WBAL reports Gov. Larry Hogan is directing state law enforcement to assist local and federal partners should they be called to protect the homes of Supreme Court justices in Maryland. Over the weekend, crowds of abortion-rights demonstrators held protests outside the homes of Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Chief Justice John Roberts, both of whom live in Maryland. The demonstrations were held after a draft opinion was leaked that appears to show the high court will overturn Roe v. Wade.

A draft saying that the U.S. Supreme Court is planning to overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked a week ago, spurring concerns across the country that the right to an abortion could be extremely limited or eliminated for women in several states. With the national decision no longer dictating West Virginia’s abortion laws, most believe the right-leaning state would likely see quick restrictions.  Although there are only two working abortion facilities in West Virginia, it is estimated that abortions in the state would decline by 15.5% if Roe v. Wade were overturned. Protests against the case being overturned have already been held…

The city of Cumberland is close to wrapping up its budget process- with the council planning to maintain the property tax rate while holding the line on fees for water, sewer and  trash service.  Thanks in large part to an infusion of $20 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds- the city is looking at a $2.3 million budget surplus.  With the city’s fiscal picture as healthy as it has been in decades, Mayor Ray Morriss was asked if the council considered a tax cut…

After a decade of work, efforts to secure funding for the Coal Miner Memorial Statue project are continuing with the goal close at hand.  Allegany County has dedicated a parcel of ground north of the Frostburg train depot that overlooks the Jennings Run Valley and the Great Allegheny Passage trailhead – an area viewed as as an ideal spot to lace together the history of coal mining and railroading. The memorial will feature a mine face entry that invites the visitor to follow a walled pathway with open-air timbers overhead. The statue depicts a coal miner reading a book by…

Although still refusing to say whether he’ll be a presidential candidate in two years- Maryland Governor Larry Hogan is sounding more and more like someone planning to make a run- this week warning the party that nominating former President Donald Trump would be a mistake… Hogan added that in the end, he doesn’t think Trump will seek the nomination…

Governor Larry Hogan today announced the appointment of Horacio Tablada as secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE). Tablada currently serves as deputy secretary of the Department of the Environment. He has more than three decades of experience as an environmental leader in Maryland, with accomplishments that include the environmental oversight of the redevelopment of the former Sparrows Point steel mill site and the state’s highly successful program to reduce childhood blood lead poisoning. He succeeds Secretary Ben Grumbles, who has been appointed executive director of the Environmental Council of the States. “Horacio Tablada has committed his career…

The Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office credited a quick response by neighbors who helped control an outside deck fire Sunday at a Bowling Green home that prevented it from spreading inside the structure. The 1:37 p.m. fire at 12103 Marigold Ave. SW caused about $25,000 damage to the deck and adjoining wall of the property owned by Tim Uhl and occupied by Jimmy Ortiz, investigators said. Ortiz was not home at the time of the fire. Investigators said discarded smoking materials caused the blaze, which was brought under control by Bowling Green firefighters in about 5 minutes. The fire marshal's…

The Cumberland Times News reports a woman who fell from a canoe in the North Branch Potomac River Sunday near the Jennings Randolph Lake Dam was reportedly rescued about a quarter-mile downstream, according to emergency radio transmissions. Four people were reportedly in the canoe that tipped over at the Barnum campground around 11:30 a.m. Three of those made it to shore and the victim, who was reportedly wearing a safety vest and helmet, continued down the swift-moving river. The unidentified victim was reported out of the river just before noon. First responders brought her across the river by boat where she…

West Virginia’s Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP) within the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) will join partners nationwide in celebrating the first National Fentanyl Awareness Day on May 10, 2022. The day is designed to raise public awareness about illicit fentanyl mixed with street drugs and in counterfeit pills, which is a relatively new practice.   “Nationally, fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under age 50 than any other cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, and all other accidents,” said Dr. Matthew Christiansen, Director of the Office of Drug Control Policy. “In…

When Maryland lawmakers closed their legislative session last month- it was with an unprecedented budget surplus and skyrocketing revenue streams. The state’s incredibly healthy fiscal picture enabled the approval of legislation to upgrade parks, infrastructure, schools and information technology systems, as well as provide tax relief. Despite of being flush with cash, Senate President Bill Ferguson said the General Assembly did exercise fiscal restraint, which meant turning down many requests…