I spy a @pwoodreporter.bsky.social
Reporter for The Banner in Montgomery County @bannermoco.bsky.social, covering government, politics, etc. I have a lot of questions. past Bethesda Today, The Daily Progress. Always University of Mary Washington. she/her. 🌈
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I spy a @pwoodreporter.bsky.social
My colleague Talia Richman dug into the new MoCo MCAP scores and what they mean for MCPS: www.thebanner.com/montgomery-c...
Sign up for updates on our Montgomery County newsroom launch here: www.thebanner.com/montgomery-c...
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You’re so kind! Thank you!
MoCo can't get rid of me easily! 😊
In additional news, I now live significantly closer to your store... which will be dangerous for me 🤣
Thank you Carolyn! Great to see you last night.
Ha! You knew Montgomery County wasn't getting rid of me easily 😊
Add me to your lists and send news tips to my new email ginny.bixby@thebanner.com (if you already have my cell, it’s the same number)
Hardest secret I’ve ever had to keep — today is my first day as the Montgomery County Government and Politics Reporter for Baltimore Banner’s new Montgomery County bureau! I couldn’t be more excited to join this incredible team while continuing to cover the county. Stay tuned for our launch date! 🗞️
Thanks for everything, Bethesda Today! 🥲 Montgomery County, you haven’t seen the last of me yet ❤️
My last story for Bethesda Today. Thanks, as always, for reading. 🥲 bethesdamagazine.com/2025/08/20/a...
My last story for Bethesda Today. Thanks, as always, for reading. 🥲 bethesdamagazine.com/2025/08/20/a...
You are free!!
this place was a lifesaver when I lived there. also, in the infamous 2024 fire, I remember everyone ran in there to get coffee/water/warm up from the cold so weird to see it leaving
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in...Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
This is incredibly kind. Thank you ❤️
More about my next steps soon, but for now I can share that I won’t be going far. Stay tuned. 😊
After three rewarding years at Bethesda Today, it’s bittersweet to share that I will be leaving Wednesday for another opportunity. I am so grateful to my editors and colleagues who I have learned so much from in this small but mighty newsroom, and to this community that has given me so much trust.
How do you solve a problem like a trash incinerator? That's what the Montgomery County government is trying to figure out -- as well as how to stop hauling our trash to a landfill in a low income neighborhood in Henrico County, Virginia: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/08/06/t...
Sometimes in the midst of the county government craziness, I get to have fun! I wrote about Laurel Leaf, my favorite new shop in Takoma Park, for the magazine. If you love plants, books, and unique decor as much as I do, you might want to watch your wallet 👀 bethesdamagazine.com/2025/08/05/t...
50 people in Silver Spring have been displaced from their homes after a water main break caused by Purple Line construction flooded an apartment complex. County officials I spoke to said they're frustrated with how construction continues to impact the community: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/08/05/p...
Everyone should read this very cool article about a very cool topic that I am a giant nerd about:
Water cremation might sound like sci-fi. But Lily Buerkle and Adrian Gardner, who started a green funeral business, say it's a more environmentally sustainable and even physically gentler way to handle death, and a new bill could legalize it in Montgomery County. bethesdamagazine.com/2025/08/01/w...
It sounds like she truly had an impact on so many people.
Wow, you knew Andrea! Thank you for sharing the story.
Andrea is one of many of Montgomery County residents impacted by federal agency cuts. Andrea was awarded "MVP" by NIH in 2021 for her job performance. But now, her mother is covering her expenses, and navigating a process that is not built for disabled people. bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/29/d...
Andrea Geller, a Rockville resident with intellectual and developmental disabilities, worked in the mailroom at NIH for more than 30 years before she was laid off in April under DOGE cuts. Now she's unemployed, and struggling to find an accomodating job. bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/29/d...
Sara Habein, a mother of two in Montana, recently learned that she has cysts in her brain. Every six months, her doctors check that the cysts aren’t growing. If she didn’t have Medicaid, she's not sure what she would do. Now, Trump’s “one big, beautiful” law threatens her coverage.
Councilmembers on both sides of the issue have bemoaned the spread of misinformation about the workforce housing zoning change passed in Montgomery County on Tuesday. Here's what you need to know about what it actually does: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/24/w...
I cackled
I didn't specify Maryland because I cover this county almost exclusively and most of my followers are from there/other parts of the Washington, D.C. region! Glad to see my reporting is getting out there enough that the other Montgomery Counties are seeing it, though! 😅 And cool history lesson!
