Another day and another high profile Republican is rejecting Dan Cox as Maryland’s GOP gubernatorial nominee.  Lt Governor Boyd Rutherford says he has no plans to support or vote for Cox.  A Donald Trump backed candidate, Cox easily defeated Kelly Schulz who was endorsed  by Governor Larry Hogan in last week’s primary election. Rutherford, who considered the idea of running for the office himself, says he can’t support Cox for many reasons. Most notably because of his conspiracy theories, his insistence that the 2020 election was stolen as well as his embracing of the January 6th attack on the Capital….

The Supreme Court ruling in June to overturn Roe v. Wade touched off a flurry of action in courthouses as conservative-leaning states seek to ban or restrict the procedure. But other states, including Maryland, have expanded access, and advocates say that more providers are needed in areas that may see an influx of patients crossing state lines. While this has been a hot button issue and sparked protests across the nation, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan says it won’t be a major factor in the November elections. He says the battles and debates are being waged between the extremist wings of…

While it appeared as though the River Park  project had hit a snag earlier this summer- the news was all good during Tuesday’s meeting of the Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority. At the May meeting, there were indications that other sources of funding would have to be pursued if certain federal and state environmental conditions were not met. Those hurdles have been cleared as a result of a modification of the service area for the project. Executive director Dee Dee Ritchie reported that Water  and Land Solutions is still on board and work will continue toward a plan to…

In March, the Mason Sporting Complex in South Cumberland was chosen as the likely site for construction of a $700,000 skate park- and efforts have been underway since to secure a funding package. City officials,  along with advocates for the skate park, agreed in principle that the Mason Complex at Offut Street would be the logical choice for the facility. Other locations that were considered included: Jaycees Field on Furnace Street and Constitution Park. Allegany County has pledged $250,000 toward the project. The city, and the advocates, will need to raise roughly $450,000 to make the park become a reality….

The City of Cumberland Engineering Department, on behalf of Belt Construction, would like to notify the public that water service will be shut down in the Decatur Heights region of the City on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, from 8am – 5pm, in order for the contractor to connect the existing service mains to the new water main. Residents and businesses on the following streets are expected to be without water:   Decatur St. from Frederick St. to Baltimore Ave. Charles St. from Henderson Ave. to Bellevue St. Davidson St. from Henderson Ave. to Linden St.  Water service is expected to…

As West Virginia's Republican supermajority continued advancing a sweeping abortion ban bill Tuesday, Democrats failed for the second time in two days to garner enough support to add exceptions for rape and incest victims. During an hourslong meeting Tuesday, House Judiciary Committee Republicans overwhelmingly rejected Democrat's amendment for a rape and incest exception, sending the abortion ban to the full House of Delegates. A similar proposal failed Monday in the House Health and Human Resources Committee. “Men perpetrating such horrific acts makes me unsettled at times,” said Republican Del. Pat McGeehan, who noted he has a daughter. He voted against the…

The City of Cumberland Engineering Department, on behalf of Belt Construction, would like to notify the public that water service will be shut down in the Decatur Heights region of the City on Wednesday, July 27, from 8am – 5pm, in order for the contractor to connect the existing service mains to the new water main. Residents and businesses on the following streets are expected to be without water: Decatur St. from Frederick St. to Baltimore Ave. Charles St. from Henderson Ave. to Bellevue St. Davidson St. from Henderson Ave. to Linden St. Water service is expected to be restored…

The Cumberland Times News reports Frostburg officials have entered into an agreement with a developer who plans a project featuring business and residential space as part of the Center Street redevelopment project. A letter of intent was signed during the regular  mayor and City Council meeting with Gillis Gilkerson of Salisbury. The agreement provides for the selling of the property to Gilkerson after a year. The city has been pursuing the project for a number of years using Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Strategic Demolition Funds and Allegany County Community Enhancement Program funds.

Governor Larry Hogan and Maryland's Opioid Operational Command Center (OOCC) today announced $10 million in block and competitive grant awards to help support programs around the state to address the opioid crisis. The grant funding, which will be distributed between July 2022 and June 2023, will be used to support the Hogan-Rutherford administration’s policy priorities of Prevention & Education, Enforcement & Public Safety, and Treatment & Recovery.  “Our administration has made it a top priority to put the resources and support systems in place at every level to expand access to treatment, and combat the heroin and opioid crisis,” said…

The Cumberland Times News reports a Garrett County man was jailed Monday to await extradition to Preston County, West Virginia, where he is wanted on charges of concealing a human body, according to the Preston County Sheriff’s Office. Thomas Dunbar, 36, of Oakland, was taken into custody Monday by the Garrett County Sheriff’s Office. The body of Todd Saunders was reportedly found in a secluded pond in Preston County about a month after he was reported missing Oct. 27, 2020, the Preston County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. Authorities said prior to being reported missing, Saunders had been living with his daughter,…