Today Delegate Gary Howell presented two LED Assistance grants from Governor Jim Justice, through the House of Delegates, one to the town of Ridgeley and another to the town Carpendale.  The grants are for landscaping equipment.

The cost to drive the Pennsylvania Turnpike in 2023 will jump 5% and the commission that oversees the 550-mile toll-road system plans staggered declining increases annually through 2050. Commission members approved the upcoming rate increase Tuesday. It takes effect Jan. 8 and applies to all E-ZPass and Toll By Plate customers. The most common toll for passenger vehicles using E-ZPass will rise to $1.80 from $1.70, according to the commission. Toll By Plate customers who are billed by mail will likewise see their most common toll rise to $4.40 from $4.10. Drivers of Class 5 tractor-trailers will most commonly pay…

The Padres and Nationals are in agreement on a deal that sends Soto and first baseman Josh Bell to San Diego, Morosi reports. San Diego will send back rookie shortstop C.J. Abrams, top outfield prospect Robert Hassell III, right-hander Jarlin Susana and top outfield prospect James Wood.  The Twins and Orioles are in agreement on a trade sending All-Star closer Jorge Lopez from Baltimore to Minnesota, as first reported Andy Kostka of the Baltimore Sun. The Twins are sending left-handed pitching prospect Cade Povich, right-hander Yennier Cano and a pair of pitching prospects to Baltimore in return. Right-hander Juan Nunez and lefty Juan Rojas are the other two names in the deal. The Astros have landed the offensive upgrade…

Governor Larry Hogan and the Maryland Department of Health (MDH) today issued an update on the state’s operational response to the human monkeypox outbreak, including efforts to make testing, vaccination, and public health resources widely available for high-risk populations. “Since before our first monkeypox case was identified, the state has been mounting an aggressive response to this outbreak in coordination with local and regional partners,” said Governor Hogan. “While vaccine supply from the federal government is severely limited at this time, anyone who believes that they may need testing or treatment should contact their healthcare provider or local health department…

Governor Larry Hogan has declared August as Immunization Awareness Month in the State of Maryland, encouraging Marylanders to stay COVIDReady by staying up to date on vaccines and boosters—especially as back-to-school season begins. In addition, state health officials continue to stress the importance of making sure children receive their recommended immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases. A decline in the number of children getting those routine vaccinations has raised the anxiety level of State School Superintendent  Mohammed Choudhury…

Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week returns August 14-20 and Comptroller Peter Franchot wants consumers to take advantage of big discounts that provide a much-needed sales boost for retailers. During the week, any single qualifying article of clothing or footwear priced $100 or less – regardless of how many items are purchased in the same transaction – will be exempt from the state's six percent sales tax. The first $40 of any backpack purchase is also tax free. Franchot calls this a great opportunity to generate some revenue from neighboring states…

The Republican-led West Virginia Legislature did not come to a consensus on a bill that would ban abortions with some exceptions, leaving the procedure legal in the state for now. The Senate  voted 21-10 to return the bill with its amendments to the House, which had passed a different version. That chamber declined to accept the changes late on Friday, adjourning without announcing a time to reconvene. Abortion was one of two issues addressed in the special session including Governor Jim Justice’ proposed income tax cut. Justice took offense to some in the media suggesting his last minute inclusion of the abortion issue in special…

A public meeting has been scheduled for next week  to provide some clarification as to why the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has denied an application for development in protected areas of the Youghiogheny River. The Cumberland Times News reports Senate Bill 291, signed in May by Gov. Larry Hogan, included a $700,000 grant to the Garrett County Board of Commissioners “for the acquisition, planning, design, construction, repair, renovation, reconstruction, site improvement, and capital equipping of capital improvements at Sang Run State Park at Youghiogheny River Trail Section 2.  The bill also allocated $4 million, which was modified from an…

Dollar Bank is consolidating four local branches of the bank it acquired last May and plans for the remaining Standard Bank branches to take the Dollar name by year-end. Standard Bank and Dollar Bank will merge as legal entities on September 6th.  The transaction  will leave Dollar with 50 Pennsylvania branches by year-end, or 94 across a footprint that includes Ohio, Maryland and Virginia. A letter from Standard Bank to it’s local customers indicated that the Cumberland location will remain;  and at this time there are no actions that need to be taken.

Cumberland’s National Night Out is tonight 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Somerville Ave. between First and Fourth Streets. Tonight's event features over 100 exhibits, friendly community games, emergency vehicle displays and a dunk tank featuring vice principals as well as local government officials. Terri Hast is the city’s Community Development specialist… This event promotes strong police-Community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live and work. Terri says that  this one night throughout Cumberland and across the nation neighbors are asked to lock their doors, turn on their porch lights and spend the evening outside…