Maryland Comptroller and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Franchot again this week called for the Maryland General Assembly to meet in a special session to pass a 90-day gas tax holiday. Previous efforts to temporarily lower fuel prices in the state have been rebuffed by legislative leaders. Earlier this year, the General Assembly and Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, carried out a 30-day holiday, but it was not extended. Hogan has been supportive of the idea of a tax holiday and Franchot believes he should exercise his authority and force the issue…

A pre dawn fire Tuesday at Queen City Motors was the result of the spontaneous combustion of oily rags in a plastic bucket. The fire, that broke out in a detailing garage at the car dealership, led to damage to the structure and two vehicles. Cumberland Fire Chief  Shannon Adams said  city firefighters quickly knocked down the fire that originated in a rear area of the structure at 99 Henderson Avenue… Surveillance video from the business helped the state fire marshal’s office determine the origin and cause.  Adams said heat from the fire activated the controls and raised the building's garage…

The Maryland Municipal League, which represents the State’s 157 cities and towns and two special taxing districts that are home to 1.5 million Marylanders, returned  in-person to host the 2022 MML Summer Conference this week in Ocean City. The annual Summer Conference offers workshops and networking events for members, including mayors, city and town council leaders, and other municipal government leaders from across Maryland. Representing Cumberland were Mayor Ray Morriss; Councilman Joe George; Administrator Jeff Silka and Citizen Service representative Allison Layton. The keynote speaker Governor Larry Hogan and he highlighted some of the community development investments made in recent…

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen and Congressmen Andy Harris, M.D. and David Trone (all Md.) today announced $9,219,719 in federal funding for Eastern Shore and Western Maryland airports to reconstruct and rehabilitate their runways.   “Maryland’s regional airports provide access to more of Maryland’s communities and are essential to our state's economy,” the lawmakers said. “This federal funding will help these airports improve safety and service for passengers, and accommodate future growth. Modernizing Maryland’s transportation infrastructure is a top priority for Team Maryland, and we will continue working to secure federal investments in our regional airports.”    Awardees include: ·         $4,458,531 for the Bay Bridge Airport (W29) to rehabilitate…

The Cumberland City Police Department is requesting motorists to use caution in the downtown area on Saturday, June 18th between the hours of 10:30am-11:30am.  The following delays or road closures will take place between 10:30am-11:30am.  Smallwood Street @ Washington Street, Greene Street @ Washington Street, Cumberland Street @ Washington Street, North Mechanic Street @ Frederick Street, Pershing Street @ South Mechanic Street and South Mechanic Street @ West Harrison Street.  Traffic entering the downtown area from North Mechanic Street will have to take Frederick Street to Queen City Drive.  Traffic entering the downtown area from South Mechanic Street will have to take Harrison Street to Centre…

 Comptroller Peter Franchot has called on state lawmakers to hold a special session and pass legislation to freeze the automatic gas tax increase for one year. WBAL reports that Franchot said the state is in a position to absorb the cost. He also wants a 90-day gas-tax holiday. The gas prices in Maryland are now at or above $5 a gallon, sitting at $5.02. That's slightly above the national average and more than 15 cents one week ago. That's an increase from more than $2 per gallon more than one year ago.

UPMC has broken ground on the largest hospital in Pittsburgh’s history and the largest health care construction project in Pennsylvania.  The new $1.5 billion, 17-story UPMC Presbyterian, to be completed in 2026, will be home to 636 private patient rooms and premier people-focused clinical facilities where UPMC clinical teams and physician-scientists will deliver nationally renowned specialty care that includes transplant, cardiology and cardiac surgery, and neurology and neurosurgery. The existing UPMC Presbyterian was built more than a century ago.   “Every day at UPMC, we focus on our patients, families, members and communities. There is no greater privilege – or…

Cumberland Fire Chief Shannon Adams confirmed that spontaneous combustion of oily rags in a plastic bucket caused a fire in a detailing garage at Queen City Motors just before dawn Tuesday, resulting in damage to the structure and two vehicles.  Adams said  video surveillance at the business were reviewed. Adams said city firefighters quickly knocked down the fire that originated in a rear area of the structure at 99 Henderson Ave. One of the vehicles damaged was a GMC Arcadia. He said heat from the fire activated the controls and raised the building's garage doors, aiding efforts to extinguish the…

The Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, in conjunction with the Delaware Aviation Museum Foundation, will bring a Warbird Showcase to the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport this Father’s Day weekend June 18-19- and WCBC Radio will be giving away a free ticket to ride in a B-25.  The event will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with no parking or entrance fees. Warbirds scheduled to appear include a TBM Avenger torpedo bomber, the B-25 Panchito, Stinson L-5 Sentinel and a Boeing PT-17 Stearman biplane. The public will have the opportunity to purchase warbird rides in all the aircraft…

Governor Larry Hogan is calling for a criminal investigation into the Baltimore City school system after the state’s education watchdog found inconsistencies among teachers, assistant principals and principals changing failing grades to passing ones.  Hogan said the Inspector General’s report findings demonstrate a “staggering level of disregard for the integrity of the educational system and a clear lack of accountability at the highest levels.”  While anecdotally, there are reports of similar problems in every school system in the state, Allegany County School Board vice-president Robert Farrell says he is confident there are no such issues locally…