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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 judge convicts 19-year-old in double shooting near Columbia mall
Emmetson Zeah, 19, was convicted of murder in the shooting deaths of two teenagers near The Mall in Columbia in February 2025.
The Mall in Columbia shopping mall on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
7 things to do in Howard County, from an extended Restaurant Week to ‘Cool Runnings’ showing
Got a case of cabin fever? Here some fun things to do in Howard County, including extended restaurant week and more.
Howard County's winter restaurant week is extended until Feb. 8 because of the recent snow and ice storm.
In Howard County, predicting school snow days is a sport
Howard schools chief Bill Barnes acknowledged last month that it can seem like there’s no rhyme or reason to snow days.
A child sleds down a hill at Lake Elkhorn during a snow day on January 6th, 2025 in Columbia, MD.
From roads to hospitals, how Maryland is preparing for the snowstorm
Here’s how local and state agencies, hospitals and transportation authorities are preparing for the winter storm in Maryland.
A snow plow on St. Paul Avenue on Monday, January 6, 2025.
7 things to do in Howard County, from corvid conundrum to winter farmers market
Seven things to do in Howard County from Thursday Jan. 22 through Wednesday Jan. 28.
Learn how to spot the difference between crows and ravens at the Howard County Conservancy on Saturday.
Howard County officer ID’d in attempted traffic stop preceding crash that killed minor
State investigators identified the Howard County Police officer involved in an attempted traffic stop before a fatal crash involving a juvenile driver in Columbia.
The Howard County Police logo seen outside their headquarters on January 25, 2024.
13 people sent to hospital after fire at Towson apartment building
Baltimore County firefighters responded to a three-alarm apartment fire in Towson Monday night.
The Baltimore County Fire Department responds to a 3-alarm fire at 204 E. Joppa Road in Towson.
Embattled Baltimore County councilman won’t seek a 4th term
Embattled Republican Baltimore County Councilman Todd Crandell is not seeking a fourth term.
Baltimore County Seventh District Councilman Todd Crandell after a Baltimore County Council work session at the Old Baltimore County Courthouse in Towson on July 29, 2025.
Police shoot knife-wielding person during Bolton Hill mental health crisis
Baltimore Police shot a suspect who refused to drop a large knife. The suspect was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police stand on the balcony of a ninth floor apartment while investigating after an officer shot a knife-wielding person at 1111 Park Ave. in Baltimore on Monday.
National Harbor to get its own Las Vegas-style Sphere
Sphere Entertainments wants to build a 6,000 seat capacity venue at the National Harbor.
A rendering showing a Sphere at the National Harbor.
Icy fire truck crash leaves Baltimore firefighters with minor injuries
Responding to call late Sunday night, a Baltimore City fire truck slid into a parked box truck.
Truck 55 sits in the Baltimore City Fire Department station in Pigtown on Thursday, June 29, 2023.
Howard County superintendent’s budget targets struggling students
Howard County Public Schools Superintendent Bill Barnes is proposing a nearly $1.3 billion spending plan.
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.
Howard County immigration attorney tapped for open House seat
Gabriel Moreno is an immigration attorney and CEO of Luminus, a Columbia-based nonprofit that supports immigrants.
The Howard County Democratic Central Committee voted in Gabriel Moreno, an immigration attorney and CEO of Luminus, to fill Del. Vanessa Atterbeary's vacant seat in the Maryland House of Delegates.
7 things to do in Howard County, from making your own terrarium to reading at UnBook Club
Seven things to do in Howard County from Thursday, Jan. 8 to Wednesday, Jan. 14.
Front desk of the Cultivate Garden & Goods in Catonsville, Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
Former Howard County churches and one nearby find new life as antique stores, plant shops
Former churches in Howard County have a new lease on life as antique stores, plant good shops and other small businesses.
Former churches in Howard County, including Hallowed Ground in Oella, have a new lease on life as antique stores, plant goods shops and other small businesses.
3 charged after nearly 50 car break-ins on Christmas Eve in Howard County
Howard County police officers, with the assistance of a drone thermal camera, apprehended three suspects who allegedly broke into roughly 50 cars in the early hours of Christmas Eve.
Howard County police arrested three people after a string of car break-ins on Christmas Eve.
6, not 7, things to do in Howard County, from SplashDown Day to Kwanzaa celebration
Here are seven things to do in Howard County from Thursday Dec. 25 through Wednesday Dec. 31.
Howard County's annual Kwanzaa Celebration is at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center on Saturday, Dec. 27.
From zoning battles to school redistricting, here are Howard County’s top headlines of 2025
Some of the biggest stories in Howard County: From zoning battles, the approval of the new lakefront library, school redistricting and a new inspector general.
Howard County firefighters can use medical cannabis when off duty starting in January
Howard County firefighters can use medical cannabis when they are off duty starting in January.
Howard County firefighters can use medical cannabis off duty starting on January 31, 2026.
Will Howard County give an extra $38 million to fix aging schools?
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball signed off on legislation months ago to allow for county surplus funding to go to the school system. Now he's calling that into question.
Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, left, wrote the County Council on Dec. 10 to confirm nearly $38 million in surplus funds, but stopped short of committing to provide it to the schools, as a recently adopted county bill had stipulated.
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