Although the Cumberland Fire Department is badly in need of an updated vehicle fleet including an engine, an ambulance and a squad unit- it has not limited the effectiveness of the firefighting efforts thus far. Chief Shannon Adams  presented an overview of the needs of the department with an estimate of $1.3 million required- and he noted  it could be a year or more before new vehicles are available. Adams said although the situation isn’t ideal, operations remain efficient and effective…

Gas prices on Monday continued to rise in Maryland with Allegany County now having the second highest rate in the state. According to AAA, the average price for regular unleaded fuel in Maryland was $3.68 per gallon. Maryland remained below the national average which on Monday stood at $3.91 per gallon. The price for a gallon of regular unleaded in Allegany County is currently $3.74 just below Montgomery County. Anirban Basu, CEO of the Sage Policy Group which helped develop Cumberland’s Economic Development Strategic plan back in 2016, says the price hikes at the pump have not acted as a…

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, considered by some to be a potential presidential candidate as early as 2024, returned to New Hampshire last week. Hogan addressed a crowd at the latest installment of the “Politics & Eggs” breakfast at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College and touted some of his accomplishments as governor, citing tax cuts and improved safety. The Republican's appearance at the event, which typically draws top players in local and national politics, including potential presidential contenders, further drives the notion that he's considering a run for the White House. He didn’t pull punches when…

Influenza cases are rising in the United States as the country prepares for a potentially severe season. During the week ending Oct. 1 – the latest date for which data is available – there were 969 cases of influenza A and 52 cases of influenza B reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is a 303.75% increase from the 240 influenza A cases and a 79.3% increase from the 29 influenza B cases reported the week ending Aug. 6, the data shows. What's more, over the same period, the percent positivity rate has risen from 0.49% to…

Maryland State Police arrested seven people after a group of protestors shut down a portion of Interstate 495 this morning in Montgomery County. Shortly before 10:30 a.m., troopers from the Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack responded to inner loop of I-495 at U.S. Route 29 following multiple calls of protestors dressed in neon vests holding signs and blocking the road. According to a preliminary investigation, more than 10 pedestrians were sitting in the road and blocking all lanes of traffic. Several other protestors were walking around and holding signs. Troopers from the Rockville and College Park barracks, with assistance from…

Allegany County Emergency Services reports a vehicle fire on Interstate 68 West, Exit 34. The ramp was temporarily closed  

Cumberland City Police report a city woman is headed to trial in district court after allegedly closing a door on the leg of a victim who was then shoved to the ground. Observation of the victim's injuries as part of the investigation in the 200 block of Cole Street Friday morning led to the arrest of 63-year-old Sharon Linn McLuckie. Police charged McLuckie with abuse of a vulnerable adult and second-degree assault before she was released later on her personal recognizance by a district court commissioner.

Many Americans will take to the roads during the upcoming long weekend in search of that last adventure before winter begins in a few months. The increased travel means more vehicles on the roads, and data shows an increase in motor vehicle crashes as well. To help drivers and passengers remember the importance of buckling up, the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are teaming up for Operation Crash Reduction. This effort is focused on Delaware, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West…

A multi vehicle accident on Route 40 at Cash Valley Road has traffic delayed. There are reports of injuries and units have arrived attempting to clear the scene. 

President Joe Biden toured the Volvo plant in Washington County on Friday, spending time with workers while he was there and marking National Manufacturing Day. The plant, which employs about 1,700 people, makes engines, transmissions, and axels for Volvo and Mack trucks. After landing at Hagerstown Regional Airport around 12:10 p.m., Biden headed to the plant, where he talked about building the economy from the bottom up and middle out