On Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at approximately 11:09 PM, an officer of the Cumberland Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 68 westbound prior to the Beall Street exit.  The officer contacted the operator, Shawn Lee Jr, and two other occupants.  A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted.  During the search, a handgun was located under a seat.  Officers learned that the handgun was stolen out of Hagerstown, MD.  As a result of the search, Lee and one of the passengers, Magloire Ahadji, were arrested.  Lee and Ahadji were transported to Central Booking.  They were later seen…

On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, the Cumberland Police Department served three bench warrants on Teresa Roy. Circuit Court bench warrant: Violation of Probation on original 2nd Degree Assault charge. Held without bond. District Court bench warrant: Violation of Probation on original Driving without a license charge.  Held without bond. District Court bench warrant: Violation of Probation on original Driving while Impaired by Alcohol charge.  Held without bond. Roy was arrested and transported to the Allegany County Detention Center where she is currently being held without bond pending her appearance at the Allegany County Circuit Court.   ARRESTED:  Teresa Jean Roy         AGE: …

Reports that a Keyser Middle School student recently took his own life as a result of bullying has led to parents demanding answers from the Mineral County Board of Education. A number of concerned parents raised the issue with the superintendent and board members at this month’s public meeting. In Allegany County, while there have been no known suicides connected to school bullying- it has been an issue of concern for many years. Allegany County Board of Education President Robert Farrell said that although a number of steps have been taken in an attempt to improve the situation, bullying continues…

The annexation of a 40-acre tract along Messick Road is now official- and now efforts can get underway in earnest to see commercial development at the site in the future. Allegany County and the city of Cumberland entered into an agreement last year to obtain the land at the junction of Messick Road and state Route 51 for $250,000. Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss tells WCBC News the hope is that property  will prove an ideal location for a distribution center or other business venture…

Maryland lawmakers have held a series of meetings focusing on marijuana legalization with members hearing last week from cannabis policy experts about market demand considerations once a regulated systems of sales launches. The General Assembly is on the clock to come up with rules, regulations and a taxing structure for the new industry and the law is set to go into effect July 1st. Delegate Jason Buckel says a primary concern of his is the potential for Allegany County’s medical marijuana operations to be negatively impacted…

Governor Wes Moore chaired the first Maryland Board of Public Works meeting of his administration Wednesday, resulting in the approval of more than $229 million in expenditures, including several capital projects across Maryland…. Locally, Garrett and Washington counties will be receiving capital grants; while Garrett County was also approved for Program Open Space funds…

WBAL reports a new report by the Maryland State Department of Education shows test scores for students have returned to pre-pandemic performance levels in English but not in math. According to the report, the percentage of students proficient in math in grades 3 through 8 dropped from 33% for the 2018-2019 school year to 22% last year. Officials said the math results are consistent with a trend of declining performance rates for those grades even prior to the pandemic. Across the board, student math performance rates in all grades are still below pre-pandemic levels. When it came to English, officials said results show…

Comptroller Brooke Lierman on Tuesday joined 11 State Treasurers and the Comptroller of New York City calling on U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to urge the House of Representatives to take swift action to increase the debt limit and thus uphold their constitutional duties to protect America’s financial security.    The letter outlines the severe consequences for states and municipalities, the U.S. economy and the livelihood of all Americans, as well as the serious risk to America's national security if the House fails to increase the debt limit in a timely manner. 

After being shutdown east and west earlier today due to numerous traffic accidents and tractor trailer tie ups, Interstate 68 has now re-opened in both directions. Meanwhile a vehicle accident along Route 220 in the Rawlings area had that road temperarily shut down but it hsa now reopened to traffic

Area roads report from WCBC mobile newsroom…