On Monday, February 27, 2023 at approximately 10:02 AM, an officer of the Cumberland Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Queen City Drive.  A Cumberland Police Department K-9 was requested.  A search was conducted and the occupants, Alana Reeves and Kevin Hewlin, were found to be in possession of a controlled dangerous substance.  Reeves was also in possession of CDS paraphernalia.  Reeves and Hewlin were arrested and transported to police headquarters.  They were issued criminal citations and released pending trial. ARRESTED:  Alana Sue Reeves       AGE:  56            Cumberland, MD CHARGES:  CDS: Possession-Not Cannabis, CDS: Possess Paraphernalia ARRESTED:  Kevin Lee Hewlin  …

On Monday, February 27, 2023, the Cumberland Police Department served an Allegany County Circuit Court bench warrant on Christina Moreland.  The warrant was issued as the result of Moreland failing to appear in court on July 28, 2020.  Moreland was originally charged with Possess Contraband-Place of Confinement.   She was arrested and transported to the Allegany County Detention Center where she is currently being held without bond pending her appearance before the court. ARRESTED:  Christina Marie Moreland     AGE:  45      Ridgeley, WV  

Now in its 19th year, the Hooley Plunge has become the largest single-day fundraising event in Allegany County.  Scheduled for this Saturday, March 4, hundreds will run into the cold waters of Lake Habeeb at Rocky Gap State Park to raise money for local programs supporting the developmentally disabled, including the Special Olympics of Allegany County, Friends Aware, public and private school programs and Boy Scout Troop 89. The Hooley Plunge is coordinated by Alhambra Wamba Caravan 89 and co-chaired by Alhambra member Rob Adams and Northrop Grumman Material Program Manager Stephen Gray.  Adams tells WCBC News that since its…

Maryland Governor Wes Moore pushed lawmakers on Monday to increase the minimum wage to $15 this year — instead of waiting until 2025 — and allow annual increases that are tied to the cost of living. Part of the measure that would tie future increases to the Consumer Price Index beginning in 2025 is coming under particular scrutiny. During a panel discussion with some business leaders who support the Democratic governor’s proposal, Moore acknowledged the challenge of persuading lawmakers to support it. There has been strong push back however to the continued effort to hike the minimum wage from business owners in…

A renewable energy bill being considered in Annapolis has generated strong opposition from the  Allegany County Board of Commissioners. The county officials, during the regular public meeting, had a letter read into the record expressing objections to Senate Bill 590-  citing  concerns that it would have negative impacts on the Western Maryland region. That letter, sent to the Maryland Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee, suggests that the bill as written would eliminate the future potential for biomass systems to qualify for renewable energy credits. This, they say, would cause “severe implications for forestry, wood waste and bioenergy operations that…

Cumberland city officials are continuing to tweak the hotel/motel grant program with City Administrator Jeff Silka outlining a plan to streamline and formalize the distribution process. The annual distribution of funding was a topic of discussion Tuesday during a City Council work session at City Hall. Each year, a portion of the hotel/motel accommodation tax collected by Allegany County is distributed to the city, and officials subsequently make a portion available to organizations located within city limits that help attract visitors to the area. Silka is recommending the process be moved to spring to be included as part of the…

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin added to the mystery surrounding his political future on Sunday when he deflected a question about whether he still identifies as a Democrat… Questions are continuing to mount over his political future- but to date Manchin has remained  vague at best when asked to outline his plans. Appearing this past weekend on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures” Manchin remained noncommittal- saying that his top priority at this point is to see Congress put partisan bickering aside- and focus on working together on legislation…

As the annual NFL combine begins, the Washington Commanders have officially released quarterback Carson Wentz. The former Eagles quarterback will now be looking for his fourth team in four years for the 2023 season. Wentz, 30, played just one season in Washington. He had a 2-5 record with 11 touchdowns and 9 interceptions and was benched a couple of times by head coach Ron Rivera.

Medical aid in dying could soon be legal in Maryland through a state bill that would allow terminally ill adults who are deemed mentally capable to seek prescriptions for drugs to help them end their life. The End-of-Life Option Act was first proposed in Maryland in 2015, but the 2023 legislative session marks the first year the bill has earned the support of the state’s governor. In January, Gov. Wes Moore endorsed medical aid in dying. According to a recent Gonzales Research survey, 71% of Maryland voters support the bill, up from 69% in 2021. This shows a growing movement to pass…

West Virginia is no longer providing a daily update on COVID-19 cases. The state Department of Health and Human Resources announced last week that COVID-19 dashboard updates will now occur weekly on Wednesdays, as opposed to daily updates. The decision was in light of the federal public health emergency expiring on May 11. In a press release, DHHR officials said the state was updating its COVID-19 dashboard metrics to better reflect the current response to the pandemic. West Virginia’s COVID emergency declaration expired Jan. 1. The pandemic is now considered an endemic in the Mountain State. Republican Gov. Jim Justice is still…