The Allegany County Commissioners had a short agenda on Thursday evening with no public comment.  One issue that was brought to the commissioners was collection of the hotel/motel tax from users of Airbnb-type rentals in the county. Currently, the burden for collecting the tax has fallen on the property owner and collections are not happening consistently.  County Attorney Lee Beeman said he believes the solution has been found to make the collections easier…

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey joined a coalition of 19 states challenging the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to allow California to illegally ban trucks. That ban forces truckers to buy electric trucks and regulates trucking out of existence through mandating net zero emissions standards.  The Biden administration gave California the authority to force most buses, vans, trucks, and tractor-trailers be electric by 2035. Currently, just 2% of heavy trucks sold in the United States are electric. The ban on traditional trucks is part of the Biden administration’s aggressive climate change agenda, which hikes prices for businesses and consumers. Costs for electric trucks already start at about $100,000 and can reach the high six figures….

Saturday, June 17, at the Allegany County Fairgrounds, the Western Maryland Jaycees host the Thomas Automotive Tri-State Wing-Off and Music Festival, a daylong competition where wing-serving restaurants from MD, WV and PA fry up thousands of chicken wings to be eaten and judged by the public for numerous awards including the prestigious title of 11th Annual Thomas Automotive Wing-Off Champion! The 11th annual Wing-Off will be an all-day extravaganza filled with amazing and unique wings, plenty of cold beer and some seriously awesome music! This year there will be a variety of other local vendors and businesses in attendance as well…

A fifth suspect has been arrested as a result of continued investigation into the shooting incident which occurred on College Avenue in Frostburg early Sunday morning, May 7th, that resulted in five gunshot victims, and the death of twenty year old Alexander Ramon Redondo.  Nineteen year old Tanaz Antwon Taylor, of Baltimore, was arrested by members of the Maryland State Police Apprehension Team at a private residence in Baltimore, after a warrant had been issued for his arrest.  Taylor is being charged with Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Murder, and numerous related offenses. He is currently being held without bond at…

Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has announced joining a coalition of state Attorneys General calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to clarify the federal rules requiring telemarketers to obtain consent between an individual consumer and one specific seller or business entity before making telemarketing robocalls and texts. The comment letter was filed on June 6 in response to an FCC notice of proposed rulemaking. In the notice, the FCC sought comment on a proposed amendment to its rule concerning prior express written consent under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), as well as proposals to strengthen protections against…

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Mitt Romney (R-Utah), the Chair and Ranking Member of the East Asia, The Pacific, & International Cybersecurity Policy Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with U.S. Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), introduced a resolution to recognize the 34th anniversary of China’s Tiananmen Square Massacre, during which thousands of peaceful protesters were injured and killed at the direction of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership. The resolution also condemns the Chinese government’s ongoing and increasing repression of human rights and civic freedoms in mainland China as well as in Hong…

Today, Congressman David Trone (D-MD) reintroduced the ​​Supporting Families Through Addiction Act with Congressman Dan Meuser (R-PA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, alongside Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) in the U.S. Senate. The legislation would create a $25 million grant program over five years to help national and local nonprofit organizations provide support services to the families of those undergoing substance use disorder treatment. The bill was passed by the House in the 117th Congress. With drug overdoses on the rise, we must continue to address the opioid epidemic from every angle. Since 1999, more than one…

Charles S. Trump IV of Morgan County, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the West Virginia Senate, has announced that he intends to be a candidate in 2024 for the open seat on the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.             “Like many others, I was surprised by the announcement by Justice John Hutchison that he will not be seeking re-election in 2024,” Trump said. “I was not contemplating a candidacy against Justice Hutchison, but his decision not to run next year has caused many to encourage me to consider running for the open seat, and I intend to…

The House and Garden Club of Frostburg hosting a charter bus trip to Ladew Topiary Garden in Monkton, MD on Thursday June 29th. Ladew is known as one of the 10 best Topiary Gardens in the world. The charter will be contingent on having at least 35 passengers signed up by Monday, June 12th.  The bus will leave at 8:00 AM from the Frostburg Plaza. Return time will be approximately 5:00 PM. Deadline to reserve a seat is Monday, June 12. The cost will be $75 for the transportation plus the entrance fee as follows: Adults: $17 Seniors (62+) &…

Allegany County Emergency Services responding to the Oldtown area for a bear versus vehicle call with entrapment and airbag deployed. Maryland State Police Trooper 5 is responding to the scene. Oldtown Road just south of Oldtown will be closed while emergency crews respond to the scene. Update @07:52… Allegany County Emergency Services remain on scene Old Town road near the Paw Paw Cliffs. Alternating one lane of traffic getting by at this time. Update @09:24… Road is reopened