Following his address yesterday on America’s energy crisis and the war in Ukraine, Gov. Jim Justice sent a letter requesting that the West Virginia Legislature join him in pledging $5 million in assistance for the Ukrainian maternity and children’s hospital recently bombed by Russian military forces. VIEW FULL LETTER “The ongoing war on Ukraine is beyond tragic, with Russia bombing civilians and committing war crimes upon the heroic people of Ukraine. The killing of civilians is despicable and must not ever be tolerated. But the worst atrocity imaginable is the murder of innocent women and children,” said Gov. Justice in his letter….

Weather Conditions Lead to Additional Week for Trapping   A muskrat den at Taylors Island Wildlife Management ARea. Maryland DNR photo                       The Maryland Department of Natural Resources has added a one-week extension to the muskrat trapping season in all counties except Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, and Washington. The revised season will now close March 22, 2022, to make up for unfavorable weather conditions. An extremely cold winter and more recent tide fluctuations have limited trapper access to many waterways and wetlands, reducing the ability and opportunity to harvest this valuable furbearer. State law…

Takota Rayne Stephens; age 14, has been reported as missing to the Cumberland Police Department. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is asked to contact the Cumberland Police Department at 301-777-1600.

The Cumberland Police served an arrest warrant on Henry Ernest Simms III, age 52, of Cumberland, MD.  The warrant charged Simms with Violation of Probation.  His original charge was for Second Degree Assault.  Simms was taken to Central Booking for his initial appearance before the District Court Commissioner.  He was held on a $2,500 bond at the Allegany County Detention Center.    Arrested:  Henry Ernest Simms III Age: 52  Cumberland, MD Charges:  Violation of Probatoin     The Cumberland Police served an arrest warrant on Paul Williams Umstead Jr, age 34, of Cumberland, MD.  The warrant charged Umstead with Violation…

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin (both D-Md.) announced that nearly $9 million in direct federal funding for local projects across the Western Maryland region was included within the fiscal year 2022 omnibus funding legislation, which the Senators voted to pass Thursday evening. The projects encompass a wide array of local and regional priorities, ranging from infrastructure improvements to economic development. Overall, the Senators secured over $104 million in federal dollars directly for Maryland in the omnibus. The bill now goes to President Biden to be signed into law.   “Bringing direct federal investments to our communities helps…

After a year’s hiatus due to COVID-19 concerns-  the annual Hooley Pub Crawl will be back in full force on Saturday from Noon to 2AM. There will be a variety of music and food and drink specials at many downtown Cumberland restaurants, bars and music venues. A full slate of entertainers will perform throughout the day at supporting locations. The event is sponsored by the city of Cumberland and the Downtown Development Commission.

Congressman Andy Harris said the pause on the gas tax might not be a good thing for Maryland. On Thursday, Gov. Larry Hogan and State House officials agreed on legislation to provide a one-month gas tax holiday. Harris told WBAL that the newly approved gas tax holiday in Maryland is going to negatively impact infrastructure in the state. "It would be very temporary, it doesn't solve the real problem," Harris said, adding the gas tax is used to maintain roads and bridges. Harris said the real problem is that "this administration has handcuffed our fossil fuel energy production in this…

A bipartisan coalition of local officials from every region of the state urged a House committee this week to reverse steep recession-era cuts in road repair aid to the counties. At a hearing before the House Environment and Transportation Committee, officials from rural and suburban counties and the City of Baltimore testified that a 2009 change in a key formula has severely limited their ability to keep roads and bridges in good repair. The cuts were approved in reaction to a steep drop in revenues brought about by the Great Recession.

The Allegany County Health Department reports that the county’s COVID-19 case rate and other markers continue to improve, coming more in-line with statewide figures.  As of March 10, the county COVID-19 case rate was 8.32 per 100,000 people, while the statewide average rate was 5.09 per 100,000.  County COVID positivity was 2.61%, close to Maryland’s 1.61% positivity.  In the reporting period between March 8 and March 10, only eight new COVID cases were identified in Allegany County, and there were no additional deaths reported.   “These statistics are very encouraging,” said ACHD Public Information Coordinator Brenda Caldwell.  “Currently, Allegany County…

Less than a day after Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot first called for a “gas tax holiday,” the plan to suspend the state’s nearly 37-cent gas tax hit the Senate floor.  During Friday morning’s session in the State House, Senate President Bill Ferguson called on the Chair of the Budget and Taxation Committee, Sen. Guy Guzzone. “We all obviously have been shocked and surprised by the rapid increase of gas prices at the pump,” Guzzone said, as he explained the purpose of the legislation. “This bill will suspend taxes on gas for 30 days.” The bill was filed late in the legislative session,…