ED Doctor Near Columbia, MD

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, the largest Hawaii-based restaurant chain, opened its doors Feb. 21 in Howard County with its plate lunch concept.

COLUMBIA, MD — A Hawaiian barbecue restaurant has continued its growth eastward by opening a new location in Columbia.

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, the largest Hawaii-based restaurant chain, opened its doors Feb. 21 in Howard County. The founders also opened a location in Towson.

Both Maryland restaurants are owned and operated by Mike Wu, who also opened locations in 2024 in Annandale, Virginia, and Rockville, Maryland. Wu’s journey with L&L began in 2015 when his parents met a multi-unit franchisee for the company during a retirement cruise and returned home with the brand’s name written on a slip of paper.

Years later, Wu found that note and felt the pull to join the brand.

“It’s exciting to bring the plate lunch to Towson and Columbia and introduce these communities to a meal that’s both satisfying and familiar,” Wu said. “I’ve always believed that franchising works best when it’s built to scale responsibly. L&L is grounded in consistency, reliability and affordability, values that guide how I lead and build business that last.”

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue started more than 70 years ago as a small shop in Honolulu and was transformed in 1976 when Eddie Flores, Jr., and Johnson Kam acquired the business and expanded it across the Islands. In 1999, they introduced the franchise to the continental U.S. and coined the term “Hawaiian Barbecue” to introduce new audiences to the plate lunch format.

Patrons can order that popular plate lunch, a signature Hawaii meal that includes two scoops of rice, L&L’s housemade macaroni salad and a choice of entrée, a format that has been a staple across the Islands for generations. The plate lunch combines grilled meats and gravies with island-style flavors reflecting Hawaii’s diverse culinary heritage.

Popular choices include:

Dine in, takeout and catering will be available from the 1,740-square-foot restaurant, which is located at 8765 Centre Park Drive, Suite 12A.

Forecasts call for heavy rains, a tornado threat, and 80 mph winds from a powerful storm system set to slam Maryland on Monday.

Updated at 4:15 p.m.

A tornado watch for 16 Maryland counties, plus the city of Baltimore, has been canceled Monday after severe thunderstorms dumped heavy rains on the D.C. region, but that has been replaced in some areas with a flood warning and wind advisory.

Three southbound Interstate 270 lanes in Montgomery County were closed Monday after a band of severe storms pummeled the region with heavy rain. The road closures were in effect on the three southbound right lanes at Tuckerman Lane because of standing water.

A flood warning is in place until 6:30 p.m. for portions of central Maryland, including Montgomery County. Flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations is imminent or occurring, the National Weather Service said. Streams continue to rise due to excess runoff from earlier rainfall. Low-water crossings are inundated with water and may not be passable. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen.

Another half-inch of rainfall is possible in the warned area.

Locations that will seee flooding include: Rockville, Bethesda, American Legion Bridge, Potomac, North Bethesda, and North Potomac.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory that is in effect from 8 p.m. to midnight. West winds of 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 55 mph are expected.

The advisory covers the Washington metropolitan area, northern Virginia, northern, central and southern Maryland. A sudden onset of strong winds are expected behind the cold front this evening.

Sixteen Maryland counties, plus the city of Baltimore, were under a tornado watch Monday as a series of severe thunderstorms that could produce heavy rains, and damaging winds with gusts up to 80 mph are forecast to hit the state, forecasters say.

Many school districts in the area have announced plans to dismiss classes early, including Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, Harford and Baltimore counties.

The tornado watch includes these counties:

Severe storms are expected to hit the Baltimore-D.C. area this afternoon, said NBC Washington. The main threat is expected 3 p.m. through 9 p.m., so prepare for potentially dangerous conditions during the afternoon commute.

Damaging winds and tornadoes will be possible. There’s a level 4 out of 5 threat level for severe weather in much of the area.

“This is one of the most elevated severe weather risk days in several years,” Storm Team4 Meteorologist Chuck Bell said.

"Expect multiple rounds of strong to severe storms today with the front crossing this evening. Have a way to get warnings," the National Weather Service said.

A first round of storms could affect areas west and then north of D.C. between 11 a.m and 1 p.m.; a few could be severe, The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang said Monday. The greatest concern is a probable line of strong to severe storms between 3 and 6 p.m. capable of producing damaging winds and tornadoes.

Strong storms may continue into the evening, especially east of Interstate 95, with a damaging wind and tornado threat, the Post said. Top wind gusts could hit 80 mph. Rain is expected to wrap up between 8 and 10 p.m., when the system sends temperatures crashing and rain may switch to snow between 10 p.m. and midnight.

"Meteorologists are sounding the alarm for a widespread multiday severe risk stretching across the central and eastern United States from Sunday afternoon into Monday," Accuweather said. "Over a dozen states will be at risk for severe thunderstorms."

As thunderstorms move eastward toward the Eastern Seaboard, so will the risk of severe weather. At least 'some' risk for severe thunderstorms is expected from Florida to New York, the private weather service said. AccuWeather meteorologists have upgraded the risk to high from just north of Baltimore to Columbia, South Carolina.

