Although the announcement this month that Hunter Douglas will be closing it’s Cumberland plant in July was devastating news for the community- local officials hope that all is not lost.  During Tuesday’s regular monthly meeting of the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation the discussion centered on working with Hunter Douglas to market the soon to be vacant facility. CEDC executive director Matt Miller… Miller said that he believes the building would be an easy sell…

The Allegany County Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the superintendent’s proposed FY 2024 budget which total $34.2 million- which represents a 7.4% increase in local funding.  Finance Director Larry Mckenzie provided an overview beginning a look at the top priorities… Mckenzie noted that there are still some bills being considered in the Maryland General Assembly that could have a fiscal impact and result in some changes;  and he added that the budget will be presented to the Allegany County Commissioners in public session later this  month. School Board member Tammy Fraley applauded the superintendent and the finance…

Governor Wes Moore and state environmental officials announced this week  that Maryland will adopt rules to phase out the sale of new, gas-powered cars by 2035, calling for a seismic shift in the state’s vehicle market in an effort to curb climate change. The governor’s announcement brings the state in line with California, which last year announced a goal of banning the sale of gas-powered vehicles by 2035.  House Minority Leader Jason Buckel called the proposal unfortunate and counter-productive… Maryland faces an uphill road in electric vehicle adoption, with the ownership rate currently hovering around 1 percent of total vehicles and the…

The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and  New York's Signature Bank has  sent shockwaves across the financial industry and has elected officials both angry and concerned including Maryland’s lone Republican Congressman.  President Biden said the depositors of those banks would get their money, even if it exceeded the $250 million limit from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. Representative Andy Harris, on WBAL, called the president’s action nothing more than a bail out… Harris said the federal government should have learned its lesson from 2008 when Congress bailed out several banks…

The City of Cumberland has opened the application period for local organizations to submit their requests for a portion of the Hotel/Motel Tax.  A standardized application form is now required to provide for consistency amongst all the applicants.  Awards are granted annually on the basis of merit, as determined by Mayor and City Council of Cumberland.    This grant program is made possible through the Hotel/Motel Tax collection through the county’s lodging partners and is designed to help enhance the tourism experience, increase overnight stays in Cumberland, and increase visitor spending.   Program Specifics are as follows: ·                                                      Eligibility is limited…

As the second part of her statewide tour of the Comptroller’s Branch Offices, Comptroller Brooke Lierman will visit Western Maryland Friday afternoon, where she will meet with staff and taxpayers at the Comptroller of Maryland’s Cumberland Branch Office. While in Cumberland, the Comptroller will meet with community stakeholders, business owners, and elected leaders to discuss issues affecting the region’s economy, revitalization projects, and the resources required to achieve those goals. The tour is part of Comptroller Lierman’s campaign promise to be more engaged and accessible to the community. First, Comptroller Lierman will speak at the groundbreaking ceremony for the $15…

Lawmakers passed a bill in the Maryland Senate on Monday that would limit where firearms can be conceal-carried. The legislation is in response to the Supreme Court decision that expanded conceal-carry. Senate President Bill Ferguson said the law limits where people can carry a gun legally and it would also increase fines. Should the bill be signed by Gov. Wes Moore, it's likely to be challenged at the Supreme Court by gun rights groups.

WIND ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM THIS MORNING TO 8 AM EDT WEDNESDAY… * WHAT…Northwest winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 50 mph expected. * WHERE…Portions of north central and western Maryland, central, northwest and western Virginia and eastern and panhandle West Virginia. * WHEN…From 9 AM this morning to 8 AM EDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS…Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects. Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.

The City of Cumberland Engineering Department, on behalf of Columbia Gas and Shaffer Construction, would like to notify the public that Polk Street will be closed to thru traffic on Wednesday, March 15th, until Friday, March 31st, from the times of 7:00am to 5:00pm to allow Columbia Gas & Shaffer Construction to perform restoration work. The road will be closed to traffic and parking during this time.   Signage will be in place to detour passenger vehicles around the road closure, in addition to no parking signs on Polk street. Pedestrian access will be maintained.   Additional information will be…

Before a report on sexual abuse committed by Catholic priests in Maryland is made public, a judge will have to sign off on the report’s proposed redactions the state’s attorney general released on Monday. Attorney General Anthony Brown’s office said in a statement it had sent a list of proposed redactions to the attorney general’s report, titled “Clergy Abuse in Maryland” to the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. The report is based on a 2019 investigation that uncovered a large number of allegations of sexual abuse in the Baltimore Archdiocese.