More direct communication from the Maryland State Board of Education is an area members of the local school  board would like to see improve. During a recent MSDE local school board virtual roundtable meeting, Allegany County School Board President Crystal Bender said that the bulk of the information and communication received locally seems to be generated by the Maryland Association of Boards of Education….

WBAL reports that on Tuesday morning in Annapolis, a wreath-laying ceremony took place for the five employees of the Capital Gazette newspaper who were killed in a mass shooting four years ago to date, tomorrow. The killing was the largest workplace mass shooting of journalists in American history. There will also be an unveiling tomorrow of artwork remembering the victims of the shooting at City Hall. The wreath-laying is set for 9:30 a.m. at the Guardians Memorial on Compromise Street.

The Supreme Court on Monday sided with a football coach from Washington state who sought to kneel and pray on the field after games. The court ruled 6-3 along ideological lines for the coach. The justices said the coach’s prayer was protected by the First Amendment. “The Constitution and the best of our traditions counsel mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship and suppression, for religious and nonreligious views alike,” wrote Justice Neil Gorsuch for the majority. The case forced the justices to wrestle with how to balance the religious and free speech rights of teachers and coaches with the rights of students not…

Maryland Attorney General Brian E. Frosh and a national coalition of 22 attorneys general today issued a joint statement reaffirming their commitment to supporting and expanding access to abortion care.  Despite the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, access to safe and legal abortion remains robustly protected in numerous states across the country, including in Maryland and the coalition states.  As highlighted by the multistate coalition’s efforts in the amicus brief led by California in Dobbs, the coalition of attorneys general will continue to fight to support the rights of pregnant people nationwide.   “Abortion…

According to state fire investigators, discarded smoking material sparked a Saturday morning fire that caused about $2,500 damage to a Westernport home. The 8:50 a.m. fire at 226 Miller St. was contained to the outside of the home and the residents were not displaced.  Volunteer firefighters extinguished the blaze in about five minutes.

On Sunday the Cumberland City Police arrested Stephen Michael Schalizki Jr, 33, of Cumberland MD. Schalizki was arrested on an outstanding Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court. The Warrant alleged that Schalizki failed to appear in District Court on June 22nd, 2022, on a previous charge of Driving on a Suspended License. Schalizki was taken before the District Court Commissioner for his Initial Appearance where he was released on his own personal recognizance. Arrested: Stephen Michael Schalizki Jr. Age: 33 Charges: Bench Warrant – Failure to Appear Later, police arrested Andrew Jacob Getz, 42, and Amy Lynn…

Not even a request from the President of the United States can move Maryland’s legislative leaders to consider a second gas tax holiday. That failure to act is a point of frustration for Allegany County Commissioners Jake Shade. Even Though President Joe Biden requested state’s to take action- Maryland’s Senate President and House Speaker are standing firm against a second round of relief at the pumps. Commissioner Shade, a candidate for state senate, said the in action on the part of Maryland’s lawmakers is inexcusable…

The Supreme Court has ruled that Americans have a broad right to arm themselves in public, striking down a New York law that placed strict limits on carrying guns outside the home and setting off a scramble in other states that have similar restrictions. WBAL reports it is important to note that Maryland's law isn't affected by this ruling. The law will remain in place for the time being, but it is very similar to the New York law, so many feel it's just a matter of time before the state's is struck down too. One of those concerned is…

Allegany County officials announced in January a new program which will make $2 million in grant money available for commercial capital projects- and those initial succesul applicants have now been announced. Called "Invest Allegany," the program provided property owners in Cumberland, Frostburg, and all other municipalities in Allegany County to apply for the funding which is mainly for improvements to commercial buildings. During the regular meeting of the County Commissioners, economic development specialist Adam Strott announced 13 grant awardees receiving a total of more than $1.8 million- leaving a little more than $185,000 left over. Commissioners President Jake Shade…

The Supreme Court has ended constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place nearly 50 years in a decision by its conservative majority to overturn Roe v. Wade. The ruling came more than a month after the stunning leak of a draft opinion by Justice Samuel Alito indicating the court was prepared to take this momentous step- and it puts the court at odds with a majority of Americans who favored preserving Roe, according to opinion polls. Maryland’s two U.S. Senators have expressed frustration and concern with the process and the obvious impacts. Senator Ben Cardin…   Senator Chris…