The City of Cumberland, in partnership with the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT). Preservation Maryland and the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, will present a free Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Workshop on Thursday, February 9th, 2023 from 11:30 – 2 in the City Hall Council Chambers located at 57 N. Liberty Street, Cumberland, MD. 21502. Lunch will be provided. For those unable to attend in person a virtual option will be available. This event is for investors, historic property owners, real estate agents, banking specialists, accountants, government officials and local community leaders who want to learn more about utilizing vacant and/or historic…

On Wednesday, January 4th, 2023, the Cumberland City Police responded to a Queen City Drive business for the report of a shoplifter. Once on scene, Officers contacted an employee from the business who stated they had observed the shoplifter in the store concealing items on their person. The employee then confronted the subject and had them remove the items from their person. During this time, the subject had an open bottle of alcohol which spilled on some of the merchandise, damaging it. The subject was also found to have an active Bench Warrant for violation of probation. As a result,…

On Wednesday, January 4th, 2023, the Cumberland City Police arrested Benjamin Charles Anastasio, 33, of Cumberland MD. Anastasio was arrested on an active Arrest Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court for an incident that occurred on December 31st, 2022. During that incident, The Cumberland Police, with assistance from the Allegany County Sherriff’s Office and Maryland State Police, responded to the area of Fisher Ln and Williams Rd. It was reported that the subject had escaped from a medical facility to which they had been court committed. Officers set a perimeter in the wooded area and initiated a search…

On Wednesday, January 4th, 2023, the Cumberland City Police arrested Jessica Nicole Porter, 34, of Cumberland MD. Porter was arrested on an active Bench Warrant issued by the Allegany County District Court on December 2nd, 2022. The warrant allege that Porter violated the terms and conditions of her probation that stemmed from a previous theft charge. She was taken before the District Court Commissioner for her Initial Appearance where she was remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center. She is currently being held without bond. Arrested: Jessica Nicole Porter Age: 34 Charges: Bench Warrant – Violation of Probation On Wednesday,…

A scene from the 1994 classic  movie “The Shawkshank Redemption” with the warden explaining how the state views allocating funds for prisons. That does not appear to be the case in Maryland where in December the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services notified all inmates that a $15 dollar holiday gift was being deposited in their spending accounts. That money could be used for any commissary items such as food, clothing and sundries. The memorandum was signed by state duty commissioner Annie Harvey.  Harvey could not be reached for comment- but WCBC News did catch up with State Senator-elect…

With construction set to begin in April on the $15 million Baltimore Street redesign project – city officials have begun discussions on the possible distribution of some of the downtown assets. Those include items such as street lights, bike racks, benches and even the bricks on the mall. During this week’s city work session, council member Laurie Marchini said there has been interest expressed… If the decision is for the city to remove, salvage  and give away the items, there could be some cost associated involved- as opposed to simply having the contractor remove and dispose of the lights, bricks,…

The newly elected members of the Allegany County Board of Education have been officially sworn in to office with newcomer Lori Lepley joining incumbents David Bohn and Robert Farrell in ceremonies Wednesday. Those three will serve with Crystal Bender and Tammy Fraley. While Bohn and Farrell ran as incumbents, member Deb Frank opted not to seek a second term leaving one seat open- and that went to Lepley. Farrell tells WCBC News his priority beginning a new term will continue to focus on helping students recovering what was lost during the COVID-19 pandemic… Mrs Lepley, during the campaign, said on…

Top Maryland state officials approved a new lease for the Ravens on Wednesday that will keep the football team playing at the state-owned M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore for the next 15 to 25 years. The Board of Public Works voted unanimously to approve the lease. The Ravens will pay no rent, but must pay for ongoing operations and maintenance at the stadium, which amounted to $11 million in 2022. The action was one of the final votes taken  by Governor Larry Hogan who was participating in his final Board of  Public Works meeting…

COVID-19 cases rose over the holiday, which resulted in 778 Marylanders starting the new year in the hospital being treated for the illness. That number is down very slightly from last Friday but remains at a level not seen since February of last year. The positivity rate of more than 15.2% is also the highest it's been in almost a year. Locally the numbers are trending in the wrong direction with the community transmission level in Allegany County in the medium category. The 12 cases per day is a 40% increase from two weeks ago and the positivity rate remains high. On…

House Republicans flailed through a second day of multiple balloting Wednesday, unable to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy as House speaker or to come up with a new strategy to end the political chaos that has tarnished the start of their new majority. For a fifth time, Republicans tried to vote McCarthy into the top job as the House plunged deeper into disarray. That came moments after the fourth vote showed 20 conservative holdouts still refusing to support him, unchanged from the previous time around and leaving him far short of the 218 votes typically needed to win the gavel. Maryland’s lone Republican…