KENT ISLAND - Maryland Natural Resources Police said they have recovered a body in the Chesapeake Bay, north of Kent Island.

Sgt. Kenneth Turner said the body was first spotted shortly before 9:30 a.m. today by a passing boater, between Love Point and Rock Hall. Emergency responders were diverted to the scene during a separate rescue of two boaters whose boat sank closer to Love Point.

Sgt. Turner would not disclose the gender or approximate age of the deceased person.

The body was first spotted minutes after the report of the sinking of an 18-foot boat, but Sgt. Turner said the investigations are unrelated. Two men who had been on the boat were pulled from the water by a private boater, who took them to Kent Island Pier. Sgt. Turner said one man complained of chest pains and was taken to Anne Arundel Medical Center.

According to Sgt. Turner, the boat took on water after the bilge pump failed.

Explosive thrown at fireworks stand

SEVERNA PARK - County firefighters are investigating a liquid explosive that was thrown at a fireworks stand in a Severna Park shopping center last night.

At 11:39 p.m. county police were called to the Safeway parking lot at Benfield and Jumpers Hole roads to investigate an explosion. The caller told police someone drove by the fireworks tent and threw a bottle of "green stuff" at the stand. The bottle made a "loud sound" when it landed on the pavement, but did not start a blaze and no fireworks were set off, police and firefighters said.

Employees at the tent said a similar incident happened earlier, but they did not call police. Officers searched the area and found a bottle of green liquid that had not exploded when it was thrown. A county Hazmat team and the city's bomb squad went to the parking lot to check it out and make the area safe.

Around the same time, residents reported an explosive device made of a plastic bottle and liquid thrown into their back yard in the 600 block of Knollwood Road, about five blocks from the fireworks tent, said Lt. Frank Fennell, a county Fire Department spokesman.

Investigators believe all the incidents are connected. Employees at the tent gave police a license plate number and description of the vehicle that the explosive was thrown from.

Police were unable to find the vehicle at the home it is registered to. The county Fire Department is asking anyone with information to call 410-222-TIPS, where they may remain anonymous.

Sidewalk tax may violate state law

Annapolis - City attorneys are investigating whether its new, controversial sidewalk fee violates state rules.

Alderman Richard Israel, D-Ward 1, sent a letter to City Attorney Shaem C. Spencer Wednesday asking the law office to determine if the city had the authority from the state to assess the sidewalk fee billed to property owners last month.

Mr. Israel also said he has asked state Sen. John Astle to petition the state's Attorney General to determine the legality of the sidewalk fee legislation. Only the General Assembly can formally ask the Attorney General to investigate a matter, Mr. Israel said Wednesday.

"I'm simply raising the question," said Mr. Israel, who spent 25 years as assistant Attorney General. "Ultimately, only a court can rule definitively."

Under Maryland law, a municipality cannot levy a tax without the consent of the General Assembly, Mr. Israel said.

- From staff and wire reports