A 23-year-old man from Delmar, Del. has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Ridgely following his arrest in September of 2025. As WBOC previously reported, emergency services responded to reports of a man in cardiac arrest on Maple Avenue in Ridgely on Sept. 29, 2025. There, authorities say they found the deceased 65-year-old victim with injuries consistent with an assault.Police then determined the victim had been in a physical altercation with Tyler Davis who was also living in the house at the time. Davis was arrested and initially charged with numerous crimes including second-degree murder.

The former president of the Sudlersville Town Commissioners admitted in court today that he stole more than $344,000 in town funds over nearly three years. Eastern Shore Undercover reports Jonathan Keith Griffith entered a guilty plea to felony theft scheme over $100,000 in the Circuit Court for Queen Anne's County on June 3, 2026. It is the highest theft charge available under Maryland law, carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.Griffith served as the president of the Sudlersville Town Commissioners when suspicions about missing town money first surfaced in July 2025.

The Upper Shore Regional Council (USRC) is developing its first Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), a regionally driven roadmap that aligns partners, priorities, and projects to strengthen the economy and improve the quality of life throughout Cecil, Kent, and Queen Anne counties. The USRC also seeks to establish a federally recognized Economic Development District (EDD) to include the three counties, positioning the region to pursue new federal funding opportunities. Kent County News reports the Economic Development Administration (EDA) requires EDDs to update their CEDS at least every five years. The strategy will include five primary elements: Summary Background, SWOT Analysis, Strategic Direction, Evaluation Framework, and Economic Resilience.

A man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and abuse of a vulnerable adult following the death of his great-uncle in Ridgely last year. The Star Democrat reports Tyler Davis, 23, whose address is listed in Delmar per online court records, submitted the plea in Caroline County Circuit Court on Tuesday, which would have been the second day of his jury trial. Davis and his lawyers agreed a plea deal was in his best interest.Charges of manslaughter, first- and second-degree assault, reckless endangerment and other abuse counts were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

Two adults were injured Monday morning after a skydiving accident in Ridgely, according to police.Police responded to the Skydive Chesapeake center at the Ridgely Airport on Racetrack Road on Monday. The Star Democrat reports according to a press release from the Caroline County Sheriff's Office, the accident occurred after “a sudden and unexpected down‑gust of wind occurred during the descent phase of a tandem skydiving operation. The first victim suffered "severe but non‑life‑threatening injuries." The second victim "sustained significant leg injuries" and was transported by Caroline County paramedics to a hospital in Easton.

The Eastern Shore chapters of the League of Women Voters are encouraging voters to use online election resources ahead of Maryland's June 23 primary election. Kent County News reports for many years, the League's printed voter guide has been available at post offices, libraries, municipal buildings and other community locations throughout the region. However, due to production difficulties, a printed guide will not be available this spring in Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties.Voters can still access their county's 2026 voter guide online at lwvmd.org/voterguides2026.

A detached garage was destroyed by fire Saturday afternoon in Chestertown, leaving behind a total loss and questions about what started the blaze.The fire was reported at 1:25 p.m. on May 30, 2026, in the 8900 block of Fairlee Road in Kent County,Maryland. A neighbor spotted smoke and flames coming from the garage and called it in.Forty firefighters from the Chestertown Volunteer Fire Company responded to the scene. They had the fire under control within an hour.The garage, a wood framed structure measuring 30 by 35 feet, was destroyed along with everything inside it. Fire also spread to a 35 foot camper trailer parked next to the garage, causing extensive damage to the trailer as well.The total estimated loss for the structure and its contents is $200,000.

Executive Director of The Shelter Alliance Kimrose Goodall presented before the Kent County Commissioners recently. Kent County News reports Goodall provided a snapshot of the organization’s yearly progress leading up to its community meeting held May 21 at Christ First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall. Goodall said the alliance’s mission is to work toward establishing a homeless shelter open 24 hours a day, seven days a week while supporting wraparound services and partnering with agencies to prevent duplication of services.She defined homelessness as broader than many people realize, noting it affects individuals in many forms and circumstances.

A former Washington College student whose phone call to police here in January led to a shelter-in-place order at the college served nine days in jail following his sentencing earlier this month.Grafton Steele Howard, 26, of Chesapeake City was convicted of two misdemeanors related to disturbing school operations at his trial in the District Court of Kent County on March 9.He was found not guilty of the more serious crime of threatening mass violence. According to the Evening Enterprise, Judge John E. Nunn III sentenced Howard to six months in the Kent County Detention Center for each count of disturbing school operations, with the sentences to be served concurrently.