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Talbot County officials say they’re stepping up to help residents feeling the effects of the ongoing federal government shutdown and the loss of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
About 636 county residents work for the federal government, and another 3,700 rely on SNAP benefits each month. County Council has requested $150,000 in additional CARES Act funds, pending state approval, to help the Neighborhood Service Center and St. Michaels Community Center meet growing needs for food and household assistance.

After a unanimous decision by the commissioners on Oct 21, pay for Kent County Board of Elections chief judges and regular judges went up $50 a day, with the judges now also taking on greeting duties previously handled by temporary agency workers. Right now there are 20 chief judges and 100 regular judges. After this action, chief judges will go from $275 per day to $325 and regular judges will go from $250 to $300.

Shore Regional Health officials presented troubling statistics for rural hospitals at the Caroline County Commissioners meeting Tuesday. According to Shore Regional President Ken Kozel, 191 rural hospitals have closed or converted their facilities nationwide since 2005, and 36 rural hospital have closed since 2020.
Kozel mentioned the state and federal government are working together on a new payment model that he said will help the state maintain rural health care. The payment model is called the AHEAD model.

Two new faces joined the Centreville Town Council while otherwise staying mostly the same as a reorganization meeting officially welcomed Frederick Beu and Fred McNeil to their council seats Oct. 16. The Bay Times and Record Observer report reappointing Ashley Kaiser as council president and Jeff Kiel as council vice president, the reorganization meeting also reappointed Sharon VanEmburgh as town attorney and Karen Luffman as finance officer. The council thanked departing council members Jim Beauchamp and Dan Worth for their dedicated work on the council and presented them with keys to the city.

A months-long investigation into drug activity at a Mount Vernon Avenue residence in Chestertown has led to multiple arrests and renewed charges, with Chestertown Police Chief Ron Dixon telling the Chestertown Town Council that the work is far from over. Kent County News reports Keith Eric Brooks, 65, of 223 Mount Vernon Ave., was served a criminal summons Sept. 24 charging him with keeping a disorderly house. David Lawrence Grant, 44, who faces new criminal counts related to narcotics activity. To further address community concerns, Dixon and Council member Tom Herz noted that a surveillance camera is scheduled to be installed in the Mount Vernon Avenue area to help monitor activity and improve neighborhood safety.

Maryland State Police (MSP) make four arrests in connection with an armed robbery that occurred in August 2025 in Talbot County. Clayconews.com reports the accused are identified as Imari Jackson, 22, of Hurlock, Maryland and Aamad Turner, 19, of Easton, Maryland, and two juveniles ages 15 of Hurlock, Maryland, and 17 of Cordova, Maryland. The 17-year-old is charged as an adult. Jackson, Turner and the 17-year-old are charged with home invasion, first-degree burglary, armed robbery, first-degree assault and other related charges. All three were transported to the Talbot County Detention Center, where they are awaiting initial appearance before a district court commissioner. The 15-year-old is being held at a Juvenile Detention Facility.

Easton town officials have asked state legislators to consider a number of capital funding requests, including an ambitious initiative aimed at connecting town residents east of Route 50 to Easton’s core. The Bay Times and Record Observer reports town leaders met with three local lawmakers — Sen. Johnny Mautz and Dels. Chris Adams and Tom Hutchinson. They spent part of a Thursday morning breakfast session discussing a potential expansion of Easton’s Rails to Trails system. A long-term expansion project amounting to $20 million includes a nearly $10 million pedestrian bridge, which would be placed at the Dutchmans Lane and Route 50 intersection.

Cambridge City Commissioner Brett Summers (left) addresses Wednesday evening’s meeting of the Cambridge Association of Neighborhoods (CAN) while association president Chuck McFadden listens. The Cambridge Spy reports Cambridge City Commissioner representing Ward 1 Brett Summers says a set of new tools now under consideration could help reverse years of neglect and vacancy in the city’s neighborhoods and business district.
Summers, a real estate developer himself who owns multiple downtown properties, pointed to proposed new taxes on vacant storefronts and undeveloped properties, a city-funded land bank, and the creation of a tenants’ rights advocate as part of a comprehensive effort to clean up and restore the town’s appearance and vitality.

The Sultana Education Foundation’s Downrigging Festival will open with a frightfully fun Halloween Costume Party on Friday, Oct. 31, beginning at 4 p.m. at the historic Chestertown waterfront. Kent County News reports the evening kicks off the weekend’s maritime celebration, combining tall ships, live music and Halloween flair. Costume judging will begin as participants enter the Downrigging Festival Village, with more than $500 in cash and merchandise prizes to be awarded at 6:45 p.m.

The Caroline County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) arrested a man in connection with a dispute that involved a stolen vehicle on Tuesday morning. The Star Democrat reports deputies responded to a residence in reference to a fight going on between two men. Upon arrival on the scene, officers determined that 32-year-old Phillip James Rue of Greensboro, had stolen a work vehicle from a neighbor’s driveway. Rue reportedly drove the vehicle a short distance before causing damage to three tires using a knife. When the owner of the vehicle confronted him, Rue allegedly brandished his knife at the victim and made several verbal threats. A physical altercation ensued, but no injuries were reported. Rue was subsequently placed under arrest and taken to CCSO for processing.