Council Reopens Planning Board Application Process – After selecting current Planning Board commissioner Casey Anderson to take the Board’s chair position, the County Council has reopened the application process for the soon-to-be vacant commissioner slot. Applications are due 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3. [Montgomery County Council]

Happy Hour, With BRT Updates – The Friends of White Flint, Communities for Transit and Coalition for Smarter Growth are hosting an informal bus rapid transit meet-up on Wednesday, July 23 at the Paladar Latin Kitchen in North Bethesda. Expect updates on design work that’s started on the Rockville Pike BRT Transitway and the formation of community advisory committees. [Friends of White Flint]

Imagination Stage Gala To Feature Russell Simmons – Russell Simmons, co-founder of Def Jam Records, will serve as the honorary chair of this year’s Imagination Stage Gala. The event, set for October 18, has a fundraising goal of $300,000 for the Bethesda children’s theater and education complex. [Imagination Stage]

O’Malley Differs With White House On Children Immigrants – Gov. Martin O’Malley, usually a staunch supporter of President Barack Obama, is standing by his position that the U.S. shouldn’t return unaccompanied minors crossing into the country. O’Malley said a proposal to open a shelter for some of the children in Carroll County is a bad idea, since that facility was tagged with anti-immigration graffiti over the weekend. [Washington Post]