Top MD News: Kohl's For Sale, Spotted Lanternfly, Frank Pepe Pizzeria

MARYLAND — Top news stories this week in Maryland included the Kohl's stores in the state are up for sale even as Sephora stores open within the retailer; the quarantine to try to stop the spread of the spotted lanternfly has expanded to the city of Baltimore and 10 counties; Old Bay is selling a special hot sauce as a Pride Month charity fundraiser; and two fathers were charged in separate cases in the deaths of their children.

Plus, the state took the next step in the process to build another span of the Bay Bridge; the Frank Pepe restaurant in a mall earns praise from a Post food critic; storms flooded out Halsey's concert at Merriweather Post Pavilion and fans vented; COVID-19 cases are up in Maryland, with five counties now at the high-risk category; a report says the Chesapeake Bay watershed is slightly healthier; and more in our roundup of top news stories from Maryland's Patch sites this week.

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Here are some of this week's top news headlines:

New Bay Bridge Span Inches Closer To Reality, MD Launches Next Step

Maryland on Friday advanced its proposal to build a third span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. Gov. Larry Hogan announced that the state will start the next step of its required environmental impact study.

Floods Force Halsey Concert Cancellation, Strands Cars, Downs Trees

Knee-deep water stranded vehicles and prompted the eventual cancellation of the Halsey concert at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia Wednesday, but not after people were videoed walking through ankle-high water that covered electric cables and sought shelter in bathrooms and cars during the brief tornado warning.

5 Maryland Counties Are In CDC's High COVID Risk Category

Maryland's positive test rate for COVID-19 is currently trending upward, according to recent data from the Mayo Clinic. About 43% of all confirmed COVID-19 cases in Maryland since January 2021 have been among fully vaccinated people, state officials said.

MD Quarantine For Spotted Lanternfly Expands To 10 Counties, Baltimore

A quarantine order to try to prevent the spread of the spotted lanternfly — which poses a threat to apples, grapes and other crops — has expanded this year to 10 counties, as well as Baltimore City.

Chesapeake Bay And Watershed Conditions Improve Slightly, Earn C+

The Chesapeake Bay and watershed was assigned an overall grade of C+ on its latest report card, which was released Monday by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.

Business Openings, Closings News

• Homesense Opening In Rockville's Montrose Crossing Shopping Center
• North Bethesda Eatery Named One Of Eater D.C.'s Hottest Restaurants
• Sephora Opening 2 Locations This Summer At Kohl's In Anne Arundel
• Frank Pepe In Westfield Montgomery Mall: What A WaPo Post Writer Says
• MD Kohl's Stores Could Have New Owners
• Sephora Opening A Location This Summer At Kohl's In Germantown
• Sephora Opening A Location This Summer At Kohl's In Silver Spring
• The Milk & Honey Market And Pancake Factory Opens In Prince George's
• Old Bay Pride Month Hot Sauce Fundraises For LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention
• MD Target Stores Expected To Slash Prices Due To Unwanted Inventory
• Trader Joe's Coming To Prince George's County, Will Open Yet This Year

Also Worth a Look Today

• Man Found Near Justice Kavanaugh's Home Charged With Attempted Murder
• Gov. Hogan Reacts To Baltimore City Schools Grade Changing Scandal
• Anne Arundel Police Officer Charged With Sex Offense, Assault: Report
• 'Mama Milk Bank' Connects Moms Needing Milk For Babies With Donors
• Father Facing Manslaughter Charges In Daughter's Death
• Man Charged With Homicide In 2-Month-Old Son's Death: Police
• Midshipman Dies While On Leave From Naval Academy: College
• DMV Baby Formula Tracker: MOCO Grads Design Outlet To Help Parents
• Shady Side Boat Crash Victim Identified As AACC Lacrosse Player: DNR
• Baltimore Man Charged With 10 Counts Of Child Porn Possession
• Gas Price Jumps $1 Higher Than Nearby Station In Prince George's
• Actress Melanie Griffith Flattered Baltimore Bar Is Named After Her
• Record-Breaking Catch: Maryland Man Reels In 49-Pound Carp
• Baltimore's Michael Phelps To Be Inducted Into Olympic Hall Of Fame
• ‘Shrinkflation’ Hits Maryland Goods Amid Record Prices
• 'Offensive' Coins With Maryland State Police Logo Linked To Ex-Trooper

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