After months of public input sessions and controversy, the Montgomery County Council has passed the workforce housing zoning change: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/22/w...
bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/22/w...
The Montgomery County Council has voted 8-3 to pass the workforce housing zoning text amendment, part of the More Housing N.O.W. legislative package. Jawando, Katz and Mink dissented. This is a developing story, article from me to come shortly.
SOURCE CALL OUT: Looking to talk to Rockville residents who are impacted or feel strongly by the City Council's decision to not take up rent stabilization this year. Message me here or email me ginny.bixby@bethesdamagazine.com
Hi Forest! I’ve written several stories about this proposal, including the GGWash poll. The quotes included in this story intend to reflect a variety of arguments on multiple sides of the issue. As a news reporter, I do not comment or take a public position on legislation. Thank you for reading!
Hi Ben! The quotes I share are quotes that were shared at a public hearing. They don’t reflect a personal argument or opinion on my behalf or the behalf of councilmembers. They intend to illustrate the types of arguments being made by people in support and opposed to the legislation.
Today, the Montgomery County Council will vote on a zoning change that would increase the amount of housing allowed in certain zones along the county’s transit corridors – a proposal that has generated a significant amount of controversy among residents. bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/21/w...
Not MoCo, but a brilliant story from @rkobell.bsky.social on how a legacy of segregation is why Baltimore County has no public swimming pools. Phenomenal reporting www.thebaltimorebanner.com/community/lo...
I have zero qualifications other than spirit, grit, and an obsession with A League of Their Own
Just throwing it out there To Whom It May Concern that my new dream is playing on the press corps team for the Congressional Women's Softball Game
Rep. Jamie Raskin says his office has seen an “extraordinary increase” in correspondence from his Montgomery County constituents since Trump’s inauguration, ranging from laid-off federal workers to families who are worried they will lose SNAP benefits. bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/17/r...
Tell me about it
A year and two months after I covered the infamous "Wet Dreams" mansion pool party that took place over Memorial Day weekend in Potomac, the Montgomery County Council passed that cracks down on illegal commercial house parties: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/15/i...
Legislation passed by the Montgomery County Council today will give laid off federal workers preference when applying for county government jobs: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/15/f...
Time to catch up on endorsements in the Montgomery County Executive race: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/15/p...
They were a bright light on this earth and I am forever grateful to them for their words that have brought me through so much. May their memory be a blessing. I highly recommend exploring some of their work in their honor today. I first discovered them through this one youtu.be/g20xeqjt6bA?...
My favorite poet, Andrea Gibson, has died. While I never got to meet Andrea or see them speak, their poetry has had a profound impact on my life. Their quote “the truth may not be hopeful, but the telling of it is” lives on the bulletin board above my desk to remind me why I do this work in news.
Some positive local news: Silver Spring is getting a Rachel Carson museum, and you can weigh in on what you want from it! My latest: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/14/r...
U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney calls her district a "microcosm of America" - her constituency includes thousands of federal workers, as well as farmers and blue-collar workers. That's why she believes the "Big Beautiful Bill" will hurt her district the most: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/11/m...
Believe it or not, Maryland's gubernatorial primary election is less than one year away, and the Montgomery County Council race is already heating up. Here's who we know is running for re-election, who has other plans, and who has yet to publicly confirm: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/10/c...
excuse for a Cville trip!
all those books... a dream!! (also congratulations)
my forever take is that you should not have to fill out a FORM to contact a comms office
that's... bizarre?!?!
Montgomery County Board of Education President Julie Yang enters the race for the County Council District 1 seat: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/07/07/y...
Emerald Isle! My family’s been going there pretty much every year since I was 9 or 10 years old
Also lucky that I can say I highly recommend all three of my beach reads: - Some Strange Music Draws Me In by Griffin Hansbury - Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth - Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
Back from my little journey down south to the beaches of North Carolina! Highlights were reading lots of books on the beach and getting to spend time with my favorite animal up close! 🪼 But I’m back to MoCo and covering everything politics, so send me tips if you’ve got ‘em!
Thank you! ❤️
Thank you!
Yes please! ginny.bixby@bethesdamagazine.com
And with that wild news day in Montgomery County, I’m officially on vacation (so is the County Council, which is not a coincidence) I’ll be back to our regularly scheduled all things MoCo politics programming on July 7!
I talked to local politicians and LGBTQ+ advocates in Montgomery Co about the Mahmoud v. Taylor ruling. A longtime source of mine, an advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in schools, told me his family is pursuing a move to Europe due to this and other fed decisions. bethesdamagazine.com/2025/06/27/r...
