The Allegany County Commissioners on Thursday evening delivered a proclamation declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.  Accepting the proclamation was Courtney Thomas Winterburg, director of the Allegany County Department of Social Services and Tracie Wilson, Supervisor of Child Protective Services.  Wilson provided an explanation for the pinwheels decorating the lawn in front of the Masonic Temple on Greene Street.          

A large number of citizens were in attendance at Thursday’s Allegany County Commissioners meeting with 12 people signed in for public comment voicing their displeasure at the location of an abortion clinic in the county. While many of the speakers remarked how upset they were at the prospect of such a clinic in the area, Pastor Michael Mudge addressed the commissioners asking if anything could possibly be done under Code Home Rule to create more stringent regulations on the operation, including reporting.

The Cumberland Mayor and City Council heard from a resident who is not happy with the Community Development Grant Program and it's allocation of funds for youth services and senior prescription drug program. During this week's City Council meeting, Dana Tennin believes the priority should be on the residents and taxpayers… He would like to see money spent on installing basketball courts at Banneker and Riverside rather than money being utilized on resurfacing a basketball court at Jane Frazier since they already have one. He believes $2,000 for a senior prescription drug program is not significant Mayor Morriss encouraged Dana to speak with the members of the Community Block Grant…

Community Block Grant funding was one of the topics on the agenda at last Tuesday’s Mayor and City Council meeting.  Senior Community Development Specialist Lee Borror provided a presentation on the program and what projects would be available for the 2023 funding cycle.  The plan outlines projects for housing, economic development, homelessness, and other public services.

The Maryland General Assembly approved a measure on Thursday to give the state’s attorney general authority to bring criminal charges against police officers after investigating deaths when officers are involved. Supporters of the bill say it ends conflicts of interest between local prosecutors and police. Delegate Jason Buckel noted that 23 of 24 states attorneys from both sides of the aisle oppose the bill. Buckel wanted to change the bill so that local prosecutors would have 60 days to decide to file charges and if not done by that time, the attorney general could still move ahead with charges against…

On Saturday, April 8th, 2023, The Cumberland City Police arrested Erica June Rea Martin, 24, of Oldtown MD. Martin was arrested on two active Warrants issued by the Allegany County District Court. One warrant was issued for Martin failing to appear in court on April 4th on a previous theft charge. The second warrant was issued for an incident that occurred at a Park St business on March 27th. During that incident, it is alleged that Martin entered the store and stole a purse from an elderly victim’s shopping cart before fleeing the area on foot. Martin was taken before…

At Tuesday’s Mayor and City Council meeting a public hearing was held to discuss some of the work being done on the 2023 CDBG Annual Action Plan.  Lee Borror, Senior Community Development Specialist, spoke of some of the projects for 2023 that will focus on areas including housing, economic development, homelessness, and public services as well as a new hiking trail at Constitution Park.

Morgan State University announced this round of federal funding is part of an extensive Biden administration commitment to transportation innovation and research. The Sustainable Mobility and Accessibility Regional Transportation Equity Research Center (SMART) consists of partner institutions Howard University, University of Delaware, University of Maryland, University of Pittsburgh, University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia University.  Inadequate access to affordable transportation and transit deserts in the region’s urban communities, coupled with growing congestion along major interstate corridors such as I-95 and I-66, present persistent challenges for residents and policymakers alike. The SMART Center will work with state departments of transportation in…

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) joined Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Senate colleagues in introducing legislation to close a current loophole that allows gun sales to proceed if a background check is not completed within a specific time period, even if the gun buyer is not legally allowed to purchase a gun. The gap in existing law has allowed thousands of gun sales to prohibited buyers, including the sale of the firearm used by the shooter in the deadly attack at Charleston, South Carolina’s Emanuel AME Church. U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn (D-S.C.) is introducing…

Gov. Jim Justice paid tribute to the 29 miners who lost their lives in the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster, which occurred 13 years ago. The explosion was a tragic event that shook the state of West Virginia and the entire nation. Today, a permanent memorial has been established in Whitesville, which features the names of the 29 courageous miners who lost their lives in service to their community and state. Gov. Justice asked everyone to keep the families and loved ones the miners left behind in their prayers, ensuring these heroes are never forgotten.