The 2022 session of the Maryland General Assembly will be the last for State Senator George Edwards as he wraps up a 4 decade career in Annapolis.  Edwards told WCBC News at the PACE reception that honesty and candor go a long way.

The most interesting political race of the year locally may be decided in June when Republicans in three counties vote for their new state senator.  It’s unlikely that a Democrat can win the conservative district so voters will choose the probable successor to the retiring George Edwards in the primary on June 28.  Senator Edwards says it’s not in his nature to publicly endorse either Mike McKay or Jake Shade at this point.  At Thursday night’s PACE reception in Annapolis, Allegany County Commissioner Jake Shade said funding for the area is at stake.

The city of Cumberland continues to work on economic development projects with progress often coming in fits and starts.  Matt Miller, executive director of the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, told WCBC at Thursday night’s PACE reception that he is hopeful for a business to be open near the downtown Chick Fil A later this year.

The annual PACE reception returned to Annapolis Thursday evening with live coverage on WCBC.  House Minority Leader Jason Buckel told WCBC that he voted against a move to impeach Governor Larry Hogan by Republican delegate Dan Cox, who is running for governor.       

On March 2nd, 2022 the Cumberland Police were called to a business on Ali Ghan Rd for a subject that was intoxicated and refusing to leave the property.  Upon arrival officers contacted the male, who initially refused to provide them with identification.  The male eventually provided his identification however refused to leave the property and began to cause a disturbance.  After failing to comply with several warnings to cease his behavior, he was placed under arrest.  Travis Cody Sloas, age 31, of Bedford Pa was charged with Trespassing on Private Property, Disorderly Conduct and Fail to Obey a Reasonable and…

Over the past week, law enforcement has been monitoring several truck convoys en route to the Washington DC area.  There is a potential that the People’s Convoy will travel through Allegany County by way of eastbound lanes of I68 and if so, it could disrupt traffic in the area. Allegany County Sheriff Craig Robertson tells WCBC News that the latest information is that the convoy is estimated at 40 miles in length and contains over 2500 vehicles.  If this convoy enters Allegany County it would most likely occur Friday afternoon…

The 45th Annual Mountain Maryland PACE event in Annapolis is set for tonight and tomorrow and once again WCBC will provide live wall to wall coverage of the reception and the breakfast. The reception will start an hour earlier this year- kicking off at 5- and there is a new venue at the Westin Annapolis Hotel.  Cumberland Mayor Ray Morriss said while he and other elected officials stay busy behind the scenes meeting with state leaders and department heads discussing local projects- the reception itself also provides an opportunity to lobby for the region… Morriss said although Governor Larry Hogan…

President Biden’s State of the Union address this week marks a little more than one year on the job for the new administration- and according to poll numbers thus far the nation hasn’t been impressed. One of the president’s more consistent supporters has been U.S. Senator Ben Cardin- and although the Maryland Democrat praised Biden’s work on job creation and in dealing the COVID-19- he acknowledges that more work has to be done to help struggling families…

Maryland has terminated its largely symbolic "sister state" relationship with the region that includes the Russian city of St. Petersburg due to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Governor Larry Hogan sent a letter to Aleksandr Drozdenko, the governor of Leningrad Oblast, on Monday that cited "the duty of every government to remain vigilant of unlawful acts against public order, democratic principles and innocent civilians."…

The CDC has announced that it is no longer recommending universal case investigation and contract tracing for COVID-19.  Instead, the nation’s leading public health agency is now recommending that local health departments prioritize investigations and contact tracing only for specific at-risk groups or settings such as congregate living facilities (i.e., long-term care, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, etc.), and that investigations focus on cases with symptom onset or positive test in the preceding five days.    The CDC cites higher levels of immunity in the community (as a result of both recovery from infection and vaccination), the availability of safe and…