WBAL reports voters in Maryland have just three weeks left to make a choice in primary elections, but for many, it's a tough call. Maryland's primary election is three weeks from Tuesday and a new Goucher poll of more than 500 Democrats gives Peter Franchot 16% to 14% for Wes Moore and Tom Perez. Those percentages are within the poll's margin of error and 35% are undecided. The poll also finds that 63% of voters who picked a candidate say they are willing to change their minds. In the Republican race, Donald Trump endorsed delegate Dan Cox leads Gov. Larry Hogan endorsed former…

Sen. George Edwards will be honored and thanked for his dedication to Allegany County when he attends the 45th annual Frostburg Derby Day. Frostburg Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 470 will celebrate Derby Day on July 2 at 11 a.m. with a rain date of July 4. Member Todd Logsdon, who was an intern in Edwards’ office, will deliver the remarks. Edwards will lead the Derby Day Parade of Drivers down East Main Street to the Frostburg Elks. Ella Holly will sing the national anthem with music provided by Music Express. The 52 cars slated to race down Main…

A group of U.S. senators has agreed to effectively dismantle a commission tasked by the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out closures, downsizing and other significant medical facility changes nationwide, Sen. Joe Manchin said Monday. The West Virginia Democrat, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said there is bipartisan support to avoid filling vacancies on the VA’s Assets and Infrastructure Review Commission and to end the commission in the next National Defense Authorization Act. The commission had recommended the closures or downsizing of several older facilities, a proposal that Manchin worried would significantly alter services provided to rural veterans…

Comptroller Peter Franchot on Wednesday morning will join small business owners and individuals deeply impacted by high gas prices to continue applying pressure on federal and state lawmakers to take immediate action that would help ease the pain at the pump. The event in Frederick comes exactly one week after President Biden called on Congress, states and the petroleum industry to enact a series of measures that would lower record-high gas prices.  The Comptroller, who serves as the state's motor fuel regulator, first floated a 90-day state gas tax holiday in March; Governor Hogan and the General Assembly agreed to…

The Cumberland Police served five Arrest Warrants on Kenyon Devon Ames, age 26, of Clarksburg, MD.  The Warrants were issued due to several incidents that were investigated by the Cumberland Police, Frostburg Police, and the Maryland State Police.  Ames was charged with 7 counts of Destruction of Property, Tampering with a Motor Vehicle, 3 counts of Second Degree Assault, and Reckless Endangerment.  Ames also had a Warrant issued by Mineral County, WV which was used as a detainer.  Ames was taken to Central Booking for his initial appearance with the District Court Commissioner and was held without bond.  Arrested:  Kenyon…

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan has largely been able to avoid the abortion debate during his two terms in office- but that has changed somewhat in the past few months. Hogan, who has already unofficially began campaigning for a White House run, is  routinely asked about the abortion issue- and with Friday’s Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, the issue is  will likely to dominant this year’s and the 2024 elections. In his home state, Hogan did take a position this year against a General Assembly passed bill to expand the list of health-care providers who can perform abortions, and it…

While the U.S. Supreme Court overturning of Roe v. Wade Friday will not immediately impact Maryland – the state's legislative leaders are pledging to further enhance protections by making it part of the state constitution. The measure passed the House this year but was not brought up in the Senate. Abortion became legal in Maryland in 1992. That right would be further protected if it became part of the state constitution. In a video posted on YouTube, Baltimore Archbishop William Lori reacted to the Supreme Court's ruling and talked about what it means for Maryland…

In response to record-high gas and energy prices, Congressman Andy Harris (R-Md.) and Republican Maryland House Delegate Kathy Szeliga are calling on leaders in Annapolis and Washington to find solutions to the pain at the pump – both in the short-term and long-term. At a press conference held Monday morning, Harris said it’s time for President Biden to stop the blame-game and unleash American energy independence. Until then, he says the state’s General Assembly should impose a freeze on the upcoming July 1st gas tax increase and also approve an extended gas tax holiday… Szeliga said come Friday Marylander will…

Perhaps the most intriguing political race on this year’s  ballot locally is the Republican primary for District 1 State Senate- and in the battle for endorsements, it appears one of those candidates has landed a key supporter. The contest pits Delegate Mike McKay against Allegany County Commissioner Jake Shade- each hoping to fill the seat of Senator George Edwards who is stepping down after nearly four decades in Annapolis, including 16 as a senator. Both men have lobbied the retiring state senator for support in an effort to gain an edge, and on Monday’s in a paid political advertisement on…

City officials made it official last week, agreeing to transfer ownership of the former Memorial Hospital site to the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation.  Future plans for the location include construction of a housing development. Located in South Cumberland, the hospital was vacated in 2009 with the opening of a new hospital (now UPMC Western Maryland) on Willowbrook Road. The former hospital structure was razed in 2015, leaving an 8-acre tract that includes a 300-space parking garage still intact at the south end of the property. CEDC executive director Matt Miller has said that the consensus is that the property is…