On Monday, April 7, 2025, the Cumberland Police Department served a criminal summons on Robert Brooks. The summons was issued in connection with a theft investigation that was initiated on March 10, 2025 when the alleged victim reported that jewelry had been stolen from a Race Street residence on January 28, 2025.  The suspect was later identified as Robert Brooks.  After further investigation, police filed for charges against Brooks at the District Court of Allegany County.  Brooks signed for his copy of the summons and he was released pending trial. ARRESTED:  Robert Richard Brooks        AGE:  55           Cumberland, MD CHARGES:  Theft:…

The new Maryland budget for fiscal year 2026 is not going to be driver friendly. Many of the $1.3 billion dollars in fees included in the budget target Maryland vehicle owners. Delegate Mark Fisher said the fees amount to a war on cars and the middle class…     “Increasing the vehicle excise tax, increasing the certificate of title fees, a new tire fee – and of course there’s already a recycling tire fee and you already pay 6% when you purchase tires so there are actually three taxes – tires are now triple taxed.”

Ernie Santmyire, 87, passed away on Sunday at his home. Santmyire was a 1956 graduate of Ridgeley High School and was an Air Force veteran. He was the owner and operator of WWPN, “Spirit 101” Radio, licensed to Westernport, Maryland with studios located in Keyser. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 until 7pm at Scarpelli Funeral Home, 108 Virginia Avenue with a funeral service Thursday at 11am.

More than 1,800 acres along Route 36 near Westernport and Barton may be used to build a 300 megawatt solar project. A virtual public hearing on the project is scheduled for April 15 and will include a presentation by Jade Meadow LLC, the applicant for the facility along with statements by the Department of Natural Resources and the Office of the People’s Counsel, the state’s ratepayer advocate. The project also touches a portion of Garrett County. To sign up for the hearing, visit psc.state.md.us.

Update April 8th at 8:50AM… Preston McLaughlin has been located by the police department.  The department would like to thank the public for their assistance with locating McLaughlin. The Cumberland Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a missing person, Preston McLaughlin McLaughlin is a 72 year-old white male, approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 230 pounds. He was last seen on Baltimore Street in Cumberland, MD on April 7, 2025 at approximately 9:34 am, wearing a brown flannel shirt. McLaughlin is possibly operating a white 2015 Ford Transit Connect van with some areas of the vehicle…

A return to Memorial Day Parades is in the works for Cumberland, although no firm location has been set.  Let’s Beautify Cumberland along with County United Way, WCBC Radio and Cumberland Times-News are laying out plans for a parade on May 26th, but the initial idea of having it go down Baltimore Street was rejected by the city.  LBC’s Ed Mullaney wants officials to come together and discuss the idea…     “I know there’s a little bit of a snafu of where we can have the parade, and hold the parade. I’m hoping we can have a meeting and reevaluate and put the…

On the final day of the Maryland General Assembly, House members debated the final version of the fiscal year 2026 budget. It includes $1.6 billion dollars in new taxes and $1.3 billion in new fees.  House Minority Leader Jason Buckel says it will raise the cost of living across the state…     “We are raising the taxes and fees on every single person at every single business that you know from the poor to the middle class to the upper middle class to the small businesses, to the McCormick’s, to the Northrop Grumman’s. But I’m telling you, at the…

Residents traveling through LaVale have been speculating for some time about the land being cleared at the entrance to the Country Club mall along Vocke Road.  Allegany County’s Economic Development Director Jeff Barclay tells WCBC he is not at liberty to name the developer as they want to make their own announcement soon, but the project bodes well for the area…   “They’re definitely moving forward. There may be good rumors out there, that’s a good thing. We’re hoping it spurs more development. I mean there’s other restaurants and other things that want to be in LaVale and we’re talking…

Municipalities across the nation have been involved for some time in litigation with companies that made, sold, or distributed prescription painkillers and were accused of fueling the opioid crisis. The City of Cumberland, too, has been involved in these cases. A recent case has resulted in a settlement that Cumberland will accept. Though there is no dollar amount assigned, Mayor Ray Morriss says it won’t be a large amount…     “It won’t be enough, I’ll say that. When you look at all of this from what the costs have been for our public safety, for our ambulance service, our EMT…

Maryland’s Department of Health this week celebrates the dedication and achievements of the state’s public health workforce in promoting health, safety and preparedness for Marylanders. Deputy Health Secretary Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman said this year’s theme is “It Starts Here.”  He spoke about his beginnings in the healthcare workforce…     “My public health journey started as a primary care doctor where I was caring for people in the DC jail. Each of us brings our own history, expertise, and passion to our work at MDH. Together, our efforts support a safer and healthier Maryland.”