Commuting Concerns

During the day on Monday, heavy rain and winds could cause problems on roads and airports.

"Downpours reducing visibility and causing ponding on roadways can also impact the [Monday] evening commute," Accuweather said. "Ground stops can also occur at airports throughout the region."

Forecasters also warned that a "March Megastorm" — which is expected to bring blizzard conditions to the Midwest on Monday — will likely impact the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

"Wind gusts of 40-60 mph are expected across the central and eastern U.S. Sunday and Monday, from New Mexico to Maine," they say. "These winds alone can create hazardous travel for high-profile vehicles and may bring down tree limbs and power lines, especially in areas already weakened by recent storms."

Snow Later

The cold front may lead to snowfall on Monday night as temperatures drop into the upper 20 and low 30s. There's an 80 percent chance of snow in Maryland, but it should only amount to a half inch or less, the NWS says.

Temperatures will fall drastically, with a daytime high of 67 degrees expected on Monday, but only a high of 42 on Tuesday. Daytime highs will reach the mid-50s by the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service.

Here's the Maryland forecast for the week ahead from the National Weather Service:

Monday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Some of the storms could be severe. High near 67. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible..

Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before midnight, then a slight chance of showers between midnight and 1am. Some of the storms could be severe and produce heavy rainfall. Low around 32. Breezy, with a south wind 15 to 22 mph becoming west in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 44 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 42. West wind 13 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. West wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light northwest after midnight.

Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 41. Calm wind becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32.

Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 50.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 60.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.

Saturday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43.

Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57.

COLUMBIA, Md. - Todd Engel, a resident of Columbia, Md., is among the dozens of Americans now suing the maker of the popular diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic after they say the medication led to vision loss.

Devastating diagnosis:

Todd Engel was working as a professional truck driver for Howard County highways in 2023 when his doctor prescribed Ozempic to help manage his diabetes.

Around New Year’s Eve, Engel suffered what doctors described as an eye stroke, leaving him completely blind in his right eye.

At the time, he continued taking the medication — unaware there could be a connection. Ten months later, Engel woke up unable to see out of his left eye.

He was later diagnosed with NAION, a condition known as non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, the leading cause of sudden vision loss.

Now, Engel is legally blind.

In a lawsuit, Engel claims the drug’s manufacturers knew Ozempic was associated with an increased risk of NAION but did not disclose that risk.

"I was terrified":

Engel remembers the moment his life changed.

"I was terrified. The first thing that came to my mind was forget my job. I’m never going to be able to see my wife again."

Life after losing his sight:

Engel’s wife, Shelley, now helps him with daily tasks — from navigating public spaces to visiting family.

The couple had to make adjustments around the house. They even bought special dishes with raised edges so Engel can eat without spilling food.

The vision loss also forced Engel to leave the job he loved.

"I went in and I told them what happened, and I cried in front of my supervisors because I couldn’t do my job anymore," Engel said. "A job I really enjoyed."

Growing legal battle:

In December, dozens of similar lawsuits were consolidated in Pennsylvania.

The cases will now move forward together, allowing plaintiffs to seek information about what the drug’s manufacturer knew about the risks.

Engel says one of his doctors raised the possibility of a connection.

"My neuro-ophthalmologist at Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute said there’s some speculation that Ozempic could have caused this."

According to the lawsuit, a spokesperson for the drug maker acknowledged that cases of NAION were identified during clinical trials.

One study cited in the complaint found that using semaglutide — the active ingredient in Ozempic — more than doubles the risk of NAION, even after accounting for other factors.

"I want them to see me":

Engel says he hopes his story will send a message to the drug’s manufacturers.

"I want people to realize. I want the manufacturers of Ozempic to see me. That I cannot see anything. I’m blind. I’m legally blind, and this is devastating," Engel said.

Missing moments:

Engel is now learning how to navigate life without his sight and finding new ways to stay connected with his grandchildren.

Recently, he attended his grandson’s bar mitzvah. He was proud, but said the moment was bittersweet.

"I was so proud of him, but I wanted to see him do this, and I couldn’t. I can’t play ball with any of my grandchildren anymore," he said.

Company response:

In a statement provided by a Novo Nordisk spokesperson, the company said:

Patient safety is our top priority, and we take all reports of adverse events related to the use of our medicines very seriously.

Semaglutide has proven a wide range of benefits in the GLP-1 class beyond glycemic control and weight loss for people with cardiometabolic disease. Considering the totality of evidence from clinical trials, post-marketing reports and observational studies, alongside the generally low incidence rate of NAION, Novo Nordisk believes that the "benefit-risk profile of semaglutide remains favorable."

We remain committed to patient safety and transparency by maintaining up-to-date safety information and collaborating closely with health authorities and regulatory bodies worldwide.

Additional background information:

'A mad dash': Parents say they got less than a 24 hour notice to find alternative child care

Blair Sabol

Hello! I cover Howard County and investigative stories that matter all across the Baltimore area for WMAR-2 News. If you have a story idea to share, please email me at blair.sabol@wmar.com.

