The US jobs report for July showed the economy adding 187,000 jobs according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  Nationwide, unemployment fell to 3.5%. The jobs gain is coming through help of state and federal projects that are boosting infrastructure, green energy initiatives, and a recovery of consumer confidence.  Government hiring is a larger share of the job gains as more state and city job openings are being filled post-pandemic but slow-downs have been seen in areas such as financial services, tech, and manufacturing.  The Maryland jobs report will be released August 18th.

Citing extreme heat as the major reason, some gas refineries had to limit production in the past few weeks, pushing gas prices higher. The national average for a gallon of gas has increased since last week to $3.83.  The refinery limits and the price of oil has combined to affect the prices.  Crude oil was near $80 a barrel last week.  Drivers were seeing gas prices above $4.00 per gallon this time last year, cutting into family vacation plans.  Now that the heatwave has passed and schools are starting class across the country, prices may fall slightly due to demand…

West Virginia has been slow to implement juvenile-justice reforms and reduce the number of kids behind bars. In recent years, West Virginia had the highest rate of incarcerated youths in the nation, with 329 youths in state custody in 2017.  Senior Fellow at the Sentencing Project and report author Richard Mendel says effective alternatives to incarceration are catching on in some states. He points to Credible Messengers, a program that provides intensive mentoring to youths at high risk of offending. Mendel says alternatives to traditional court processing include restorative justice conferencing, which focuses on repairing the harm caused by an…

City of Cumberland officials were able to spend some valuable time with Governor Moore on his recent visit to the region.  The Governor held his monthly cabinet meeting at Rocky Gap Resort and Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss was able to have his attention to talk about budget items for the forthcoming General Assembly session.  Morriss said he and the governor talked about some essential projects that need to be addressed in the coming budget… Mayor Morriss said Phase Four of the Evitts Creek Sewer project and the intersection of Harrison and Mechanic Streets are the priorities to be addressed…

Maryland State Police investigators are continuing an investigation into the death of a state prison inmate in Allegany County. The inmate is identified as Moise Louis, 34.  Louis was declared deceased by emergency medical service personnel. He was a state prison inmate serving time at the Western Correctional Institution in Cumberland. A suspect, also an inmate, has been identified.  He is being held in another location within the Division of Correction.  He has not been charged at this time and is not being identified until charges are placed. Shortly after 12:00 noon today, the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit was…

Christopher James Tabler, 33, of Ridgeley, WV was served an Arrest Warrant for Obstruction of Justice, Obstruction and Hindering, and Harboring a Fugitive. He is currently being held at the Allegany County Detention Center on $5,000 bond.   Jaylyn Floyd Butler, 22, of Cumberland, served a Circuit Court Bench Warrant for Violation of Probation. His original charges were Conspiracy for CDS Distribution of Narcotics. He is currently being held without bond at the Allegany County Detention Center on separate charges in a District Court matter.   Keith Elliott Jones Jr, 26, of Cumberland, served a Circuit Court Bench Warrant for…

IMMEDIATE RELEASE SHERIFF’S OFFICE ALLEGANY COUNTY The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office and Maryland State Police – Barrack C have combined resources to target open and active warrants. As a result, the following individuals have been apprehended. Monday, August 7, 2023 Christopher James Tabler, 33, of Ridgeley, WV was served an Arrest Warrant for Obstruction of Justice, Obstruction and Hindering, and Harboring a Fugitive. He is currently being held at the Allegany County Detention Center on $5,000 bond. Jaylyn Floyd Butler, 22, of Cumberland, served a Circuit Court Bench Warrant for Violation of Probation. His original charges were Conspiracy for CDS…

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a TORNADO WATCH UNTIL 9 P.M. * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for… Allegany County in western Maryland… Northeastern Garrett County in western Maryland… Northeastern Mineral County in eastern West Virginia… North central Hampshire County in eastern West Virginia… * Until 300 PM EDT. * At 158 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Bittinger, moving east at 40 mph. HAZARD…70 mph wind gusts and ping pong ball size hail. SOURCE…Radar indicated. IMPACT…Damaging winds will cause some trees and large branches to fall. This could injure those outdoors, as well as damage…

On August 6, 2023, at 11:53 members of the Cumberland Fire Department and the Cumberland Police Department responded to the railroad tracks in the area of Queen City Drive and Frederick Street in Cumberland for a report of a trauma patient.  Upon arrival, first responders discovered that a CSX employee, Travis Bradley, age 40 of Ridgeley, WV, had been working around the train when he accidentally became entangled in the equipment and was seriously injured.  Medics from the Cumberland Fire Department treated Travis Bradley at the scene and transported him to the hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. …

CSX is performing maintenance to the railroad crossing on Route 2025, 1198 Main St., Meyersdale, between Aug. 7-11. Traffic will be detoured from Route 2025 (Main Street) to Route 2047 to Route 2027 (Pine Hill Road) to Route 2026 (Berkleys Mill Road) to Route 2025. The length of the closure will depend on track time, equipment or weather-related issues.