Jason Timothy Simpson, 27, of Elkton, Maryland, faces upgraded charges of first-degree murder following a Cecil County grand jury indictment. He is accused of strangling Ashley Todd Silverman, 27, the mother of their four children, inside a Cecilton home in June of this year.  Court records allege that during the nine-week investigation, Simpson attempted to move forward with his life, including actively seeking dates on dating sites, claiming to be a widower.  Simpson was initially arrested in August, and charged with second-degree murder. On September 16th, a 23-member grand jury upgraded the charges, handing down a four-count indictment that includes: First-degree murder, Second-degree murder, First-degree assault, and Second-degree assault.  He is currently being held without bond at the Cecil County Detention Center. 

A fire broke out at the Easton Utilities electric generating plant on North Washington Street in Easton, on Friday night.  The incident occurred at approximately 11:40 PM. when the facility experienced a generator failure and subsequent fire while operating to support the electric grid.  The failure caused an oil spill within the plant. Easton Utilities immediately activated its emergency response plan and deployed containment measures to prevent oil runoff. The Maryland Department of the Environment was promptly notified to help safely manage the environmental impact. The Easton Volunteer Fire Department led the response and quickly knocked down the bulk of the fire. They received mutual aid assistance from several neighboring departments, including St. Michaels, Cordova, Oxford, Trappe, and Queen Anne-Hillsboro.  Teams from Easton Utilities continue to work with local and state agencies to fully assess the situation and ensure the site remains secure and environmentally safe.