Every fall and winter, viral respiratory illnesses like the common cold and seasonal flu keep kids out of school and social activities. But this year, more children than usual are ending up at emergency departments and hospitals. In Maryland, emergency rooms have run out of beds because of the unusually high number of severe respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, infections. The early surge in respiratory infections with high rates of hospitalization highlights the importance of prevention. Dr. Matthew Simmons, an Infectious Disease Specialist at UPMC Western Maryland says the best tool we have for prevention is vaccination. Vaccines that protect against COVID-19 and influenza are available and recommended for everyone over 6 months…

A new development has happened regarding the effort to release to the public the report from the Maryland attorney general's office that details hundreds of cases of sex abuse by priests in the Archdiocese of Baltimore. In comments on the subject earlier, Arch Bishop William Lori indicated the church would not object to the report being made public… There apparently has been a change with the Baltimore Sun now reporting the archdiocese is helping to pay the legal fees for an anonymous group that is trying to prevent the report from being released. A spokesman for the archdiocese told the…

BALTIMORE, MD (November 29, 2022) – The Independent Investigations Division of the Maryland Office of the Attorney General is investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred in Frederick, Maryland, on Tuesday morning. On November 29, at approximately 2:10 a.m., deputies with the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home in the 5800 block of Haller Place after receiving a 911 call for an adult male attacking and stabbing his mother and father. Once on scene, deputies located the mother and father suffering from stab wounds and began providing medical aid. Additional sheriff’s deputies, officers with the Frederick City Police…

Allegany County Emergency Services reports a motor vehicle crash Route 220 at Steeles Hill Road in Rawlings. The South Bound lane was temporarily closed as units cleared the scene.

Traffic on the West Virginia Turnpike was heavier than expected the first two days of the Thanksgiving travel week.   From Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, through Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, 721,114 vehicles passed through Turnpike toll booths. Traffic was heaviest the two days before the Thanksgiving holiday and the weekend after.   On Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022, 132,053 vehicles went through Turnpike toll booths. On Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, 156,757 vehicles passed through the toll booths. Traffic for the two days was nearly 2,000 vehicles higher than predicted.   Highest traffic day on the Turnpike was Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022,…

As a part of National Prematurity Awareness Month, the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today announced $6 million in grant funding to expand access to prenatal and infant care services for at-risk, low-income families.  MDH will provide the funding through the Maryland Prenatal and Infant Care Thrive By Three Grant Fund and Program to improve maternal and infant care coordination. The funds are slated to be dispersed over the next three years. “Thrive By Three benefits at-risk pregnant people and babies,” said MDH Deputy Secretary for Public Health Services Dr. Jinlene Chan. “The model serves at-risk pregnant people and those…

There will be a Fort Hill Fan bus going to the state playoff game this Saturday , December 3rd.   The bus will leave Greenway Avenue at 11am promptly.    You may pack a cooler and store it under the bus to have food when you get to the stadium.    No Alcohol is permitted on the bus.     Please do not park in the oval at FH;  utilize the street for all parking.  Tickets/vouchers for seating on the bus is first come first served.   You may purchase tickets on Thursday,  December 1st at FH from 8am to 12noon.  Cash only.  The price is only…

On November 28th, 2022 officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a business in the 1000 block of Virginia Avenue for a reported burglary. Upon officer’s arrival they spoke with the victim who had observed the door to the business to have been forced open. Officers conducted their investigation by gathering evidence and speaking with concerned citizens from the community. Through their investigation the officers were able to develop Brian Garletts as a suspect. Officers were able to locate Garletts and located other items of evidence from the burglary. Garletts was placed under arrest and taken before a District…

On November 29th, 2022 at 1:45 am officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a hit and run of two vehicles in the 400 block of Louisiana Avenue. Officers spoke with the victims and were provided with a vehicle description. Officers canvased the area and were able to locate the suspect vehicle. While officers conducted their investigation, they located the operator, Jacob Merrill, who was visibly intoxicated. Officers obtained evidence that Merrill had operated a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and was subsequently placed under arrest. Merrill was later released on citations. Arrest: Jacob Eugene Merrill, age…

On November 28th, 2022 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served Arrest Warrant on Heather Robison. The Arrest Warrant was issued by the District Court when she failed to appear for her trail on November 15th, 2022. Robison was taken before a District Court Commissioner where she was released on her own recognizance. Arrest: Heather Mae Robison, age 32, Albright West Virginia. Charge: Failure to Appear. On November 28th, 2022 officers of the Cumberland Police Department served an Arrest Warrant on Russell Wiseman. The Arrest Warrant was issued by the District Court stemming from an assault investigation in August of…