It was mid afternoon when about a half dozen police vehicles were summoned to Beall Elemetnary School for children behaving strangely.  One of the children was trasnported to UPMC Western Maryland, while three others were evaluated.  The four were apparently residents of the same house, and according to the Cumberland Times News, authorites initially checked the home for carbon monoxide or some other possible cause. The school system does not comment on such cases, due to HIPAA restrictions.  Frostburg Police Department told WCBC News that any formal release on the situation would likely not be issued until Thursday.  Sources have told…

As COVID cases continue to spike statewide, Allegany County’s positivity rate – the percentage of COVID tests which are confirmed positive for COVID-19 – has reached its highest point since April 2020.  As of January 4, Allegany County’s percent positive was 19.57%, and the average rate for Maryland was 28.56%, rivaling figures seen in the early months of the pandemic.  The county’s case rate has also risen dramatically, jumping from 40.55 cases per 100,000 people to 135.71 cases per 100,000 on Tuesday. Allegany County continues to lag behind most of the state in COVID-19 vaccination rates.  Currently, only 49.1% of…

The 45th annual Mountain Maryland PACE Legislative Reception and Breakfast scheduled for January 21-22, 2022 in Annapolis, Maryland is being postponed to March 3-4, 2022 due to the surge in COVID-19 cases statewide. The Mountain Maryland PACE Committee had been planning the event since COVID-19 forced its cancellation in 2021. As COVID cases began to increase around the holidays, the committee had been carefully evaluating its ability to safely host the annual event that attracts legislators as well as state and federal funding partners. “With Governor Hogan’s State of Emergency declaration yesterday and various restrictions being put in place to slow the spread of…

Governor Larry Hogan today announced the launch of the $248 million Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund, which will be administered by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to support mortgage relief, home repairs, housing counseling, and legal services. “Across Maryland, there are homeowners who are struggling to keep up with their mortgage payments due to the financial hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Governor Hogan. “The programs we are announcing today through the Homeowner Assistance Fund will help keep Marylanders in their homes and support our state’s economic recovery.” Maryland Homeowner Assistance Fund. The State of Maryland…

West Virginia University is returning to a policy of requiring masks to be worn indoors on campus and has ordered students, faculty and staff to verify their vaccination status due to a surge in coronavirus cases statewide. The university said in a news release that masks will are required for anyone regardless of vaccination status in all WVU System buildings and facilities through at least Feb. 1, when public health conditions will be reevaluated. The statement said the move was being made to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and the omicron variant. The spring semester starts next Monday. Students, faculty and staff must verify…

On Tuesday, the Allegany County Narcotics Task Force arrested Shaun Aaron Brooks in the Park Street area of Cumberland.  Brooks was the subject of a CDS investigation for the distribution and sales of cocaine in the Allegany County area.  Brooks was found to be in possession of a large amount ofpowder and crack cocaine.  The approximate street value of the powder and crack cocaine found was over $9,000. As a result of the investigation, Brooks was charged with:   Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Possession of Cocaine     Brooks was held without bail after seeing a District Court…

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan declared a state of emergency Tuesday in response to surging COVID-19 hospitalizations, which have surpassed 3,000. The 30-day emergency declaration is intended to help hospitals manage a sharp rise in COVID-19 patients and staffing shortages afflicting health systems throughout the state. The governor also announced two executive orders, one that empowers health officials to regulate hospitals’ bed space and resources and another to shore up the EMS workforce. Hogan concluded his remarks by repeating an appeal for Maryland residents to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19- and following all of the previous safety protocols….

Students have returned from their holiday break- and although the CDC has made  modifications to isolation and quarantine guidelines- the Allegany County Public School System has not implemented any changes. According to a release to parents and the media, a 10-day isolation period is required for a student or staff member that tests positive for COVID-19. The CDC modifications do not apply to schools. Allegany County Board of Education President Crystal Bender said plans to ease quarantine restrictions have not yet been discussed… She said it is a subject that  will be on the agenda with Health Department officials providing…

WBAL reports former Lt. Governor Michael Steele announced that he will not seek the Republican nomination for governor of Maryland, after months of deliberations… One of the Republicans running for governor is Del. Daniel Cox, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump. A critic of Trump, Steele acknowledged that a Trump factor had no influence on his decision…

Legislators are currently busy preparing for the 2022 Maryland General Assembly which is set to open next week. Topping the agenda- working on legislative redistricting maps for the state. In addition there will be a focus on climate change policies, flood mitigation, police reform, transportation, broadband, telehealth, and much more. Delegate Jason Buckel, House Minority Leader, tells WCBC News that the District One Delegation is ready to represent Western Maryland’s needs in Annapolis…