On Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at approximately 4:18 PM, an officer of the Cumberland Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Interstate 68 westbound. The officer contacted the operator, Selena Amoruso, and the passenger, Dakotah Corbin.  A police K-9 was requested and a scan was completed.  The K-9 positively alerted for the presence of the odor of narcotics in the vehicle.  The officer informed the occupants of the result of the K-9 scan and they began reaching for items inside the vehicle and trying to conceal them.  Officers were able to remove Amoruso and Corbin from the vehicle.  After further…

The most hotly contested primary race was a close one Tuesday in Allegany, Garrett, and Washington Counties as Delegate Mike McKay edged Allegany County Commissioners Jake Shade for the Republican nomination for State Senate in District 1.  McKay attributed his win to hard work in all three counties.   Shade was philosophical about his defeat.

Two incumbents and one newcomer advanced Tuesday in the Allegany County Commissioner race on the Republican side.  Dave Caporale was the top vote-getter and he told WCBC that keeping current businesses within the county is a priority. Fellow incumbent Creade Brodie said that patience and helpfulness are key factors when faced with angry constituents. After a long career in a non-elected position in county government, Bill Atkinson came in third place to advance to the November ballot.  Atkinson wants to emphasize economic development through outdoor recreation.   Voter turnout was an abysmal 19.5% in Allegany County.

Both incumbent city councilmen have advanced to the November general election in the city of Cumberland.  The top vote-getter Tuesday was Rock Cioni followed by James Furstenberg, Joe George and Mary Conlon. Cioni told WCBC News that he feels enhancing Constitution Park is a major priority.   Fellow incumbent Joe George came in a close third to Jimmy Furstenberg.  George said he has more work to do to win re-election in November.   Political newcomer Jimmy Furstenberg finished second in Tuesday’s primary and he told WCBC News that he is an approachable candidate.

A University of Maryland Baltimore County police officer is under arrest, charged with multiple counts of arson after allegedly setting a total of four fires since December while on duty. On July 18, 2022, a Baltimore County grand jury indicted Walter T. Christopher, 36, on twelve counts, including second-degree arson, second-degree malicious burning, and malicious destruction of property. Today, Christopher was arrested at UMBC by the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the University of Maryland Baltimore County Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office and was jointly investigated by the Office of…

The full Maryland congressional delegation, including U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Steny H. Hoyer, Dutch Ruppersberger, John Sarbanes, Kweisi Mfume, Anthony G. Brown, Jamie B. Raskin, Andy Harris, M.D., and David Trone, recently called on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to select Maryland as the permanent home for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), a new agency proposed by President Biden to improve the U.S. government’s ability to speed biomedical and health research. 

The House is set to vote on a bill Tuesday that would codify same-sex marriage into federal law – the move coming in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade last month, after which Justice Clarence Thomas announced the court should "reconsider" its past rulings on rights to contraception access, same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage. Thomas, in his concurrence to Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the decision that struck down Roe v. Wade, wrote that the Supreme Court should reconsider decisions involving a constitutional right to privacy that guarantees fundamental rights – including same-sex…

On Monday, July 18, 2022, the Cumberland Police Department served a criminal summons on James Langway.  The summons was issued in connection with a destruction of property investigation that began on July 11, 2022.  On this date, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a shopping plaza on E. Oldtown Rd. for a dumpster fire.  The Cumberland Fire Department extinguished the fire and police began checking the area.  Officers observed damage to the businesses and litter scattered throughout the parking lot.  Through further investigation, James Langway was identified as the suspect.  The arson investigation was handled by the State…

On Monday, July 18, 2022 at approximately 5:14 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to the Park & Ride along Rt. 220 for a disturbance.  Police contacted a male subject in a vehicle.  He advised that a female had run into the woods.  An officer observed Deanna Shears in the woods.  The officer contacted Shears who reported that she had gotten into a verbal argument with the male subject in the vehicle.  Officers observed numerous pills and paraphernalia in the vehicle in plain view.  A search of the vehicle was conducted.  Additional CDS and CDS paraphernalia was located.  …

The field of candidates will narrow considerably following Maryland’s primary election today. Statewide there are races for governor, comptroller and attorney general- while locally the District One State Senate race; Allegany County Commissioners; Board of Education and the Cumberland City Council are all on the ballot. Races for Allegany County clerk of the Circuit Court, register of wills, sheriff, state's attorney; Cumberland mayor; and House District 1B all feature candidates who are running unopposed. Other contested races include Judge of Orphan’s Court as well as House of and Delegates 1A. Maryland’s Sixth District Congressional race features four Democrats including incumbent David…