U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government (FSGG), House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, and Senator Ben Cardin (all D-Md.) released the following statement regarding their efforts to secure language in the Omnibus FSGG Appropriations text to push for a more fair and transparent process for the site selection of the FBI headquarters:   “For more than a decade, we have fought to provide the FBI with a new, consolidated headquarters that meets the security and operational needs of the Bureau. As the GSA weighs the final site selection, their top priority…

Gov. Jim Justice today declared a State of Preparedness for all 55 counties in West Virginia due to the winter storm event forecast to hit the state this week. The National Weather Service predicts heavy snow, freezing rains, dangerous wind chills, and strong winds beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, December 21, 2022, continuing throughout the week and into the coming holiday weekend.

              Allegany County Public Schools’ Superintendent, Mr. Jeff Blank, has announced the appointment of the new Director of Information Technology. Mr. Jeffrey T. Blank will assume this role effective December 19, 2022.               Blank earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Frostburg State University. He was previously a member of the ACPS team serving as the Supervisor of Networking. Mr. Blank also held the position of Chief Technology Officer for Conxx and Komodo Systems.             When asked how he felt about returning to ACPS, Mr. Blank stated, “It's great to be back! I have always appreciated the…

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican weighing a 2024 White House bid, said Monday he believes former President Donald Trump is “at his lowest point ever,” as the House Jan. 6 committee wrapped up its investigation into what Hogan described as “one of the darkest days in American history.” In an interview with The Associated Press shortly before the committee released its recommendations, Hogan said he believes the former president should be held accountable, after he “inflamed kind of a riotous mob to go attack the seat of our democracy.” However, the outgoing, term-limited governor was not specific about how Trump…

On Monday, December 19, 2022, the Cumberland Police Department served a fugitive warrant on Brandon Sickler.  Sickler had an outstanding bench warrant through Bedford County, Pennsylvania for failure to appear in court.  Sickler was arrested and transported to the Allegany County Detention to await extradition. ARRESTED:  Brandon Allen Sickler      AGE:  23       Cumberland, MD

On 12/19/2022, at approximately 2000 hours, Deputies with the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling Westbound, on Interstate 68, near the 43 A mile marker.  Upon making contact with the occupants, Deputies observed several factors consistent with criminal activity.  Furthermore, Deputies learned that the operator of the vehicle was driving on a suspended license, and currently on probation for distribution of narcotics.  Probable cause to search the vehicle was also established on scene.  During the course of their investigation, Deputies located a large quantity of suspected cannabis, cocaine, and Oxycodone, as well as a quantity of suspected codeine ….

Rory McCarty was shopping at Walmart when he met 82-year-old Butch working at the register. Rory talked to Butch and told him he was going to help him retire. He made several Tik Toks with Butch and launched this GoFundMe page to help Butch retire. The tik toks have been played thousands of times and in just three days, more than $60,000 have been raised to help.

On Saturday, December 17, 2022 Garrett County hosted the 7th Annual Police Providing Presents event.  Volunteers from all five (05) Garrett County law enforcement agencies along with the Garrett County Department of Social Services, Garrett County Board of Education, Garrett County Health Department and AmeriCorps partnered together to help make the event possible.          The nationwide event may be called different names, but the event's meaning stays the same.  The event provided selected children through Garrett County Schools the opportunity to be paired with members from the Maryland State Police, Garrett County Sheriff's Office, Maryland Natural Resource Police, Oakland…

The McCoury family and Rainmaker Music Management has announced that a recently purchased building at 60 Pershing Street in Cumberland will serve as  home of Allegany College’s Social Media and Degital Analytics intern lab. The McCoury group is investing in real estate for future music and educational purposes and are partnering with the college – designing a certificate program around DelFest and other music industry and business needs. DelFest and Allegany College representatives discussed the new program Monday morning as they joined WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show”. DelFest manager Stan Strickland said the COVID-19 pandemic actually helped pave the way for…

The average price for regular unleaded fuel in Maryland on Saturday was 52 cents less compared to what it was a month ago. According to AAA, the average price for regular unleaded fuel in Maryland was $3.17  per gallon.Unfortunately, Garrett and Allegany counties have the highest prices in the state- Garrett at $3.66 and Allegany at $3.63.  Maryland's price of fuel was above the national average. The country's average on Monday was $3.14 per gallon of regular gas. State Senator-elect Mike McKay, who represents Western Maryland, tells WCBC News there are no easy solutions…