Melvin Gonzaga, M.D., his son Rommel Gonzaga, and their practice group Gonzaga Interventional Pain Management (“GIPM”) have agreed to pay the United States $980,000 to resolve allegations that they violated the federal False Claims Act by submitting false claims to the United States for urine drug tests (“UDT”) that were medically unnecessary.     The civil settlement was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Erek L. Barron; Special Agent in Charge Maureen Dixon of the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); and Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Paul A. Palumbo, of…

The Cumberland Times News reports that after 12 years of renovations, Greenway Avenue Stadium is set to debut the upgrades during the Queen City Quad on Aug. 20. The most-recent phase saw upgrades to the visitors bleachers and the addition of an eight-lane track. The stadium will debut the new features during Fort Hill’s annual preseason scrimmage showcase. The most-recent phase also includes upgrades to the public walkways and storm water system. The renovations began in 2010 with updates to the home bleachers. The new track replaces an old seven-lane track

As many as 10 people are dead after a house fire early Friday in northeastern Pennsylvania, according to a volunteer firefighter who responded and said the victims were his relatives. Nescopeck Volunteer Fire Co. firefighter Harold Baker told the Citizens' Voice newspaper of Wilkes-Barre that the 10 victims the family expected to eventually be found included his son, daughter, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, three grandchildren and two other relatives. The fire in Nescopeck was reported around 2:30 a.m. One person was found dead inside the single-family home shortly after emergency responders arrived, while two other victims were found later in the morning. The…

ALLEGANY COUNTY COVID-19 DATA AS OF AUGUST 4:   CDC COVID-19 Community Level:  High Percent of Allegany County Population Fully Vaccinated (based on CDC data):  56.4% New COVID Cases This Week: 191 (cumulative total 18,777) Additional Deaths This Week: 0 (cumulative total 368) Cases Per 100,000 People: 38.75 (Maryland: 26) Positivity Rate: 13.1% (Maryland: 12.97%)

Defying anxiety about a possible recession and raging inflation, America’s employers added a surprising 528,000 jobs last month, restoring all the jobs lost in the coronavirus recession as the country’s hiring boom continued. Unemployment fell to 3.5%, lowest since the pandemic struck in early 2020. July’s job creation was up from 398,000 in June.  The American job market has repeatedly defied skeptics this year. Economists had expected only 250,000 new jobs this month. 

Date: August 5, 2022 Time: 11:04 am Location / Address:  3048 Walnut Bottom Rd, Swanton, Garrett County MD Type of Incident: Vehicle Fire Description of Structure / Property: Silver 2004 Ford Ranger, 2 door pickup truck         Owners: George Tichinel       Injuries or Deaths: N/A        Estimated $ Loss:  $5,000 Smoke Alarm Status: N/A         Fire Alarm / Sprinkler Status: N/A  Arrests(s): N/A  Primary Responding Fire Department: Bloomington Volunteer Fire Company      # of Alarms:  1  # Of Firefighters: 8 Time to Control: 5 minutes  Discovered By: Owner          Area of Origin: Engine compartment                   Preliminary Cause: Accidental….

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has reported international natural gas and liquefied natural gas prices hit record highs in the last quarter of 2021 and first half of 2022.  Natural gas utility companies in West Virginia are currently filing their annual 30C cases with the PSC to adjust the purchased gas portion of their rates.  Some of those requests are as much as 173% above the rates the Commission approved last year.  The Commission does not regulate the price of natural gas; that price is determined by competitive markets.  The EIA also reports that the large increase in natural…

Allegany County Emergency Services reports a single vehilce accident I-68 East at Johnson Street.

The Cumberland Police served an Arrest Warrant on Emily Rebecca Goetschius, age 30 of Cumberland, MD.  The Warrant charged her with Violation of Probation.  She was taken to Central Booking for her initial appearance before the District Court Commissioner and was held without bond. Arrested:  Emily Marie Goetschius Age: 30 Cumberland, MD Charges:  Violation of Probation   The Cumberland Police served two Arrest Warrants on Steven Delaine Kienhofer, age 69, of Cumberland, MD.  Both Warrants charged Kienhofer with Fail to Appear for his court dates.  He was taken to Central Booking for his initial appearance before the District Court Commissioner…

With Maryland licensing dozens of sports gambling venues across the state in the past year, there has been real concern that the number of problem gamblers is soaring.  Sports gambling is easily accessible to the point where people can place bets during a game. The state long ago took a pre-emptive approach by establishing Maryland's Center for Excellence on Problem Gambling. The center is funded by casino revenues and currently assists at least one person each day find treatment for problem gambling. John Martin, director of the Maryland Lottery and Gaming Control Agency, says this is an issue the state…