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Eastern Shore legislators are requesting the state provide disaster relief funding to Maryland’s commercial oyster fishery, which they say is struggling due to a market that’s been devastated. The Kent County News reports a formal letter request was sent to Gov. Wes Moore (D) on Friday, signed by members of the Eastern Shore Delegation, including Sen. Johnny Mautz. In an interview, Mautz said the request was made due to the oyster market which he describes as “wiped out.” Talbot Watermen’s Association President Jeff Harrison said while there are plenty of oysters to catch, multiple factors are at play, including increased competition on the East Coast.

The Maryland State Board of Education on Jan. 27 approved Queen Anne’s County Public Schools’ request for a waiver to use President’s Day [Monday, Feb. 16] as a day of instruction for students and staff. The Evening Enterprise reports QACPS built inclement weather contingency days into its approved calendar.
Additionally, three days are embedded at the end of the school year for weather-related makeup days.
As of Jan. 30, QACPS has experienced six inclement weather closures for this academic year: Dec. 5 and 15, 2025 and Jan. 27, 28, 29 and 30, 2026. In early spring, the Queen Anne’s County Board of Education will vote to determine the final day of school.

State agriculture officials announced this week that the highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza, known as bird flu, was detected on a commercial farm in Caroline County, the first case detected in Maryland this year. The Baltimore Sun reports the Maryland Department of Agriculture said in a statement Thursday that preliminary results of testing on a broiler chicken farm in the county detected the highly contagious virus among birds on the farm, where the birds are raised for meat production. Jennifer Trout, the state veterinarian, said Friday that there’s a low risk to public health, but that those who regularly interact with birds should brush up on biosafety measures.

The Queen Anne’s County Office of the Sheriff (QACOS) has arrested an Annapolis man on vehicle theft, burglary, and drug charges. WMDT reports deputies arrested 25-year-old Jaden Taylor after serving a warrant for his arrest on Jan. 20. The warrant charged him with theft between $25,000 and $100,000, unlawful taking of a motor vehicle, and rogue and vagabond. After being taken into custody, Taylor was additionally charged with fourth degree burglary, three counts of possessing a controlled dangerous substance, and possessing drug paraphernalia.
Officers were dispatched to a Queenstown residence for a report of a located stolen vehicle. The caller advised that the car had been stolen from their family member in Easton several days prior.

The town of Centreville facing criticism after a statement on Facebook about snow plowing issues in the North Brook neighborhood. WBOC reports Centreville officials said public works employees experienced repeated incidents of verbal harassment and people blocking roads during recent plowing operations.
Officials say due to those issues, they decided to “temporarily limit” plowing in North Brook. They say they plowed a single lane to allow for emergency vehicles. They cite safety concerns as the only reason for this decision.

The Kent Narrows drawbridge is now open to traffic. Stat Highway Administration officials said the problem stemmed from the extreme cold temperatures that caused water to freeze on the mechanical portions of the drawbridge. The Bay Times and Record Observer reports around 1 p.m. the bridge was closed and drivers utilizing Maryland 18 East/West were directed to utilize another travel route. For the latest road conditions, go to roads.maryland.gov where drivers can see real-time traffic cameras and incidents.

Washington College has increased security measures and issued a no-trespass order after a former student arrested for threatening mass violence on campus was released on bond by a Cecil County judge. The Kent County News reports Grafton Steele Howard, 25, of Chesapeake City, was released last Thursday on a $5,000 unsecured bond, two days after calling the Chestertown Police Department and threatening to shoot members of the college’s administration and public safety officers. In a message to students, faculty and staff, the college said Howard was never near campus at the time of the incident, but that “active measures are in place to prevent him from accessing our campus.”

Here are the unofficial totals from Wednesday’s Special Election for Wards 3 & 4.

Ward 3 John James Beloved 40

(37 in person votes, 3 absentee ballots)

Andre DeMattia 58

(52 in person votes, 6 absentee ballots)

Ward 4 Marcus Goldman 31

(27 in person votes, 4 absentee ballots)

Stephen J Lozar 34

(28 in person votes, 6 absentee ballots)

Ryan McGuire 22

(20 in person votes, 2 absentee ballots)

There are 4 provisional ballots that still need to be verified with the County Board of Elections which may or may not change the outcome for ward 4. These ballots are sealed until registration status has been verified with the County Board of Elections.

Due to hazardous road conditions, the result of a snow and ice storm over the weekend, the Town of Chestertown has pushed back its special election for two council seats from Tuesday to Wednesday, Jan. 28. The Evening Enterprise reports the polling locale is the Chestertown firehouse, 211 Maple Ave. Hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The candidates are John James Beloved and Andre DeMattia in Ward 3 and Marcus Goldman, Stephen J. Lozar and Ryan McGuire in Ward 4. Absentee ballots will be available in person only Tuesday at the town office, 118 N. Cross St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office is calling on neighbors to help them find a suspect believed to be responsible for a string of wallet thefts at Stevensville grocery stores. According to WBOC, Police say the numerous thefts occurred on separate occasions and involved elderly victims at grocery stores. In some of those cases, the suspect approached the victims offering assistance with reaching items or casually speaking with them before stealing their wallets, according to the sheriff’s office. The suspect is described as an older African American woman often seen with a navy-blue purse. Surveillance footage showing multiple thefts has been captured at the Stevensville Food Lion and Safeway, police say.