In April of 2021, in an effort to help the city of Cumberland expedite the Washington Street Bridge project, the Allegany County Commissioners authorized county attorney Lee Beeman to file an official complaint against CSX with the National Surface Transportation Board. To date the county and the city remain on hold- having not yet received a response or a date. The Washington Street bridge, which spans railroad tracks, has been closed for several years, frustrating residents as well as motorists who travel the West Side. Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss is on record as calling the NST board the last best…

West Virginia’s average gas prices continued to climb toward the $5 mark as the state had the largest weekly increase at 28 cents. The average price for a gallon of gas in the Mountain State on Wednesday was at $4.93, while the national average for a gallon of gas of unleaded was $5.01. Charleston’s average gas price was about $4.99 per gallon. Despite those skyrocketing numbers, neither Governor Jim Justice or the West Virginia legislature seem inclined to consider a gas tax holiday anytime soon…

On Wednesday night at approximately 9:30 p.m., Allegany County Emergency officials were dispatched to Waverly Street in Westernport for a fire. Crews responded to a working apartment fire. The State Fire Marshal has been dispatched to the scene for an investigation. No injuries were reported.  WCBC News will update as information becomes available. 

On Wednesday, June 15, 2022 at approximately 1:05 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to the 300 block of Virginia Avenue for a subject causing a disturbance and refusing to leave the facility.  Upon arrival, police contacted the staff who reported that Malik Freeman was refusing to leave after being requested to do so.  Officers ordered Freeman to leave the property multiple times.  Freeman still refused to leave the property.  He was placed under arrest and transported to the police station for processing.  He was later seen by a District Court Commissioner and remanded to the Allegany County…

A bipartisan group of senators on Sunday announced an agreement had been reached – though in principle only – on new legislation meant to address the country's ongoing gun violence, including the recent Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting.  The deal, in the works for weeks, has the support of at least 10 Republicans in the Senate, which is the number needed to avoid a filibuster. If passed, the proposal would be the first major gun law to make it through Congress in years. U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, said it is time for Republicans to start listening to their constituents rather…

The Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, in conjunction with the Delaware Aviation Museum Foundation, will bring a Warbird Showcase to the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport this Father’s Day weekend June 18-19- and WCBC Radio on Wednesday’s “Dave Norman Show” gave away a free ticket to ride in a B-25.  The winning entry as submitted by Ann Burns of Cumberland on behalf of her husband who she described as a World War II enthusiast…

Juneteenth, which is traditionally celebrated on June 19, is this weekend and a three day celebration is planned in Cumberland. Juneteenth is recognized each year and celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States in 1865. The day is recognized as a federal holiday, a state holiday in Maryland and West Virginia and a city holiday in Cumberland. Allegany County does not recognize the holiday. To celebrate Juneteenth’s significance the NAACP of Allegany County will host  a second Annual Juneteenth Festival with the highlight being a  parade from Washington Street to Canal Place Saturday. Tifani Fisher, president of the…

The Allegany County Combined Criminal Investigative Unit (C3I),  and  the Allegany County Sheriff's Office are requesting the public's assistance locating Brittany Kay Donahue, 29 years of age. Brittany is described as a caucasian female, standing  5'-8'', and weighing approximately 130lbs.  Brittany was last seen on May 25th, 2022 in the 12000blk of Amherst Ave, Cumberland, MD. Anyone having information into her whereabouts is asked to contact the Office of the Sheriff, or Det. Gulck of C3I at 301-777-1585 or 301-777-0326. 

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the face of America's pandemic response through two White House administrations, has tested positive for the coronavirus. The 81-year-old Fauci, who is fully vaccinated and has received two booster shots, was experiencing mild COVID-19 symptoms, according to a statement Wednesday from the National Institutes of Health. Fauci has not recently been in close contact with President Joe Biden or other senior government officials. He tested positive on a rapid antigen test. He is following public health guidelines and his doctor's advice, and will return to work at the NIH when he tests negative, according to the statement. Fauci is…

In a legal case closely watched by libraries and the publishing industry, a federal judge in Maryland struck down a state law requiring publishers to make e-books available on “reasonable terms” to libraries if they were also being offered to the general public. The Association of American Publishers, the industry’s trade organization, had contended that the bill violated the United States Copyright Act by allowing states to regulate publishing transactions. The Maryland law was passed with overwhelming support a year ago, and included provisions for fines up to $10,000 and higher. Maryland U.S. District Judge Deborah L. Boardman issued her…