Although he still has about nine months left until his current term expires, State Senator George Edwards is participating in his final General Assembly session, and that ends Monday. Edwards announced last July that he plans to retire and will not seek another term, ending a career in public service that spanned nearly five decades. This 2022 session is Edwards’ 40th- 24 of those as a member of the House of Delegates, and the last 16 in the Senate. He tells WCBC News that he has mixed emotions about the final days of his final session- but says one thing…

After three cancellations resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, DelFest is all systems go for Memorial Day weekend next month. Traditionally held on Memorial Day weekend, the bluegrass and Americana festival was postponed in 2020 and again in 2021. After the May 2021 shows were cancelled, there were tentative plans for a hybrid version of the festival scheduled for late September- but that too ended up being shutdown with the pandemic leading to staffing shortages. With COVID numbers dropping across the nation and restrictions being lifted- Rob McCoury, who is president of DelFest, said preparations continue for May 26-29 at the…

Cumberland’s Eddie Deezen was arrested Saturday and has been charged with trespassing on private property, 4th degree burglary and disturbing the peace. This is just the latest incident that law enforcement has investigated involving the 57 year-old actor best known for his role in “Grease” and for his character voice work in “Polar Express”. He was charged last September with second-degree assault, disorderly conduct and trespassing following an incident at a LaVale restaurant. A court date from that is scheduled in May. Last month there were reports he had been witnesses stealing mail in the Bel Air area. Prior to…

Former Ohio State star and NFL first-round draft pick Dwayne Haskins died Saturday. He was 24.  Haskins was struck by a vehicle Saturday morning, according to Florida Highway Patrol. The crash occurred around 6:37 a.m. Florida Highway Patrol believes Haskins was trying to cross traffic lanes on foot when he was struck by a vehicle. A traffic homicide investigation is open. Haskins was pronounced dead at the scene. Interstate 595, the road on which the crash occurred, was shut down for several hours following the crash. Haskins was in South Florida training with Pittsburgh Steelers players for the 2022 NFL season. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Haskins'…

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan's veto of a measure to expand access to abortion in the state was overridden on Saturday by the General Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats. WBAL reports the state will end a restriction that only physicians can provide abortions. The new law will enable nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants to provide them with training. It creates an abortion care training program and requires $3.5 million in state funding annually. It also requires most insurance plans to cover abortions without cost. Del. Emily Shetty said she was supporting the measure on the House floor as a…

Burglary/Trespassing Arrest   Officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a Boone Street residence for the report of a breaking and entering. Upon officers making contact with the resident, they were advised that a subject, identified as Daniel Ray Izat, had knocked on the front door.  When the resident answered the door Izat advised that he used to live on Boone Street.  Izat then walked past the resident, sat in a chair, and fell asleep. The resident advised that he did not know Izat, and that Izat did not have permission to be in the residence.  Officers made contact…

On Saturday an officer of the Cumberland Police Department observed a vehicle commit several traffic violations.  A traffic stop was affected and contact was made with the driver, Jaron Watkins. Upon making contact with Watkins, the officer detected the odor of alcohol coming from Watkins’ person, as well as the odor of marijuana coming from inside of the vehicle. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted.  The search yielded over 200 grams of packaged marijuana, and a loaded handgun. Watkins was placed under arrest and transported to central booking to await a bond hearing.  Watkins was released after posting…

For the first time, a pub crawl will be part of the annual DelFest activities. Representatives of DelFest visited Cumberland this week as preperations continue for the 2022 event. Rob McCoury, president of DelFest, and Chris Harris of Rainmaker Music Management visited several area pubs and eateries to make plans for the crawl, which will culminate with a free concert downtown by the Davisson Brothers. Headliners for this year’s festival set for Memorial Day weekend include: Tyler Childers, Sam Bush and Robert Earl Keen and daily performances by The Del McCoury Band. Details have not yet been competed, but the pub…

Opponents of Maryland’s legislative redistricting plan filed challenges to a high court adviser’s recommendation to keep the boundaries drawn by the General Assembly. WTOP reports Special Magistrate Alan M. Wilner, a former Court of Appeals Judge, said in a Monday report that the legislative maps should stand. Four petitions were filed objecting to that map, which was enacted by lawmakers in January. All of the petitions argue that the legislative map violates the Maryland Constitution’s requirement that legislative districts be compact and respect natural and political boundaries.

Gov. Larry Hogan has announced vetoes of measures the General Assembly presented to him last week, as well as some of the bills that were passed and will go into law without his signature. The legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, has until midnight Monday to override the Republican governor's vetoes. The General Assembly needs a three-fifths vote in both houses to override a veto. Here is a look at some of the bills that have been vetoed, as well as some that will take effect without Hogan's signature: PAID FAMILY LEAVE Hogan has vetoed a bill to create a…