US Defends Affirmative Action Citing Military
Arguing before the Supreme Court to uphold affirmative action, the government included service academies and civilian institutions alike, noting among other defenses of the inclusive policy: that a diverse officer corps is necessary for national security.
Early Voting Ends Nov. 3
Same-day voter registration is possible at Early Voting locations. Bring documentation proving place of residence. Acceptable forms of documentation include: an MVA-issued driver’s license, ID card or change of address card, or a paycheck, bank statement, utility bill or other government document displaying the voter’s name and new address.
Today Is the Day: Vote
Vote today — Nov. 8, 2022 — or drop off your ballot at an official drop box by 8 pm.
Still Time for Overseas Absentee Ballots for Nov. 8
Service members, their family members, and overseas US citizens voting by absentee ballot still have time to get their votes counted in the Nov. 8, 2022 midterm elections. If you’ve requested the absentee ballot and have yet to receive it, download the Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot, or FWAB, which works as a backup ballot.
Museums Set Year-Round Operating Hours
St. Clement’s Island Museum, Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and the Old Jail Museum will remain open 10am – 5pm year-round beginning Nov. 1, 2022. Drayden African American Schoolhouse will remain closed until spring and the Water Taxi at St. Clement’s Island Museum will cease operations by Oct. 31, 2022, to resume cruises on Maryland Day, March 25, 2023.
Navy Brings Sail Drones to Mid-East Exercise
Three unmanned sail drones, and seven manned ships participated last week in the largest exercise so far of unmanned vessels operating with crewed ships in the Persian Gulf, The Saildrone Explorers, are commercially available watercraft powered by wind and solar panels. The Navy wants them to help patrol the vast waters in the Middle East, through which much of the world’s trade transits.
Meet 29C Delegate Candidate Bill Bates
Meet Bill Bates, unning for St. Mary’s County Delegate, District 29C. Early voting is open in Maryland, election day is Nov. 8, 2022. Districts in Maryland have been changed since the 2020 General Election. Check the maps to see if your address changed districts too.
Register NOW: Naval Aviation Consortium Nov. 1
Learn about the process to join and how to propose solutions to Navy problems. Nov. 1, 2022, 9am to 10am – The Naval Aviation Systems Consortium is holding an overview and Q&A session with industry.
Vet Resource Day Nov. 4 – Free
Veterans Resource Day on Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, from 9am to 2pm at the Univ. of Maryland at Southern Maryland, at 44219 Airport Rd, California, MD 20619. This free event is open to the public with support from Mission BBQ and SMECO.
’22 Early Voting Polls Open in Maryland
Early voting in Maryland begins today, Thursday, Oct. 27 and runs through Thursday, Nov. 3. St. Mary’s has three Early Voting Precincts: Bay District VFD, Lexington Park and also the firehouses in Hollywood and Mechanicsville.



















