Allegany County Commissoners President Jake Shade delivered his final “state of the county” address on Thursday- highlighting some of the accomplishments of 2021 as well as addressing many of the challenges created by the pandemic. Shade, who opted not to seek another term as commissioner, is instead running for a seat in the state senate. Although he still has some ten months in office, Shade thanked those who have worked with him over the years,  and sounded an optimistic tone when looking ahead… Shade’s comments caught fellow commissioner David Caporale somewhat off guard…

After 99 days, the MLB lockout is finally drawing to a close. The Major League Baseball Players Association has voted to approve the most recent counterproposal from ownership, setting the stage for a new collective bargaining agreement to be ratified, as first reported by Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extra Base. The new CBA will cover the 2022-26 seasons, and the transaction freeze associated with the lockout is expected to be lifted as soon as the agreement is formally ratified, which ESPN’s Jeff Passan characterizes as a mere formality at this point. The Score’s Travis Sawchik tweets that the proposal passed by a vote of 26 to…

Frost Elementary School students and staff were evacuated this morning after a report of smoke in the building. The Frostburg Fire Department responded to the school and determined that an element in a hot water heater shorted resulting in the smoke. They gave the all clear for everyone to return to the building, and the instructional day has resumed as normal. 

The Allegany County Health Department reports that the county’s COVID-19 case rate is now the lowest it has been since August 2021.  Data show that on August 7, the county case rate was 12.58 per 100,000 people, and it peaked on January 8 at 289.5 per 100,000.  Over the past two months numbers have sharply declined, with the current Allegany County COVID-19 case rate at 13.39 per 100,000 people – the lowest it has been since early August.    The Allegany County Health Department offers free COVID-19 vaccinations for individuals ages 12 and older on Wednesdays at the Allegany County…

The Allegany High School Mock Trial team competed yesterday in Howard County in the Maryland State Playoffs. They prevailed against South River High from Anne Arundel County. Allegany is now a final four team and will play Marriotts Ridge next week in Baltimore County in their division finals. The final four consists of Allegany High School (Allegany County), Marriotts Ridge (Howard County), The Park School (Baltimore County), and Richard Mongomery (Montgomery County

Governor Larry Hogan today issued the following statement regarding the Maryland Senate’s consideration of the ‘Climate Solutions Now Act’: “The reckless and controversial energy tax bill being debated in the Senate imposes massive burdens on Maryland families and small businesses. With inflation surging and energy prices at record highs, this is the absolute worst possible time for policies that raise costs for consumers. “Through skilled environmental stewardship, Maryland leads the nation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions while growing our economy. The bill in the Senate risks taking us off this responsible path with potentially devastating consequences. “Our focus right now…

District 1B Delegate Jason Buckel has introduced a bill which would grant some tax relief to healthcare workers. Buckel testified in favor of the measure before the House Ways and Means Committee recently…

There’s an effort to close a loophole in the law which currently allows registered sex offenders to informally provide child care. Carroll County Delegate Hayden Shoemaker is the lead sponsor of the measure, which includes sponsorship by local Delegates Wendell Beitzel, Jason Buckel and Mike McKay…

Peter Franchot has been the Comptroller of Maryland for 15 years and is running for the Democratic nomination for governor. Franchot spoke at the PACE breakfast and says collaboration is the way forward for this end of the state, and likes what he’s been seeing… Prior to being elected Comptroller, Franchot served on the House Appropriations Committee with George Edwards.  He says if he’s elected, Edwards would have a position in his administration.