I think something important to note about the Mahmoud v. Taylor ruling (as someone who's spent nearly three years on the ground in Montgomery County) is that locals are not happy. While some groups like the county GOP central committee have praised the decision, most politicians are condemning it.
Statement from Montgomery Council President Kate Stewart on Mahmoud v. Taylor
today is truly a wild news day in both my current and previous jurisdiction. So much for a slow summer Friday under this admin...
Departing from the obvious upset to say that Ginny Bixby's coverage of this case for the last two years has been stellar. Without it I would not have been able to write my own article for the National Council of Teachers of English. Appreciate quality local journalism when we need it most.
Thank you so much, Chelsea! This is so kind. ❤️ Also, I would love to read your article!
Statement from Montgomery County Councilmember and County Executive candidate Evan Glass on Mahmoud v. Taylor
Statement from Montgomery County Councilmember Dawn Luedtke on Mahmoud v. Taylor
This is what we expected, but will still bring up a lot of emotions for members of the Montgomery County community. We'll be updating with reactions from local LGBTQ+ leaders and families.
Verdict is out in Mahmoud v. Taylor. From me and @a--campbell.bsky.social: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/06/27/s...
Today, we are anticipating the verdict from SCOTUS in Mahmoud v. Taylor. A lot of ink has been spilled over this case, but it originated in the county I’ve been reporting on for three years. @a--campbell.bsky.social and I will be bringing you the latest today. bethesdamagazine.com/2025/04/22/o...
If you're free tomorrow in the D.C. area, my pal @oriion.bsky.social is on this panel!
I've been slacking on keeping up here because... insane news cycle. But trying to post some recent stories. First up: the controversial workforce housing zoning text amendment is moving forward: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/06/24/t...
BREAKING: Montgomery County Councilmember Andrew Friedson is running for county executive. This official announcement ends months of speculation bethesdamagazine.com/2025/06/11/f...
Breaking from me: Josie Caballero, a policy director at Advocates for Trans Equality and Navy veteran, is running for the Montgomery County Council. If Caballero is elected, she will be the first openly transgender person to hold elected office in Maryland: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/06/10/j...
Here's part 2 in my series about how Trump administration changes are impacted local food banks -- from tariffs to federal workforce layoffs -- bethesdamagazine.com/2025/06/07/t...
After years of advocacy from local queer and trans leaders, Montgomery County will finally have a brick-and-mortar LGBTQ+ resource center, opening later this summer: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/06/05/m...
This is the first in a two-part series I have been reporting about how federal changes are affecting local food banks. Stay tuned for my second article later this week, which will focus on the impact of tariffs and changes to SNAP and grant funding.
I was curious how Trump's order allowing ICE to raid "sensitive areas" affected food pantries - so I looked into it. Turns out, Montgomery County food banks are seeing a decrease in clients despite rising food insecurity rates - largely due to deportation fears: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/06/04/f...
reading that this affects current and former lee employees is…not great. i’d love to know if it’s just LE before they acquired bh media, or after because…yikes.
oh my god
Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich is defending the county after the Trump administration declared it a "sanctuary jurisdiction." I'll be following this story closely and updating throughout the day: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/05/30/e...
A music venue in Boyds, Md. has become a safe space for youth in the rural parts of the D.C. suburbs who want to enjoy and try out live music. But a zoning technicality is threatening its existence: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/05/26/t...
I got the idea for this story from your Do Something column!
Thank you!
Thank you! ❤️
Honored to share that I received a citation from the Maryland General Assembly and Sen. Jeff Waldstreicher’s office for my reporting!
Five things to know about Montgomery County's new budget, which was finalized today: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/05/22/f...
Thank you! ☺️
My dispatch from Will Jawando's county executive campaign kickoff: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/05/22/j...
MoCo never ceases to amaze me
I’ve covered a lot of campaign events in my time, but an endorsement by a Real Housewife is a new one for me
He’s yet to come out to make his speech, but I think we can safely say (as a surprise to literally nobody) that Will Jawando is officially running for Montgomery County Executive
It sucks so bad that nice, hard working journalists at the Chicago Sun-Times are getting yelled at because of a business decision that had nothing to do with them
The Montgomery County Council took a unanimous straw vote today to pass a $7.6 billion budget -- without requiring a tax increase. What you need to know: bethesdamagazine.com/2025/05/15/s...