Large Sewage Spill Sours Potomac River: Some 17 million gallons of raw sewage spilled into the Potomac River on Saturday, reports NBC 4. The spill was caused by a three-hour power failure at the Blue Plains sewage treatment plant on the eastern back of the river. And though 17 million gallons sounds like a lot, the EPA has predicted that the spill won’t have a major impact, a claim countered by the Anacostia Watershed Society, that warns of a coming “cloud of death” for river wildlife. Given that the EPA has also told us that a little arsenic in the diet is ok, we’ll trust the environmentalists on this one.

Baltimore Just Can’t Get Good Slogan: Baltimore may be a great city, but it can’t seem to come up with a good city slogan to save its life. According to the Washington Times, a new official slogan — “Get In On It” — has been tepidly received by some current and former city officials. Maryland Comptroller William Donald Schaefer may have said it best when he noted, “I’ve seen some dumb ones in the past, but this is the dumbest.” Though the slogan isn’t yet official — it is to be presented on Wednesday — the article notes that the city paid a consultant some $500,000 over nine months to come up with the slogan, which competed against other possibilities such as “The City You Savor,” “Breeze Into Baltimore,” “All City, No Hurry” and “Enjoy the Pace.” Baltimore has in the past been known as “Charm City,” “The City That Reads” and “The Greatest City in America.”

Traffic Citations on Federal Lands Thrown Out: If you’re going to speed in Maryland, make sure you’re on federal property — you may well get your ticket thrown out. According to WJLA, a quirk in the law concerning traffic violations on federal lands in Maryland has forced judges to throw out many a cases for tickets given on secured roads around installations such as Andrews Air Force Base, Ft. Meade, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

Briefly Noted: Kentucky Derby winner emerges from successful surgery on ankle … Apple orchards in Eastern Maryland Panhandle of West Virginia slowly fade away … Nasty Virginia soybean finds market in Japan … Banks compete for space in fast-growing region … Young sniper to testify against partner.

Picture snapped by LaTur.