On Tuesday,at approximately 1:38pm an Allegany County Sheriff’s Office Deputy was on patrol in the area of Interstate 68 near Moose Curve when he made a traffic stop after witnessing a traffic violation. While speaking with the occupants of the vehicle, the Deputy detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from inside the vehicle. The Deputy also observed what appeared to be a pistol magazine and several knives in the waistband of the front seat passenger. While speaking with the passenger identified as William Alexander it was learned that he recently smoked marijuana in the vehicle and was in possession…

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) reports as of July 6, 2022, there are currently 2,040 active COVID-19 cases statewide. There were no deaths reported to DHHR over the last 24 hours, and total deaths remain at 7,069 deaths attributed to COVID-19. CURRENT ACTIVE CASES PER COUNTY: Barbour (9), Berkeley (136), Boone (36), Braxton (30), Brooke (15), Cabell (91), Calhoun (2), Clay (9), Doddridge (3), Fayette (61), Gilmer (10), Grant (5), Greenbrier (56), Hampshire (11), Hancock (33), Hardy (14), Harrison (94), Jackson (12), Jefferson (64), Kanawha (221), Lewis (34), Lincoln (15), Logan (53), Marion (73), Marshall…

The Cumberland Times News reports city officials may be putting the $10 million downtown mall renovation project out to bid to prospective construction companies by Aug. 1. Known as the Baltimore Street Access Project, plans include reinstalling Baltimore Street through the downtown pedestrian mall following the replacement of underground utility lines. The plan also includes a new streetscape with plants and shrubs, as well as reimagined parklets. The latest timeline for the project was disclosed at a City Council work session held Tuesday at City Hall.

On Tuesday, July 5, 2022, the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on Thomas Lancaster IV.  The warrant was issued in connection with a burglary investigation that began on November 13, 2021.  Police contacted the alleged victim at police headquarters who reported that Lancaster had broken into her home on the previous evening.  She explained she heard a loud bang and observed Lancaster standing in her residence, holding a piece of her door jamb.  After further investigation, the officer filed charges against Lancaster at the District Court of Allegany County and an arrest warrant was issued.  Lancaster was arrested…

Allegany County Government recently announced more than  $1.8 in grant funding to 12 area projects through the Invest Allegany grant program. Invest Allegany was an investment program that launched in February of 2022 utilizing funds from the American Rescue Plan to help accelerate Allegany County’s business community recovery and support redevelopment of the downtown cores of Cumberland and Frostburg as well as main streets across Allegany County.   Approximately $186,000 remains, and the commissioners are requesting those dollars go to a second round of funding. Commissioner’s President Jake Shade… The initial winners were: Au Petit Paris Building; Frostburg McMullen Building;…

Another weekend of violence in Maryland with several shootings and two people killed. Recent statistics from police show that approximately half of those arrested for homicide this year- are repeat offenders. In recent months law enforcement officers have been shot, one fatally, by a repeat violent offender.  Just last week an officer was struck by a vehicle in a hit and run while trying to make a traffic stop. It turns out the suspect is a 19 time repeat violent offender. The former Fraternal Order of Police President Gary McLhinney tells WBAL Radio the Police Commissioner needs to put some…

With just two weeks out until the primary, polls show Maryland's top-tier gubernatorial candidates are tied in their respective parties. Maryland’s current governor says there does appear to be some apathy among voters in this mid-tern primary. The latest poll results indicates the race is a toss-up in both the Democratic and Republican primaries. Of those polled, 35% remain undecided in the Democratic primary, while 63% who have decided said they could change their mind. On the Republican ticket, 44% are undecided and 47% said they could change their mind. Hogan, who has received some of the highest approval ratings…

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen said this week that the Biden administration is not to blame for sky rocketing inflation- but rather the problem is caused by what he calls the “three P’s”: Putin’s war; the pandemic; and price gouging. The Maryland Democrat, at a senate hearing with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said there’s “no guarantee″ the central bank can tame runaway inflation without hurting the job market- and that is a concern…

In honor of the Allegany High School Reunion weekend festivities, the City of Cumberland welcomes everyone to gather on the downtown bricks on Friday, for a “Friday After Five”. The music, food, fun and dancing will continue Saturday. Downtown Development Commission executive director Melinda Kelleher…

The Securities and Exchange Commission’s climate risk disclosure rule now has an even bigger target on its back. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said as much at a recent press conference after the Supreme Court curbed EPA’s ability to regulate planet-warming emissions. He argued that the Biden administration and agencies including the SEC have intentionally sidestepped Congress to fight climate change and that his and other Republican states’ challenge against EPA is just their first effort to fight back…