UPMC has broken ground on the largest hospital in Pittsburgh’s history and the largest health care construction project in Pennsylvania.  The new $1.5 billion, 17-story UPMC Presbyterian, to be completed in 2026, will be home to 636 private patient rooms and premier people-focused clinical facilities where UPMC clinical teams and physician-scientists will deliver nationally renowned specialty care that includes transplant, cardiology and cardiac surgery, and neurology and neurosurgery. The existing UPMC Presbyterian was built more than a century ago.   “Every day at UPMC, we focus on our patients, families, members and communities. There is no greater privilege – or…

Cumberland Fire Chief Shannon Adams confirmed that spontaneous combustion of oily rags in a plastic bucket caused a fire in a detailing garage at Queen City Motors just before dawn Tuesday, resulting in damage to the structure and two vehicles.  Adams said  video surveillance at the business were reviewed. Adams said city firefighters quickly knocked down the fire that originated in a rear area of the structure at 99 Henderson Ave. One of the vehicles damaged was a GMC Arcadia. He said heat from the fire activated the controls and raised the building's garage doors, aiding efforts to extinguish the…

The Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force, in conjunction with the Delaware Aviation Museum Foundation, will bring a Warbird Showcase to the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport this Father’s Day weekend June 18-19- and WCBC Radio will be giving away a free ticket to ride in a B-25.  The event will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with no parking or entrance fees. Warbirds scheduled to appear include a TBM Avenger torpedo bomber, the B-25 Panchito, Stinson L-5 Sentinel and a Boeing PT-17 Stearman biplane. The public will have the opportunity to purchase warbird rides in all the aircraft…

Governor Larry Hogan is calling for a criminal investigation into the Baltimore City school system after the state’s education watchdog found inconsistencies among teachers, assistant principals and principals changing failing grades to passing ones.  Hogan said the Inspector General’s report findings demonstrate a “staggering level of disregard for the integrity of the educational system and a clear lack of accountability at the highest levels.”  While anecdotally, there are reports of similar problems in every school system in the state, Allegany County School Board vice-president Robert Farrell says he is confident there are no such issues locally…

The average price for regular unleaded gasoline in Maryland has reached  $5 per gallon. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of gas in Maryland on Monday was $5.01, slightly higher than the national average.  A number of gas stations across Maryland reached the $5 threshold for a gallon of gas last week.  Locally prices at the pump are $4.92 in Allegany County; $4.98 in Garrett and $4.88 in Washington. Governor Larry Hogan told WMDT that while he is sympathetic to those hit hard by the skyrocketing prices- at this point there is little he can do…

The hope remains that a new housing development complex will be the end game on the site of the former Allegany High School. Demolition of the aging structure began in early May and is expected to be compete by the summer. The demolition of the school building, gym and auditorium has been met with mixed emotions in the community where it served for 93 years. While some felt the structure should have come down decades ago as it represented a safety concern- most have viewed it as the end of an era.  With the former school being owned by Allegany…

The search for a new location for the Union Rescue Mission is now more than three years old- and while a number of possibilities have been considered- ultimately those proposals have fallen through.  Mission representatives have said they have outgrown their current facility and while renovations and upgrades may help- ultimately a new, larger location is the best solution. Pastor David Ziler, director of the mission, said the city wants to ultimately take over the property at Queen City Drive along the CSX tracks identifying it as a prime location for future economic development opportunities. One site currently under consideration…

During his regular COVID-19 briefing on Monday, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has asked for his take on the January 6th hearings underway in Washington. A supporter for former President Donald Trump, Justice said he has not been impressed…

The Cumberland Police were called to Constitution Park for a subject that was causing a disturbance.  Devonte Lamarr Rhodes, age 29 of Auburn, NY was served with a No Trespassing Order, barring him from the property.  At that time he was advised to leave the Park or be subject to arrest.  A short time later the police were called back due to Rhodes being back on the property.  When the Police arrived, Rhodes began to cause a disturbance, yelling at Police.  A large crowd had gathered due to his behavior.  Rhodes was advised that he was under arrest, however he…

The Maryland State Board of Elections (SBE) today announced that 2022 Primary Election ballot packets will begin arriving at residential addresses this week and that 288 ballot drop boxes have been delivered and installed in jurisdictions throughout Maryland.   Registered voters who previously requested mail-in ballots will receive the first round of mail-in ballot packets. More than 400,000 mail-in ballots have been sent to eligible Maryland voters to date.    Separately, SBE recently mailed roughly 600,000 mail-in ballot request forms to newly registered Republicans and Democrats – as well as third-party and independent voters who can vote in the upcoming…