Shop Maryland’s Tax-Free week is set for August 9th through August 15th according to the Maryland Retailers Alliance.   The Comptroller of Maryland says specific apparel and footwear priced at $100 or less are exempt from state sales tax. In addition, the first $40 of a backpack or bookbag purchase is also exempt.  Tax-free week this year focuses on savings for not just families and communities, but local businesses the Comptroller Office says.  For more information on participating stores, visit marylandcomptroller.gov/Programs.  

A roadside argument turned into a drug bust for two men on the Fourth of July. Talbot County Sheriff’s deputies say the discovery happened after they noticed something unusual near Glebe Road.  Deputies were patrolling the Easton Bypass when they spotted a vehicle stopped near Glebe Road. The people inside appeared to be in the middle of a verbal argument, so deputies stopped to check on the situation.  Deputies developed probable cause to search the vehicle and called in a Talbot County Sheriff’s Office K-9 team for help. The search turned up controlled substances inside the car.  Two men were taken into custody as a result. James Aaron Martin, 52, of Easton, and Brian Christerfer Layton, 53, of Salisbury, were both arrested at the scene. Each now faces charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia.  Following their arrests, Martin and Layton were transported to the Talbot County Central Booking facility for processing. Both men made an initial appearance before a District Court Commissioner. They are currently being held pending further action by the courts.  Both individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.