Flood Resilience Funding: Cambridge’s “Make Cambridge Resilient” flood-mitigation plan for the Choptank River and Cambridge Creek is racing a December FEMA submission deadline, with up to $16 million in federal support on the line amid concerns over property-owner buy-in, missing data, and pushback over a proposed waterfront berm. Agriculture & Water Quality: Maryland Department of Agriculture is easing rules for “no-land, pasture-only” chicken farms by extending nutrient management plan cycles from three to five years for qualifying low-risk operations, aiming to cut red tape while protecting soil health and Chesapeake Bay water quality. Transportation & Climate-Ready Infrastructure: MDOT released a draft $21.9B six-year transportation plan (2027–2032) that’s essentially flat-funded, prioritizing safety and “state of good repair” over brand-new projects, while continuing must-fund work like the Purple Line and planning for Baltimore’s Red Line. Wildlife Monitoring Win: A newly documented river otter sighting in the Bronx River marks the first reported in about a century, highlighting how restoration and long-term monitoring can bring back sensitive species. Data Center Backdrop (Policy Pressure): Maryland’s statewide data center study timeline is slipping, and local opposition continues to grow as lawmakers and counties weigh impacts on pollution, traffic, and infrastructure.