Members of the state Board of Education, during it’s regular meeting held this month in Hagerstown, agree that the teacher shortage is one of the key issues that must be confronted. While the shortage is being felt in most of Maryland- Allegany County – for the most part has avoided the problem. The nationwide post-pandemic teacher shortage is an issue throughout Maryland for a reason. The Maryland State Department of Education reported that in the 2021-2022 school year, an average of 10% of teachers did not return. After spending the day in the region and examining the data, Board member…

The nation’s drug overdose epidemic continues to change and become worse. The epidemic affects every state and now is driven by illicit fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, methamphetamine, and cocaine, often in combination or in adulterated forms. Maryland Lt Governor Boyd Rutherford,  who has headed the state’s opioid emergency task force, recently hosted the national drug czar- Rahul Gupta, President Biden’s head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy and provided an overdose update… On a more encouraging note, Rutherford said the overdose numbers have been declining, but said now is not the time to lose focus

A proposal last year to annex Maryland’s three most Western counties to West Virginia has proven a challenge for Delegate Mike McKay as he is running for the District One State Senate seat currently held by the retiring George Edwards. McKay, a Republican, along with other members of the legislative delegation in Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties, went so far as to meet with state leaders in West Virginia to discuss the concept. His Democratic opponent, business owner Michael Dreisbach said the idea was ill advised and created a rift between Western Maryland and Governor Larry Hogan… While Mckay acknowledges…

Parking:  more specifically a perceived lack of available spaces; strict time limits and sometimes costly tickets has been a  complaint of those running businesses or trying to do business in downtown Cumberland for many years. While the proposed mall redesign will create close to 20 news space- it may not allay those concerns. It was a subject addressed by the candidates running for a seat on the Cumberland City Council. Incumbent Rock Cioni, who said he doesn’t view parking as a major conundrum, has heard the complaints- and he is hopeful the additional downtown spaces will help… Challenger James Furstenburg…

CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey on Monday called on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to heed the ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit “and cease using unconstitutionally appropriated funds.” That court ruled last week the federal agency, which was formed during the Obama administration and charged with protecting consumers from a wide range of predatory activity by lenders and other financial services, is unconstitutional.   The Attorney General wrote a letter to the director of CFPB.   “I am calling for the agency, just like all federal agencies, to follow the Constitution’s directive,”…

(MATHIAS, W.Va.) – A Maryland State Police helicopter crew assisted first responders from Hardy County, West Virginia with the rescue of an injured driver after a vehicle pursuit in the area of Howards Lick Road Saturday afternoon. Shortly after 11 a.m. on Saturday, Hardy County (W.Va.) Sheriff’s Department requested the assistance of Maryland State Police Aviation Command Trooper 5, based in Cumberland, Maryland, to respond to Howards Lick Road in Mathias, West Virginia after rescue personnel encountered treacherous and remote conditions for extraction of an injured victim after a vehicle pursuit. The victim was a male who sustained injuries when…

  ANNAPOLIS, MD—Governor Larry Hogan and First Lady Yumi Hogan today attended the 4th annual Governor’s Cup Taekwondo Championship at the Han Pan Korean American Cultural Center in Harford County. The governor and the First Lady serve as the championship’s honorary co-chairs, and all proceeds from the event are donated to the Children’s Cancer Foundation. “Taekwondo is an important part of Korea’s cultural legacy and its successes and popularity have spread across Maryland and all around the globe,” said Governor Hogan. “Here in Maryland, we are so proud of the special bond we have with Korea. Good luck to all…

On Friday, October 28, 2022, the Cumberland Police Department served an arrest warrant on Keyari Boykin.  The warrant was issued as the result of an incident that occurred on October 15, 2022.  On this date at approximately 7:11 PM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a residence in the 800 block of Bedford Street for an assault.  Officers contacted the complainants who reported that they were involved in an altercation with people who reside in the 900 block of Bedford Street.  They explained that there was a verbal altercation with the neighbor over her parking in the alley. …

On 10/28/22 at approximately 6:58 am, the Maryland State Police McHenry Barrack responded to RT. 42 (Friendsville Road) at Klotz Road, Friendsville, Garrett County, Maryland 21531 for a two vehicle collision.      Troopers responded to the scene along with Garrett County Fire and EMS and immediately closed the road due to the accident.  A preliminary investigation conducted by MSP Crash Team and McHenry troopers revealed that a blue Jeep Compass operated by Shane Coole (36 years old) from Friendsville, Maryland, was traveling S/B RT. 42 at Klotz Road and lost control of the vehicle traveling into N/B RT. 42….

     On 10/28/22 at approximately 5:37 pm, the Maryland State Police McHenry Barrack responded to the Garrett County Airport located at 771 Airport Road, Accident, Garrett County, Maryland 21520 for an airplane accident (reported airplane had traveled off the end of the runway).      Troopers responded to the scene and immediately observed a 1972 Bellanca 7KCAB monoplane overturned off the runway.  Preliminary investigation revealed that the pilot identified as Thomas Rood from Fort Hill, SC, attempted to land and a wind gust caused him to lose control of the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane traveled off the runway and…