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Recently, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved over $20.8 million in grant funding for upgrades towards the Rock Hall Wastewater Treatment Plant. The funding adds to an existing award from the USDA Rural Development program, building a strong foundation of support from multiple agencies.
Mayor James Cook celebrated what he deemed a major infrastructure milestone and was long-anticipated.
The funding includes $19.3 million from the Bay Restoration Fund and an additional $1.5 million from the Supplemental Assistance Water Quality Grant Program.

The Maryland Department of Human Services is investigating Caroline County Child Protective Services after staff failed to respond this summer to a Federalsburg home where state troopers found two children alone, living in human and animal waste. One child was naked, covered in dirt. Audio from law enforcement’s communications with one another shows troopers were frustrated by the lack of response; one threatened to file a complaint with the state if a Child Protective Services representative didn’t show. Several local officials told The Baltimore Sun that Child Protective Services has been providing “inadequate” responses to after-hours calls from schools and law enforcement for more than a year, putting children at risk and straining police resources.

On Tuesday, the Town of Greensboro announced it received multiple different grants for improvements around the town that total almost $400,000. The biggest grant received was a $250,000 grant from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Maryland Board of Public Works to revitalize Jesse Sutton Memorial Park for Community Parks and Playgrounds Improvement, Phase 1. No word on specific plans for the park.

Kent County commissioners unanimously approved $46,751 Tuesday to replace a failed backup power system that supports 9-1-1 operations and critical county infrastructure. The uninterruptible power supply, installed in 1989, finally failed after more than three decades of service, said Pete Landon, director of the county’s emergency services office. The system provides backup power to radio systems connecting the 9-1-1 dispatch center to county network infrastructure, the detention center and sheriff’s office.

Authorities from the Talbot County Sheriff’s Office arrested Brian Wayne Rishel, a 52-year-old resident of Preston, Maryland, on July 18, 2025. According to officials, an arrest warrant charged Rishel with several offenses, including stalking, distribution of a sexual image, malicious destruction of property, and malicious burning of property. Following his arrest, Rishel was transported to the Talbot County Central Booking facility for processing and an initial appearance before the District Court Commissioner. Initially, Rishel was ordered to be held without bond. However, on July 21, 2025, Judge Karen Ketterman modified the terms of his release, granting a $50,000 unsecured personal bond.

Queen Anne’s County Economic and Tourism Development has announced the hiring of Debbie Gill as its new economic development coordinator. Gill brings more than 15 years of experience in operations management, financial administration and community engagement to the role. A resident of Church Hill, she has been actively involved in local initiatives, including serving as treasurer for several nonprofit organizations and volunteering at community events.

Troopers were called to Sudlersville Road and Duhamel Corner Road in Sudlersville around 10:45 p.m. on Friday, July 25, for a reported crash, Maryland State Police said. Investigators say a 2020 Nissan Frontier, driven by 30-year-old Kyle Wayne Crossly of Sudlersville, was heading west on the roadway when it failed to navigate a slight curve. The truck then crossed into the eastbound lane and slammed into a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. Lisa Marie Arisman, 56, of Pittsburgh, was sitting in the front passenger seat of the Malibu. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators are working with the Queen Anne’s County State’s Attorney’s Office, and charges are pending the outcome.

The Caroline County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting its second annual school supply drive from July 28 to Aug. 18. The drive will collect supplies to donate to students in Caroline County Public Schools. The Sheriff’s Office said the drive was born out of a partnership between the schools and the law enforcement agency.
During last year’s drive, the Sheriff’s Office collected 55 backpacks full of school supplies and delivered them to Caroline County Public Schools’ office.

Following two fatal crashes in three days, state transportation officials have ordered the closure of the MD 405 (Price Station Road) median crossover at U.S. Route 301 in Queen Anne’s County. The Bay Times and Record Observer reports the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration announced Friday, July 25, that the crossover will be closed beginning Saturday, July 26. Emergency vehicle access will be maintained, and alternate crossovers are available at MD 19 (Roberts Station Road), two miles north, and Hayden Clark Road, 1.7 miles south.

At a recent meeting, the Centreville Planning Commission approved an amended site plan approval for a Green Thumb Industries grow barn. According to the Bay Times and Record Observer, an amendment was made to the previously approved site plan for Green Thumb to repurpose the existing onsite barn into a drying and production building at 152 Comet Drive. The proposed work includes re-purposing an existing barn to be utilized as a drying and production building, widening existing access lanes to suitable width for emergency vehicles, extension of water and sewer utilities to the existing barn and placement of drying trailers and temporary freezers. Approval is conditional upon the applicant obtaining all required approvals and permits