Having their initial effort at a Congressional District Map declared unconstitutional, Maryland Democrats rolled out a replacement yesterday, which Republicans said was better, but far from what they would consider fair. Bryan Simonaire is the Senate Minority Leader, and says he and House Minority Leader Jason Buckel did not participate in drawing the new map. Democrats can override any possible veto of the map by Governor Larry Hogan.   The judge in the case wants to see the replacement by Friday.

A Maryland State Trooper sustained serious injuries Monday during a snow squall white out on Route 495 in Garrett County, MSP spokesman Ron Snyder tells WCBC News that the mishap occurred in the central part of the county, just east of Deep Creek Lake, and injured Trooper Corey Whetzel…

​From the early days of the pandemic, we’ve heard it was necessary to get a vaccine against COVID-19, and also to achieve herd immunity. Tuesday, WCBC News asked West Virginia Coronavirus Czar Dr Clay Marsh about herd immunity and  if the Mountain State had achieved it… Governor Jim Justice said that believes West Virginia has achieved herd immunity, but noted the continuing high death toll as a reason to continue to get people vaccinated.

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 AM TO 11 AM EDT WEDNESDAY… * WHAT…Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations of up to one inch and ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch. * WHERE…Portions of western Maryland and eastern and panhandle West Virginia. * WHEN…From 2 AM to 11 AM EDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning commute. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Slow down and use caution while traveling. When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing…

On Monday, March 28, 2022 at approximately 8:44 AM, officers of the Cumberland Police Department responded to a residence in the 900 block of Camden Avenue for an assault.  Officers spoke with the alleged victim who reported that she was assaulted by Michael Thompson.  The victim stated that Thompson shoved her down, causing a laceration to her hand.   Thompson was arrested and later transported to Central Booking.  He was seen by a District Court Commissioner who released him on his personal recognizance.   ARRESTED:  Michael Edward Thompson     AGE:  67     Cumberland, MD CHARGES:  Assault-2nd Degree

On Monday, March 28, 2022 at approximately 3:10 PM, an officer of the Cumberland Police Department was patrolling the area of a business on Park Street when he observed a possible drug transaction taking place in the parking lot of the business.  Officers contacted those involved.  One of the subjects was identified as Trenton Miller.  After further investigation, it was discovered that Miller was in possession of a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute.  Miller was transported to Central Booking.  He was later seen by the District Court Commissioner and remanded to the Allegany County Detention Center, held…

This June will mark the third anniversary of the closure of the former Luke Mill- and while rumors have circulated about the Verso Corporation’s plans for the property since that time- talks have apparently gained momentum and a sale may be close at hand. In 2021 the two massive papermaking machines at the former mill were sold to a Turkish company-  and prior to that transaction reports had surfaced that a deal was nearing with  a company known as Whiskey River that would produce industrial sized wood pellets.  Neither Whiskey River nor Verso confirmed those reports and other rumors involving other…

Maryland lawmakers who produced the first congressional map drawn by Democrats to be struck down this redistricting cycle will vote on a new map this week.  Democrats went back to the drawing board over the weekend after Judge Lynne Battaglia on Friday said the map lawmakers approved in December is a “product of extreme partisan gerrymandering.” Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans 2-1 in Maryland, yet Democrats hold a 7-1 advantage over Republicans in the state’s U.S. House delegation. Delegate Mike McKay, a Republican representing Allegany and Washington counties, told WCBC News that judge’s ruling caught most Democrats by surprise and has…

Despite a few protests expressed during last week’s public hearing on the constant yield tax rate- the Allegany County Commissioners plan to maintain the same rate moving forward. While the commissioners emphasis was on the rate itself not changing- one Bedford Road resident noted that since the property tax assessments in the eastern part of the county have increased 11% – those people will be paying more in taxes. The recommendation was for the commissioners to consider lowering the tax rate to help offset tax bills for those residents. Commissioner David Caporale said that proposal would be a non-starter for…

With COVID-19 numbers in steep decline, most mask mandates and requirements have ended in Maryland- although the mask debate continues to be a political hot button. Dr. Matthew Simmons, vice president of Medical Staff Affairs at UPMC Western Maryland, told WCBC’s “Dave Norman Show” Monday that at after more than two years of the pandemic- most people are making decisions based on their personal medical experiences…