Social media influencer with rare cancer dies in Bethesda

Plus: Maryland tax free week offers savings for families; MoCo man is first in state to undergo new sickle cell treatment

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August 11, 2026 6:00 a.m. | Updated: August 10, 2026 6:50 p.m.

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Social media influencer Sidney Towle, who documented her battle with rare cancer in videos on TikTok, died from her illness Wednesday at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda. The 26-year-old used her platform to advocate for research funding and additional resources for parents and caregivers of patients. [CBS News]

Maryland tax free week offers savings for families

Maryland’s tax free week returned Sunday, offering families a chance to save money on clothing, shoes and other back-to-school items. Through Saturday, qualifying items that cost less than $100 will not be subject to sales tax. The sales tax exemption also applies to the first $40 of a backpack or book bag. [WUSA9]

MoCo man is first in state to undergo new sickle cell treatment

Ese Sifo, a 45-year-old human resources executive from Bethesda, recently became the first man in Maryland to undergo a new treatment for sickle cell disease, according to his doctors. He opened up about the experience in a documentary on local news segment The Pulse. [Montgomery Community Media]

Today’s weather: Showers likely, with a high near 89 degrees.

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Originally published at Bethesdamagazine