West Virginia college students are being reminded to be cautious against identity theft as they return to campus this fall.   Attorney General Patrick Morrissey says that college is the first time many young adults are in charge of their own personal affairs, making them more susceptible to scammers. Safeguarding personal information should be taken seriously.  The Attorney General recommends a few simple steps to help guard sensitive information while attending college.  Use strong passwords for device access and never share those passwords. Billing statements or other sensitive information should be shredded or kept secure. And college students are encouraged to…

As of approimately 5:30am, the Maryland State Police have announced westbound I-68 in Garrett County was closed at the 29 mile marker, near Finzel,  due to an overturned tractor trailer. Traffic is being detoured around the crash. It is unknown how long the closure will last. Additional details will be provided as they are received.

On Thursday, August 3rd, 2023, The Cumberland City Police arrested Michael Robert Caswell Jr, 36, of Cumberland MD. Caswell was arrested on two Bench Warrants issued by the Allegany County District Court. The warrants allege that Caswell violated his terms of probation that stemmed from previous convictions on charges of animal cruelty and child neglect. He was taken before the District Court Commissioner for his Initial Appearance where he was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center. He is currently being held without bond. Arrested: Michael Robert Caswell Jr              Age: 36 Charges: Bench Warrant – Violation of Probation x2 On…

A Commonwealth Workforce Transformation Program has been announced by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to staff-up for statewide projects.  The groundbreaking program allows organizations doing infrastructure work to receive up to $40,000 for each new worker they train under the Biden Administration’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.  Governor Shapiro says that Pennsylvania is set to receive $19 billion for projects across the state for road, infrastructure, broadband expansion, and clean energy initiatives.  Governor Shapiro said this new program will help build out an under-staffed, skilled workforce to carry out those projects…

This past school year, Montgomery County schools saw five students die from overdoses and school officials there had to use Narcan on students at least 11 times to revive other overdosed students.   In Allegany County, public schools are prepared for such situations.  Anthony Rumgay, School Safety Supervisor for the county, says that all of the School Resource Officers and other security personnel in the schools are trained and prepared to act in the event of an overdose… Rumgay said that the security employees in the schools train to be ready for any situation that could arise with protecting the safety…

US Senator Ben Cardin has co-introduced the Drug Shortages Prevention and Quality Improvement Act that would empower the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to address prescription drug shortages.  The bill calls for the certain essential drugs to have the longest supported shelf life, require reporting to the FDA on increases in demand for a drug that is likely to lead to a shortage, grant the FDA the ability to assess civil penalties for failing to provide timely notice around a shortage, and establish grants for upgrades to facilities who may not have resources or…

West Virginia’s Department of Health is reminding parents to keep their school-age children up to date with vaccinations as the school season approaches.  Children entering school in West Virginia for the first time in grades K-12 must show proof of immunization against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and hepatitis-B.  Parents or guardians are encouraged to discuss their child’s vaccination status with their primary care physician or their local health department.  The first day of school for students in Mineral County is August 18 and for Hampshire County it is August 21.  

Maryland Governor Wes Moore was recently featured at a Town Hall where he took audience questions on a variety of subjects.  Housing was one of the topics and the Governor’s remarks echo that of Allegany County Commissioner Dave Caporale who said recently that housing is a major driver for the economic development future of the region.  Governor Moore says his administration is focusing on housing… The Governor stated his administration is keying on specific aspects of housing for Marylanders…

AAA is reporting that more drivers are becoming interested in electric vehicles and some are deciding to try them out when renting a vehicle.   According to a recent Verra Mobility survey, 78% of Americans would consider renting an EV as a way to get more familiar with the car before making a purchase. When renting an EV, there are things to consider – driving range, location of charging stations, and understanding onboard technology that is different from gas-powered vehicles.  A quick check by WCBC of local car rental companies found that two companies rarely have the electric vehicles available to…

Governor Moore will host a cabinet meeting at Rocky Gap Casino Resort today and attend an afternoon at the Allegany County Chamber of Commerce Crab Feast hosted at the  Ali Ghan Shrine Club Picnic Grounds. Moore's visit is the first part of a two day tour of Mountain Maryland.