Effective tomorrow, Title 5 of the Public Safety Article requires a personal identification number for all unserialized firearms and unfinished frames and receivers, commonly referred to as 80% lowers (ghost guns) or build kits.    Beginning June 1, 2022, a person who currently possesses non-serialized firearms, including unfinished frames or receivers, will be required to have the non-serialized firearm marked with a personal identification number as described in Public Safety Article §5-703. The deadline for compliance with this marking requirement is March 1, 2023 and can be obtained by any Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) authorized to provide marking services in…

On behalf of nearly 250,000 members in the Mountain State, AARP West Virginia today delivered thousands of signed petitions to U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, calling on Congress to act now and stop unfair prescription drug prices.   AARP has called for fair drug prices for years and supports legislation that passed the House in November, which would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, put a cap on out-of-pocket costs that older adults pay for their prescription drugs and impose penalties on drug companies that raise prices faster than the rate of inflation.    “Americans are fed up with paying three…

The Rotary Club of Cumberland announces the six recipients of the 2022-2023 Annual Scholarship Awards given each year to seniors from six Allegany County High Schools:  From Allegany High School:  Sofia Kucher, will attend the University of Chicago to study Biological Chemistry.  From Bishop Walsh School:  Kaden Burkett will attend the University of Maryland to study Mechanical Engineering.  From Calvary Christian Academy:  Josh Howsare will attend Allegany College of Maryland College of Maryland to study Information Technology.  From the Center for Career and Technical Education:  Nevaeh Sills will attend Allegany College of Maryland to study Nursing.  From Fort Hill High…

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) extended the deadline for applications for the Emergency Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) to June 17, 2022, or until funds are exhausted. The federally funded program assists eligible state residents in paying home heating bills. Residents whose primary source of heat is either gas or electricity must provide their disconnection notice or past due utility bill when applying for Emergency LIEAP. Those using other primary heating sources or bulk fuel may qualify for assistance if their heating fuel is at a low level during the application period.

A federal judge has postponed for a trial for a Maryland man charged with storming the U.S. Capitol and breaking a window to enter the building during last year’s riot. Nicholas Rodean’s bench trial was scheduled to start on June 3. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden rescheduled it for July 11. Rodean waived his right to a jury trial. The judge will hear testimony without a jury before deciding the case. McFadden already has presided over two bench trials for Capitol riot defendants, acquitting one and partially acquitting another. Five other Capitol riot defendants have had jury trials. Jurors unanimously convicted all five of them…

After tweaking the language and adding more strict criteria for proof of loss of income- the Board of Allegany County Commissioners has approved authorization of $850,000 in state funds for round two of the emergency rental assistance program. When the item appeared on the county’s agenda earlier in the month, all three commissioners expressed frustration with what the officials viewed as essentially a COVID related welfare operation. The funding actually is slated to help compensate landlords who have been unable to collect rent from tenants who claim they have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In some cases this has…

The Allegany County Commissioners last week, as is often a matter of routine, approved a manufacturers tax exemption for a local company, however not before Commissioner Creade Brodie Jr expressed frustration with how the process can be one-sided.  As a means of encouraging the growth of manufacturing businesses in Maryland, the state law authorizes local governments to exempt from taxation personal property used in manufacturing. Brodie said he never viewed this as a problem until 2019 when the Verso Corporation- after having been granted the exemption for several years-  abruptly closed the Luke Mill in Westernport- eventually selling off the equipment…

Senate Democrats say they are ready to accept a modest deal on gun control legislation as they are eager to get something done in response to mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., and Uvalde, Texas, even if it falls below their ambitions of previous years. A bipartisan group of nine senators met prior to the holiday weekend  to chart out a path for negotiations. They say their top priorities are proposals to expand background checks and encourage states to set up red flag laws to prohibit people deemed dangerous to themselves or others from owning firearms. Democrats acknowledged from the outset…

A new leadership team is expected to be approved next week when Cumberland’s Downtown Development Commission votes to elect new officers.  Sandi Saville, who has  served three terms as the head of the group,  announced in April that she won't seek the spot a fourth time, saying that it is time for a change. During the group's most recent session, treasurer Ed Huber said the nominating committee, comprised of himself and member Dave Romero, had asked Doug Schwab and Larry Jackson to serve as the next chair and vice chair of the board, respectively. Both have accepted while Huber has agreed to…

Sam Bush, Tyler Childers and the Travelin' McCourys Band headlined Sunday's final day of DelFest 2022 at the Allegany County Fairgrounds. Returning after a two year COVID-19 hiatus the bluegrass and American four day music festival drew capacity crowds all weekend with rousing performances morning afternoon and night.