The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) is pleased to announce seven grant awards under the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Maryland Energy Infrastructure Program (MEIP). The seven awards total $9.25 million in funding to help advance the state’s goals of providing clean and affordable energy to Marylanders.  This year’s awards include efforts to improve the affordability and resilience of health care facilities; modernize heating and cooling while reducing operating costs for public schools; expand access and use of renewable natural gas (RNG); and expand community sustaining clean energy jobs manufacturing cutting edge solar technologies in parts of Maryland that have suffered from…

Fresh off his 7 a.m. shoulder surgery, Rep. David Trone (D-MD) returned to the Capitol for the speakership vote, donning slippers and a sling to up the threshold for Republicans. During the 12th round of voting in the afternoon, Trone's absence meant that Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) only needed 216 votes to attain a majority. He came up three votes shy.

The Maryland State Fire Marshal's office is investigating the cause of a house fire in Clear Spring. A preliminary report has been issued: Date: 1/6/2023 Time: 9:21 a.m.  Location / Address:  10638 National Pike, Clear Spring, Washington County  Type of Incident: Dwelling Fire  Description of Structure / Property: Two-story, single family dwelling  Owner: Sherry & Lindorfe Ferrera  Injuries or Deaths:  None reported  Estimated $ Loss: Structure: $75,000.00   Contents: $30,000.00 Smoke Alarm Status: Present – not functional  Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: N/A Arrests(s): N/A Primary Responding Fire Department: Clear Spring  # of Alarms:    # Of Firefighters:  58 Time to Control: 45  Discovered By: Occupant/owner  Area of Origin: Second floor bathroom  Preliminary Cause: Under Investigation  Additional Information: Working smoke alarms…

America’s employers added a solid 223,000 jobs in December, evidence that the economy remains healthy yet also a sign that the Federal Reserve may still have to raise interest rates aggressively to slow growth and cool inflation. The December job growth, though a decent gain, amounted to the lowest monthly increase in two years. The unemployment rate remained fell to 3.5%, matching a 53-year low, the Labor Department said Friday. Last month’s job growth capped a second straight year of robust hiring during which the nation regained all 22 million jobs it lost to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet the rapid…

On Thursday, January 5th, 2023, the Cumberland City Police arrested Jules Michael Schwarz Jr, 62, of Cumberland MD. Schwarz was arrested on an active Arrest Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court for an incident that occurred on January 4th, 2023. During that incident, officers responded to a Fayette St residence for the report of a harassment complaint. It was learned that Schwarz had been served and had an active Peace Order prohibiting him from contacting the victim in this case. On this date, Schwarz was alleged to have come to the home, as well as sent messages to…

On Thursday, January 5th, 2023, The Cumberland City Police arrested Kodi Lee Gibson, 23, of Cumberland MD. Gibson was arrested on an active Bench Warrant issued by Allegany County Circuit Court. The warrant alleged Gibson violated the terms and conditions of probation that had been set due to a previous conviction on a sex offense. On this date, Gibson was observed by officers in the area of Chestnut St outside of a residence. Officers ordered Gibson to stop, at which time he attempted to flee into the residence. Officers were able to take Gibson into custody as he entered the…

On Thursday, January 5th, 2023, the Cumberland City Police arrested Kenneth Lloyd Bowser Jr, 38, of Cumberland MD. Bowser was arrested on an active Arrest Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court on January 3rd, 2023. It is alleged that Bowser failed to register as a sex offender as required. He was taken before the District Court Commissioner his Initial Appearance where he was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center. He is currently being held without bond. Arrested: Kenneth Lloyd Bowser Jr. Age: 38 Charges: Fail to Register as Sex Offender/False Info  

Although the future of Cumberland’s Downtown Development Commission, and more specifically the so-called “mall tax”, has been in question for several years- those talks could escalate once construction gets underway on the downtown mall redesign. Since the debt to brick over the mall was retired in 2013-  some city officials and business owners have sought to phase out or sharply reduce the DDC’s special mall tax- which as a result could lead to abolishing or consolidating the DDC. The DDC oversees the maintenance and promotion of the downtown using the mall tax funds collected by the city to  provide for…

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice says he will announce yet another proposal next week to cut taxes. Justice did not provide specifics during his weekly media briefing. The Republican is scheduled to give his State of the State address to the Legislature on January 11. Justice, who has been at odds with lawmakers on how to cut taxes for two years, pledged to announce the biggest tax cuts in the history of this state. Senate GOP leaders are expected to offer their own proposals. Despite the differences that have caused division the past few years, Justice remains confident that a…

After pledging to help secure funding for all three of Cumberland’s West Side bridge projects- Congressman David Trone announced this week that he voted on a government funding package that includes $4.8 million for the repair of the Fayette Street Bridge. The city of Cumberland, in order to secure federal funding, voted to take ownership of the bridge last year. Fayette, along with bridges on Cumberland and Washington streets have been in various states of disrepair for several years- making travel on the West Side a challenge. Trone, a Democrat who represents Western Maryland, met with local leaders last year…