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State Police are reminding drivers of new speed monitoring fines taking effect Oct. 1, bringing the new maximum from $40 to $425. The new tiered penalty system, established through House Bill 182, will apply to speed monitoring systems statewide. Previously, those driving 15 mph over the speed limit faced the same $40 civil citation as those speeding by 45 mph. The new civil citations look like this: 12-15 mph over: $40, 16-19 mph over: $70 and 20-29 mph over: $120.

The Samaritan Group of Kent County is launching a major fundraising and volunteer recruitment campaign to expand its emergency winter shelter, which is traditionally open at three churches in Chestertown — First United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church of Chestertown, and Chestertown Church of the Nazarene — from January through March. Kent County News reports the organization, which provided 661 bed nights to 21 people last winter, aims to begin a journey toward a year-round shelter by opening its doors a month earlier, in December.

Kent County Government has launched a newly redesigned website, created to provide residents, businesses and visitors with a more user friendly, modern and accessible online experience. The updated website, available at www.kentcounty.com, “features a fresh, mobile-responsive design, improved navigation and enhanced accessibility standards, ensuring that all users can quickly find the information and services they need,” a news release states.

A Queen Anne’s County daycare worker has been sentenced to jail time after admitting to assaulting three children under her care at the Kiddie Academy of Kent Island. WMDT reports Wendy Jones, 58, of Easton, pleaded guilty on Aug. 7 to three counts of second-degree assault, according to the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office. On Thursday, Judge Knight sentenced her to three consecutive 10-year terms, with all but six months of each suspended. Jones will serve a total of 18 months in jail, followed by three years of supervised probation. She was also ordered to complete 50 hours of community service.

Easton officials and project leaders cut the ribbon on a 136-apartment complex on Elliott Road this week. The Star Democrat reports The Promenade at Easton is made up of four buildings, each with at least 30 apartment units. It will begin to welcome new residents this Easton Mayor Megan Cook, Ward 2 Councilmember Robert Rankin and other town officials toured the apartments on Wednesday, getting a look at the first of four buildings at the site.

On Tuesday, Charles Huester, executive director for Maryland Rural Development Cooperation, discussed Early Head Start funding cuts with the Caroline County Commissioners. The Star Democrat reports MRDC, which runs the Early Head Start programs in Caroline and Cecil counties, announced on Aug. 27 that the Early Head Start program would be ending effective Sept. 2 after it did not receive funding from the Office of Head Start. The free program supports pregnant women and young children’s learning and development.

Traffic backed up for more than an hour on both sides of the Chester River Bridge on Tuesday after State Highway Department technicians could not fully lower the bridge following earlier testing. The Kent County News reports, unable to lower the bridge using regular methods, technicians had to hand crank it down, according to a State Highway worker. The foreman of Covington Machine and Welding, a contractor working with the Maryland State Highway Administration on bridge rehabilitation, said that when it is hot the metal tends to expand and bind up, causing bridge malfunctions.

The Kent County Local Management Board invites the public to share ideas and perspectives on how to best reinvest in low-income communities thanks to new funding from the Maryland Office of Social Equity. The Evening Enterprise reports a forum will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24 at Washington College’s Innovation Plant, 800 High St. (the former Dixon Valve & Coupling Co. property).

On September 15, 2025, Anton Phifer, 40, of Cambridge, MD, was served a criminal summons in connection with an alleged workplace assault that occurred earlier this year. The summons stems from an incident on March 10, 2025, at the USPS Mail Processing Facility located at 29060 Airpark Drive in Easton, Marylad. It is alleged that Phifer pushed a co-worker from behind following a disagreement over the use of work equipment. Minutes later, it is alleged that Phifer shoved the same co-worker from the front. A preliminary inquiry for Phifer is scheduled in Talbot County, Maryland, on October 24, 2025. A court hearing will be scheduled for a later date.

Maryland’s Public Service Commission announced two upcoming public hearings will gather input on a proposed solar generating facility. According to WBOC, Halo GB2 LLC is looking to build a 4.5 megawatt Community Solar Generating Facility on approximately 34 acres of an 83-acre property off Henderson Road. Construction is estimated to take six to nine months with minimal environmental impact, with the facility projected to be usable for 26 to 36 years, according to Halo GB2 LLC. An in-person public hearing will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 25 at the Goldsboro Fire Department. A virtual public hearing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 9, which can be attended on Zoom or viewed on YouTube, according to the Public Service Commission.