Housing Resource Fair

By PRESS OFFICER
UCAP

United Communities Against Poverty (UCAP) will be hosting a housing resource fair on Wednesday, August 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. UCAP is Prince George County’s leading anti-poverty agency. This event is a day dedicated to empowering residents with the tools and information they need to navigate the changing housing landscape. Whether you’re buying, selling, renting or facing foreclosure, you can receive expert advice and resources. Meet with certified housing counselors, employment resources, estate planning, energy assistance and many more. Participate in sessions on topics such as mortgage readiness, credit repair and affordable housing. UCAP is located at 1400 Doewood Lane in Capitol Heights, Maryland. This event is free and open to all.

For more information contact 301-322-5700 ext 172 or email jglover@ucappgc.org.

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Prince George’s County Animal Services Facility and Adoption Center Joins NBC4’s Clear the Shelters Pet Adoption & Donation Campaign This August
The Nationwide initiative has led to nearly 1.2 million adoptions & raised more than $5 million.

By PRESS OFFICER
Department of the Environment

LARGO, Md. (July 31, 2025)—The Prince George’s County Animal Services Facility and Adoption Center (ASFAC) has partnered with NBCUniversal, NBC4’s annual Clear the Shelters pet adoption and donation campaign, which runs from August 1 through August 31, along with an extended fundraising effort until September 15.

As part of the nationwide initiative, NBC and Telemundo stations partner with local animal shelters and rescue organizations to promote pet adoption and raise funds that support animal welfare. Since its start in 2015, Clear the Shelters has helped nearly 1.2 million pets find new homes and has raised over $5 million for participating shelters and rescues.?

“We are excited to once again partner in the Clear the Shelters initiative this August. It allows us to showcase our amazing shelter pets to a larger audience, helping them find loving, forever homes,” said David Fisher, Chief and Administrator of the Animal Services Division.

Greater Good Charities, a global nonprofit and longtime campaign partner, will once again oversee the Clear the Shelters fundraising effort. Donations to the general fund are accepted now through September 15, while contributions to individual shelters can be made from August 1 to 31 at ClearTheSheltersFund.org.
 
Virtual pet adoptions continue for the seventh consecutive year through WeRescue, which enables website and app users to browse adoptable pets by breed, gender, size, and other factors, submit applications, and ask shelters questions. Hill's Pet Nutrition, a global leader in science-based pet nutrition, remains the campaign’s national sponsor for the eighth straight year. For more details about Clear the Shelters, including participating animal shelters and rescues and information on local events, visit ClearTheShelters.com and the Spanish-language site DesocuparlosAlbergues.com.

To learn more about ASFAC, visit www.princegeorgespets4us.com

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Governor Moore Announces Five Judicial Appointments for Prince George’s and Harford Counties

By PRESS OFFICER
Office of the Governor

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Aug. 1, 2025)—Governor Wes Moore today announced the appointment of the Honorable Stacey Maria Cobb Smith and the Honorable Donnaka Varner Lewis to the Prince George’s County Circuit Court; Sherrie Waldrup and Melissa Alesia Pryce to the Prince George’s County District Court; and Donald Foster Walter, Jr. to the Harford County District Court.

Governor Moore’s five appointees include:

The Honorable Stacey Maria Cobb Smith

The Honorable Stacey Cobb Smith was appointed to the Prince George’s County District Court in 2020. Prior to her appointment to the bench, Judge Cobb Smith was a prosecutor with the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office for her entire 12-year legal career, serving for four years as chief of the major crimes unit.

Judge Cobb Smith received her law degree from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law.

The Honorable Donnaka Varner Lewis
 
The Honorable Donnaka Varner Lewis has served as an associate judge for the Prince George’s County District Court since 2016. Prior to her appointment to the district court, Judge Lewis served 12 years as an assistant state’s attorney for Prince George’s County. As an assistant state’s attorney, Judge Lewis was also chief of the office’s district court division, where she supervised 14 attorneys who prosecuted misdemeanor cases in district court.

Judge Lewis received her law degree from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law. She is also a graduate of American University, where she received her master’s degree in psychology, and Hampton University, where she received her undergraduate degree.

Sherrie Waldrup

Sherrie Waldrup is currently the chief of both the homicide unit and the strategic investigations unit in the Prince George’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, where she has spent the majority of her career. She began as an assistant state’s attorney in the district court division in 2008 and has been a homicide prosecutor for the past nine years. Immediately after graduating from law school, Waldrup worked for the civil division of the U.S. Department of Justice. She has also served as an associate county attorney with the litigation division of the Prince George’s County Office of Law.

Waldrup is a graduate of Duke University and the Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri.

Melissa Alesia Pryce

Melissa Pryce has been a public defender for most of her 18-year legal career. In October 2021, Pryce became the first Black district public defender for Prince George’s County after serving as the deputy district public defender for two years. Prior to serving as deputy district public defender, Pryce was a supervising attorney in the felony trial unit and was designated as one of six homicide attorneys. Before joining the public defender’s office, Pryce spent three years as an associate with Largo-based law firm Henry & Associates.

Pryce earned her law degree from the Howard University School of Law and earned her undergraduate degrees from the University of Florida.

Donald Foster Walter, Jr.

Donald Walter, Jr. has served as counsel to the National Security Agency for the past two years. As an attorney in the National Security Agency General Counsel’s Office, he handled criminal and civil litigation. Prior to joining the National
 
Security Agency, Walter spent his career as a prosecutor working in both Baltimore City and Harford County, spending six years as chief of the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office Juvenile Division. As a prosecutor, Walter served in Harford County for seven years in both the district and circuit court divisions, and in Baltimore City for two years.

Walter has also served in the Maryland Army National Guard for more than 14 years, including assignments as a Platoon Leader in the 1-175th Infantry, platoon trainer in the Maryland Officer Candidate School Program, company commander of the 253rd Engineer Company (Sapper), and air and missile defense chief of the 291st Theater Liaison Detachment.

Walter received his law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law. He also earned a Master of Science in cyber security policy and management from the University of Maryland and holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Hampden-Sydney College.

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