a Baltimore judge ruled earlier in the week that a larger area of contamination and more people can participate in the class-action suit "So our case went from just the Cherry Hill case it's been amended with the court's approval to include Fairhill and Appleton," said Philip Federico a partner with Brockstedt Mandalas Federico who represents the class action plaintiffs Philip Federico speaks about PFAS linked to cancer in water He says that every American should get their water tested SEE MORE: Maryland sues Gore-Tex for use of forever chemicals in the area should get their water tested," Federico said no one knows when the judge is expected to rule on the lawsuit W.L. Gore has denied the accusations in the class-action and federal lawsuits. They have information on their clean-up efforts here as well as their efforts to supply drinkable water to Elkton's residents You can watch the full town hall here as the Bureau of Prisons last week announced the elimination of retention bonuses and other incentives to prison workers ELKRUN TOWNSHIP — As Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) continues slashing through federal agencies the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) remains in the cross hairs What that means for the 35,952 people including or the several hundred employees at the Elkton Federal Correctional Institution is unclear What is clear is that FCI Elkton staff will see a decrease in salary and incentives pressure by DOGE to increase efficiency and reduce economic burden led to the BOP under the Trump administration’s direction to eliminate or cut in half retention bonuses for prison workers According to the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) its Council of Prison Locals 33 and AFGE Local 607 which represents 333 federal employees at the FCI Elkton retention bonuses also known as “stay bonuses” — a one-time lump sum payment offered by a company to an employee as an incentive to stay with the company — are a crucial in solving prison staffing issues The retention pay adds between 10% and 25% to an employee’s salary An entry level correction officer at a federal institution earns just $49,739 annually AFGE National President Everett Kelley lashed out via press release at BOP’s decision to reduce or eliminate the special recruitment tactics that keep prisons staffed “Correctional officers and staff have one of the most difficult and dangerous jobs in the federal government,” Kelly said “They are also tremendously underpaid which is why the Bureau of Prisons has had to offer this additional pay to recruit and retain qualified employees.” Council of Prison Locals 33 National President Brandy Moore White reverberated the importance of retention bonuses “This decision will have far-reaching consequences for the dedicated employees who remain in one of the most difficult high-risk jobs in the country,” Moore said in a statement “These professionals work long hours under strenuous conditions The BOP has relied on retention incentives to help make up for the hardships they face.” Moore said stay bonuses “has been the only mechanism to recruit and retain individuals over the last year” and reiterated that prison employees “are working in extremely difficult and understaffed conditions.” She added that taking away the retention bonus was “not just a financial blow” but a “blow to morale.” That morale had already taken a hit last month when employees at FCI Elkton and federal corrections officers across the country received emails — a DOGE directive — that mandated all federal employees to provide “a five bullet-point list” of recent accomplishments in their positions or risk being terminated reiterating the demand for five bullet points Musk later posted on X that failure to provide the list would be considered a resignation “FCI Elkton staff did receive Musk’s ‘five-things email,'” said Sarah Dees Executive Assistant Public Information Office at FCI Elkton “FCI Elkton takes seriously our duty to protect the individuals entrusted in our custody We deeply value the work our employees do every day and we are committed to protecting jobs and minimizing the impact on our workforce FCI Elkton will continue to monitor the situation and adjust as needed to ensure the agency can continue fulfilling its vital mission while supporting its dedicated employees.” citing “sensitive nature of their work” told federal corrections employees to not to reply to the email BOP told employees to reply with the following message: “I hold a law enforcement position and cannot respond as to my accomplishments last week as disclosure of my duties may compromise institution security or operations and as such is considered law enforcement sensitive.” While it is unlikely those employed at FCI Elkton or any the 122 federal prisons will be on the DOGE chopping block — an estimated 20,000 federal employees have been terminated to date with an additional 75,000 opting to take a buyout — the reduction of bonuses and other incentives coupled with scrutiny from DOGE has already led to a mass exodus of federal corrections staff FCC Hazelton — located in Clarksburg West Virginia and considered one of the deadliest federal prisons in the United States — had 86 of its correctional officers resign within two days of BOP’s announcement that retention bonuses would be slashed As of Wednesday there were 338 current openings in the federal prison system according to USAJOBS.com — a website of the U.S The resignations and cost-cutting measures are exacerbating federal detention capabilities that are already spread thin BOP announced the closure of seven federal prisons the BOP told The Associated Press that the bureau was assisting the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement by housing detainees “Cutting their salaries makes zero sense — especially now as they are being required to take on the added responsibility of housing undocumented immigrants detained by the Department of Homeland Security,” Kelley said “I call on the Trump administration to reverse this foolhardy decision and to work with Congress to provide BOP with the funding it needs to keep our prisons staffed and our workers there safe.” FCI Elkton was completed in 1997 and opened the same year The low-security male prison has 16 buildings and an adjacent satellite prison camp that houses low and minimum-security male inmates WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Friday to clear the way for Elon Musk ’s .. The American Cancer Society’s annual Relay For Life will take place May 10 in Warren and will feature teams and .. Copyright © 2025 Ogden News Publishing of Ohio | https://www.morningjournalnews.com | 308 Maple Street ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, VA (Rocktown Now) – Rockingham County Public School officials say they have taken several safety initiatives at Elkton Elementary School after discovering that an unauthorized individual had accessed a crawlspace within the building.adButlerLazyLoad("2414394247353342172",100,["688446","688446","688446"],"177034"); In an e-mail sent to Elkton Elementary School families the comprehensive safety measure that were implemented include additional building locks secured all potential entry points to the area and increased security surveillance on school grounds The e-mail also stated that the school division notified law enforcement of the situation and is working closely with them to ensure the continued safety of the school community officials assure everyone that they have taken swift and thorough action to address the situation Anyone with questions, should contact the Elkton Elementary School office at (540) 298-1511 ELKTON, Md. — A huge mixed-use development in Elkton Southfields of Elkton will bring more than 600 houses and apartments and recreational space to 630 acres off of Route 213 in Elkton The development is owned by Stonewall Capital, which is also working on "One Westport," a large redevelopment of the Patapsco River waterfront in south Baltimore just bought 12 acres of the Southfields project lease or develop retail uses at Southfields Southfields is planned to have 350 single-family houses It will have four industrial/warehouse buildings - one of which Senior Vice President of MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services He also noted that "medical and healthcare groups are expanding to the suburbs to be closer to where their patients live so these groups will be a high priority [for the development]." Ground was broken on the Southfields project this past fall