MAPLE LAWN, Md. — These days finding daycare is hard enough as it is, but what about having less than 24 hours notice to find a new one?

WATCH: Daycare shutdown after license suspended by state

That's what happened to parents with children who attend the Columbia Academy at Maple Lawn daycare on Tuesday after the Maryland State Department of Education issued an emergency suspension of the daycare's license, largely due to staffing shortages.

“I don’t think anyone expected that the school would just shut down," parent Anita Gulati said.

Anita and her husband Ankur are one of many impacted by the sudden closure. Both were working from home on Wednesday taking care of their 3-year-old son, because they don't have child care yet.

"All those parents are looking for their kids, right? So it's a mad dash to find a place," Anita said.

Their son's class was already canceled on Tuesday because of staffing. The couple say things were great at the daycare, one they chose for convenience and for its curriculum, until last month.

That's when they noticed major staffing changes and turnover, beginning with their son's teacher.

"I think the last straw was really just, the director and the assistant director leaving on the same day with no notice," Anita said.

On Monday, the company that owns the daycare, Endeavor Schools LLC, assured parents on a call they were working to address issues. By the next day they were ordered to close.

Ankur wonders if they knew this was a possibility.

"They could have given parents advanced heads up so we can start preparing for it. They did not do that," he said.

The state provided a letter to parents, which says that they had received a complaint on Monday. It cites multiple violations by the daycare center: Program records, staff records, capacity, child security, individualized attention and care, as well as group size and staffing.

In an email to families, Endeavor Schools indicated they will be appealing the state's move, characterizing its license as "temporarily paused" in a statement to WMAR-2 News.

The company confirmed it is "partnering with the Office of Child Care to address staffing ratio concerns" and there are ongoing open interviews for additional staff. It also reports its supporting families with temporary placement options at sister schools.

The company owns seven others in Maryland, mostly in Howard County.

The closure does not impact any of the other schools.

According to the Department of Education, a hearing will be scheduled within seven days of an appeal request, and an administrative law judge will issue a decision within seven days of the hearing.

But for the Gulatis, they don't plan to use Endeavor's services again, even if they reopen. They say the trust is already broken, and their son is in a critical stage of development.

"That's why we want really good teachers to stay. Companies need to acknowledge that it's not just for profit," Anita said. "Things have to go beyond that. Have a great culture. [We] want teachers to stay, want them to get paid, but [also] want them to be appreciated and valued.”

See full statement from Endeavor Schools:

The school is partnering with the Office of Child Care to address staffing ratio concerns, and its license is temporarily paused during this review.

Open interviews for additional staff are underway, and current teachers have been offered temporary reassignment at other Columbia Academy locations. We are also supporting families with temporary placement options at our sister schools, where possible. We look forward to soon resuming operations and continuing to serve our families and the local community.

Copyright 2026 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

One bills extends eviction notice requirements from six days to 14, leaders said.

HOWARD COUNTY, MD – Two bills recently signed by the county executive aim to renew and expand the NonProfit Collaborative and increase the required amount of days for landlords to provide a notice to tenants facing eviction.

Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said the bills "reflect our unwavering commitment to the people who call Howard County home."

CB11-2026 will renew and expand the NonProfit Collaborative for another 10 years, investing in the organizations that serve more than 15,000 residents, Ball said.

CB12-2026 extends eviction notice requirements from six days to 14.

"Together, we will use every tool at our disposal to support our residents and community members," Ball said.

The NonProfit Collaborative's 10-year extension provides a financial subsidy that covers approximately 62% of the rent for nonprofit tenants. That agreement was set to expire in June 2026. The total county subsidy until 2036 would amount to approximately $4.3 million. The new agreement will support the expansion of the NPC for the first time in the past decade, allowing for an anticipated 12 additional local non-profits to be housed at 9770 Patuxent Woods Dr. in Columbia.

Under the new agreement, the Housing Commission will continue using a portion of the property for its office space while subleasing the remainder to ACS and the other participating non-profit entities. The expansion will bring the NPC to 35,500 square feet, of which 9,700 square feet will be utilized by Housing Commission and 25,800 square feet will be leased to the NPC tenants.

Twelve nonprofit tenant organizations currently reside in the NPC: Association of Community Services of Howard County, Autism Society of Maryland, Bridges to Housing Stability· Camp Attaway, Compass, Inc., Heritage Housing Partners Corporation, HopeWorks of Howard County, Howard EcoWorks, MakingChange, Mediation & Conflict Resolution Center, S.A.F.E. -Supplying Allergy Friendly & Emergency – Food Pantry and United Way of Central Maryland.

CB12-2026 also requires an eviction the notice be sent and posted in certain methods and timeframes; the Office of Consumer Protection to create a URL that contains certain information; the Office of Consumer Protection to maintain certain information; amending penalty provisions for violations of landlord-tenant provisions of the county code; a penalty in the form of a Class A violation if a landlord fails to provide proper notice; and making certain technical corrections.