Maryland silica factory closing, production relocating to South Carolina

There goes another one. Evonik Corporation will close its Maryland factory in Havre de Grace, and relocate its production of silica to South Carolina. The closure will eliminate 34 jobs, according to a filing the chemical firm submitted to the state on Wednesday. While the company explains its strategic move with buzzphrases like "economies of scale," there are several obvious reasons why the grass appears much greener in the Palmetto State if you are running a business enterprise.

Industrial electricity rates in South Carolina are 22% less than in Maryland. This is largely due to the forced closure of eight power plants by Maryland elected officials, who have also mandated the purchase of ever-increasing amounts of "clean power," such as solar or wind. In addition, the state has socked energy utility customers with an EmPOWER Maryland fee, that funds a Marxist program that subsidizes the purchase of energy efficient equipment by lower income customers. The end result is that Maryland now imports the majority of its electricity from out-of-state, naturally at greater cost than it had been provided from those shuttered in-state plants. Not to mention that Maryland ratepayers are now receiving record-high monthly power bills.

Maryland's corporate tax rate is 8.25%. South Carolina's is 5%. Doh!

Last year, Maryland Governor Wes Moore and the Democratic-controlled legislature established a 3% tech tax. By comparison, IT consulting, custom coding, and systems design are not taxed in South Carolina.

Finally, Maryland’s average annual pay for chemical engineers is approximately $121,012 to $140,708. In Charleston, the average is roughly $93,975 to $128,000, according to Indeed.com.

Heckuva job, Brownie!

Maryland Governor candidate Ed Hale blasts Wes Moore's floundering Key Bridge rebuild

"I heard a noise, it's that close to me," Maryland Governor candidate Ed Hale recalled of the collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore two years ago today. The Republican businessman and Charm City resident's home was within earshot of the catastrophe that unfolded on March 26, 2024. Two years later, progress on the construction of a replacement bridge has stalled as the cost of the project ballooned fivefold under the administration of Governor Wes Moore (D). Running afoul of federal funding guidelines, and Moore's relentless personal attacks on President Donald Trump, have led to the possibility that former president Joe Biden's vow to pick up 100% of the tab is now in serious jeopardy. Hale scheduled a press conference within sight of the bridge yesterday to excoriate Moore for the lack of progress, 24 hours ahead of the predictable Moore media blitz.

"It's a bridge that I've used pretty much all of my life," Hale told reporters Wednesday. "I'm from around here. This is my house right here," he added, gesturing toward his home. The neighborhood around the former bridge connection "is hurting, because it takes forever to go from here to over there," Hale said.

Hale argued the floundering rebuild is "emblematic of a governor that's really not paying attention to this whatsoever. He'll smile and say that he is, but he's not. And what you see is anger on both sides of the bridge, all around [Anne Arundel and Baltimore] County and just, the citizens here are extremely upset and don't like the idea that we're not getting this done. There's no end in sight for this thing to be done."

"We are a ship without a rudder," Hale charged of Moore's leadership of the state, saying the current governor's attention is largely consumed by his quest for the presidency in 2029. He announced that in lieu of a workable solution from the Moore administration, "I have a plan."

"I'm going to have the bureaucrats involved, the engineers, and the construction companies involved in this whole process, and see what they can do," Hale said. "And if they don't have a reasonable explanation, they're not going to last long in my administration." He suggested the state turn to Maryland-based firms that do similar work around the world to rebuild the bridge, saying he knows they are qualified because he has hired many of them for his own projects. "I've talked to a bunch of people, and they're standing by, ready to do it."

Hale cited the outflow of residents and wealth from Maryland to other states in recent years. Voters are "now telling me, 'If you don't win, we're moving,'" Hale recounted. A recent poll found that over 60% of Maryland residents are either in the process of leaving the state, or are considering a move. "We can't continue to have this happen," Hale said.

"We don't have economic development. We don't have job creation. We are the worst in the nation for job creation," Hale explained, noting that as a private sector businessman, he has created tens of thousands of jobs. By "every metric you can think of, we're failing," Hale said. "I don't intend to fail. I intend to make things better. Help is on the way."

Vehicle stolen in Sligo Creek Park neighborhood in Silver Spring

Auto thieves struck in the Sligo Creek Park community, Montgomery County police report. A vehicle was reported stolen from a home in the 9200 block of Three Oaks Drive yesterday morning. Police believe it was taken sometime between 8:30 PM on March 24 and 11:00 AM on March 25. If you have any information that could assist detectives in closing this case, call police at 301) 279-8000. 

Signage installed at Momiji Sushi in Silver Spring (Photos)

Permanent signage has been installed at Momiji Sushi Izakaya & Japanese Ramen at 1201 Fidler Lane in downtown Silver Spring. This was formerly home to Cubano's, from which some signage has been left behind. There are still some windows that need to be replaced, judging from the plywood substitutes. The restaurant had its liquor license hearing way back in November.

TD Bank closes at Ellsworth Place in Silver Spring

TD Bank has closed at Ellsworth Place mall in downtown Silver Spring. Their space has been cleared out, and is now available for lease. The departure of the bank and Outback Steakhouse have left a very vacant feeling around this entrance to the mall. TD Bank has been closing branches in the area, including two in downtown Bethesda, so it probably wasn't a failure with this location specifically that led to the closure.

Railroad crossing signs installed outside of Silver Spring Library for Purple Line (Photos)

More signage to warn pedestrians and drivers of approaching Purple Line trains have been installed outside of the Silver Spring Library at 900 Wayne Avenue. A railroad crossing crossbuck-style sign sits atop a Signal-Tech Another Train Coming LED sign. The latter is a product marketed specifically for light rail crossings. It is designed to alert pedestrians to the fact that a second train is approaching on the other track, so that they will not step around the first, stopped train into the path of the oncoming second train. This is especially important given that, as a previously-installed sign warns, not every train will necessarily stop. The Purple Line is currently anticipated to begin operating in December 2027.

Strong-arm robbery in Kensington

Montgomery County police responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery in Kensington early Friday evening, March 20, 2026. The assault and robbery were reported in the 3700 block of Howard Avenue at 6:24 PM Friday. They took place along the street. That is a commercial area around the MARC train station.